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Posted (edited)

High winds and trolling with the big motor against the wind were productive.  Fish were one and two on a spot, and that’s it. 

My friend has a new boat and we broke it in proper as the first fish caught on Rainy Lake was a Smallmouth..

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We target smallies, first 2 days we got about 30 fish each days and a handful of eyes.  Smallies were ok, nothing huge.  

A053CDFD-59F6-434F-BE85-C91D6263A52B.thumb.jpeg.ed6774593abbd5afa94e301bd1428301.jpegED42F69D-4F9A-4FFB-B64E-DA19F0191484.thumb.jpeg.1df43ca645dbccf130aef28278a0caa3.jpegF36B9DF6-10BC-412A-85CD-99038DA78CCC.thumb.jpeg.55bb103efdc53c780ad8fa9a35a0388b.jpeg67CB1947-8724-4181-BF2E-8A2B842E874B.thumb.jpeg.5fe6bf53a6c1dd360fcb12925bc58196.jpeg

The 3rd and 4th day were slow.  I did catch 3 smallies Over 19, and the biggest walleye of the trip was caught, just a 25 incher..

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Crankbaits with green pumpkin and orange belly and chartreuse were key.  Check out the crawdad clippers a Smallmouth pukes up in our boat..

4310158D-1A93-4A7D-8E4F-4C8A8FF9FEE4.thumb.jpeg.0bf6725a679c0e47d09802f078775118.jpeg0CF18ABA-079B-4B42-BC5B-8F3108339E26.thumb.jpeg.1b13a6d461f5a1e9ea91d81e40ca37c5.jpeg

Then the last days of the trip the weather stabilized and we pounded them. Bass were crushing the soft plastics and top waters.  The lines were dancing across the surface, we had several doubles in our boat.  The big pike are biting right now.  My brother in the other boat likes big pike and he landed a 44 inch pike, had a few other 38-40 inch class fish on almost every day.  Backs of the bays.

 

 

1D21B663-42CB-4403-A4BB-AE185299FFB4.thumb.jpeg.f1815beb427a8e754ab4357c48593479.jpeg

B9023086-A7C5-410E-9224-7A32D441B85E.thumb.jpeg.19163e22668a97dc0bae1b5b9eace53e.jpegThelast thing we caught Friday night was a snapping Turtle to end the trip!

AE1E31A0-4AAA-49E9-A04C-197B8C78A3AC.thumb.jpeg.bb39c9b5566f0e80c6f9542cda2318fb.jpeg Our stay at Sha Sha was great and we all had a good time.  Right now is the optimal time to be on the water.  We didn’t see and bass on beds yet.

 

 

 

 

Edited by fisher972002
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Posted

Thanks for the report. Heading up Thursday staying at Island View. Hoping to target the big three ourselves. I will post a report as able.

Posted

What water temps did you have?

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Got back earlier in the week from Rainy. Sorry for the delayed post, work isn't easier after a few day away! Fishing was challenging with strong winds the first 2 days. Fish were relating to weeds in 6-9 feet of water. Weeds were all the way to the surface. Lots of pike and the walleyes were almost exclusively slot fish. Did get a few bonus sauger though. Mostly precision trolling due to wind. Did get fish toward evenings on jerk baits. All in all any time you are fishing in a place like Voyageurs you can help but enjoy yourself.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
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    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
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    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
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      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
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