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going to be heading up that way the 20th of aug and its been pretty quiet here in the deer river forum. my intent is to fish bowstring, maybe sand and some other lakes in the area. can anyone give me a little heads up on how fishing is?? thinkin even of dragging my 2 teenage granddaughters along can anyone tell me about dora lake. been there once, would like to maybe try it again. bugs still bad????

Hit the ice for the first time today about 6 inches of ice and lots of slush 3-5 inches deep. The snitch handled the work load with amazing results. The busy end was the smallest pug bug with a maki mino the crappies were racing up am crushing it. The gills would come up slowly but would eat it. Had a 3 to 4 pound walleye break me off in the top of the hole.

On the South Shore... Ice fishing is in full swing on Lake of the Woods. The ice is progressing nicely. Many resorts have day houses out and are fishing, some have been fishing for a week already. There are some sleeper fish houses out in some areas. This is all good news. Please remember, ice conditions can vary significantly from one area of the lake to the next. It is best to work through your favorite resort or outfitter for current ice conditions and weight limits on their specific ice road. In Minnesota waters, you can use two lines through the ice. Most anglers are using the one - two punch, basically jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second. The jigging line will catch more active fish as well as attract fish to where you are fishing. The deadstick with a live minnow sitting under a bobber will often catch the more neutral fish. On the jigging line, use a jigging spoon or lure tipped with a minnow head or tail. In the second hole, a live minnow set about 6" off of the bottom on a plain hook or some type of ice fishing jig under a bobber will work well. Colors to consider, gold, glow red, Wonder Bread, pink and orange, or a combo of these colors. Rippin Raps, jigging rap style baits and more aggressive presentations work well some days. Pay attention to your electronics and adapt. Fishing reports have been very good. Good numbers of walleyes and saugers being caught with some nice jumbo perch, eelpout and pike as well. Most resorts are transporting guests to the heated fish houses this time of year. If you have a snowmobile, ATV or side by side, please stay on marked trails for safety. Some spearing and angling is taking place on Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay. Good numbers of pike along with some big pike showing up. On the Rainy River... The river continues to gain ice. Some local resorts are fishing with some decent reports of walleyes and very good reports on sturgeon. Work through a resort for safety. In addition to angling, some spearing and angling for pike is taking place in back bays off of the river. Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing has started up at the Angle. Initial fishing reports are good which is no surprise in these parts. Traditionally, most Angle resorts will get houses out and begin fishing December 26th. Ice is thickening by the day and things are shaping up nicely. Watch messaging from your favorite NW Angle resort / outfitter for specifics. There is availability both on the south end, Rainy River resorts and NW Angle portions of Lake of the Woods. Lots of openings now, get that bonus fishing trip in. Remember, Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season through March 31st, with walleye and sauger season open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes.

Checked the ice at McKinley Park Monday (Dec. 2) afternoon. There was quite a bit of open water before Birch Island and I found only 2-3 inches of ice 10 yards out from the landing. If the lake doesn't freeze over tonight it may not happen until Thursday morning after the snow stops and the wind dies down. I was hoping to walk out fishing Thursday, but I may wait until Friday to be safer. To be very safe I may just wait until next Monday (Dec. 9). The winter is long. No need to rush it.

2020 St Cloud Area Fishing Reports - Click Here. Please post only fishing reports for the St. Cloud area here. evryone jump in!!!

