On the South Shore… It was another great week of fishing on Lake of the Woods! A couple of days, anglers changed up where they fished based on weather, but overall, ...more people caught fish. Walleyes are active, but they’re also beginning to transition in how they’re feeding and where they’re hanging out. The jig bite remains strong in many areas, but some anglers are now switching things up to spinners with great results. Some anglers are still anchoring or spot-locking and jigging with frozen emerald shiners, which continue to be a top bait. A 3/8 to 1/2 oz jig is ideal. Some are experimenting with leeches on their jigs and finding good success, especially as water temps rise. Don’t forget to try those classic LOW colors—gold, glow white, chartreuse, pink, or combinations like gold/glow white/pink. Some anglers are starting to pull spinners with good walleye success. Most are using crawlers on their spinner rigs, but switching over to a minnow once in a while can also produce better results some days. This time of year, it pays to be versatile. Good spinner colors are similar to jig colors, hammered gold combined with pink, glow white, orange and glow red are good options. Some anglers have reported excellent walleye action in 14 to 18 feet of water, tied to a dragonfly hatch in some areas. Walleyes are feeding on these larvae that emerge from the bottom. Throughout the summer, various bug hatches around the lake can concentrate fish in specific areas—keep your eyes open for these fish catching opportunities. Trolling crankbaits is also gaining momentum and is catching walleyes as water temps continue to climb. Crankbaits help anglers cover water quickly and find scattered fish. It’s a great way to target walleyes and can produce bonus species like pike, smallmouth bass and perch. As for depth, fish are being caught everywhere from shallow sand in 8 feet to deep mud and rocks in 31 feet. That 14 - 18 and 25 to 29-foot range have been particularly productive. On the Rainy River… The Rainy River is still holding some decent walleyes. As water temps rise and the current remains steady, a 1/2 - 3/4 oz jig tipped with a frozen emerald shiner remains effective, especially when vertically jigged in deeper holes and along the channel edges. Looking to change things up? Spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits are great ways to explore and find active fish. Want even more variety? Casting crankbaits, spinnerbaits, or swim jigs along shorelines, docks, and back bays can always be a productive option producing a mixed bag that includes walleyes, pike, and smallmouth bass. Reminder: The sturgeon season is currently closed, but will reopen July 1st. From July 1 through September 30, anglers with a sturgeon tag can harvest one sturgeon per year—either 45–50 inches or over 75 inches. Up at the Northwest Angle… Fishing continues to be excellent at the Angle. Walleyes are being caught in 12 to 24 feet of water, particularly around shoreline structure, underwater points, and shallow reefs. The jig and minnow bite is still going strong, especially on rock and sand transitions. Trolling crankbaits along shallow structure has also been productive. This approach is helping anglers cover water and locate schools of feeding fish. In addition to walleyes, many are catching jumbo perch, pike, and smallmouth bass. Speaking of bass—now is a great time to target smallmouth. June is a month that can be really productive simply working shorelines. Focus on points, scattered rubble and small areas of structure. Looking ahead: The muskie opener in both Minnesota and Ontario Zone 5 is coming up June 21st. With Lake of the Woods’ healthy muskie population and 14,552 islands to explore, anglers are getting ready for another great muskie season! Plan Your Trip. Lake of the Woods continues to produce consistent catches of nice walleyes. Some anglers bring their own boats. Others prefer to board a charter boat or in with a guide. Whether you’re jigging, pulling spinners, trolling cranks, or casting for a mixed bag, the lake is healthy and good catches are being reported around the lake. For more information on resorts, guides, charter boats, and trip planning, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.
