On the South End – Big Traverse Bay Walleye fishing is on fire this week, with the deep mud basin holding huge numbers of fish. Reports from anglers and guides have ...more been nothing short of glowing: “We have been drifting for 3 hours and are still catching walleyes.” “Some of the best walleye fishing we have ever had.” “The kids really enjoyed catching a good number of slot fish with an occasional trophy.” Most of the action is taking place in 32–34 feet of water, where large schools of walleyes are roaming. These fish are aggressive, and both primary techniques—pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits—are putting plenty of gold in the boat. For spinners, most anglers are running a two- or three-hook harness tipped with a crawler. Some have switched it up with frozen emerald shiners on the spinner, with excellent results. In these depths, don’t be shy about using a 3-ounce bottom bouncer to maintain a solid 45-degree line angle and keep your presentation near bottom. Spinner colors, gold / red, gold / chartreuse, orange, firetiger, gold / pink. Trolling crankbaits has also been lights-out. While some charters are running downriggers, many anglers are using more common approaches such as leadcore line, snap weights, or pairing a 4-ounce bottom bouncer with 6 feet of mono or fluorocarbon leader and a shallow-diving crankbait. All of these will get your lure down to where the walleyes are feeding. On the Rainy River Water clarity has improved recently, and walleye action has picked up. The river is producing a true mixed bag—walleyes, sturgeon, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and even some crappies. Sturgeon anglers are reporting plenty of action, with lots of smaller fish in the mix. Remember, the keep season is open; anglers with a tag may keep one sturgeon per calendar year 45 - 50 inches or over 75 inches. Up at the NW Angle Both the Minnesota and Ontario sides are producing good numbers of walleyes. Around the islands, jigging, pulling spinners, and trolling crankbaits are all catching fish. Like the south end, the NW Angle offers a great multispecies opportunity—strong smallmouth bass fishing, active northern pike, and some crappies in the mix. Muskie anglers are also seeing consistent action throughout the islands, with multiple follows and hookups being reported. Plan Your Trip Whether you’re looking for a limit of eaters, a chance at a trophy walleye, or a multispecies adventure, now is the time to be on Lake of the Woods. Lodging, charters, and guides are available. The bite is hot, the scenery is unbeatable, and with the lake fishing this well, you might just land your personal best. New Resource – Real-Time Wave Buoy Data Lake of the Woods Tourism has installed three wave buoys across the lake to help anglers and boaters make informed decisions before heading out. Locations include: Big Traverse Bay West Big Traverse Bay East NW Angle Check wave heights anytime at: www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/wavebuoys
