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On the South Shore... Ice fishing is in full swing on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, with resorts and outfitters continuing to report solid ice conditions and some good fishing. Many ice roads are now open to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouse.  Every road has different weight limits, check with each resort for details before traveling up and out on the ice.   

 

Most fishing activity is happening in 26 - 32 feet of water.  Most anglers are sorting through some small fish to catch their keepers with an occasional slot or trophy walleye.   Most buckets have some good quality walleyes and saugers. Jumbo perch, northern pike, and large eelpout are also adding excitement to the mix, with a few sturgeon showing up as well.

 

Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, your favorite small to mid sized jigging spoon in gold, glow red, glow white, pink, chartreuse or a combo of these colors tipped with a minnow head. Rattles can help as well in the stained water.

 

Some anglers are finding success on jigging raps and rippin raps as well.  More aggressive techniques at times are really getting it done.

 

On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches - a foot off of the bottom is working well.

 

Using electronics is very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish.

 

On the Rainy River... The Rainy River is still producing some nice fish but the good walleye bite has slowed some.  Anglers are catching some decent numbers of walleyes and saugers, with several nice-sized sturgeon showing up nicely for those angling for them. However, caution remains crucial on the river, as ice conditions can vary significantly due to the current.

 

Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good.  To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.

 

Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing is going very well up at the Northwest Angle. Resorts have fish houses out with anglers already enjoying excellent success.

 

The NW Angle is delivering its usual consistent fishing, with a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and pike being caught. Resorts and outfitters in the area are working hard to place fish houses on points, reefs and over deep mud.  

 

Ice fishing is in full swing and there are openings for lodging and fish house rentals on both ends of the lake.  

 

For more information on fish house rentals, lodging, and updates on ice conditions, visit fishingminnesota.com.

Joe Henry, jumbo perch in front of fish house_Cyrus Flag Island Resort_010625.jpeg

Jen Pudenz with nice walleye in fish house_Cyrus Flag Island Resort_010625 (2).jpg

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    • smurfy
    • monstermoose78
      Saturday is the first day get to hunt !! Woohoo
    • smurfy
      Nice fish bud, first one?
    • Kettle
    • Kettle
      Went up to the Rainy for the last day of catch and release walleye. Rough weather. I could find walleye but they didn't cooperate. Only got one walleye 2 pike and a dinosaur on walleye tackle. 81 minute fight. 58", figured around 45 lbsIMG_9579.HEICIMG_9579.HEIC
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  For the vast majority of anglers, ice fishing is over for the year, and what a great year it was.  You may hear of a few hardcore ice guides still gaining access in places targeting pike, but overall, we will now start watching for open holes appearing in the ice, the Rainy River making its presence known outside the Lighthouse Gap and satellite images from clear days showing progress up until the MN Fishing Opener.     The spring walleye season is complete as of April 14th.  As far as the lake goes, the focus now is pike up until the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 10th.     Ditches are running and soon bays will pop open enabling anglers to target huge pike while they head to spawning areas.  Pike fishing is year round on Lake of the Woods and can be excellent during the spring in back bays.   Some anglers will use dead bait much like they do on a tip up.  Others will cast spoons or troll crankbaits.  Pike fishing in the back secluded bays along the south shore of Lake of the Woods offers a unique fishing opportunity you don't need a big boat for and it can produce trophy sized pike.   The limit of pike on the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods is a daily limit of 3, with all pike 30 - 40 inches having to be released.  An angler is allowed one trophy pike over 40 inches per day.  Some anglers choose to get measurements, take some pictures, release the fish and get a graphite mount.  All good options. On the Rainy River...  The spring walleye season is in the books!  Overall, big numbers of walleyes caught and released on the Rainy River (along with some absolute giants).  Thank you to all who traveled up, had patience with some long lines, helped out others and shared in this spring tradition of catching walleyes (and sturgeon).    A sincere thank you to all who help this spring tradition happen behind the scenes.  Koochiching County did a great job clearing ice from the boat ramps on the river as soon as possible.  Many agencies work together to make this tradition safe, respectful and enjoyable.  Again, thank you.   The Wheeler's Point boat ramp at the mouth of the Rainy River located 12 miles north of Baudette is open.  Thank you to a number of resort owners combined with some visitors in boats working together to drill holes, make waves, and coax the last remaining stubborn ice away from the ramp.  It is teamwork like this that makes the resort / fishing community in these parts special.   Initial reports for sturgeon are excellent.  Good numbers being caught and released.  Anchored up in a hole or on the slope of a hole with a no roll sinker and sturgeon rig is the ticket.  A sturgeon rig is about an 18 inch leader with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers and emerald shiners.  Local resorts and bait shops have all the equipment you need.     Sturgeon fishing is open through May 15th.  Here are the specific seasons for sturgeon fishing...   -Catch and Release Season: May 8th – May 15th and October 1 – April 23rd. -Harvest Season: April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – September 30. -Closed Season: May 16th – June 30th. Up at the Northwest Angle...  With many areas of open water showing up along with some heaves and cracks, travel on the ice up at the Angle is pretty much finished up.  You may see a local in an airboat which can traverse over both ice and open water delivering mail to the Oak Island post office or bringing supplies to a resort, but the watch for open water is on.   For now, folks will be fishing pike and sturgeon and paying attention to aerial images of open water and ice out on the lake until the MN Fishing Opener on May 10th.  Time to make plans!  For more information on spring and summer fishing, visit fishingminnesota.com.  
    • leech~~
      If you do ever get ahold of him. Also suggest he make sure his battery is fully charged. If it's been sitting unused all winter, it might have enough to light it up but not run it so it shuts off.   Also, let us know what he does find out if he gets it fixed it might help someone else. 👍
    • PSU
      Thank you very much for your feedback Leech and Kettle. Very tough for me to help the neighbor when he doesn't respond to my messages.    Oh well, but thanks again for your help. 
    • Wanderer
      OnX in your hands?  Geez… nobody’s safe anymore! 😂   Need the waypoints for the deer tick hotspots? 
    • leech~~
      Speaking of the river. Got my onX app.  I might have to ride my dualsport up and check out that state land on the otherside to sluice up a bird!  🤣
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