Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Rainy Lake Fishing Reports by Capt John


Recommended Posts

Back on Rainy with Mike. On second cast of the day I got this fat 4.89 pound smallie. A nice welcome home. Later Mike got one almost as big. Jigs in about 15-25 FOW. I got about a seven pound whitefish on a spoon.

 

Rainy2016-10-13.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fishing has been tough the last several trips. Two of us fishing for ten hours with only 40-50 fish to show for our efforts. Mostly bass. Got a decent pike on Friday. See video.

Today's sunset:

 

Pike video --- Short pike video

Rainy2016-10-18.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh it's sooo tough, 40-50 fish. Jeesh John, you don't have to catch em all in one day....

HAHA.

Been cattin here on the TN River. Still figuring out the big blues.

Been dry, no hydroelectric generation, so little current, fish scattered.

Have been getting in a few smalls. 

 

 

20160930_164429.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Jay! You still in Alabama?

I'll be headed back to Texas soon - but NOT until ramps freeze over up here. Wasn't going to go fishing today but sun came out and wind died so I headed to lake. Arrived at noon, wind started blowing and scattered snow/rain. Never fails. 

But I had good luck with seven big pike, 3 walleyes and 11 bass. Fished alone. Tried to talk Mike into trolling the shoreline for pike on Wednesday but he didn't want to do that so that is what I did in my boat today. They were where I had caught some in late Fall a few years back. All around 30"-36". All stuffed full of bait which I guess are ciscos since they move shallow this time of year to spawn. Hopefully get some more big pike tomorrow. Trailer lights went out so have to fix those first.

Best bait 6" Lunker City Swim Fish on heavy jig head. Bass & walleyes on flukes with fairly heavy head because of wind.

Forgot camera so no pictures today.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished alone today. 26 fish total. Biggest pike 36" and stuffed full of bait, biggest walleye 26", Biggest bass 19" - 4.03 lbs. If I had landed the last three fish I hooked, it would have been a great day. All felt like BIG walleyes but they chose not to show themselves before departing. Got one pike on big musky crank, everything else on soft plastic. Lunker City Swim Fish got the biggest bass and walleye. LOTS of boats out fishing - don't they know it is hunting season?

Trailer still blowing fuses - arrrgh!

Today's video:

Today's video link

Rainy2016-10-21.jpg

Rainy2016-10-21B.jpg

Rainy2016-10-21C.jpg

Rainy2016-10-21D.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fishing good today. Finally got a break in the weather! Fished alone. 32 fish total. Ten walleyes mostly big ones but I did keep an eater, rest bass. Three at 25". Biggest bass 19-1/2" - 4.60 lbs. Best lure Fin-S-Fish on 1/4 oz football jig.

 

I wasted the early morning trying to catch some more big pike - zilch. Downsized lures and got into bass & walleyes. My guess is they are filling up on ciscos - especially based on the pike stomachs yesterday - stuffed!

 

Today's video

Rainy2016-10-22.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished ALL day with Mike. Started out good with a couple doubles on pike but slowed way down. Ended up with three walleyes, eight pike and about 30 bass. Couldn't mark many today whereas on Saturday I marked lots of fish. All on soft plastics.

Today's video link Mike can catch em without crawlers video

 

 

Rainy2016-10-24.jpg

Rainy2016-10-24B.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Fishing has been picking up with the nicer weather. It was beautiful today but sadly I only got to fish three hours but done good. Some walleyes and several big bass. Yesterday the average size bass was much better with a 20" and two 19"s leading the pack. Lunker City Swimmin Ribster on heavy jig head has been best.

Yesterday's and today's videos:

Nov 3 & couple hours fishing Nov. 4 on Rainy link

Water is now in upper 40s. Best depth around 20 feet.