On the South Shore... Ice fishing has begun for some areas of the lake, while others are grooming trails and will be close behind. The ice is progressing nicely. There were concerns a big blow this past week might mess things up but thankfully, the ice stayed intact and is continuing to thicken. Please remember, ice conditions can vary significantly from one area of the lake to the next. That is why it is difficult to provide an answer to the question, "How thick is the ice?" The thickness and condition of the ice is best told by those working each ice road every day. With that being said, there is certainly some good news regarding ice progression. So far, some resorts have begun by allowing snowmobiles and ATVs with collapsible fish houses to access their ice roads. In addition, some resorts are pulling day houses out this week and they are available to rent. It is best to check with your favorite resort for additional info. Resorts will provide transportation to and from the front door of their heated fish houses. Early ice provides some excellent ice fishing opportunities. The 10 day forecast shows temps staying below freezing and hitting below zero and single digits many days. Good news for eager ice anglers and resorts who provide ice fishing services. Initial actual fishing reports have been very good. Good numbers of walleyes and saugers being caught with some nice jumbo perch, eelpout and pike as well. When you decide to come up, please stay on the resort / outfitters marked trails. They are marked for a reason and veering off of the trail could put you on ice conditions not suitable. The satellite imagery shows Big Traverse Bay, which is the main body of the lake, locked up. On the Rainy River... The river is gaining ice. Some local resorts and guides have been out checking ice conditions and fishing with some decent reports of walleyes and some sturgeon. River ice doesn't form as quickly as there is current. Work through a resort for safety. In addition to angling, some spearing and angling for pike is taking place in back bays off of the river. Up at the NW Angle... The Angle is locked up with ice. Resorts and outfitters are continuing to check ice conditions and mark trails. Ice fishing will be coming soon to this part of the lake as ice conditions are also progressing nicely up at the Angle. Traditionally, most Angle resorts will get houses out and begin fishing December 26th. Some resorts may take advantage of good ice conditions and get out earlier in the month. Watch messaging from your favorite NW Angle resort / outfitter for specifics. Lake of the Woods Tourism Facebook / Instagram pages or other resort social media pages will keep you updated often with current ice and fishing reports. If you haven't made reservations for ice fishing, now is a great time. Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season through March 31st, with walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and pike season never closes.

On the South Shore... The focus for most this past week for resorts and ice fishing outfitters is checking ice conditions. Things are progressing nicely. As we remind anglers each and every year, ice conditions can vary significantly. Consequently, we typically will not make blanket statements about ice conditions or thickness of ice. It is best to work through a resort or outfitter who knows the ice conditions on the part of the lake they are working. The 10 day forecast shows temps staying below freezing and hitting the single digits many days. Depending upon the wind, this should continue to build up the ice and get things started, Some spearing and angling for pike has started in areas of back bays. Work through an outfitter and stay on marked trails as ice conditions still vary, even on the bays. Naturally, with Lake of the Woods having a robust population of big pike, some nice fish are coming in. As the days go on, resorts and outfitters are continuing to mark their ice roads and venture out further checking ice conditions daily. Initial reports are showing good ice formation on many parts of the lake off of the south shore. From many parts of the south shore, there is ice as far as the eye can see. With cloudy conditions, a satellite image of the entire lake has not been available for a number of days. On the Rainy River... The river is iced over. It certainly isn't ready for any traffic as of yet but the fact it is locked up is encouraging. Some spearing and angling for pike happening in back bays off of the river. Once ice thickens, a couple of resorts who fish the river will mark ice trails in their particulate fishing area. The river has current, it is best to work through a resort or outfitter. Up at the NW Angle... The Angle is locked up with ice for the most part. Fishing isn't happening yet, but resorts and outfitters have started checking ice conditions and the ice is progressing nicely. Things are on track for a good ice fishing season. Watch the Lake of the Woods Tourism Facebook page or other resort facebook pages for reports and videos of current ice conditions. At this point, reports are coming in daily. If you haven't made reservations for ice fishing, now is a great time.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. The ice is coming. Eager to get out. Dug out my old strikemaster Thursday and got it ready. Smokes like a chimney at times, but can't justify buying a new one when the old still works good.

On the South Shore... The focus for most this past week has been the ongoing deer hunting season and/or watching the forecast and feeling optimistic about the cold temps over the next couple of weeks. The forecast shows temps staying below freezing and hitting the single digits many days. Depending upon the wind, this should make some ice and get things started, The limited number of anglers still fishing are taking advantage of fairly mild weather for November, but that is changing quickly. Good numbers of walleyes, saugers and a lot of jumbo perch are staged across the south shore which bodes well for ice fishing. No surprise this time of year, vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch. Resorts and outfitters are busy, continually getting ready for the ice fishing season. Fish house maintenance, light ice rigs, bombardiers, track rigs, augers, fish houses, sleeper houses, permitting, deep cleaning, remodeling, and the list goes on. All good stuff that helps to make the ice fishing season more enjoyable. On the Rainy River... Very good fishing reports for those on the river this week, and there have been a few boats. Limits of walleyes was the norm for most. Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners. Having good numbers of walleyes in the river is desired by those who ice fish the south shore. It is believed some of the walleyes in the river make their way out to the lake as the ice fishing season progresses, providing additional fish to ice anglers out in front of Pine Island. All good stuff. Up at the NW Angle... As temps are getting colder, most are finishing up deer hunting, processing venison or getting ready for the upcoming ice fishing season. For the few that got out, reports were excellent. A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing for those who braved the colder temps. Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands. Late fall is known as a good time to catch muskies and this year has held true. If you haven't made reservations for ice fishing, now is a great time. Day houses normally get out mid December with an extended season on LOW, lasting through March. Mother Nature always dictates. Resorts and outfitters will be monitoring ice conditions, posting weight limits throughout the year.

