1. Joe Henry

    On the South End… A good week of fall walleye fishing on Big Traverse Bay. Anglers reported nice numbers of fish. Fish continue to be found in different locations ...more along the south shore in 15–22 feet of water, setting up nicely for the upcoming ice fishing season. Water temperatures continue to cool at a moderate pace. According to the Lake of the Woods Tourism Wave Buoys, the Big Traverse Bay surface temperature is now 49°F, down from 53°F last week. As water temperatures drop, walleyes are sliding shallower and feeding heavily in preparation for winter, which means the bite is only getting better. The best presentation remains vertical jigging with a frozen or live emerald shiner. A few anglers are still finding success trolling crankbaits to cover water, but the classic jig-and-minnow bite is tough to beat right now. Hot jig colors this week include orange/chartreuse, gold/orange or solid gold combined with pink, and glow white. Expect a nice mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and the occasional crappie or northern pike. The fall transition bite has been consistent and action-packed. On the Rainy River… Emerald shiners have moved into the Rainy River, though large schools have yet to arrive. Still, walleye reports were solid this week with plenty of fish being caught. Anglers are working current breaks, deeper holes, and weed edges, primarily jigging with a frozen or live shiner. Others are trolling crankbaits to cover water and locate active fish. Sturgeon fishing is good with many anglers catching multiple fish per trip. A classic sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers — and optionally tipped with a shiner or two — is effective. The catch-and-release sturgeon season is in effect. Up at the Northwest Angle… Fishing continues to be excellent across the islands and reefs of the Northwest Angle on both sides of the border. A jig and minnow remains the go-to tactic on points, reefs, neck-down areas, and mud-to-rock transitions. Anglers are catching walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, smallmouth bass, and pike in good numbers. Muskie anglers are also finding good success as cooling water temps have fish on the move. Fall is prime time for trophy muskies over the 50-inch mark, and anglers are reporting plenty of follows and hookups on both artificial and live bait. Guides still have openings for that last fall trip, or, bring up your own boat. Lodging, guides and ice fishing packages at LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.

    1. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍
  2. Joe Henry

    On the South End… A very similar report to last week with another great week of walleye fishing on Big Traverse Bay. Strong numbers of walleyes are set up in traditional ...more fall locations across the south shore of the lake. In front of Pine Island, Morris Point Gap, in front of Zippel Bay, Long Point over to Twin Islands. This is also setting up nicely for ice fishing! The bite is very good and will even get better as water temps decrease. From the Lake of the Woods Wave Buoys, the water temp last week was 55 degrees. It is down to 53 degrees this week. The best bite this week is in 17 - 25 feet. Vertical jigging with a frozen or live emerald shiner is definitely the goto presentation, however, some anglers are still trolling crankbaits with good success. Hot jig colors this week were orange / chartreuse, gold / orange or gold, pink, and glow white. When hooking the minnow on a jig, place the hook of the jig through the mouth and out the gill of the minnow, pushing the minnow as far up towards the jig head as possible, and then hook the minnow about half or 2/3 of the way back on the minnow. In the stained waters, the walleyes aren't as picky and your hookups will increase. Expect a mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch and an occasional crappie or pike in the mix. Rainy River… Emerald shiners are in the river but not in big numbers yet. There are decent numbers of walleyes with some good reports this week. A jig and frozen or live shiner along current breaks, deeper holes, and weed edges, while others were covering water trolling crankbaits. Normally, emerald shiners are the go to bait. Fall is when bait dealers net, freeze and package emerald shiners which are used all year long. Consequently, some live shiners are currently available. Sturgeon anglers are reporting some nice fish, and in many cases, good numbers. A classic sturgeon rig with crawlers (optionally tipped with some shiners) has been effective. The sturgeon catch-and-release season is upon us and continues through April 23, 2026. Northwest Angle… Walleye fishing continues to be excellent on both sides of the border. Again, a jig and minnow on points, over reefs, neck-down areas, and mud-to-rock transitions is catching good numbers of walleyes with saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, smallmouth bass and pike. Muskie anglers are reporting good activity with cooling water temps. Fall is one of the best times of the year to pursue trophy fish over that 50 inch mark in these parts. With a mild weather forecast for this time of year, some great fall fishing is still available. Charter boats and guides are still available through October, or bring up your own boat. You don't have to travel far to find good numbers of walleyes this time of year. For fishing info, guides, fall hot deals and resort packages, visit https://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/fall-fishing-rainy-river-boat-ramps/

