Hot Bite

[Rick]

The fishing is fantastic on the Rainy right now. Not only can you get your fill of walleyes using jig and minnows (1/8 oz to /8 oz) but smallies are numerous as well. Many smallies in the 19+ inch range (4-5 lbs).

Purple ringworms (plastics) or emerald shiners on a jig worked well.

We spent two days at Clementson Resort. What wonderful owners and hosts. They will help you get on fish and have plenty of bait, very reasonably priced, for folks who stay there (they sell bait to most of the local resorts).

Clementson had a great Opener last year with lots of trophy walleyes brought to boat and released. So opening weekend can be a great uncrowded option.

If you're looking for huge smallies, I highly recommend a trip next May/June to target them along with the huge pike (20+ Lbs) and bonus river walleyes/sauger that reside in the rainy.

The scenery is also breathtaking.

Here is there website:
http://clementsonresort.com

Book the best times early. Don't forget the ice out (Late February-April 15th) madness that goes on in the Rainy River as all those walleyes from lake of the Woods head up on their spawning run. Plenty of trophies are in then as well.

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 10-12-2002).]

[Jim W]

Hey all,

This isn't a pitch, it's fact! If you love river fishing for multi-species try the Rainy river. Rick and I caught quite a few fish in a day and a half of fishing.

Many walleyes were caught with trophy sized smallmouth thrown in!

Clementson's is a prime location on the river, check them out!

As soon as I get them photos, I'll send them to ya Rick! Can't wait to see them smallies!

Keep the rods bendin'!!

Jim W

[Alphid]

Hey,
I am going up tomorrow with my brothers and still looking for a place to stay. I am going to give Clementson's place a call on your recommedation to see if they still have any openings.
Being an avid bass angler here in the cities, your getting me excited to make the trip up. I know those 4-5 lbs smallies are a balst. Catching them on Mille Lacs and lower Mississppi makes anyone go wil. I know the weather probably won't cooperate the best but it has looked better every day. Would you have any advice on what areas to key in on to find them?
Thanks,
Aplphid

[Jim W]

I'll probably get in trouble or something for this, but there is a mid river submerged point that juts out from a granite point on shore(Mn side).

It's easy to find, it is marked by two deadheads in the water and is the only spot like it, just up stream from Clementon's bay!

The top comes up real shallow. Key in on the main channel side and upstream side of it in 15 feet of water, trying a tad shallower and deeper. Ok there you go!

Better let us know how you do or this guy will become unwantingly tight lipped!

Jim W

PS. The smallies seemed to prefer plastics or bait. I was using a 4 inch purple with a white tip twister tailed Ring Worm, tipped on a quarter ounce chart jig. Pretty much anywhere near abrupt depth changes and submerged dead-heads etc.

Have at-em

This message has been edited by Jim W
(edited 10-16-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Jim W (edited 10-16-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Jim W (edited 10-16-2002).]

[Rick]

You can also try downsteam of Clementson at the old logging abutments-footings-cribs. A lot of smallmouths are hanging around those and the deadheads in the area as well.

They come up to the surface(you can see the deadheads) and drop into 18'-20' of water. 11'-18'was very productive for smallies last Wednesday with Tom Stay of Gonzo's Guide Service.

We caught more walleyes and smallies than I cared to count and those smallies were really a blast. I can hardly wait until next May or June to get after em when they've put on another pound or so. Then we go from hogs to Trophies.

[Alphid]

Guys,
Thanks a lot for you help. I will let you know how we do.
If you guys see a white crestliner this weekend on the river yell for me and I will be sure to thank you personally.
Much Appreciated.
Alphid

[Sandee]

If you see a 19' Crestliner with a white top with the name "Sandee Marie" that would be us!!

Good Luck, let us know how you do!!

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www.clementsonresort.com

[Zaraspooks]

I was on the river this weekend and tried a few of the spots posted but didn't have much luck. We moved up river near the Frontier access and did much better. Between the three of us, we boated 111 walleyes with the biggest being just over 6lbs.