Rainy2016-11-03B.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad I didn't head to Texas early. Could not ask for a nicer day. Did well fishing but caught most of them off just two spots. Rest of the time lucky to catch one fish on a spot. Biggest bass 19-1/2", walleye 23-1/2", pike 32". All lures working well - spoon, Swimmin Ribster, Ribster, big swim bait on heavy head all produced. I just keep switching if I think they are on my spot.

today's video

Water warmed back up to 50 with all the sun.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This little piggy went to market:

Probably the fattest smallmouth I have ever caught.

 

 

 

It was slow most of the day then Mike took me to his favorite spot (about time!).We ended with about 40 fish. Up late watching the election but plan to hit em early early  in the morning.

 

Rainy2016-11-8C.jpg

Rainy2016-11-8B.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Veteran's Day 2016 was a great one on Rainy Lake. Over 50 fish with many BIG bass. Sadly I have to leave for Texas just when the big ones are on the prowl. Caught my biggest bass of the year yesterday so a great way to end season. Seems like this has happened before with the last day of the year being awesome. This one was even better than usual because the weather was so nice.

Final day on Rainy for Capt. John 2016 VIDEO

Rainy2016-11-11.jpg

Rainy2016-11-11B.jpg

Rainy2016-11-11C.jpg

Rainy2016-11-11D.jpg

Rainy2016-11-11E.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 I so enjoy your posts. We have our summer home up north so it's great to see what's going on when we're in Illinois.  Have a safe trip. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Crazy wind today. When we left Bowmans it was a brisk east wind. Once we got under the Causeway, it was west wind and stayed that way all afternoon until it went calm late in day. Mike kept checking weather and they were saying I.Falls east wind 8-14. I said they must be wrong.

 

Went back to Bowmans late in day and as soon as we got under the railroad bridge, it was still brisk out of the east on Sand Bay!

 

Ended up with 23 bass and one walleye and a pike. All on jigs and plastic tails. Water was 44 on east side but 48 on west side of North Arm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Glad to see you back posting. I love reading you post and see your pics from year to year!! 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished yesterday and caught too many small pike. Only about ten bass and two walleyes. Looks like I will be using leaders for a few weeks till the hammer handles disappear. They have been like this the last few years. Never used to catch many dink pike until 2014. Must be having big hatches. I have a large pike colored jerk bait - maybe I should throw that around where I think some big girls are hanging out. I wish they would eat up about 90% of these dinks.

 

 Water temps 44-50. Letting them walleye guys have the lake to themselves today (opener).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

They are BITING - bugs that is - har!

 

Bass have been very good some days and slooooow on others. Bugs have been awful last few trips. But the dragonflies have hatched out so they will be putting the gobble on the black flies and mosquitoes so things should improve.

 

Walleyes have finally showed up on the bank. Bass have been there awhile now. Went to Pelican one day and got some largemouths. The special regs there have really helped the bass fishing. Crappie are in spawning colors at several different lakes I have sampled this last week. Everything pretty much shallow but did get some walleyes in 15 FOW,

 

 

Rainy2017-5-24.jpg

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

John, I always enjoy your updates. You are having way too much fun up there. Ha. Me and my crew will be up on June 24th as usual. Save some for me. I sure miss Rainy Lake.

 

Bill

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Back from Devils Lake. Lots of fish there but nothing big. Fishing good yesterday if'n ye likes bottom feeders - biggest two 24" & 25". But sadly only two bass. Had a big pike grab one walleye on way in. Almost got good some good video of that attack. Walleyes in 6-8 feet of water. Water temps mid 60s.

 

Devils Lake fishing June 2017

 

Rainy Lake fishing June 12, 2017

 

More slow mo pike attack

 

 

  • Thumbs Up 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Fishing awful this morning. Launched at 8:30. By 12:30 had exactly two small pike. Finally found some walleyes and ended up with 22 fish - NO BASS! bummer. Water cold - only 61-64 degrees. Weather man blew it again. Walleyes in about 20 FOW, best lure Lunker City Fin-S-Fish.

 

New camera worked well but had troubles with new sonar/GPS. Think I got it fixed once home.

