Lake of the Woods

Many of the charter boats are running to the north end of the lake looking for "eater" walleyes, those fish under 19.5 inches.  The protected slot limit on LOW is 19.5" - 28.0", which have to be released.  Anglers are allowed a combined limit of walleyes and saugers of 6, with up to 4 of the 6 being walleyes.  Anglers can also keep on walleye over 28 inches if they so desire.  Otherwise, some anglers choose a few pics and a graphite mount then releasing the fish. 
Drifting spinners with a two hook harness and a crawler continues to be very good.  Gold, gold/red, gold/pink continue to be good colors.  
Trolling crankbaits around rock piles or over the deep mud is producing nice fish.  Trolling speeds of 2.5 - 3.5 have been working well.  Various crankbaits work, rotate until you dial in what the walleyes want.  Different shapes, sizes, wobbles, rattles and colors all can make a difference.
The Warrior Boats David A. Andersen Memorial walleye tournament was this past Saturday.  The winning team had 5 walleyes for over 43 lbs., over an 8 lb average per walleye.  Lots of nice fish caught both pre-fishing and during the Saturday tournament.
Another bug hatch popped up, which is common throughout the summer.  Despite the overabundance of food in the lake, good numbers of fish are still being caught.  Bug hatches can make fishing more challenging however. On the Rainy River...   Good reports of walleyes this week.  Four Mile Bay was holding fish along with various spots throughout the river.  Fish caught jigging, trolling spinners and  trolling crankbaits.When walleyes are spread out, trolling is effective to go through small schools of fish.   Some big pike along with numbers of smaller eater sized pike caught both on the main river and back in some bays.  Spinnerbaits, inline spinners and bladed jigs with a plastic producing fish.Reports of pulling spinners catching a variety of species including walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, pike and some big crappies!  Once again, some nice sturgeon caught this week.  Lots of these big fish jumping throughout the day.  Up at the NW Angle...  Another week of multispecies action up at the Angle.  Walleyes, muskies, pike, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and crappies.For walleyes, work up and down structure until you find fish.  On the Minnesota side, various areas north of Garden Island around Oak, Little Oak and Hay Islands producing walleyes.Spinners / crawlers or trolling crankbaits effective.  If on tight structure with fish, jigging with a minnow or plastic working well.Muskie anglers are reporting some great activity this month.  Most anglers have reported good action.Numbers of big pike caught again this week.  There is a strong population of pike over 40 inches in LOW.  Many of these fish are caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers or by muskie anglers.

On the south end...  The dog days of August are upon us and there was some great walleye fishing this past week.  As one guide commented, "we have to work for them, but we normally find them.  They aren't in the typical spots, but fishing overall has been good." Even on Lake of the Woods, you gotta find them.  When you do, two summer patterns are catching good numbers of fish.  Spinners and crankbaits.
Drifting spinners with a fathead, frozen emerald shiner or crawler has been working well.  If there is no wind, troll slowly, about 1.25 mph to keep the blade spinning and cover water.  Use a one hook harness with the minnows, a two hook harness with a crawler.  Gold, gold/red, gold/pink have all been good colors.  Mix up colors until you find what is working the best.  
Trolling crankbaits has also been catching good numbers of walleyes.  Downriggers, leadcore line, snap weights, 4 oz. bottom bouncers with a 6' leader or a deep diving crankbait with braided line are all great ways to get your crankbait down deep.  Depths of 30 - 36 feet are depths in the basin is holding a lot of walleyes.  
Various reefs are still producing.  Some days, fish are on top, other days, they are on the sides or base where the rock transitions to mud.  Some days, they might be over mud just off of the reef.  Electronics will help you find the fish.
Good numbers of big walleyes caught this week.  Big pike, jumbo perch and occasional crappies in the mix.On the Rainy River...   The morning and evening bite continues to be the best for walleyes.  Some nice pike and sturgeon caught this week on the river as well.For walleyes, deeper holes, flats with current sweeping over them, and current breaks are good bets.  Some big pike caught both on the main river and back in some bays casting spinners and spoons.  Sturgeon activity increased this week and some nice fish were caught.  The sturgeon keep season is on.  One sturgeon 45-50 inches or over 75 inches allowed per calendar year per angler with a sturgeon tag.  Many anglers simply catch and release.Up at the NW Angle...  The fish are biting up at the Angle.  Walleyes, muskies, pike, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and crappies this week.For walleyes, work up and down structure until you find fish.  This week, 22 feet of water off of reefs and points was good.  Jig with a minnow or pull spinners with a minnow or crawler to cover water.    Muskie anglers are reporting a good number of follows and catches.  Not a lot of details provided, other than active fish and good success.  Some big pike caught again this week.  Some pike were caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers, others by anglers targeting them casting or trolling.  With over 14,000 islands, the spots are limitless.

