Report Date: 10/27/09 8:47 AM CST
22nd thru 25th October, found massive boats out of the gap fishing 27-31 FOW,. We were anchored up fishing in the 31 fow away from the boats. Miles away, using Northland Fireballs in Gold and frozen shiners didn't take long to get our fish. Saugers Ranged from 8" up to 15" Walleyes Ranged 8" to 25" for us some nice Perch and a couple pout were to be had as well. The water is Algea Green, when you go thru with the boat the spray is dark green to light green with some clear spots. YUCK The shiners are running slowly up the river however the fishing has not picked up as of the above date. Back up in a week to check the river again.

Report Date: 9/2/09 8:46 PM CST
Fished the Rainy River last week south of the Gap by Scheusters resort. Caught some nice sturgeon, anchored and casting down river with plain hook tipped with night crawler in about 8-10 FOW. My Fiance caught her first sturgeon at 43 inches. My biggest of the trip was at 40. The Walleyes are not in the river yet, despite catching a few smaller than 12 inches. A guide at the lodge said, the shiners are closer to running, and currently moving towards the river. The walleys are concentrated just outside of the gap in the flats around 30-35 FOW. Here are some pics from the river.

The eel im holding with my pliers is called a lamprey eel. Nasty! was attached to the head of that 43 inch sturgeon, but not any more...

[This post was last edited on 9/2/09 at 8:59 PM]

Report Date: 8/30/09 8:04 PM CST
Just got back from a week at low.Fishing varied from day to day due to the winds.First couple of days because of the dirty water we ran baits with rattles and did fair.Then it cleared up and we switched to shadraps and had some great days. Caught 7 fish in the slot with the big one at 11lbs - 30 inches long. Fished from 22 fow to 33 fow out in front of zipple bay to morris point.Trolled from 2.0-2.7 mph. fished mostly from 10 am-6pm

Report Date: 8/4/09 4:23 PM CST
Just returned from Lake of the Woods. Was impressed with the fishery but found out a big boat is needed on windy days. It is very difficult to get out to the main lake when the wind is blowing into the Rainy River.

Also found out that the charters that travel this area are not all that kind to boats in distress. I ended up towing in a boat who had broken down near the channel to the lake. Not one of charter boats passing us bothered to slow down for us when I was towing. Nearly 30 boats passed us at full speed. It was a very dangerous situation and frustrating. We were nearly swamped several times. I enjoyed fishing there but I will not be back because of this.

I get the point that the charter's job is to make money and to catch fish for their clients. I don't get the disrespect that they show their fellow fisherman in the process.

As far as fishing, contact Doug at the Ship's Wheel if you need a charter. He knows the lake and is a very good fisherman.

If you are on your own, there are several good areas to catch eaters before you enter the lake by the island just before you enter the main lake (off the Rainy). Just look for the boats.

Also a nice flat as you enter the the lake off the Rainy. Several good fish there.

That's as far as we could get as the wind was wicked and our opportunities to fish (because of weather conditions kept) us on the Rainy most of the time.

Wish you the best of luck and look out for the charters flying around.

Report Date: 7/31/09 5:40 PM CST
We are traveling to Lake of the Woods for the first time during the second week of August and staying in a cabin on the south end of Basil Channel. Does anyone have any tips on fishing this area. We are primarily fishing walleyes and bass. Any ideas about what to expect, hotspots, or baits? Thanks

Report Date: 3/14/09 12:08 PM CST
Awesome week at Arnesens....28 ft....rocks=Perch. Biggest perch you ever saw!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to all the Guides who came and checked on us! The Weather was absolutly FOUL...AND We still caught our walleye limits, and awesome JUMBO's! See you next year! JD

Jory Simmons
Monasark Guide Service

Report Date: 2/12/09 1:04 AM CST
A buddy of mine is up at zippel bay resort or was he is sitting in a hotel because they had a sleeper shack rented for this week but there is so much water on the ice right now he said they had water up to the axle of the truck and the fishing sucked. They only caught a few fish this week and they were running small.

Report Date: 2/10/09 5:50 PM CST
eyegal www.zippelbayresort.com nice place and great people

Report Date: 2/5/09 10:00 PM CST
This isn't a report sorry. We are planning a trip to Lake of the Woods in June to go fishing in MN and could use some help finding a resort. We are looking to rent a cabin and boat for a week. Any help would be appreciated. thanks

Report Date: 1/31/09 5:05 PM CST
Not a report, sorry. I was wondering if anyone could tell me the name of a good campground/resort on Lake of the Woods. Im considering coming up there in June and want to tent camp to keep the cost cheaper. Any info is appreciated, thanks.

Report Date: 1/24/09 10:49 PM CST
monday was decent a lot of little ones caught around 40ish near fifty who knows with all the beer we drank. Did real good off of bare hook right on bottom. A lot more walleyes this year then saugers. Second day we didn't catch as much probably around twenty.... damn hangover(s). Wed we caught around thirty went in shallow and that was the ticket shallow early right around where the current was in 17 fow or so. Got five keepers in about a hour in there at dark. I did good off of glow, pink small jigheads but bring different sizes and glow hooks were the best off of deadsticks. They were real picky this year and a lot of small ones. I go through STEVE SWEET and SWEET SLEEPERS. He is around the same price 200 bucks for three days or so. Damn good at putting you on fish and making sure you are having fun. We got a couple in the high teens one in slot. and partying at night we got a few saugers this year which was unusual but we did get a 30" partying after dark about to years ago around 9.5 pounds so keep a few lines down. They liked the crappie jigs a lot. One jumbo perch and two lawyers one monster that was in the 30's. I wanted to throw it in my buddies sleeping bag so bad but I remember every year I introduce new people to icefishing and that would probably scar him for life and my credibility.... Clown jigging rap smaller to mid size, lake shiners (frozen), bare hook (colored if you can find them ) and a vexilar/marcum to keep you entertained or whoever you bring that is new because i strongly recomend it, they will be hooked for life. Back to the city where I can't see the stars and they frown uppon case races of cheap beer because it ruins your bite

Report Date: 1/23/09 4:39 PM CST
Our cost was $199 for 3 nights. We only stayed 2 but there special is 2-3 doesn't matter. That included minnows and transportion to the sleeper and also the day shack. Sleepers come with everything there pans and stuff.

Arjak

Report Date: 1/23/09 1:37 PM CST
Anyone got an average cost on the sleeper shacks per night? Thanks.

Report Date: 1/22/09 4:31 PM CST
Got back yesterday.Mixed results.Monday was tough with alot of little fish mainly sauger fishing in 22fow. Tuesday morning it picked up with a few perch and a couple keepers and 1 eelpout. Headed to the deep water for the day and caught a couple more perch and couple more keepers and alot of small fish. Back to sleeper at 3:30pm and caught more small fish and a few keeper eyes in 16-17" and one 19"er. Wednesday morning caught a few more 16"ers and then headed out. all in all good time and it seemed the fish were turning on. It had been slow from what we were told. Gold, green and red were pretty much the colors they hit from pimples to buckshots to gem n eyes.

Arjak

Report Date: 1/17/09 7:06 PM CST
Caseyinmn,

We'll be in a sleeper as well. Who you stayin with? We are going out/stayin with Ballards.

Good Luck and bring alot of beer in case I run out.

Arjak