 

Here is today's video:

June 26 video

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit the lake before 6:00 this morning. Fishing very slow again. Lots of mayflies on the water. Water 64 degrees. Got a bass at first stop but no more of those. ABout 5 walleyes and four pike in nine hours. Quit just in time to fight the 22 MPH wind (twice what was predicted) all the way home. Fish in 25 FOW. Most on Fin-S-Fish. numerous missed bites. Yesterday hardly missed a one. Not so today.

 

June 27, 2017 video link

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ago · 

Hey guys, I'm new to this site. Trying to learn more about this lake. My brother and I fished there last July 9-16-2016. We did good on all species, especially like and walleye. We had several rallies on smallmouth, but never put a solid pattern together. My brother had a 4 and 5 lber. On perch shad rap. I caught many 1-1/2 - 3 lbers on uvibe speed craws. Suspending jerkbaits caught all species well. I've been checking this site and Mr. Johnwis has some great info and video. If any of you out ther could help us get on them big smallies, we would greatly appreciate it. We're from southwest Louisiana and we'll be staying at island view lodge July 22-29 . Thanks and this is a great site

IMG_0587.JPG

IMG_0599.JPG

IMG_0605.JPG

IMG_0611.JPG

IMG_0612.JPG

IMG_0622.JPG

IMG_0589.JPG

IMG_0627.JPG

 
 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also noticed or heard you say your using 4 lb. test line. Is that correct?? We used 10-12 mono and 15  flouro.  We sure love this lake. Can't sleep for next three weeks waiting to head up there LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

J-Roy,  I use UL rod and 4 lb a lot when throwing jigs. I have found that the lighter the jig head, the more fish bite and the more you hook. Wind will mess up using light jigs though. When fishing heavy jigs, cranks, top water or spoons, I use heavier line and rod. If fishing weeds need heavy line as well.

 

Hook ups/bites is much higher with lite jigs. I missed about 50% of hits yesterday using 1/2 oz head. Landed about 90% of hits a few days ago when using 1/8 oz head. Tough to fish 1/8 oz on even 8 lb line so I stick with 4 lb .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally got great conditions for surface lures. Got five beauties on one of me favorite antique top water lures. Easily a 20-lb bag if I'd been in a tourney. Good luck finding one of these lures as it is almost as old as me. The last one I wore out I had to super glue it back together when it split down the seam. Then a year later, I had a hit and thought I got bit off by a pike - bye-bye lucky lure. But when I reeled in, I still had the line tie !! but nothing else. The tie had ripped out of the body of lure.

 

Had to beg fellow lure collectors for the one I am using now. What !! ye didn't know the old Cap likes antique tackle ??  Best sell me some of yours and keeps a smile on me kisser.

 

Caught lots of other fish on real small jigs (Grubsters and much smaller) and such but who cares about those when bronze bombers are smacking surface lures? Walleyes in about 17 FOW. Lots of dink pike trying to bite off my top water lure as well. Didn't see any mayflies today. Link below:

 

bass on TOP

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wasn't going to go today. But it was just too nice to sit at home. Bowman's was a zoo at 2:00 p.m.and somebody parked in the Cap's spot right next to the ramp! No room at the inn for me so I had to park on the road almost up to the highway. Mike told me he went yesterday but caught nothing - too many mayflies (hmmm!)

 

I was out about five minutes and got a walleye but things slowed down. Ended up with a dozen. The last bite of the day was a dandy. Most fish in about 20 FOW on smaller Lunker City Shaker.

 

Watch video to see what happened,

 

July 3, 2017 video

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What kind of camera do you use to make your fishing videos?  The picture and  sound is really good. 

 

Thanks

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
    • 11-87
      Looking for recommendations on scope or red dot    I basically hunt turkey and whitetail, live in southern MN. So it’s all deer/ shotgun    looking to add a scope/ red dot as my eyes don’t work like they used to to with the open sights.    my gun options are 11/87 12. Browning BPS 12    not looking for the most expensive or the cheapest    pros and cons of one over the other
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.