Lake of the Woods Fishing Report

April 9, 2012

Three days of Rainy sturgeon fishing with Northernborderguides.com. Maiden sturgeon voyage for first-timers Casey Oreskovich, and Pam, Dylan and Emily Bostic. Lots of nice sturgeon caught. AN ABSOLUTE BLAST!!!

March 14, 2012

As of right now most if not all accesses are closed to truck and vehicle traffic, BUT DON'T BE DISCOURAGED ANGLERS, THE MONSTER NORTHERN PIKE BITE IS SNAPPIN'!!! So far, the biggest gator we've seen pictures of was a 52-incher caught in the bay by Pine Island, and also high numbers of 45 to 48 inchers out of Zippel Bay. Haven't heard much out of Spring Steel yet. The tip-up fishing is happening—lots of flags flying! So pack up the 4-wheelers. Very much worth the run up for some excellent pike fishing! Herring and live suckers have been the lucky baits on Bigtooth Quik-Strike rigs. Now's your chance to get your picture with a true trophy! With temps in the sixties this weekend anglers are looking forward to some insane pike action! RAINY RIVER – boats will be launching out of Birchdale and Clemenson's by next weekend if current temps continue. With the low water levels and slower current, this season could be one phenomenal walleye and sturgeon smack-down! Hope your boats are ready - Keep a Tight Line!

March 7, 2012

The walleye bite has become extremely scattered. Anglers reporting that being off alone, and in deeper water seems to be far more successful than in the groups of houses in the 20' area. This past week gold jigs seem to be the major producer of your larger walleyes fishing 32-34'. Still worth the drive for some spectacular fishing. Limits are being caught. You just never know what you're going to end up with on the ice—as Aaron Guthrie can testify with his state-record pout at 19.5. The northern fishing has been picking up and we're getting lots of traffic through the shop. Haven't been hearing of lots of pigs being caught just yet, but with the warmer weather projected for the weekend, maybe that'll be just what the doctor ordered. The past couple days we've had customers picking up bait for open water fishing just outside of I-Falls. Keep a Tight Line!

February 24, 2012

February 14, 2012

Here we go again—the bite is ON! BUT anglers are reporting having to head out a lot farther (9-12 miles – Oak Island area or out in the middle of nowhere) to find good numbers of decent size walleyes. Try fishing before completely setting up – 32+ feet – if you're not catching or marking fish immediately – MOVE! Emerald shiners on a deadstick are producing some really nice fish using a Jig-N-Rap or something with vigorous motion to bring 'em in. They'll look—and then hit the bait on your deadstick. Anglers reporting a decent night bite right now--kinda rare. Not too complicated—keep it simple. Keep a Tight Line!

January 2, 2012

WOW!! WHAT A CRAZY START OF THE SEASON WITH ICE CONDITIONS! Check with access owners about vehicle traffic, ATV’s, or snowmobiles. Where anglers are getting out, the walleye bite has been INSANE!!! Massive numbers of varying sizes being produced all the way out to 30’. Be wise and be safe!!
Keep a Tight Line!

July 7, 2011

Many anglers are fishing the basin with downriggers or leadcoring and producing good numbers of walleye. We've seen pictures of a couple 30 inchers recently caught on launches! Anglers reporting out by Little Oak, the rock reefs, jigs and minnows have been producing good results. Some anglers are also reporting success using crawlers with spinners along shoreline. Keep a Tight Line!

April 13, 2011

River has become highly dangerous and not recommended for travel as of 4/12/11. Water reported to be up 5-6 feet, and huge chunks of ice and debris creating an unsafe situation. We'll keep you posted. Keep a Tight Line!

April 11, 2011

Big Fork and Little Fork Rivers just broke and water is on the rise. Water is muddied up. The up side to the situation is that the water should start to clear before the walleye season closes. We should still have one or two more days of clear water and good fishing! The muddy water should bring the lake run up the river faster since the muddier water will rise in temperature more quickly. All is not doom and gloom – some really nice walleyes are still being caught. The numbers are lower but the fish are getting bigger. Sturgeon fishing still unbelievably good even with the muddy water. Enjoy the fishing and the warm weather! Keep a Tight Line!!

