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Bright Colors for Attracting Walleye


LakeofthewoodsMN

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On the south end... Some nice walleyes and saugers being caught of all sizes.  -25 degrees and weather systems making good ice, but messes a bit with the bite.  

Most fishing is taking place in 22 - 29' of water.  If you are portable, don't forget about the shallow water bite morning and evening from 10 - 17'.

Jig one line, deadstick the second line with a live minnow a foot off of the bottom.  

Jig with your favorite jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail.  Using a more aggressive lure like a lipless crankbait with rattles both catching and attracting fish.  Pink, firetiger, chartreuse, gold, glow white and glow green effective.  

On the deadstick, a live minnow on a demon, plain hook or an ice jig with a live minnow has been effective.  

Ice conditions are very good overall, but on the big expanse of LOW, conditions vary.  Many resorts and ice road operators are allowing trucks and wheel houses.  It is important to work through a resort / outfitter and adhere to their current weight limits, stay on the marked path and drive slow.

Both day houses and sleeper houses are on the ice and available.  

Please remember to Keep It Clean, leave no garbage behind.  Winter pump out stations for heated tanks on wheel houses available at Howard's Oil (Cenex in Baudette) and Log Cabin Bait at Wheeler's Point.

On the Rainy River...   The Rainy River is locked up with ice and ice fishing has been taking place.  A decent walleye bite with some quality fish reported before the deep freeze.  A jig and a minnow is working well for walleyes and saugers.

Ice conditions vary on the river as there is current, work through a resort or outfitter for safety.  

Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing is in full swing up at the NW Angle.  Initial reports show good numbers of walleyes with some big pike and jumbo perch in the mix.  

Jig one line, deadstick the second.  Glow and bright colors are working well.

Driving through Canada to the Angle no longer requires COVID vaccinations or the use of the ArriveCan App.  

For those looking to access the Angle while avoiding customs, there are few options.  

1.  The snowmobile trail across the lake is open from the south shore up to the Angle.

2.  The Lake of the Woods Passenger service provides round trip bombardier service across the lake.  

3.  Lake Country Air provides air service to both the south end and NW Angle.  

Ice fishing and fish houses available through March 31st.  

Greg Jones, walleyes in fish house.jpeg

Joe Henry, big eelpout in fish house.jpg

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    • mbeyer
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    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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