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Rainy Lake Fishing Reports by Capt John


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I just did my taxes and figgered I spent 60% of all me income on fishing last year. The rest I jest squandered.

Rainy2008-03-10.jpg

Rainy2008-03-PaulK.jpg

Rainy2008-03-10.jpg

Rainy2008-03-20.jpg

Rainy2008-03-PaulK.jpg

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Great pics Captain...Looks like I should have hit Rainy instead of driving all the way to Nipigon...

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Exactly!!!!!

Pass the word....Come stay and fish Rainy Lake this year instead of spending all your money and resources going to that mystical Canadian hideaway. Cut time and money out of that vacation budget, when all you have to do is come to the "End of the Road". I shake my head when I see people waiting in line to go to Canada on their vacations. Now, for those who know me...I know what your thinking. How can you say these things when you yourself have a place in Canada. Believe me, if I didn't I would be just fine going out to one of many spots on the US side and still having success. It will be interested to see how long the lines are this year.....with gas and the exchange rate.

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  • 1 month later...

Opening Day was lousy with no fish after a couple wet hours so quit early. But they were biting yesterday and didn't need minnows. Rainy2008-05-13.jpg

Rainy2008-05-13.jpg

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Great Pics Captain! Keep them coming. Any color of cranks that you recommend?

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Caught that 29" walleye with Captain John casting the new shad x-rap. Works really nice and gets down to 10'

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I bought every color X-Rap they make last year and did well on all of them. I think size is more importamt than color. Smaller sizes worked well early in year but later in year I only threw the big ones.

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OK...how are the water levels and the water temps?

We are coming up onj the 30th of this months for 8 days, just curious as to how things are shaping up.

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Fished about 11 hours today. Got a few nice ones. Didn't git a bite on stinkin minnows and we had some nice ones along. All caught on soft plastic but one on crankbait.

Main lake 43 in morning but up to 46 at 6:00p.m.. Coves got up to 50 during day. Rainy2008-5-19.jpg

Rainy2008-5-19.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Got some nice ones last week all on soft plastic this day. ALso released a 27" walleye on Lindy Shadlyn. Some days they will hit crank baits too but they always hit the jigs.

Yesterday fished by myself and landed 76 fish. About 20% pike to 35" and the rest bass to 19". No pictures from then as couldn't get anybody to share the ride. It was a great day and when sun was out for a few hours saw many fish that wouldn't bite! Rainy2008-05-22.jpg

Rainy2008-05-22.jpg

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Went again today. Only half as many as Thursday. But today they were twice as big! Biggest fish today:

42" pike, 22 lb. - 8 oz,

walleye 26.5", 7 lb. -3 oz,

bass 19.5", 4 lb. - 15 oz.

all real porkers. Nobody along so no pictures. Sure would have liked one of that pike. Nearly all on cranks.

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You stay on those fish Captain and I'll help you take pictures in 3 weeks.. grin Nice fish by the way...

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Great looking Smallies. We're headed to Birch Point on 6/20 for a week and hope Alexandria Bay produces some like those.

Would you mind sharing the color of the Munchies and the size jig head you were using? Looks like a clear type?

Thanks.

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I usually use a 1/16 oz. plain lead jig head on the Munchies. When they are fussy, they want it sinking very slow. If there is any wind, you almost have to be anchored to detect hits with the light jig head. I doubt I feel even 10% of the strikes, I watch my gold Stren 4 lb line to detect hits.

When they are not so fussy, I go to 1/8 or 1/4 oz head with Lindy Shadlyn and work it fast(er). When they are in suicide mode I stick with cranks.

I anchor a lot. Yesterday I was anchored when I got two of those big fish listed above. Was just lucky with that as I had anchored to jig the spot first (without luck). Gave the cranks a few casts before moving - BOO-YAH!! Normally I drift when casting cranks unless I find a school. Then I go up-wind and anchor. I hate fighting the wind with a trolling motor when fishing windy structure. When I know a spot has been good to me in the past, I often anchor before tossing the first cast.