April 6, 2011

Action continues on the River! Numbers of larger walleyes being caught are down from last week but anglers are still reporting some good catches (25-50 walleye per day with 5 or more 25"+). A few groups have been reporting 50-85 fish/day, successfully fishing away from the crowds. Some also fishing well past dark – NOT recommended on the river! There was a lull in the action last weekend due to heavy boat traffic mixed with the front that came through. As of Tuesday the bite started gradually increasing (may be attributed to lower boat traffic). Anglers reporting that the spawn run hasn't arrived just yet. But with the warmer weather the water temps are slowing increasing which will hopefully encourage the spawn run by this weekend. Water clarity still holding – not as clear as last week - but still very fishable. If the weather holds up with no rain, fishing should stay good for a week or so as long as tributaries hold such as the Big Fork River (some small flows have started). Rainbows are the ticket with 3/8-1/2 oz jigs. STURGEON FISHING!!! MAN, some big ones are being caught and good numbers!!! LOW Report – anglers heading up for the big pike! They're finding them shallow using ciscos and large sucker minnows with tip ups!! Good numbers of larger walleyes being caught in The Gap where it sounds like they're staged up to make the spawn run!! Keep a tight line!

March 30, 2011

AWESOME WALLEYE BITE!!! (Sturgeon not quite turned on yet-but some numbers being caught). All accesses now open from I-Falls to Frontier. Water open 1 mi down from Frontier Access. River's been opening 1-2 mi/day. Walleyes going on 3/8-5/8 oz jigs tipped with a Rainbow. Chartreuse+gold best colors, but orange+pink working as well. Anywhere in the river-deeper holes holding larger schools. Females haven't moved in yet, but many larger fish are being caught (23-25"). For the sturgeon, 3-5oz weight working well. Current is slow with clarity around 3'. LOW - Larger walleyes out of Arneson's being caught out by Gull Rock, quite a few of them too large (out of the slot) but fun to catch!! Lots of smaller saugers out of Adrian's with an occasional walleye bite. Smaller jigs tipped with smaller minnows seems to be the ticket!! Reminder all permanent houses have to be off the lake the 31st. Northern Pike fishing has been phenominal!! Deeper water producing bigger fish (13-22') 1-1/2' off bottom with heavy sucker minnows. We've got plenty of nice rainbows on hand for the Rainy River run!! Keep a tight line!!

March 24, 2011

Lots of good ice folks!! Large puddles of water, but a lot of ice below. Fish staging up to head toward The Gap. Mixed reports - getting 30+ but smaller saugers, or a lot lower numbers but nice 15-18" walleyes (8-15/day). Fatheads and small silvers shiners on smaller jigs seem to be producing best results. Auger extensions & cleats highly recommended! Large pike fishing-YES!

March 20, 2011

March 15, 2011

We're hearing anywhere from 18-34'. With the warm weather, pressure ridges popping up and roads are covered in water in spots. Still good ice. Fishing has slowed down a bit the past few days but still worth the drive. Pike fishing has picked up. Heavy suckers seem to be the bait of choice. Keep a Tight Line!