On the south end...  Good numbers of walleyes and saugers were caught this week on Lake of the Woods.  Summer patterns are greeting anglers with some good fishing.  Summer patterns in these parts are drifting with spinners and crawlers and trolling crankbaits.  Yes, some are still jigging, some casting lures, but as a rule, harnesses and crankbaits are catching most of the fish.
The open basin of Big Traverse Bay is the home this time of year to thousands of walleyes and saugers.  This huge expanse of mud with an occasional reef is holding a lot of fish.  Find bait, find the walleyes.  
The basin bite is in typically 28 - 34 feet of water.  Schools of walleyes are looking for their next meal.  Emerald shiners, tullibees, perch, perch minnows and other small fish are on the menu.  Another popular menu item in the mud are blood worms and other insect larvae hatching from below.  
Reefs that pop out of the mud flats are magnets for walleyes and other fish.  Walleyes can be on top at times, on the edges or adjacent to the reefs in the mud.  Good electronics will help you crack the walleye code.  
Always remember there are some walleyes roaming the shallows for an easy meal mornings and evenings or when there is easy forage available.Along with the walleyes and saugers, some big pike, jumbo perch and occasional crappie in the mix.On the Rainy River...   The morning and evening bite continues to be the best for walleyes.The goto spots on the river are deeper holes, flats with current sweeping over them, and current breaks.  Covering water by trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses is a good way to find fish.Sturgeon season is open and those targeting dinosaurs are catching some nice fish.  They are also reporting a mixed bag eating their offering of crawlers soaking in the river.Up at the NW Angle...  Another week of good fishing up amongst the islands.  This time of year, covering water by trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses puts anglers offerings in front of a lot of walleyes and will also catch a mixed bag of fish.  A mixed bag consists of walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, pike, jumbo perch, crappies and muskies.  Jig fishing amongst structure never gets old in these parts and some use this technique all year long with good results.  With 14,552 islands in this part of the lake, casting shorelines, bays, and points is effective.  Do a milk run going from spot to spot.  Eventually, you will connect with good fish.

On the south end...  Summer fishing is in full swing on Lake of the Woods and traditional summer patterns are holding true for anglers.  It is helpful to cover water to find fish and keep presentations in front of fish, many of which are out on the deep mud.  Some anglers are still sticking to deep reefs which can always be a magnet.  Both are putting out walleyes.
Drifting spinners and trolling crankbaits are the go to presentations.  Finding where the fish are and changing up color, speed and presentations is key.  If the walleyes don't cooperate, try something different move on to another school of fish that might be more active.
Crawler harnesses, use a two hook harness with a hammered gold blade, a bright color or combo of both.  Drift or troll at 1 - 1.25 mph.Crankbaits are catching a lot of fish.  Rotate colors and speed to find what the fish want.Chrome and blue, shiny gold and pink uv firetiger are some good choices. Alternate speeds, trolling from 2.5 - 3.5 mph.  Try turning the boat periodically can trigger strikes.Most walleyes are being targeted in 26 - 34 feet, with a shallow bite mornings and evenings and when forage is shallow.On the Rainy River...   The morning and evening bite are still the best for walleyes.Deep holes, current breaks and flats with bait are good spots.  Trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses is effective and catching a variety of species.Cast docks, river mouths, rocks and bridges for smallmouthbass.  Pike on weed edges into the river and the edges of current breaks.Up at the NW Angle...  Great multispecies fishing action up at the Angle.  With so many rocks and areas with structure, some anglers jigging with a jig and minnow / plastic with great success.   Covering water trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses is still effective in locating and catching walleyes that aren't schooled or are spread out.Casting crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swim jigs in high probability spots is effective for a variety of fish.  In addition to the most sought after walleyes and saugers, smallmouth bass, pike, jumbo perch, crappies and the predator of predators, muskies, are showing up regularly.Summer fishing has been very good.  