Colors really don't seem to matter on the Munchies but I use Moon Glow, Opening Night, Closing Night, and Tomatoe Core a lot. Often all have produced on the same day. You might have to go to the Lindy web site to find the colors you want.

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Thanks for the reply and information.

We have been using Zoom Flukes (similar to the Shadlyn) in White and Bubble Gum and Zoom Fat Albert Grubs in the past. Have caught a few on Gulp worms and some on Top Water baits. The clear colors in plastics seem to do better than the darker colors. Have fished them with just a wide gap hook or used a plain 1/8 oz jig head. All-in-all it sounds like we are on the right track.

We had a couple of bass spit uo crawfish last year when we were there, so we are taking some plastic crawfish jigs to try this year as well a Rebel Crawfish baits.

Will be sure to let you know how we do.

Thanks again for the reply.

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Big ones weren't cooperating as much Monday but we did manage two dandy bass and a least a dozen pike 32-36". Lost one really big pike that decided to eat a small "bass" jig with no leader. Most on X-Raps or flukes. Many fish spitting up mayfly larve. 45 fish total.

Rainy2008-06-02.jpg

Rainy2008-06-02.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Couldn't catch any good fish (all the bass were small) but at least walleyes were biting today. Got eight between noon and 3:00 p.m. from 21"-28". All on Lindy 5-inch Shadlyns with Sicklemeister jig heads.

Was the first one at the landing as usual but coulda stayed in bed. Almost nothing but dinks until noon. Then in three casts got this one in picture, another 21-incher and a 34 inch pike.

First time I have used this jig head and it is sweet. I have never seen a Sharper hook and you can get them in light weights with big hook if desired. I started with the light head but switched to 1/4 oz when wind came up.

Rainy2008-06-17.jpg

Rainy2008-06-17.jpg

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Fished banker's hours today with Paul. Good fish were hard to come by but I did get a couple. We also got some bottom feeders. And of course we didn't catch em on minnows. All released. Rainy2008-06-23.jpg

Rainy2008-06-23.jpg

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  • 1 month later...

Rainy2008-08-15.jpg One of my fishing buddies has been cleaning up using those nasty crawlers Since he was outfishing me I had to give it a try. Never really used bottom bouncer before and first try was a total zonk. But I re-rigged and next time out got 30 dandies.

My boat ended up a pig pen so was forced to clean it out (normally an annual affair). Crawlers and bedding all over. Next time out went with a partner and he used crawlers on his harness while I went with a Lindy Munchie worm on my harness. I caught more than him so I don't need no stinkin nightcrawlers either. Just rig the Lindy Munchie Worm like you would a live crawler.

Rainy2008-08-15.jpg

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  • 4 weeks later...

Uffda Pete talked me out of going to North Arm (light breeze) so we went to one of his protected spots Monday. Got lots of crappie and I even kept a couple and et em. While I didn't use any stinkin minnows, Uffda bought about $10 worth. You will have to ask him how many he caught on them - har!

Rainy2008-09-22.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Fished about 14 hours total Oct. 6-7 with Paul. Needless to say we had fun. About 70+ fish with some dandy walleyes including Paul's biggest ever - a true porka. Lots of nice bass but no big pike this trip. Water still 57 degrees. All caught on soft plastics and released.

Rainy2008-10-06.jpg

Rainy2008-10-06.jpg

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GREAT FISH!

Makes me want to hook up the boat and drive up tomorrow.

Just not in the cards though.

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When you call your wife from the boat and ask her to meet you at the boat ramp with the camera - and she does! you know you have a keeper (no not the fish).

Had to get a picture of this porka so wife kindly met me at the ramp.

Right after I caught this one, I hooked an even bigger fish. Had dreams of a world record but it turned out to be a 18 lb 4 oz. pike. The only pike I got all day!

Rainy2008-10-16.jpg

Rainy2008-10-16.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

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