Ice Conditions Still Stable on Lake of the Woods

[LakeofthewoodsMN]

On the south end...  Ice conditions, snowpack on the ice and cool March weather are all combining to lengthen the current good ice conditions.  Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended season with fish houses allowed on the ice overnight through March 31st, walleye and sauger season open through April 14 and a pike season that does not close.  Lodging and fish houses are available.

Ice anglers are reporting a mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, tullibee and even a few crappies.  As some resorts start moving fish houses closer to the south shore, fishing is happening from 17 - 33' of water, a big spread.  Mixed reports across the lake.  Most believe as days lengthen, snowpack melts and water starts entering the lake, fishing will improve.  

Electronics are a big help showing suspended fish and assisting in being more effective for fish below you.

Keep lures moving to get walleyes and saugers to commit.  Jig one line, deadstick the second with a live minnow.

Gold combined with glow colors, wonderbread, red, white and green glow colors have been good.

Pike activity is picking up.  Using a tip up with a quick strike rig, live sucker or frozen bait has been the most successful in 10 - 20'.  Set tip ups in varying depths until you figure out the best depth and duplicate it.  Dead smelt and live suckers have been hot.

Have pike release tools (needle nose, jaw spreaders, camera) ready to roll so pike get back into the water quickly and safely.  Pike limit is 3 fish per day, 30 - 40 inches must be released, one can be kept over 40".

On the Rainy River...   Some anglers still ice fishing but most are looking forward to open water on the Rainy River.  There is slow progress being made but with 40's in the forecast, optimism runs high.  The open water mark is a number of miles east of Loman currently.

Only Mother Nature knows, but when the river starts to open up, it can happen fast.  Stay tuned.

The snowmobile trail is groomed and staked from Baudette up to the NW Angle.

Up at the NW Angle...  There is still over 3 feet of ice and snow up at the Angle.  Some great walleye fishing with most fishing taking place in 19 - 26 feet.  Orange, gold, pink and bright green productive.  Keep lines active.  Jig one line, live minnow on the second line.

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 (bomber and charter boat service across the lake staying in MN) 

4.  Lake Country Air.(stays in MN)