On the south end...  A great week of fishing on Lake of the Woods.  Some anglers are targeting the deep mud on the big basin, while other anglers are targeting rock reefs.  The two most common presentations to catch walleyes right now are drifting spinners and trolling crankbaits.  Both do a nice job of covering water and are producing nice fish.  
With Big Traverse Bay being a big expanse of water, it is really helpful to use your electronics to search out schools of bait and walleyes.  Once you find some signs of life, start fishing.Try a two hook harness with a hammered gold blade and a nightcrawler.  It is helpful to pinch off long crawlers and have just a few inches of crawler off of the back hook.  The fish will still hit the crawler and your hooking percentages go up.  If you are trolling crankbaits, part of the fun is figuring out the walleyes that day.  What color?  Do they want a shad style or minnow style?  How fast do they want the lure?  Most anglers are trolling from 2.5 - 3.5 mph.  Try turning the boat occasionally when trolling to speed up or slow down baits causing reaction strikes.  Jigging with a frozen emerald shiner is still effective, particularly when on a good school of fish or fishing on structure.Most walleyes are being targeted in 26 - 34 feet.  There can always be a shallow bite when forage is present or very early or late in the day.  Trolling crankbaits in the evening along Pine Island and areas along the south shore can produce nice fish at times all summer. On the Rainy River...   Walleyes and saugers are being caught with the morning and evening bite the best.  Target high probability spots such as deep holes, current breaks and flats with bait.  Trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses is effective and catching a variety of species.Target smallmouth bass around docks, river mouths, rocks and bridges.  Pike on weed edges into the river and the edges of current breaks.Up at the NW Angle...  Great fishing reports this week up at the Angle.  A variety of techniques are being used to catch walleyes.  With so many rocks and areas with structure, some anglers stick with a jig and minnow or jig and plastic all year long with great success.   Covering water trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses is very effective in locating and catching walleyes during the summer months.Working shoreline structure casting crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swim jigs has been good for a variety of fish.  In addition to the most sought after walleyes and saugers, smallmouth bass, pike, jumbo perch, crappies and the predator of predators, muskies, are showing up regularly.The summer bite is on!  

On the south end...  An awesome week of summer walleye fishing on Lake of the Woods.  Things are constantly changing within the ecosystem from week to week.  It is interesting how what is happening up on the north end of the lake isn't necessarily the same as the south end of the lake.  It's a diverse body of water.  One constant remains, lots of fish are being caught.
Summer patterns are rolling along, always on Mother Nature's timeframe.  Some bug hatches this week with many walleyes migrating to the deep mud.  Some of these fish are very cooperative, others suspend and are not so willing.  Find active fish.

Getting your presentation in front of lots of walleyes, by drifting spinners or trolling crankbaits as an example, will produce fish.  

When pulling spinners, try various sizes and colors of blades.  Great success was had with a #5 Colorado bronze blade with some orange.  Other anglers using smaller #3 blades.  Hammered gold combined with brighter colors are good choices on LOW.

Jigging is working well for some anglers, especially those fishing structure like rocky reefs.  Whether on top, on the edges or where the rock meets the deep mud, anchoring up in an area with walleyes and vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners can be very successful.

