rainy lake Rainy Lake Fishing Reports by Capt John

[okfisherman]

thought you might be passing thru this weekend john. the snow and ice should have made you feel at home if you didn't beat it. I will start paying more attention at garage sales for some good oldies lures. hope your lakes in texas have more water than ours do. we need rain!

[CaptJohnWis]

Down here in Texas and trying to find some fishing partners with boats. Mine is up north and no room in garage here to store it. They have a real nice fishing web site in Austin. I have posted a few things there. It is well organized and they even have a special area for guys looking for fishing partners.

I also started a blog on antique fishing lures. Got more time to mess with that down here.

Click link to see the Austin Bass Fishing HSOforum:

Austin Bass Fishing HSOforum link

[CaptJohnWis]

Finally got somebody to take me fishing down here in Texes. Brent and I fished Lake Travis today. It is the water supply for Austin, TX. The lake has been down 50 feet since we moved here a few years ago and not because I have been keeping too many fish. It was a loooong walk from parking lot to the water. To make things worse, Brent forgot his wallet in the boat and had to go all the way backi at quitting time! At least he wasn't carrying half my stuff on the return trip.

Day started well with me getting a small Striped Bass right away. After that it was slow with a little one here and there. Mostly Guadalupe Bass which look a lot like large mouth. GOt a beauty right before we quit though so that made it a great day.

Click link to see the one that did not get away.

http://youtu.be/Xf9EcK6Z35A

[okfisherman]

wow! and I thought our Oklahoma lakes were in trouble with water levels. prayin we all get some rain

[ssaamm]

Hey Capt, I enjoy your reports. A buddy and I have been going on Canadian trips for the

Last 10 yrs or so. Been at Rainy the last 2. Great place. Stayed at the Fisheries last year. Could not believe the water levels. We fished a couple spots, In Redgut Bay where there was current. The walleyes tho on the small side bit pretty well in 7-10 fow. Do you think that was due to the high water or do you think they would be there next year. We were up in late June. We caught the first few on plastics then on minnow until we ran out. It was a late Spring, too. The two years that we have gone have been very late Springs. They were not on the reefs yet. Thanks, Sam

[okfisherman]

hows the fishing in texas going capt.? no reports on here about rainy anymore.

[ATXJay]

Met Cap'n John today here in Austin at the boat ramp. We've been chatting after I read he was looking for a fishing partner during the week down here. It was less than 40* when we left the ramp. Sun peaked out briefly. Then the wind started howling and up came the Striper, blue cat chop!! I think Y'all call it walleye chop. Tough fishing, probably a 100 under white bass. Finished the day with Cap'n doing his do and hauling in a 34" Striper, I had about a 20lb blue cat and we had a dozen Magnum white bass (that's over 12", min. Is 10")!

Great Guy and look forward to fishing with him again. I'll let him post pictures of his Striper!

Will get video transfered to him tomorrow!

Thanks 'Nort guys for sending him down.

Jay

[CaptJohnWis]

Jay and I might be the only two Lund Lovers in Austin. But they work just as good down here as in Minnesota. We had a ball today fishing right in town. Over 100 dink white bass and about a dozen nice ones. Also a couple largemouth bass and the two porkers shown in the pictures. If this keeps up I might miss ice-out on Rainy!!

Link to the Cap's long striper fight on 8lb line

[CaptJohnWis]

Went and played in the rain with Jay & Mike down here in Texas. Mike got the biggest one but we all had fun. Jay plans to come visit us on Rainy this summer.

Click link to view videos:

[okfisherman]

Hey Capt. John, when you get ready to head back north if you want the best BBQ ever, try stopping at Smokin Joes in davis ok. take exit 51 for turner falls off I-35, turn right bout a half mile on left. Pound for pound best meat in the state! split a combo with mrs capt. youll get plenty. open Tuesday thru sat. ready for you to get home and start posting!

[CaptJohnWis]

OKfisherman - was up your way the last few days. My buddy Herb brought his boat down and is staying with me. We have been doing OK near Austin but smoked em on Texoma. Probably headed to Louisana in few days.

