Rainy River Regulations

[littlemikey]

A buddy and me are heading to sportsmans lodge this Friday and was supposed to be on the ice but obviously that isn't happening so we are gonna try soft water. First time for us but have always heard good things this time of year. First I heard the regulations on walleye and sauger are different than the lake, is that true? Also wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where to go and maybe what to use. Thanks!

[fiskyknut]

2 Walleye per day, fish must be under 19.5 inches.

Jig and a minnow is the standard tactic.

[binsfeldnick]

hey little mikey, we'll be up at sportsmans as well this weekend with the boat as well unfortunately. Maybe we'll run into each other and can compare fishing notes. Good Luck. We'll have a red f-150 with a crestliner behind it.

[littlemikey]

So you can only keep two walleye, and you can't keep anything over 28? How bout saugers, or do you not really catch any in the river? Sounds good bins, we will be in black f-150. Think we are just going to rent boat at lodge since my triton is still in storage. Didn't think id be using it this early in the year Darn it, might have to try and get them to get it out early but at dealer and they aren't very flexible

[fiskyknut]

Wally and Saugs combined, 2 per day on river. Nope you can't keep them big girls either.

[littlemikey]

Gotta bring camera and tape measure for replica then, would rather do that anyways but wish you could keep more than two eaters, oh well it'll be fun anyways just hope the fish cooperate, if not that's ok too cause heard there will be party at lodge bins when are you heading up? We will be there Friday evening

[binsfeldnick]

We are heading up thursday evening but staying in blackduck till friday morning, and then making the rest of the drive. Won't be to sportsmans till friday night after we fish. We are bringing with the musky poles to try for sturgeon if the walleyes don't cooperate.

[littlemikey]

Sounds good, we will probably see you Friday! Hopefully you catch some and can give us some insight when we get there.

[binsfeldnick]

We'll see how it goes, we've only fished the river one other year with minimal success so hopefully it goes better this year.

[Gusser88]

If you are boat fishing out past Pine Island on LOTW do the LOTW fishing regulations apply this time of year?

[binsfeldnick]

I hope someone can answer that question for you cuz I was gonna ask the same thing. We just talked to sportsmans today and they said we could launch the boat right there. I was also wondering where the boundary is from lake to river and how the limits work out. If I don't find anything out I'll stick to the 2 fish just to be safe.

[fiskyknut]

Lake regs apply iffin you are on the lake, river regs iffin on 4mile bay.

Narrows at the 'Gap' between Pine and Sable islands are the boundary.

[charterboss]

If you fish the lake and have your lake limit on walleye or your big girl. Dont even think about stopping and dropping anchor on the way back in either 4mile bay or the river--go directly to the docks or you will be presented with a fine -since once you stop the river regs take over.

[binsfeldnick]

Thanks for the replies, I will keep that in mind while out there this weekend.

[shamrock7]

Good question. I would assume that if you are fishing beyond lighthouse or Morris Gap, (meaning in the main basin of the lake) you should be able to keep your 4 walleye and 2 sauger or combination thereof. But I don't know that for a fact, best check with a game warden.

[fiskyknut]

See my post above Shamrock.. Or check with Warden!!

Saw a boat on the river on St Patty's day that said 'shamrock' on the side, perhaps it was you eh??

[shamrock7]

Shamrock Rentals - That would be us. We rent them on Vermilion as part of our Resort/Marina. Stop by next time. And we was there on that day so I guess that would have been us.

[Silver Scale]

I saw you too. Like everyone else didn't look like you were having any luck with the walleyes. We were anchored fishing sturgeon and you drifted by..

[fiskyknut]

Sheees Shamrock you guys must have the nicest rental boats in the state because that was a purdy nice boat I saw that day!! If I see you around again yet this spring I'll slipdrift by you and say hello.

Silverscale, bite was off that day to say the least! I pulled one 13inch fish on plastic at the upper sault honeyhole. I did see a report posted where some fellers knocked 'em good that day including quite a few big fish but I don't buy it on account of no one else on the river was getting much of anything and there were a few local well versed river fishers I know out there that day that I spoke with. Weather was sure nice though.

[shamrock7]

We caught one 26" about 2 miles downstream from Pinewood and that was it until we put out the sturgeon tackle. That's one advantage of renting boats, there is usually one to go fishing in, just never time when most water is soft. Well, I guess everyone will know who is in Shamrock now so don't be afraid to give a holler.

PS I actually go by Randy