Ice and Open Water Fishing Available

[LakeofthewoodsMN]

On the south end...   This is the time of year some are still ice fishing on the main basin of Lake of the Woods and others are open water fishing out of boats on the Rainy River.  It's nice to have options!

 

Ice anglers targeting walleyes are being rewarded with good catches of walleyes, saugers, and some jumbo perch.  Most action is in 18 - 25'.

 

Pike enthusiasts are finding big pike tip up fishing in prespawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  Tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water has been the pattern overall.

 

Soon, pike will be sliding into back bays to spawn, which creates an entirely different fishing opportunity.  The pike season on Lake of the Woods never closes.  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.

Anticipation is high for the MN Fishing Opener, which is Saturday, May 11th.  Good numbers of walleyes and saugers are currently staged in many locations along the south shore.

On the Rainy River...  Open water has made it all the way to Four Mile Bay.  Walleye fishing and sturgeon fishing has been excellent.  The water clarity is still very good and there are a lot of fish in the river.  

Boat ramps are open all the way to Wheeler's Point.  Birchdale, Frontier, Vidas, Timber Mill Park in Baudette, and the Wheeler's Point boat ramp at the mouth of the Rainy River are all open.

Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the ticket for most spring walleye anglers.  Don't forget about slow trolling crankbaits against the current as this is a very effective technique this time of the year.

Sturgeon are active and being caught on the river as well by both walleye anglers and those targeting sturgeon.  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 appearing in some of the areas with current such as Flag Island Flats, Minnesota Point and Million Dollar Rock, just to name a few.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.