March Ice Fishing is ON!

[LakeofthewoodsMN]

On the south end...  March is upon us which brings excitement for many anglers.  Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended season with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st, walleye and sauger season open through April 14 and a pike season that does not close.  

As the days get longer and the sun gets stronger, Mother Nature is encouraging fish to start putting on the feed bag.  This leads to some great opportunities.  Anglers are catching walleyes, lots of saugers, jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, tullibee and even a few crappies.  

Many pike anglers have begun using tip ups in shallower waters, 10-17' on average, with big live suckers or dead bait on a quick strike rig.  Some nice fish being caught.  

For walleyes and saugers, a few tips...  Electronics help, you can rent them from resorts, outfitters and local bait shops if you don't own them.  Be aggressive with the jigging line.  Lures with a rattle will attract fish and get some reaction bites.  Use goto colors for stained water, golds, glow colors, orange, etc.  

Bites can be very light.  A small bobber or a rod with a sensitive tip is helpful to detect light bites. If fish are finicky, go small.  Most report catching some small fish to catch keepers.  

Most ice fishing is taking place in 26 - 33 feet of water.  

On the Rainy River...   Some walleyes being caught during the morning and evening.  Gold, glow and glow colors working the best tipped with a minnow. Always use extra caution as there is current.  

The snowmobile trail is groomed and staked from Baudette to Wheeler's Point 12 miles continuing up to the Angle another 42 miles.

Up at the NW Angle...  Some great walleye fishing this week.  Most fishing is taking place in 22-33 feet.  Gold, glow colors, orange or a combo of these colors productive.  Keep lines moving to get and keep the attention of fish.  Fish every fish.  Small schools move through periodically.

There are various ways to travel to the Angle.  

1.  Drive through Canada  (vaccination and COVID test currently required).  

2.  Groomed and staked snowmobile trails (stays in MN)

3.  LOW Passenger Service (bombardier service across the lake staying in MN) 

4.  Lake Country Air.(stays in MN)

LOW enjoys extended seasons with fish houses on the lake through March 31st, walleye and sauger season open through April 14th and pike open year round.