Anchor Up and Jig This Fall

[LakeofthewoodsMN]

On the south end...  Fall walleye fishing is in full swing on Lake of the Woods.  Some excellent reports this week with an increase of fish along the south shore and an increase in anglers catching them via jigging, however spinners and crankbaits are still working well.

 

Anchored up or spot locked and jigging over the side of the boat is an effective fall method.  Using gold, pink, glow, orange and chartreuse colored jigs tipped with a frozen emerald shiner is hard to beat.

 

Spinners with crawlers or minnows and trolling crankbaits are still producing fish and is an effective way to put your baits in front of many fish, some of which will typically react.

 

With literally millions of walleyes in Lake of the Woods, not every walleye is focusing on the same forage in the same area.  Walleyes are being caught at many locations around the lake, including deep mud, reefs, shorelines and transition areas (rock to mud, mud to sand).

 

Most fish are being caught in 18 - 32 feet, depending upon where you are fishing.  Don't forget about the morning / evening bite along the shoreline areas.  

 

Big pike, jumbo perch, a few crappies and an occasional sturgeon in the mix of walleyes and saugers throughout a day of fishing.

 

On the Rainy River...   Some shiners have started to run up the Rainy River.  There have been good fishing reports with fish being caught, but it isn't the heavy fall run yet.  The walleye fishing isn't a slamfest yet, but there are definitely some nice fish to be had.

 

Jigging is becoming more effective with water temps in the low 60's.  This technique will only get better as the fall continues.  Trolling spinners and trolling crankbaits continues to be effective as well.   

 

Walleyes continue to be caught in Four Mile Bay, along various shoreline breaks, bars and other pieces of structure up and down the river.  

 

Pike and smallmouth bass are hanging out on shorelines, in bays and areas with rock.  Some nice crappies being caught around docks and off of breaks.

Fall sturgeon fishing is normally very good in the fall and is overshadowed by the walleye run!  The sturgeon season is open through the winter into the spring.

Up at the NW Angle...  Walleye fishing up at the Angle continues good.  Limits of walleyes are being caught on both sides of the border.  

Walleyes are hanging out on points, reefs, flats and neck down areas with current.  They are being caught jigging, pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits.  All three methods are catching fish.

 

As a rule of thumb, jig over structure, pull spinners or cranks to cover water along a shoreline, on a flat or to find fish.

 

Crappies are in 20 - 30 feet off of points and around brush piles. Electronics help to find, and stay on the schools of fish.

Muskies continue to be active.  Big pike are in abundance and snappin'.  Smallmouth bass are active with cooling water temps.