On the South Shore... The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers. There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting. Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake. Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water. Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch. Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters. Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well. Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes. There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice. On the Rainy River... There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well. Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river. Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river. Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong. The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle... As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent. A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days. Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands. Both casting and trolling is getting it done.

On the South Shore... It's deer hunting season in MN and not many are out fishing. Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water. No surprise, vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is the program for most anglers. Anglers are going through a lot of frozen emerald shiners as the walleyes and saugers are all mixed sizes. You will catch small ones and your eaters. Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well. Anglers are also reporting very good numbers of jumbo perch this fall. Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes. Good numbers of fish are staged in great spots for the upcoming ice fishing season. On the Rainy River... Good numbers of shiners again in the river this past week. Typically, if there are shiners, there will be walleyes, and there definitely are. Walleyes are coming from various spots from Four Mile Bay to Wheeler's Point, to Baudette all the way to Birchdale. With so many anglers taking advantage of the deer hunting season, there are not a lot of boats on the river. Walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river. The bait and consequently, walleyes, are moving around. Once you find some fish, you will be rewarded. Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the way to go. Some anglers are also still trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong. The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle... For those not in the woods hunting, fall fishing continues to be excellent. It is areas with structure holding walleyes in this part of the lake. Points, neck-down areas with current, shoreline breaks, and transition zones from rock to mud are all productive locations for walleye right now. A nice mixed bag with perch, pike and crappies being caught as well. Good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days. Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands. Both casting and trolling is getting it done.

Let’s start this by congratulating Brianf and son for winning their second City Autoglass Walleye Classic last weekend. These guys know how to fish. We just got to the lake for the season. Chores are almost done and I’m ready to fish. red(new dog is more yellow)labguy

On the South Shore... With unseasonably warm weather, there are still some anglers hitting the water and most have been rewarded. Limits of walleyes and saugers being caught, and the forecast looking ahead is favorable. The best bite on the south end of LOW has been in 22-28 feet of water. Water temperatures are dropping and as the temps cool further, the bite has been excellent. Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners has been the program for most anglers. Bring plenty of bait, as you’ll need to sort through some smaller fish and short biters. Plenty of eater fish to be had, just have to do a bit of sorting. Anglers are also reporting very good numbers of jumbo perch and occasional pike mixed in with the walleyes. For those fishing structure, if you slide up on top of a rock pile, don't be surprised to catch a big smallmouth bass, there are plenty around. This week’s hot colors have been gold, gold/glow white, gold/chartreuse, gold/orange, and gold/glow white/pink. One tip, a stinger hook on your jig will catch you more fish if you start missing too many fish. On the Rainy River... Bait dealers are reporting good numbers of shiners in the river this past week. Interesting, each night is different. Some areas have the small shiners called pinheads. Other areas have the larger minnows. The river is producing some nice walleyes in various spots from Four Mile Bay to Wheeler's Point, to Baudette all the way to Birchdale. There are 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale with plenty of public boat ramps along the way. Walleyes are being caught in various depths, but 15-25 feet of water has been good. Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners has been highly effective. Some anglers are also trolling crankbaits to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing has been strong. The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle... Fall fishing continues to be excellent. Points, neck-down areas with current, shoreline breaks, and transition zones from rock to mud are all productive locations for walleye right now. It is traditionally a mixed bag up around the many islands in this part of the lake and this fall is no different. In addition to walleyes, pike, jumbo perch, and crappies are in the mix. A jig and minnow has been the most effective presentation. Good muskie fishing is the norm during the fall of the year and area reports have been good. In addition to casting, trolling shorelines, points and neckdown areas has been effective. Muskies are often targeting schooling tullibees this time of year. The weather forecast for the next couple of weeks is conducive for fall fishing. If you don't deer hunt, or if you have harvested your deer, consider some bonus walleye action before the ice forms. The bite continues to be excellent.