When you get some time off, maybe we can fish Texoma together!

Click link to see some videos of Texoma trip

striper LINK : fishing waiting fer ice to leave Rainy

[okfisherman]

man! you are killin the stripers! those are awesome. Time off will be a while away. With all the hail storms and tornados This insurance appraiser is swamped! I love hail season but wish it would spread out some, once every three weeks would really help instead of every other day. But now is feast, soooo get it while theyre bitin, huh. Been on texoma a few time for those big stripers, that's fun. The mark of a true fisherman is catching fish no matter where you are and I think you certainly qualify John.

[CaptJohnWis]

Back in God's Country!

Fished five hours this afternoon on RAINY! 21 smallmouth - no monsters. Was over some schools of bass but they were very fussy when right under the boat. Still it was a nice welcome back to my favorite lake.

Lake looks to be down about two feet. Sand Bay temps 44 but only 41 in North Arm. Still some ice piled up on eastern shores. Bass were deep and all caught on flukes with 1/4 jig head.

My motor fired up on first click of the key. Every spring it has been the same after sitting in unheated garage all winter. I really like my Yamaha 115.

[CaptJohnWis]

Surface temp was up 6 degrees from yesterday now 47. Back ends of shallow bays 57.

Fished seven hours and got 58 bass. Largest 4lb 10 oz. All on Lunker City Fin-S-Fish. Click link to view todays video.

May 1 video

[dmack]

Capt. John,

Fellow smallie fanatic. I look forward to my Rainy trip all year. We'll be up June 6th for a week. Anyway what size of Fin S Fish baits do you typically fish? And if you don't mind, since they carry about 80 colors, do you have a few favorites? I appreciate anything you're willing to share.

Doug

[CaptJohnWis]

 

Capt. John,

Fellow smallie fanatic. I look forward to my Rainy trip all year. We'll be up June 6th for a week. Anyway what size of Fin S Fish baits do you typically fish? And if you don't mind, since they carry about 80 colors, do you have a few favorites? I appreciate anything you're willing to share.

 

Doug

 

All I used Friday was a 4" #28 Anchovy (blue back/white belly) on 1/4 oz head. Yesterday that still worked but when they got fussy I had better luck on a Lunker City Ribster. I think the color was Watermelon Pro Purple on 1/8 oz jig head.

 

But color is the last thing you need to worry about. It has never made much of a difference in my experience. Size is way more important, and weight of jig head even more so. When they are fussy, the more hang time (light jig head) the more hits you will get. And with a light jig you will land a better percentage of the fish that hit. They suck it in farther and hold on longer with light jig.

 

Yesterday I got 3 pike and 57 bass. Most were deep but the pike were on the bank and so were a few bass, Deep water bass bite is just about over till Fall. Click link to view video:

 

[dmack]

John,

Thanks so much for the reply. I appreciate the help. My brother in law and I have been following your posts for a few years now. So glad when you return from the south. We can get our fix of smallies until we arrive for our week.

Doug

[CaptJohnWis]

Fished Saturday and tried humps first. First four were nothing. Got eight bass off next one but that was it. Time to fish shorelines. A buddy reported he did well Saturday but I only found a few on the shorelines.

[CaptJohnWis]

Fished with two buddies yesterday. It was cold, wet and windy but we still managed to catch 63 bass and about 40 dink pike. I caught the first pike and it was the only nice one all day. All bass caught off shorelines on an assortment of  jerk baits and soft plastic flukes. Surprisingly not one walleye. Usually this time of year we catch some bigger walleyes fishing the shorelines.

By end of day I was wearing my full ice fishing outfit plus a tightly stretched rain suit! 

[CaptJohnWis]

Great weather today. 39 degrees in morning but warmed up. Main Lake was 50 when I quit and a couple of the large bays made it to 52. 30 bass and twice that many dink pike. Only a couple walleyes and decent pike. Biggest bass 4-10. Never caught so many dink pike on Rainy - had to check to make sure I wasn't fishing Pelican Lake.