March 9, 2011

Saugers!!! Still going strong! No problem catching limits fishing right off the bottom using gold or red-glow spoons tipped with minnowheads. Occasional walleyes mixed right in. Numerous walleyes being caught deadsticking with small gold or red-glow KenKatch Jig-A-Bits using whole small silver shiners or large fatheads. Some reports of larger walleyes still suspended 10-12' below the ice. This past weekend Oak Island was Tullibe City!! We strongly advise if angling up by Oak Island and you catch some Tullibe – MOVE! Our own group pounded more than 25 Tullibe in less than an hour. We moved down by Garden Island fishing 31' and ended up keeping 47 saugers and walleyes. A very finicky bite for both walleye and sauger where bobber fishing worked well using both minnowheads and full small silver shiners. Many groups stopping by the shop after fishing over the weekend reported excellent numbers of both walleye and sauger fishing 30' without seeing any suspended walleyes – where the walleyes were being caught right up off the bottom along with the saugers – so, basically, it's anybody's guess – but very much worth the drive! Here at the shop we have a good supply of small silver shiners on hand that are working well in the absence of emeralds this year! Tip-up fishing for big pike is picking up each week out of Warroad! Keep a Tight Line!

March 3, 2011

Solid fish count still going on. Getting limits taking a little more work with the colder temps—the bite has become more finicky. Rocky Point and Long Point – numbers of decent-size saugers still being produced in 29-34' working the bottom with a jig and a minnow. Fishing the reefs with larger jigs tipped with minnowheads using an aggressive approach has been producing OK numbers of walleyes (worth the trip). The Gap seems to be hit or miss . North of Pine Island fishing 30-35' limits of saugers being caught mixed in with a few walleyes--deadsticking and jigging are both working well. Some reports of good numbers of walleyes being found out from Springsteel Point (28-32') deadsticking vs. aggressive jigging. The word is - for good numbers of quality walleye – head out with sleds to Garden Island and north to Oak Island and fish the reefs. Deadsticking and jigging have both been producing a few nice fish. Tip-Up fishing for the big pike in shallows still on the slow side up in Northwest Angle area. A few are being picked up but not worth the drive just yet. Reports of slush problems still existing in some areas so be aware. Keep a tight line!

February 23, 2011

Excellent walleye and sauger numbers being produced the past 4-5 days, but blowing and drifting snow limiting mobility. Larger fish and better numbers being caught out on the reefs traveling by sled, but still very good fishing on the mud flats where vehicles are getting around on plowed roads (29-36’). Still many reporting good size walleyes suspended 10-15’ below the ice and 13-15” saugers off the bottom. For the suspended walleyes many anglers producing fish jigging medium spoons (JR’s Stop Sign Jigs and KenKatch Boss jigs) tipped with whole large fathead minnows or small silver shiners, and for the sauger 6” off the bottom jigging smaller jigs with size 4-2 hooks with whole large fatheads or small silver shiners and hooking through the back of the minnow under the dorsal fin rather than through the lips. Spot Tail Shiners working well on deadsticks fishing for suspended walleyes. Continuous bite reported (8:00am-5:00pm). Bring an extension for your auger! Keep a Tight Line!

February 16, 2011

Limits being caught-both sauger and walleye!! Bigger walleyes starting to bite using gold jigs and small silver shiners. Angel Eyes tipped with minnowheads also getting popular. One of the better lakes to be on right now! Depths around 30'. Tip-up fishing for large northern starting to turn on in the shallows. Keep a Tight Line!

February 10, 2011

Fishing has turned on since last weekend! Suspended walleyes still being caught in 30-35'. Gold and glo hooks/spoons have been the ticket. Small silver shiners have been doing well on both bare hooks and rattling jigs. Sauger size unbelievable! 13-15" saugers being caught right off the bottom! One of the better bites in the area. Keep a Tight Line!

February 3, 2011

Past few days numbers of both walleye and sauger have picked up. Buckshots with red-glo/gold tipped with a minnowhead, 24' and deeper, jigging up off the bottom seems to be the ticket. A good number of walleye and saugers caught jigging v. deadsticking. Action throughout day with major flurry of activity between 10:00-11:30 a.m. Keep a Tight Line!

January 29, 2011

Small spoons with minnowheads 31-35' and smaller jigs using whole small silver shiners have been producing good numbers of saugers fishing right off the bottom. While larger spoons with minnowheads still captivating walleyes up off the bottom. Best colors reported have been gold and red (of course), all-glow white, and white-glow with purple. Keep a tight line!