Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Anglers Looking Forward to Open Water


LakeofthewoodsMN

Recommended Posts

On the south end...  Fish houses are off of the lake (for the most part) and most ice fishing is with collapsible fish houses or out in the open.  

Some ice roads are still open to snowmobiles, ATV's and side by sides.  It is good to call ahead of time as this time of year, conditions can change quickly.  

Some anglers are still targeting walleyes.  Mixed reports across the lake.  

Most ice anglers are after pike.  The recent cold spell has seemed to slow pike activity for the time being.  Reports over the weekend were just average.  

Tip ups with a quick strike rig, live sucker, frozen smelt or cisco have been the most successful in 10 - 20'.  Set tip ups in varying depths until you figure out the best depth and duplicate it.  

Some laying dead bait on the bottom or just off.  Others set bait just below the ice, in the middle of the water column, 2 feet off until you find a pattern.

Walleye and sauger season open through April 14th.  Pike season open year round.  MN fishing opener is May 14th.

On the Rainy River...   Anglers are looking forward to the open water and the spring walleye run.  

As of March 28th, the open water line on the Rainy River was still east of the Nelson Park access in Birchdale, MN.  There is a stretch of open water down the middle of the river near Franz Jevne, which is just east of the Nelson Park access, but colder temps have slowed the open water progress a bit.  

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

The snowmobile trail is closed.

Up at the NW Angle...  Resorts have pulled fish houses off for the year.  Some residents are still ice fishing with collapsible houses.  

COVID testing requirements to drive through Canada will be dropped come April 1st.  Travelers need to be vaccinated and use the ArriveCan App.

There are various ways to travel to the Angle.  

1.  Drive through Canada to the Angle  

2.  LOW Passenger Service (charter boat service across the lake staying in MN) 

3.  Lake Country Air.(stays in MN, lands on ice / water)

4.  Take your own boat.  (Safety first, this is a 40 mile ride over big water)

 

 

Franz Jevne_032822.jpg

Big pike, Arnesen's Rocky Point_031421.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The topic was locked
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.