 

Got bit off at least ten times but I did land one pike that had somebody elses Husky Jerk in its lip.

 

Jigs not working today (except dink pike!) and got all good fish on cranks.

 

 

 

[clKiekhafer]

John, I just got back to the board to see if you were back at it in northern Minnesota and to my pleasant surprise there you were.  Keep up the great job at posting and video recording you adventures for those of us a little less fortunate.  I'll be back on Rainy in July, maybe we can hook up and do a little fishing together.

[CaptJohnWis]

Fishing slow today. Only 20 bass and a few nice pike. Pretty much all off points on jigs. Hit a flurry at final stop and all nice ones so that made it worthwhile. Main lake 49 degrees with 52 in the bigger bays. Much warmer in some shallow protected areas but NO fish there.

 

 

[bonesteel]

What is the lake level at right now?  On the rise or fall?  Thanks.

[CaptJohnWis]

What is the lake level at right now?  On the rise or fall?  Thanks.

​It is coming up. I would guess about 18 inches below normal.

[Poutwhacker]

Capt'n John

My wife and I are camping Memorial Weekend east of the Narrows on the American side.Looking for advice on where to find some crappies. Can you give us any help?

Thanks in advance

'Pout

[CaptJohnWis]

Sorry, no can help. I almost never fish over there..We caught some crappie on Pelican Lake today. One guy couldn't go into Canada and I did not want to fish the American side of Rainy so we headed south. Last year on this weekend we got many nice bass and over a hundred crappie on Pelican. But today only a couple bass and about 20 crappie. The crappie were in spawning colors and on or near shallow rock humps. Beetle spin of small twister tail were the lures they wanted. Although I did get the biggest one on a X-Rap Only a few pike which is unusual for Pelican.

 

Water temps on Pelican 60-62 so lots warmer than Rainy. No bluegills on the banks either. I thought they would be making beds with all the nice weather - but no.

[CaptJohnWis]

Fished with Cornpicker Mike the last two days. He showed me up cat fishing in Texas this March so am trying to return the favor. Weather has been great the last two days. Water in mid 60s. I finally managed to catch ONE bass on a surface lure and six more followed him in. But that was it for topwaters.

Biggest bass was the very first fish we caught - about 4 pounds. Lot of nice 3-pounders. Two day total 191 fish. A good mix of all species. One bottom feeder made it to my fridge tonight and he will be eaten tomorrow. We kept two yesterday and everything else released. X-Raps and Lunker City Ribsters have been doing the job. Best bet is shallow rocky points of just off the side of shallow humps. Everything in less than 10 FOW. No stinking minnows required.

I cannot wait until Mike moves uo here full time. He likes to fish as much as I do and we have lots of plans to try new stuff come August 15.

Edited May 28, 2015 by CaptJohnWis

[ATXJay]

That's an Awesome two days!

Sure can't wait to come fish the North country. 

But boat rebuild (new floor, console, front hatches and seat ledstals) and a two month trip to Alabama to help family is probably going to hold me up till next year.

Y'all stay after them!!

[CaptJohnWis]

Fished the last two days with Mike out of his BIG Ranger. Really needed that boat yesterday. It was windy and cold. I would not even have gone out in my 17' Lund - waves ugly. But no problem for the 21' Ranger. 

Fishing lousy all Friday morning/afternoon

. We only had 15 fish by 5:30. Then we hit the jackpot and landed 47 more before quiting. They were eating 4" shiners in the back end of windy coves. Started late today (10:30) because wind was ugly in morning, But it turned out to be a beautiful day. Spots that were so good yesterday very poor today. Wind was same direction but bass had left the coves and were back on the points that were poor yestereday. 67 fish total when we quit. Lots of small pike as usual but many bass and a few walleye as well, All on X-Raps and Lunker City Ribsters.

 

Saw a couple BIG pike each day but they were more interested in the fish we were reeling in than our lures.

Edited May 31, 2015 by CaptJohnWis

[CaptJohnWis]

 

 

Edited June 6, 2015 by CaptJohnWis
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