Walleyes are targeting many different types of forage this time of year.  Some are focusing their attention on crayfish.  Whether you find them when cleaning fish or they burp them up when you catch them, they are on the menu currently.  These would be rocky areas, oftentimes shallow rocks.  Try gold and orange colors in these areas.

Minnows and young of the year fish of all types are a staple for LOW walleyes and saugers.  Oftentimes, you can see suspended schools of minnows on your electronics.  There is a good chance there are walleyes in the area.

Finally, the various hatches of bugs draw walleyes over deep mud.  Thousands of larvae expose themselves from the mud and are a great meal.  There are a lot of walleyes over deep mud right now.

Walleyes are being caught in anywhere from 12 - 32 feet based on the forage in those areas.  Good sonar will help you see walleyes, as well as minnows and bug hatches.

On the Rainy River...   With 42 miles of navigable Rainy River, there is good fishing to be had.  A mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass, lake sturgeon, crappies, perch and even some rough fish like suckers and bullheads are in the river.

Try a milk run on the river for multispecies action.  Cast "fishy" spots up and down the river, going spot to spot until you find fish.  Current breaks, deep holes, docks, feeder rivers, bridges and weedlines can all hold a variety of fish.

Cast jigs, swimbaits, crankbaits,spinnerbaits, or chatterbaits to cover water and catch fish.

Jigging, pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits all are catching walleyes. 

Up at the NW Angle...  A strong bug hatch with an abundance of food available for walleyes made some days more challenging than normal.  Anglers worked a bit harder to catch fish, jigging and pulling spinners to overcome the buffet available to the fish and still caught good numbers.  

Moving around slowly over the structure holding fish with a jig and minnow or jig and plastic.  Try various colors of jigs and plastics until you figure out the walleye's preference.  

Crawler harnesses continue to catch a lot of walleyes.  A 2 ounce bottom bouncer fished at a 45 degree angle at about 1.25 mph over mud or rocks with a snelled spinner and crawler is working well.  Try to be close to the bottom, but not drag the bottom.  

Hammered gold, pink and orange spinners, or a combo of these colors, has been effective.  Use a two hook harness with a night crawler or imitation crawler.  

A mixed bag of fish up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, pike, perch, crappies and muskies in good abundance.

On the south end...  An incredible week of fishing on Lake of the Woods.  The lake continues to put out big numbers of walleyes and saugers of all sizes.
Two areas were the focus this past week.  First, rocks.  Walleyes love crayfish on LOW and nice fish have been found over various rocky areas targeting crayfish.  

The second area that has really fired up nicely is the deep mud.  There is usually a transition this time of year.  Walleyes are feeding on baitfish and bug hatches.  

Did you know when there is a bug hatch, most of those bugs come from the bottom of the lake from the mud in a larval stage?  Walleyes love the nymphs of various insect hatches as they emerge from the mud.  If that nymph makes it to the surface, it sheds its covering and flies away.  

Various techniques are catching walleyes.  The most common technique catching walleyes is drifting or trolling crawler harnesses.  A two hook snelled spinner with a crawler and 1 -2 ounce inline sinker or bottom bouncer drifted or trolled at 7.5 - 1.25 mph will catch walleyes.  Some anglers are using leeches on a snelled spinner with success as well.

A tip for pulling spinners (crawler harnesses)...  Try to maintain a 45 degree with your presentation and keep it just off of the bottom.  Oftentimes, a fish will feel like a wet sock rather than hitting it hard.  Set the hook!  

Jigging with minnows or a leech is effective on structure or where fish aren't so spread out.  

Trolling crankbaits is an effective way to catch walleyes much of the open water season.  Try the first or last couple of hours of the day trolling shorelines in addition to deeper fish over the basin.

Most walleyes are being caught in 12 - 25 feet, with various shallow bites taking place due to available forage in those areas walleyes are taking advantage of. 

Other species are also available and often caught by walleye anglers.  Pike, muskies, sturgeon, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch, and crappies are a few.

On the Rainy River...   River anglers are catching "local" walleyes, or walleyes that live in the river.  The river offers various areas of structure and a variety of forage that holds fish all year long.  Keep this in mind on an extra windy day or simply for a change of scenery.