Also boated 7 sturgeon. Fought one for about 55 minutes. It was 56". What a great fight.

One question, if you hook a sturgeon in US waters and he tows your boat to Canadian waters, is it then illegal to continue to fight the fih?

[Alphid]

Jim/Rick/Sandee,
Thanks for the information about where to fish on the river. We got out there on Sat and boy was it ever busy and cold! We went to the wood reef and fished there for a while. We didn't get anything there. We threw jig with minnows and through some tube baits at them also with no takers. We then went to the point off of the Granite shoreline. We fished there for a while and ended up getting some small eyes, nothing to brag about. There was an awefull lot of wood hanging upder water and could see why it would hold a good amount of fish.
We then heading back upstream and fished another point with a nice break and ended up getting some fish.
We didn't catch a ton but it was a great time. I wish that the weather would have been better because I think it effected the out ability to feel the bites.
Thanks for all the help. I am going to be going up again soon.
Thanks again.

[Xplorer]

Zara,
I saw this exact thing happen this spring just below frontier. The boat was fighting a big sturgeon and let their boat float clearly into canadian waters. The OMNR pulled up and waited until they had landed/released the fish, then wrote out the tickets. If you are on the wrong side it wont matter how/why you got there, just that you are.

PS, nice bunch of fish, how was the access? I will be up on friday and was debating whether to launch at frontier or birchdale. Did you hear of anyone that did well upriver? Did you try trolling at all? Thanks for any general info.
Xplorer

[Jim W]

ALphid and others,

SOunds like you caught some fish. I guess when I give reports, I am giving as close to what actually occurred as possible.

The big smallmouth weren't around in big numbers, but when we got into them WOW!

When we were there the smaller walleyes seemed to be around except up by Birchdale.

I am glad a few tried what we reported. Doesn't always work out, but that is and what can make this site so special. The exchange of decent info!

So often I find myself wading through the vagueness, acting as a private investigator, figuring out exactly what the fishing report is trying to tell me.

So far this site stands above all others when providing anything near good fishing reports!!!

Good luck out there. It's time to spend a little time on the water, creating my own reports for myself!HEHEHEH

Keep the rods bendin'!!!

Jim W

[Sandee]

This is one thing I have noticed in the 8 years we have been here, fishing hot spots tend to move around. I believe boat traffic with alot of activity will slow a "hot" spot. My theory is: Fish tomorrow where you didn't catch fish the day before!

This year is exceptional due to the low level and slow to non-existent current. This spreads the walleyes out, where they are not "holding" in the humps or holes to rest out of the current and to wait on bait fish.

We experienced this a few years ago, low levels and slow current. Fishing was not your "normal" fall fishing spectacular, although you did catch fish, just not as many numbers.

We are seeing many, many 8" - 12" walleyes being caught and released, this only shows the healthy fishery we have here on the Rainy River and LOW.

Presentation is the key - be flexible. Try different techniques, I am sure you will hit on one that will produce!!

Good Luck to All!!

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www.clementsonresort.com

[Zaraspooks]

Xplorer -

The ramp isn't too bad at Frontier. The lot gets a little sloppy with mud later in the day but otherwise it's OK. We were the first to launch on Sunday morning and were a little nervous about the ice on the ramp so we backed in on the gravel next to the ramp and didn't have a problem with the Tyee.

As for trolling cranks, we didn't try that presentation. Used jigs and shinners exclusively. Found gold jigs to work the best. Lots of light bitters so we added stinger hooks.

Tryed up near Birchdale with not much luck(one here, one there) Most consistant bite was near Frontier. Just up river from the access there is a log cabin on the US side with a white ice house near the river. We drifted that area in the deeper water and had our best luck.

Good luck and give us a report on your return.

The Spook

[Rick]

A few pics are on the homepage.

Honestly,
we caught a lot more walleyes than smallies.

Nice walleyes, smallies, and pike call this River home gang

Make a March/April/May booking early. They definitely do book up fast. The fishing is that good. I kid you not.

Early June will be prime Trophy smallmouth fishing time.