Early September

[John-Di]

My wife and I are heading up to our cabin on Northwest bay the first 2 weeks of September. I was wondering what patterns for walleye I should try for that time of the year. Since Northwest Bay is not very deep (35') at the most. Should I try to go out to the main body of the lake and find some deeper sections? Would the spots that I had found in June still produce in September? I understand that it would only be a guess on what type of bait to use (Nightcrawlers vs. minnows). I was going to try both and see what produced. Has anyone ever heard of anyone catching Muskie in Northwest Bay? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks John

[fishmeister_86]

HI JOHN,

THE WALLEYES HAVE GONE TO 30 TO 40 FEET THIS WEEK, LAST WEEK WE WERE STILL DOING WELL IN 21 FEET. SEPT, OCT, I HAVE ALWAYS DONE THE BEST IN 40 TO 50 FEET ON BIG RAINBOW CHUBS & 3/8 OZ. JIGS. I KNOW THINGS ARE CHANGING FAST, WALLEYES ARE SPITTING UP SMELT, AND ARE ACTIVE MUCH DEEPER. I HAVE NEVER WENT SHALLOW IN THE FALL ON RAINY FOR WALLEYES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FISHING CURRENT.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[John-Di]

fishmiester, Thank you for the quick reply. I will try deep. Most likely near Manitou Sound and east of Boom and Woodchuck Island. There appears to be some reefs topping out between 15 and 30 feet. Should I stay out of the clear waters of ash and alexandria bays? As far as current goes have you had luck near Devils Cascade? I had tried near the Footprint River. No walleyes. Some pike. I know it may change at any time, but has there been enough rain to cause much current from the rivers? Thank You John

[bitz]

John, are you talking about Big Woodchuck just south of AMI point? If so, we found the eyes in the 25-30 ft off the rock pile just south of 3 sisters and east of Woodchuck. actually close to Rebecca. if you turn east and head towards northeast bay from the main north/south channel it is off your left (no markers but the rocks are above the water) we also did well on the south side of ami point (we always called it general mills island when they owned it)along the shore line in 30+ft using cranks (walleye runners in black or blue/orange) seemed to be the best also, Rapalas deep divers.

Bitz

[John-Di]

Bitz, Yes it is East of Big Wood chuck that I am going to try. I have never tried it before. Thank You for your help. I will let you know how I do. What about North of Rebecca Island? Does General Mills still own Ami Point? I had read in a post here a while back that Morton Salt also owns something on Rainy. Thanks John

[bitz]

Hey JD, yes the morton salt folks own the GM island now. They are very nice folks from I think Dallas. I talked to them in July when I was fishing the south side of their island for the eyes. The cabins just to the east and back behind Ami point are Ed Mclods and if you go east around the point we have gotten some walleyes there with a sw wind or south wind pushing the bail fish up to the shore... there is also a sunken bolder around the east end of rebecca (just east of the north pass of the 2 small islands on the north east corner) People named campbell own the north island so we always call it campbells island and the rock pile is off the se corner of there island. it is about 6 ft under and drops off to about 25 ft going in any direction... try cranks or live bail between this rock pile and the island nw of pilsberry island. also the 3 green channel markers down the straight starting at high rock island (Camp Ontario) have always seemed to put out some nice eyes ( and tackle busting slimmers) wife picked up a 26 and a 21 inch of the second green marker ( sw of deer island).

Hope this helps.

Bitz

[rainy dude]

The MNR did some study work on the migration of walleye from N.W. Bay. The largest percent of walleye left the bay and travelled out into the mainlake basin for the summer and winter period.

I would fish with LARGE bait. Look closely at the mainlake humps. Keep moving until you find em. Smelt driven walleyes move fast and suspended most of the time.

Most importantly is to use the WIND. Fish can show up shallow and aggresive. Fish it aggresively and you can connect. I like to throw, and troll, SMELT SHAPED crankbaits. Wind is almost always the control factor in shallow north arm walleyes.

My next rod would have a big sucker minnow pinned on a 1/2 onze to 3/8 onze jig. Use a weight heavy enough to get some SPEED on the retrieve. Swim it fast to trigger a strike when they also are aggresive.

My last rod would have a top-water walking bait. Probably in white, and without rattles. This will put a smile on your face with the big smallies you will have to deal with

If the weather goes flat and hot, start hunting the mainlake weed beds. Snap jigging can turn on then. Rig a rod with superbraid and rip a smelt shaped crankbait through the weeds. Make sure to try a deep runner through the weeds.

The first few weeks of Sept is a very, very good time to be on the water. Defitnately my favorite time period on the water.

Good Luck

R_D

[bitz]

J-D, where in Indiana are from?

I grew up in Terre Haute...

[John-Di]

bitz, I live in Plymouth, IN. North central Indiana. My wife grew up in Washington, IN. That is east of Vincences. Thanks for the great information. Now I have to put it to work. It really sounds like that I need to get out of Northwest Bay a little more to gain what Rainy Lake has to offer. I'm not saying that there aren't any fish there (N.W. Bay). There are, but Rainy is such a large lake I don't see a good reason not to move out in the lake more as I get more comfortable with it. Rainy dude: Where did you get the information on the migratory movements of the walleye from Northwest Bay? I had done a Google search for Rainy Lake walleye survey and found 2 articles in the Fort Frances Times. One Very Favorable (8/9/06) and one not so favorable (1986). It sounds like Rainy Lake has made a Magnificent comeback in the last twenty years! Last September when I was up the fishing was very good. So I would have to say it is also my favorite time of the year. Thank You John.

[Jim W]

Ahh the irony...I was born in terre haute!

[bitz]

Jim W.... if you recall, we never got together from the fishing trip for your kids (not trying to do it now) just a reminder of the conversations we had back a couple of years ago... when did you live in TH and did you go to a TH high school? I left in 76 and graduated from South in 74...

small world isn't it... we just got back from there sunday nite. went and picked up the stuff left from my fathers estate. long trip for 3 days.

J-D, my aunts/uncles all lived in Petersburg (just south of washington) and have a good friend from washington names scott arnold (works for boeing in huntsville, Al)

Bitz

[Jim W]

I would have and still would take you fishing if I could find the time and work it out. I hate not fullfilling a promise or bet.

I was the last of 4 to be born there. We moved shortly after I came into the world(month or so). Down to Evansville.