The same techniques that work on the lake work on the river, often with a tweak.  You may have to alter the weight of a jig due to current or troll upstream, for example.  

Good numbers of smallmouth bass.  Look for boulders, rubble, bridges and current breaks.   

For pike, bays, feeder rivers and weed edges.

The sturgeon season opens this week on July 1st.  This is a "keep" season.  If you want to harvest a sturgeon in the Rainy River or LOW, one sturgeon is allowed per calendar year per angler.  It has to be 45 - 50 inches or over 75 inches.  A sturgeon tag is available for $5.  Otherwise, simply catch and release.

Up at the NW Angle...  Walleye fishing is excellent with impressive numbers of walleyes on both sides of the border.  With resorts up at the Angle being literally, right on the border, many anglers fish Ontario waters.

Anglers are allowed to boat into Canada without having to clear customs as long as they don't touch land, anchor, moor, touch a dock or exchange goods or services.  An Ontario fishing license for zone 5 is required to fish this area and different lengths and limits vs MN applies.

Jigging is more common year round in these parts due to the structure and many more rocky areas.  With that being said, crawler harnesses are putting a lot of walleyes in the boat.  The flash, vibration combined with a live bait offering is hard for a walleye to resist.  Keep your bottom bouncer just above the rocks or mud.

Smallmouth bass are in good numbers along shoreline structure.  Pike can be found in bays and targeting points.

The muskie season is open and great reports continue.  With 14,552 islands in LOW, structure and forage is excellent for world class muskie fishing.

On the south end...  Summer fishing on Lake of the Woods is in full swing and the lake is producing.  A nice size mix of walleyes with lots of eaters, slots and trophy fish in the mix.
Various techniques are catching walleyes.  Crawler harnesses are working very well.  A two hook snelled spinner with a crawler and 1 -2 ounce inline sinker or bottom bouncer drifted or trolled at around 1 mph will catch walleyes.  

A tip for crawler harnesses...  Hook the front part which is the dark part of the crawler on the front hook.  Straighten the crawler and hook with the second hook.  Have about 2 - 3 inches off of the back hook.  If it's too long, pinch off the long tail.  

Jigging with a minnow, and sometimes a leech, is still catching walleyes.  Anchoring up and vertical jigging amongst fish is effective.  

If you are struggling to catch fish, trolling crankbaits is a great way to find fish.  This technique puts your lure in front of a lot of fish and triggers reaction bites. 

Most walleyes are being caught in 20 - 28 feet.  Some nice walleye bites also taking place in 8 - 15 feet, usually when forage is present.  Fish being caught at various locations across the south shore and up north by Garden Island.

Nice pike are being caught by walleye anglers.  Those actually targeting pike are working bays and shoreline structure. 

On the Rainy River...   River anglers are catching walleyes in many of the traditional walleye haunts such as current breaks, holes and rocky areas.  

A jig and minnow in areas with structure or a current break is a good strategy.  To find fish spread out on a flat or along a break, troll crankbaits or spinners / crawlers.  Walleyes are the target, but these techniques catch a variety of species.

Lots of smallmouth bass in the river.  Target feeder rivers, bridges, and areas with rocks.  For pike, weed beds, bays and feeder rivers to the Rainy River. 

The sturgeon season opens again July 1st.

Up at the NW Angle...  Walleye fishing is excellent on both sides of the border.  Most are jigging with a minnow or plastic on underwater points, neck down areas, flats with moving water and edges of reefs.  

Crawler harnesses are working great for walleyes.  In rocky areas, use a bottom bouncer and keep it just off of the bottom to avoid snags.

Smallmouth bass are in good numbers along shoreline structure.  Pike can be found in bays and targeting points.

The muskie season opened June 17th.  Good numbers of big fish caught and released.

