Rainy River and Back Bays Producing Pike

[LakeofthewoodsMN]

On the south end...  The dog days of August are upon us and there was some great walleye fishing this past week.  As one guide commented, "we have to work for them, but we normally find them.  They aren't in the typical spots, but fishing overall has been good." 

Even on Lake of the Woods, you gotta find them.  When you do, two summer patterns are catching good numbers of fish.  Spinners and crankbaits.

 

Drifting spinners with a fathead, frozen emerald shiner or crawler has been working well.  If there is no wind, troll slowly, about 1.25 mph to keep the blade spinning and cover water.  Use a one hook harness with the minnows, a two hook harness with a crawler.  Gold, gold/red, gold/pink have all been good colors.  Mix up colors until you find what is working the best.  

 

Trolling crankbaits has also been catching good numbers of walleyes.  Downriggers, leadcore line, snap weights, 4 oz. bottom bouncers with a 6' leader or a deep diving crankbait with braided line are all great ways to get your crankbait down deep.  Depths of 30 - 36 feet are depths in the basin is holding a lot of walleyes.  

 

Various reefs are still producing.  Some days, fish are on top, other days, they are on the sides or base where the rock transitions to mud.  Some days, they might be over mud just off of the reef.  Electronics will help you find the fish.

Good numbers of big walleyes caught this week.  Big pike, jumbo perch and occasional crappies in the mix.

On the Rainy River...   The morning and evening bite continues to be the best for walleyes.  Some nice pike and sturgeon caught this week on the river as well.

 

For walleyes, deeper holes, flats with current sweeping over them, and current breaks are good bets.  

 

Some big pike caught both on the main river and back in some bays casting spinners and spoons.  

 

Sturgeon activity increased this week and some nice fish were caught.  The sturgeon keep season is on.  One sturgeon 45-50 inches or over 75 inches allowed per calendar year per angler with a sturgeon tag.  Many anglers simply catch and release.

Up at the NW Angle...  The fish are biting up at the Angle.  Walleyes, muskies, pike, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and crappies this week.

 

For walleyes, work up and down structure until you find fish.  This week, 22 feet of water off of reefs and points was good.  Jig with a minnow or pull spinners with a minnow or crawler to cover water.    

 

Muskie anglers are reporting a good number of follows and catches.  Not a lot of details provided, other than active fish and good success.  

 

Some big pike caught again this week.  Some pike were caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers, others by anglers targeting them casting or trolling.  With over 14,000 islands, the spots are limitless.