On the South Shore... Now is prime time to head up to Lake of the Woods (LOW) and the Rainy River as fall fishing is in full swing! With plenty of limits of walleyes and saugers being caught, and a favorable weather forecast, anglers are enjoying some excellent fishing. Dress for Comfort: With cooler mornings, dressing in layers is essential. Ice fishing gear is ideal for early mornings, and you can shed layers as the day warms. A warm hat and gloves or mittens are also handy. The best bite on the south end of LOW has been in 22-28 feet of water. Water temperatures are dropping and as the temps cool further, the bite has been excellent. Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners remains highly effective. Bring plenty of bait, as you’ll need to sort through some smaller fish, but you’re likely to land keepers as well as larger walleyes. Anglers have also reported good numbers of jumbo perch and occasional pike mixed in with the walleyes. Good Jig Colors: This week’s hot colors have been gold, gold/glow white, gold/chartreuse, gold/orange, and gold/pink. On the Rainy River... Shiners and walleyes continue to move into the Rainy River, making it an ideal spot for targeting large walleyes. Anglers are experiencing success up and down the river, especially in areas throughout Four Mile Bay. Walleyes are being caught in various depths, but 15-25 feet of water has been good. Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners has been highly effective. Some anglers are also trolling crankbaits to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon Fishing: With cooler days and shorter daylight hours, sturgeon activity has picked up. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open, providing anglers with an exciting opportunity to hook into these prehistoric giants. Up at the NW Angle... Fall fishing is firing on all cylinders up at the Angle, where walleyes continue to be concentrated around traditional areas with structure. Points, neck-down areas with current, shoreline breaks, and transition zones from rock to mud are all productive locations for walleye right now. In addition to walleyes, anglers are catching pike, jumbo perch, and crappies. Using a jig and minnow is a tried-and-true approach and continues to yield excellent results. Muskie fishing is also hot this time of year, with anglers casting and trolling to find these predators. Big muskies over 50 inches are being caught and released. For those looking to enjoy some fall fishing at its finest, now is the time to head to Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. With cooling water temps, great weather on the horizon, and prime fishing conditions, it’s a fantastic opportunity to jig up some walleyes and saugers for a fish fry. So, bundle up, gather your gear, and come experience the unforgettable fishing that awaits you up north!

On our fall trip, we saw many examples of downed trees on Pine Island. Small trees being cut with chain saw and piled. Any insight on project?

On the South End... Now is a great time to get up to LOW and the Rainy River as fall fishing on Lake of the Woods is on fire. Lots of limits of walleyes and saugers with a great weather forecast ahead. Like any fishing, being flexible pays dividends. If you are fishing on a charter or with a guide, your guide will make necessary adjustments to put you on fish. If you are fishing on your own, some considerations... -If water clarity isn't good as maybe a big blow has muddied up the water, find an area of cleaner water. This could be a different area of the lake or switching to / from the river or NW Angle. -Things change quickly. One group went way out on the lake from a resort on the river, only to get a call from their buddies the walleyes moved in the river. They came back and fished in front of their resort and limited out with nice fish. No wonder there were so many seagulls on the river that morning! -Don't be afraid to trailer your boat to a different shoreline, which is often easier and more economical vs making long runs on the water, especially on days with some wind. -Trailering your boat to different sections of the Rainy River is not only effective, it's enjoyable to learn other areas. So beautiful this time of year. -Fishing reports, resort owners, guides, other anglers, bait shops, social media groups are all sources of info. -Dress warm, be comfortable. Wear ice fishing gear in the morning when it is chilly. As the day gets warmer, shed clothing. Hat and gloves or mittens are also helpful. Walleyes and saugers are being caught in a variety of locations across the south shore from 18-25 feet. Water temps are in the low to mid 50's. Vertical jigging with frozen, or live emerald shiners is catching a pile of fish. Have plenty of bait as typically, lots of small fish to sort through but boats are getting their keepers along with some larger walleyes. Good numbers of jumbo perch and along with some pike are also being caught by walleye anglers. Good jig colors this week were gold, gold / glow white, gold / chartreuse, gold / orange, and gold / pink. On the Rainy River... More shiners and walleyes moved into the river this past week. Nice walleyes are being caught up and down the river, including areas throughout Four Mile Bay. The morning and evening hours have had the best bite. Jigging with frozen or live emerald shiners and trolling crankbaits have been the most popular methods of catching walleyes. 15 - 25 feet of water has been the norm. Sturgeon fishing continues to pick up as the days get shorter and the water cools. The "Catch and Release" sturgeon season is in place right now. Up at the NW Angle... A great week of fall fishing up at the Angle. Walleyes are being found around traditional areas with structure. Points, neck down areas with current, shoreline breaks and transition areas from rock to mud are good right now. In addition to good numbers of walleyes, pike, jumbo perch and crappies being caught. A jig and minnow continues to be the staple presentation and very effective. Muskie anglers are both casting and trolling this time of year to find the predators in this part of the lake.