On the south end...  A fantastic week of fishing on Lake of the Woods.  Walleye anglers are coming in with lots of limits and great pics of bigger fish that were released as well.Crawler harnesses are catching a lot of fish.  Using a 2 hook snelled spinner with a crawler and 2 ounce inline sinker or bottom bouncer.  This technique has been deadly for walleyes.  .
For the spinner blade, try a small (#2) to medium (#4) sized blade in gold and / or glow red, orange, pink or glow white.
Some anglers are using a minnow on their spinner rig with success.  Jigging with a minnow is still catching a lot of fish, especially when on structure.  Leeches are just starting to work for walleyes, and will get better as the hot summer weather continues.  
Good reports from anglers trolling crankbaits both in the shallows along shore and in deeper depths. 
Most walleyes are being caught in 7 - 25 feet, water temps in the 70's.Great pike reports, with many nice fish being caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers.  
On the Rainy River...   River anglers are finding some nice walleyes in many of the traditional walleye haunts such as current breaks, holes and rocky areas.  Some fish are showing up in shallow flats as well.Try pitching a jig and minnow to high probability areas with structure or a current break.  To find and catch fish spread out on a flat or along a break, troll crankbaits or spinners / crawlers.  
The Rainy River has some incredible smallmouth bass fishing.  Target feeder rivers, bridges, and areas with rocks.  For pike, weed beds, bays and feeder rivers to the Rainy River. 
The sturgeon season opens again July 1st.Up at the NW Angle...  Walleye fishing continues to be excellent.  Most are jigging with a minnow or plastic on underwater points, neck down areas, flats with moving water and edges of reefs.  
With the water warming, spinners and crawlers are coming on strong.  They are a great way to cover water and put your bait in front of a lot of fish.  
Caught plenty of walleyes and want to mix it up?  Try casting bays or areas around points.  Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and swimbaits are great all around lures that will catch a mixed bag.  
The muskie season opens June 17th.

On the south end...  A great week of walleye and sauger fishing on Lake of the Woods.  Lots of limits.  Good numbers of fish being caught, which includes eaters, slots and some trophy walleyes to make things interesting! Most anglers are jigging with a frozen emerald shiner or live minnow.  Jig colors to consider are gold with a bright color such as gold / pink, gold / glow white and even gold with some tinsel.  
Some reports of spinners starting to work well tipped with a minnow or crawler.  A great technique is drifting with a 2 ounce bottom bouncer and spinner rig.Fish being caught around the lake.  Trust your electronics and watch for fish.  In addition to the south shore where various schools of walleyes and saugers are living, consider the Garden Island area, Knight / Bridges Island area, and Twin Islands where good fish are being caught.  Most walleyes in that 18 - 24 foot depth.   Good pike reports.  Back bays are still holding good eaters and a few big females.  Some of the larger fish have made their way to the lake.  On the Rainy River...   Walleye anglers are finding some nice eater walleyes in the River.  There is always a number of walleyes that stay in the river all year.  Whether you like the beauty and secluded feel of the river, have a small boat or simply want to get out of the wind, the river is a great summer spot with little traffic. Anchored up or slowly moving upstream with a jig and minnow, trolling spinners / crawlers or trolling crankbaits are all effective right now.  
Smallmouth bass are plentiful in the Rainy River.  Whether you are a bass angler or simply want to mix up species, target feeder rivers, bridges, and areas with rocks.  The sturgeon season will re-open again July 1st.Up at the NW Angle...  Excellent walleye fishing this past week.  The jig and minnow is the goto bait.  Anglers using spinners with crawlers or minnows and crankbaits are catching lots of fish as well.  
Structure around the many islands holding walleyes.  Shallow flats areas with current are also heating up.  
Great fishing reports from both sides of the border.  NW Angle anglers boating into Canada to fish cannot possess or transport any bait, alive or dead.  Most are using jigs / plastics, artificial crawlers on spinners and crankbaits with great success.  If desired, live bait is available and can be purchased for the day just over the border via boat in Canada, check with your resort for details.This entire area is great for multispecies action.  In addition to walleyes, big pike, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch, crappies,and muskies are also being caught on a regular basis.