Lake Of The Woods MN Fishing Report
Category: fishing reports
Sep 21st, 2021 by Keith Worrall
Modified Sep 21st, 2021 at 12:52 PM
On the south end… A fun week of walleye fishing as the water temps cool to the low 60’s and fall colors have started. The walleye are transitioning to fall locations. Three different methods used to catch walleyes this week. Drifting spinners, trolling crankbaits and anchored up and jigging with a minnow, which is becoming more effective each week.
Walleyes setting up across the south shore and with more shiners running, this trend will continue. Jigging with a frozen shiner or live fathead has really started to be effective. Give it 30-40 minutes and set up in a different spot if there is no action.
Congrats to all MN Tournament Trail tournament anglers this past week. The winning team had a 7.52 lb avg per walleye for 10 fish. There are a lot of big walleyes in Lake of the Woods right now.
Daily limit is a combined limit of six walleyes and saugers (with up to 4 being walleyes). Don’t forget the slot, 19.5″ – 28″ must be returned with one allowed over 28″ per day.
Fall is an excellent time to fish walleyes. If you like the jig bite, anchor up and jig over the side of the boat for a very enjoyable and typically memorable day.
Pike are active and most are caught but unsuspecting walleye anglers. The feedbag is definitely on.
On the Rainy River… Emerald shiners continue to run in the Rainy River. Some good runs so far, good angler reports and nice walleyes being caught. Fall on the river is nice as a small boat will work just fine.
Most walleye anglers on the river are anchoring up along an edge or in a hole with a jig and minnow. There are 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from Wheeler’s Point through Baudette to Birchdale with lots of boat ramps.
Sturgeon activity has picked up as well with good fall reports.
Up at the NW Angle…
Excellent fishing continues on both sides of the border. In U.S. waters, deep mud of Little Traverse Bay continues producing walleyes in 24 – 31 feet. Gold, white and orange spinners with a crawler or a minnow continue to be effective. As water cools, minnows on some days are outfising crawlers.
Areas with structure continue to hold fish. 18 – 27 feet are good starting points. Jig and a minnow is the goto on structure and neck down areas.
Pike and muskie anglers are locating fish on weedy points using double blade spinners and topwater. A lot of fish are caught on figure eight.
Travel to and from the Angle via vehicle through the 40 miles of Canada is open. Boating into Canadian waters is now open. Please note, no live, frozen or dead bait allowed into Canada from the U.S. The various plastics on a jig are working well. Contact a NW Angle resort for details.
Charter boat transport and float planes are still available through the LOW Passenger Service and Lake Country Air.
A complete list of lodging and fishing packages around LOW, the NW Angle, Baudette and the Rainy River at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.