On the South End... Fall fishing on Lake of the Woods is excellent right now. The colder water temps have the fish snapping. Walleyes and saugers are being caught in a variety of locations across the south shore from 20 to 27 feet. Water temps are in the low to mid 50's. Jigging with frozen, or live emerald shiners is catching a pile of fish. Anchor up and jig over the side of the boat. Typically, lots of small fish to sort through but you will get your keepers along with some larger walleyes. Jig colors to consider are gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, and pink. Gold combined with any one of these colors is often a good choice. On the Rainy River... The river continues to get better and better with more walleyes moving in each week. Good fish being caught in many sections of the river. The morning and evening hours have had the best bite. Walleyes are actually being caught using three methods. Jigging with frozen or live emerald shiners, pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits. 15 - 25 feet of water has been the norm. Sturgeon fishing continues to pick up as the water cools. The "Catch and Release" sturgeon season is in place right now. The river holds a myriad of species of fish. Crappies, pike, smallmouth bass, suckers, bullheads and even an eelpout or two are being caught up and down the river. Four Mile Bay is also holding some nice walleyes as they make their way in from the lake. Various areas on the edge of the current and channel break are good spots to begin. Up at the NW Angle... Another great week of fall fishing up at the Angle. Walleyes are keying in on various areas with structure. Points, neck down areas with some current and transition areas from rock to mud are good right now. Walleyes are the most sought after but in the fall, lots of muskie and crappie anglers are around as well. Good reports on a variety of species including jumbo perch and pike as the waters cool. Put on some warm fall clothes, make sure your camera is ready and make some incredible fall fishing memories. There is still time to get in that last fall trip.

On the South End... Walleye and sauger fishing remains excellent with numbers of walleyes and saugers being caught. The fall bite is definitely on. Anglers are finding fish a bit shallower this week, ranging from 20 to 25 feet across the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Jigging with frozen, or live emerald shiners, is catching most of the fish. Locating fish on your sonar and anchoring up for about 30 minutes will normally give you a good idea of what is living in the area and a good strategy. Areas across the south shore including the Lighthouse Gap (where the Rainy River enters Lake of the Woods) west to the Morris Point area, west to Zippel Bay area to Long Point are all still producing nice fish. Successful jig colors in the stained waters of LOW are gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, and pink. Gold combined with any one of these colors is often a good choice. On the Rainy River... The river continues to get better and better. There are definitely more shiners and walleyes in the river this week. Good fish being caught in many sections of the river. Trolling crankbaits in the fall is also a well known strategy to catch hungry walleyes chasing shiners. A great way to cover water and get that reaction strike. Sturgeon fishing is really picking up as the water cools. Sturgeon are catch and release right now into the month of April, 2025 when the "keep season" begins again. Some nice crappies, pike and smallmouth bass were also in the mix for fall anglers fishing the river this week. The river is a great option for small boats and also a nice option if it is windy. Up at the NW Angle... Fishing is flat out excellent up at the Angle. Some anglers are fishing the MN side, others the Ontario side. Walleyes are using a variety of areas, but structure such as points and neck down areas with some current are good right now. A mixed bag of fish is the norm in these parts. Walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, pike, smallmouth bass and muskies are all being caught. Fall fishing leading into early ice is some of the best fishing of the year and a beautiful time to be out.

