Lake of the Woods Tourism Fishing Report 6.18.24
Jun 18th, 2024 by Chris Munchow
Modified Jun 18th, 2024 at 11:10 AM
On the south end… The walleyes are biting! A great week of fishing with a combination of jigging and pulling spinners the go to methods.
Most walleye fishing is taking place between 21 – 24′ of water. When you locate fish on your electronics, either anchor up and jig or simply drift with spinners and crawlers (or troll if there is no wind) through the schools.
When jigging, gold combined with a bright color such as glow white, pink, orange or chartreuse is a hard combo to beat. Use a fathead minnow, rainbow or a frozen emerald shiner.
When hooking the minnow, it is helpful to hook the minnow through the mouth and out the gills, pushing the minnow all the way up the hook to the jig head. Re-hook the minnow as far back as possible. This will catch the short biting fish.
Use a two ounce bottom bouncer with a two or three hook snelled spinner and a nightcrawler. Some good blade colors are gold or gold combined with gold, orange, glow red or pink.
As happens most years in June, another good walleye bite fired up in various areas of the south shore in 5 – 10 feet of water. Oftentimes, minnows spawning pulls in hungry walleyes creating some excellent fishing.
Some big walleyes over 30 inches being caught, along with the eaters, smalls and slot fish between 19.5 – 28 inches that must be released.
Anglers can keep a combined limit of 6 walleyes and saugers. Up to 4 can be walleyes. All walleyes 19.5 – 28.0 inches must be released. One fish over 28 inches may be kept.
On the Rainy River… The river is flowing with a strong current. Consequently, fish are being found in areas just out of the current.
Jigging with a minnow is effective when you are on fish. Otherwise, pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits along shoreline breaks against the current in 6 – 12′ of water is producing a mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass and an occasional crappie.
The Lake Sturgeon season opens July 1st.
The river is a great summer option with 42 miles of navigable river and many nice boat ramps.
Up at the NW Angle… The fish are snapping up at the Angle. Another great week of fishing amongst the 14,552 islands in these parts.
Minnesota waters are producing nice walleyes. Some fish being found off of deeper structure. Some nice opportunities are shallow based on forage, hatches, minnows spawning, etc.
Pulling spinners with shiners or crawlers has been effective. When you are on “a spot on a spot”, jigging is the best technique.
Trolling crankbaits is working well and is a nice way to cover water and put your lure in front of a lot of fish.
In addition to walleyes, saugers, pike, jumbo perch, crappies, pike and smallmouth bass are also in the mix.
Muskie anglers caught some nice fish this past week. No specific pattern as the cold spring has fish still settling into summer. The lake boasts a healthy population of fish, many in excess of 50 inches.
Lodging, fishing packages, small boat guide trips, charter trips and summer trips are available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.