Still 3 Feet of Ice

[LakeofthewoodsMN]

On the South Shore...  There is still some good ice fishing to take advantage of if you still have that itch and want to ice some walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, maybe an eelpout and certainly big pike.  
 
Being up on the Canadian border, the colder temps Lake of the Woods enjoys vs much of the region combined with three feet of ice makes a big difference.  Fish houses are allowed unattended overnight through March 31st.  Some resorts have called it a season, but other resorts still have fish houses out, are still fishing and have availability.    

Fishing reports have been good.  Numbers of walleyes, saugers and perch.  Using electronics is super helpful with some larger walleyes swimming through suspended. 

 

It was a great week of pike fishing for most.  Good numbers of fish and some big fish tipping that 40 inch mark coming topside.  Suckers, frozen alewife and smelt are working well. Putting baits 1 foot under the ice or right off bottom has been effective.  Most pike anglers are fishing in depths, 9 - 15 feet.

On the Rainy River...  The Rain River is still frozen from Nelson Park at Birchdale, MN (30 miles east of Baudette) and to the west, which is where most anglers spring fish.  The ice is showing signs of deteriorating in places.  The river is open water about 20 miles east of Birchdale near Loman.  Things are happening.  

A good reminder, as of March 1st, walleyes and saugers are catch and release only on Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River.  

Sturgeon fishing.  Once the open water appears, sturgeon are active.  Here are the seasons...
 
-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...  Fishing remains very good up at the Angle.  There is still some ice fishing happening with some, and others have called it a season.  Call ahead if you have that itch for one last ice fishing trip.  

Walleyes, saugers, perch, crappies and pike are in good numbers.  

The walleye and sauger season is open through April 14th. Pike fishing never closes, and perch and crappie remain open year-round as well.  You can fish for sturgeon through May 15th.