On the South End... Walleye and sauger fishing is very good with good numbers of fish being caught. If you want to catch some numbers, the bite is on. Anglers are finding fish ranging from 24 to 31 feet across the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Jigging with frozen, or live emerald shiners is the ticket. Locate fish on your sonar, anchor up and give it 30 minutes. If not to your liking, relocate different fish and repeat. Normally things will work out nicely over the course of the day. Areas from right in front of the Lighthouse Gap where the Rainy River enters Lake of the Woods west to the Morris Point area, Zippel Bay area to Long Point are all producing. There aren't fish everywhere but there are various schools spread out across the entire south shore of the basin. Successful jig colors in the stained waters of LOW are gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, and pink. Gold combined with any one of these colors is often a good choice. Drifting spinners / crawlers or trolling crankbaits is still working for anglers as well. Some really nice perch and an occasional pike are being caught mixed in with the walleyes and saugers. For the anglers targeting smallmouth bass, there is a good bite on both the lake and Rainy River. On the Rainy River... The river continues to produce some nice walleyes. There are definitely some schools of shiners up and down the river and consequently, some nice walleyes in the river too. Not the heavy run yet, but respectable for sure. Sturgeon fishing continues to pick up as water temps cool. The sturgeon is catch and release from October 1st into the month of April, 2025 when you can keep one again. The river is relatively small and a great option for small boats. With a variety of boat ramps from the mouth of the river all the way to up the river to Birchdale, there are many options. Up at the NW Angle... Walleye fishing remains strong on both sides of the border. Walleyes are using a variety of areas from mud flats to various areas with structure and neck down areas with some current. It's fall, which means a mixed bag of fish is common in these parts. Walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, pike, smallmouth bass and muskies are all being caught. As water temps cool and the days get shorter, the bite will get even better!

Fished Osakis early yesterday morning. Temps were 67-68. Found walleye in 12-21 ft along with small perch. Kept a 16 and 18 for supper. Almost too warm to fish. What a crazy September. I was using nightcrawlers with a spinner rig. Got the 18 on a 2 inch crawler after perch bit it off twice and I was too stubborn to replace it.

On the South End... In a nutshell, walleye and sauger fishing has been awesome. If you want to catch fish, the bite is on. Anglers are finding fish ranging from 18 to 29 feet. The cooling water temperatures after a brief fall warm spell are down to about 64 degrees. Again this week, many anglers have reported success jigging with frozen emerald shiners, but fathead minnows are also working well too. Areas from right in front of the Lighthouse Gap where the Rainy River enters Lake of the Woods west to the Morris Point area, Zippel Bay area to Long Point. Some nice schools of fish. Prominent jig colors this week are gold, chartreuse, orange, and pink. Gold combined with a color is often a good choice too. Many of these fish across the south shore are over mud. No structure, just a lot of forage that holds the fish. Get out amongst the fish, anchor up and get your jig on. Some nice perch and occasional pike are being caught mixed in with the walleyes and saugers. Drifting spinners / crawlers or trolling crankbaits is still effective for many anglers. On the Rainy River... The river is producing some nice walleyes, but with the warmer temps, not the big traditional run as of yet. There are definitely some nice fish in the river however and it will only get better as water temps cool and days get shorter. Sturgeon fishing continues good and should pick up as water temps cool. The sturgeon "keep" season goes through September 30th. After that, it is a catch and release season through April 23rd. The season extends through May 15th and then closes through May 30th. The river is relatively small and a nice option for most sized boats. Depending upon the day, Four Mile Bay and even the south shore is accessible depending upon the wind which varies day to day. Up at the NW Angle... Fall up at the Angle is a special time with multi species action. Walleye fishing remains strong, with fish located across different areas with structure as well as flat areas. The deep mud east and northeast of Little Oak Island. Effective methods continue to be a mix of jigging and spinners, with crankbaits also producing good results. Pike and muskies are active in weedy areas over rocks. Jerkbaits and inline spinners are catching some good fish. Smallmouth bass are showing up strong, particularly around scattered rock areas extending from points. Tube jigs, swimbaits and crankbaits working well.

