Bite Continues Very Good

[LakeofthewoodsMN]

On the South End... The walleye and sauger bite continues to be very good with anglers enjoying consistent action.  As we transition into fall, fish are being found at various depths, but 25 - 32 feet of water has been consistent.

Jigging continues to pick up as the waters cool.  Water temps this week are down to 64.  Top jig colors this week include gold, orange, chartreuse, and pink.  For some anglers, big numbers caught this week jigging with frozen emerald shiners on the lake.

 

Some anglers are jigging on or adjacent to structure.  Others are finding schools of walleyes and saugers out over deep mud.  Using sonar to find fish is helpful.  

 

Spinners and trolling crankbaits continue to produce fish as well.  This is a transition time where multiple presentations are working.  As the season progresses, jigging will take over as the top technique.  

 

For those pulling spinners, gold, pink, orange, glow red, or glow white has been successful. Adjust your weights to 2 - 3 ounces to match the depth and speed you are drifting / trolling.

Trolling crankbaits is still producing nice walleyes.  Some goto colors are gold, chrome / blue, pink UV firetiger, and chartreuse.  

 

More and more walleyes are showing up along the south shore.  It seems things are gravitating towards fall patterns where good numbers of the fish are both chasing shiners and moving closer to shorelines.  The bite has been excellent and is really shaping up nicely for the fall jig bite both on the lake and in the Rainy River.

On the Rainy River... A variety of species continue to be caught on the Rainy River.  Nice current flow is providing fall anglers some optimism for this year's fall shiner and walleye run being a banner year.  Some reports of nice walleyes being caught in the river already this week.

 

There are reports of shiners in the river all the way up to Birchdale.  Things seem to be setting up nice for a great fall on the river.  Mother Nature will have the final say of course.

Sturgeon fishing is picking up with cooling waters.  Anglers anchor up and use a combination of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig with a flat no roll sinker.  

 

Find a hole in the river or simply mark these big fish in an area, anchor up and soak some crawlers!

Up at the NW Angle... Walleye fishing up at the NW Angle remains really good. Fish are being found in many areas.  Structure, neck down areas as well as on the flats.  

Some good fish are still holding in the deep mud east and northeast of Little Oak Island in the mud.  Areas around Four Blocks, and north of Garden Island producing fish as well. 

 

As on the south end, jigging, spinners / crawlers and trolling crankbaits are all producing walleyes.

 

Smallmouth bass, pike and muskies are also being caught, both by unsuspecting walleye anglers and when targeted.  As the waters cool, crappies and jumbo perch are also showing up nicely for anglers.