NEW! Real-Time Wave Height Data Now Available Lake of the Woods Tourism has deployed wave buoys on Lake of the Woods! Boaters, anglers, and guides can now check ...more real-time wave height data from three key locations: Big Traverse Bay West, Big Traverse Bay East and the Northwest Angle. Access the data and buoy locations here: 👉 www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/wavebuoys Whether you're planning your next trip across the lake, a charter outing, or just curious what the lake is doing, this is a great new tool! Big Traverse Bay... The Deep Mud Bite is Hot! Summer fishing continues to shine on Lake of the Woods, and Big Traverse Bay is delivering excellent walleye action! The current trend? Targeting walleyes over the deep mud basin in 30 to 35 feet of water. Anglers are watching their electronics closely and finding big schools of fish scattered across the basin. The go-to technique this week has been drifting or trolling crawler harnesses at speeds of 1.0 to 1.25 mph. Hammered gold blades paired with red, pink, orange or chartreuse continue to be solid producers. Not only are anglers catching good numbers of fish, but plenty of slot walleyes (19.5" - 28") and trophies are also in the mix. Trolling crankbaits is also catching fire. Anglers are using leadcore line, snap weights, or downriggers to get their cranks down into the strike zone. This technique is not only helping to cover water but is producing some of the biggest walleyes of the season so far. In the stained waters of LOW, firetiger, pink UV, chrome/blue, and gold are go-to colors. Those who enjoy forward-facing sonar are finding good numbers of big walleyes over the deep mud basin. The basin is loaded with walleyes, and for those wanting to work on their electronics game and land some giants, now is the time. Rainy River... Mixed Bag and Sturgeon Season. Summer on the Rainy River offers something for everyone. Anglers are catching a nice variety of walleyes, smallmouth bass, and pike, especially near current breaks, deeper holes, and shoreline structure. Sturgeon fishing is also in full swing. The keep season is open through September 30. Anglers with a valid sturgeon tag can harvest one sturgeon per calendar year that measures 45–50 inches or over 75 inches. Soaking a combination of nightcrawlers and frozen shiners on a sturgeon rig continues to be the best presentation. Northwest Angle... Consistent Action. Up at the Northwest Angle, both the Minnesota and Ontario sides are producing excellent fishing. Anglers are targeting walleyes with a mix of techniques: Pulling spinners with crawlers, trolling crankbaits around reefs and points and jigging with minnows or plastics in neckdown areas, around structure, and on the edges of mud and rock transitions. Bonus species like smallmouth bass, pike, perch, and crappies are showing up as well, providing exciting multi-species action. Muskie anglers are tight lipped, but reports have been consistent with anglers seeing and boating good fish. Some fish are exceeding that 50 inch mark. Now’s the Time to Visit! Whether you're chasing your personal best walleye or looking to enjoy a classic shore lunch with family and friends, Lake of the Woods is firing on all cylinders. From the basin to the river to the NW Angle, the fishing is excellent, the scenery is stunning, and the memories are waiting to be made.