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On the South End... The walleye and sauger bite continues to be very good with anglers enjoying consistent action. As we transition into fall, fish are being found at various depths, but 25 - 32 feet of water has been consistent. Jigging continues to pick up as the waters cool. Water temps this week are down to 64. Top jig colors this week include gold, orange, chartreuse, and pink. For some anglers, big numbers caught this week jigging with frozen emerald shiners on the lake. Some anglers are jigging on or adjacent to structure. Others are finding schools of walleyes and saugers out over deep mud. Using sonar to find fish is helpful. Spinners and trolling crankbaits continue to produce fish as well. This is a transition time where multiple presentations are working. As the season progresses, jigging will take over as the top technique. For those pulling spinners, gold, pink, orange, glow red, or glow white has been successful. Adjust your weights to 2 - 3 ounces to match the depth and speed you are drifting / trolling. Trolling crankbaits is still producing nice walleyes. Some goto colors are gold, chrome / blue, pink UV firetiger, and chartreuse. More and more walleyes are showing up along the south shore. It seems things are gravitating towards fall patterns where good numbers of the fish are both chasing shiners and moving closer to shorelines. The bite has been excellent and is really shaping up nicely for the fall jig bite both on the lake and in the Rainy River. On the Rainy River... A variety of species continue to be caught on the Rainy River. Nice current flow is providing fall anglers some optimism for this year's fall shiner and walleye run being a banner year. Some reports of nice walleyes being caught in the river already this week. There are reports of shiners in the river all the way up to Birchdale. Things seem to be setting up nice for a great fall on the river. Mother Nature will have the final say of course. Sturgeon fishing is picking up with cooling waters. Anglers anchor up and use a combination of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig with a flat no roll sinker. Find a hole in the river or simply mark these big fish in an area, anchor up and soak some crawlers! Up at the NW Angle... Walleye fishing up at the NW Angle remains really good. Fish are being found in many areas. Structure, neck down areas as well as on the flats. Some good fish are still holding in the deep mud east and northeast of Little Oak Island in the mud. Areas around Four Blocks, and north of Garden Island producing fish as well. As on the south end, jigging, spinners / crawlers and trolling crankbaits are all producing walleyes. Smallmouth bass, pike and muskies are also being caught, both by unsuspecting walleye anglers and when targeted. As the waters cool, crappies and jumbo perch are also showing up nicely for anglers.

Just got back from my annual 3 day fishing trip to my brother's cabin. My dad, brother, nephew and I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday fishing 4 lakes.(Evergreen, Grace, Plantaganet and Cass.) Caught lots of sunfish, crappie, perch and a couple walleye. Perch on Cass were 10-12 inches. Crappie were mostly 10 to 11. Some 12's. Sunfish ran 8-9 inches. Walleye was tough but managed a 14, 15 and 17. My brother and nephew did better than my dad and I. They have much better quality rods and could feel the bites much better, plus they used gulp vs our live bait mostly. They did better using 3 inch gulp than smaller ones as well. I'm definitely investing in a new quality rod. Plus I need to get more confidence on plastic. Overall a very good trip.

On the South End... The walleye and sauger bite remains hot across the lake, with anglers enjoying consistent action. As the days progress, fish are still holding in the deeper mud, with 28 - 32 feet of water being the sweet spot this week. Jigging has really picked up in recent days. Jig colors that are producing well include gold, orange, chartreuse, and pink. Spinners and trolling crankbaits continue to yield good results, offering multiple effective strategies for anglers targeting walleyes and saugers. For those pulling spinners, a two-hook crawler harness with spinner blades in gold, pink, orange, glow red, or glow white has been successful. Adjust your weights to 2 - 3 ounces to match the depth and breezy conditions. Trolling crankbaits remains a strong option for covering water, especially with walleyes spread across the mud flats in Big Traverse Bay. Areas with structure, such as rock reefs, or fish adjacent to these spots, are also holding fish. Good numbers of walleyes along the south shore with some big schools and some big fish. The bite has been excellent and is really shaping up nicely for the fall jig bite both on the lake and in the Rainy River. On the Rainy River... A variety of species continue to be caught on the Rainy River. The presence of decent current is still drawing extra fish into the river, and there have been positive reports from anglers targeting walleyes and sturgeon alike. Sturgeon fishing remains productive, with anglers anchoring up and using a combination of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners. The key is patience—let the bait soak and wait for that big bite. Walleye anglers are also having success on the river, with some nice-sized fish reported. There are already signs of emerald shiners in the river, which typically draw in walleyes. Jigging, trolling spinners with crawlers, or trolling crankbaits are all working well and will continue to be effective as the fall run approaches. Up at the NW Angle... Walleye fishing at the NW Angle remains excellent. Fish are being found on the structure as well as on the flats. As always, different forage in various areas influences where these predators are focused. The deep mud east and northeast of Little Oak Island holds numbers of walleyes with mixed in perch. Good fishing around Four Blocks, and north of Garden Island as well, continuing to produce solid walleye catches. Spinners with crawlers and trolling crankbaits are ideal for covering water and locating active fish in these areas. Anglers are finding success in 15 - 32 feet of water. The cooler temperatures, with some days dipping into the 40s, are beginning to slowly lower water temperatures, which will only increase the walleye bite as we move deeper into August.