    1. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍
  3. Joe Henry

    On the South End… Good numbers of walleyes are being caught in numerous locations across the south shore. More "fall-like" weather is starting to slowly ...more bring the lake temps down which is a benefit to walleye anglers. The current water temp on the lake is 55 degrees. The best bite this week is in 17 - 27 feet. Vertical jigging with a frozen emerald shiner is definitely the goto presentation, however, some anglers are still trolling crankbaits with good success. Hot jig colors this week were gold or gold combined with other bright colors such as orange, chartreuse, pink, and glow white. Lake of the Woods has stained water from the natural tannins in the water which keeps the walleyes and saugers biting throughout the day. Expect walleyes of all different sizes, saugers, jumbo perch and an occasional crappie or pike in the mix. Rainy River… Emerald shiners are in the river as are some nice walleyes. Anglers fishing the river, overall, pulled in nice numbers of fish this past weekend. Some were working a jig and frozen shiner along current breaks, deeper holes, and weed edges, while others were covering water trolling crankbaits. Sturgeon fishing continues to be good. A classic sturgeon rig which is a 3 ounce flat no-roll sinker teamed up with an 18" heavy mono or fluorocarbon leader and a 3/0 circle hook loaded with crawlers (optionally tipped with a shiner) has been effective. The sturgeon catch-and-release season is upon us and continues through April 23, 2026. Northwest Angle… Walleye fishing continues to be consistently very good throughout the island region of Lake of the Woods. Both sides of the border are producing nice numbers of fish that are becoming increasingly active with dropping water temps. A jig and minnow on points, over reefs, neck-down areas, and mud-to-rock transitions is catching walleyes combined with saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, smallmouth bass and pike. Fall crappie anglers continue to take advantage of the season finding nice slabs in various locations around points and in deeper water off of structure. Muskie activity continues to increase with cooling water temps. Most anglers are casting for fish, but fall is also a time to troll points and other areas of structure which often produces some nice muskies. Charter boats and guides are still available through October, with a few still fishing into November. A great time to get that last fall trip or make plans for ice! For fishing info, guides, charters, resorts, and lodging, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/lodging.

    1. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍
  4. Joe Henry

    On the South End… Walleyes are stacking up along the south shore. Weather has been unseasonably warm and water temps are holding in the low 60's. Despite ...more the "summer like" weather, days are getting shorter and this is kicking fall patterns into gear. Additionally, more traditional fall temps are in the forecast and this too will turn the walleyes on even more. The best bite this week is in 17 - 27 feet. Vertical jigging with a frozen emerald shiner this time of year is definitely the goto presentation, however, those trolling crankbaits are still having good success. Hot jig colors. Lake of the Woods has stained water from the natural tannins in the water. This causes the walleye and sauger bite to be good during the day. Stained water is also conducive to certain colors, specifically gold or gold combined with other bright colors such as orange, chartreuse, pink, and glow white. Various schools of walleyes are located across the south shore in areas such as Pine Island, Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, Zippel Bay, Long Point, and Twin Islands. All year long, walleye anglers have been catching good numbers of bonus jumbo perch. The lake is full of them and that trend continues. Rainy River… Emerald shiners continue moving into the river with walleyes following. The bite is good, but cooler weather and water temps will kick things into high gear. A jig and frozen shiner along current breaks, deeper holes, and sand flats. Sturgeon action remains good. A classic sturgeon rig with crawlers (optionally tipped with a shiner) has been effective. The sturgeon catch-and-release season is upon us and continues through April 23, 2026. The Rainy River offers about 42 miles of navigable water from Wheeler’s Point through Baudette to Birchdale, with numerous public ramps for access. Northwest Angle… Walleye fishing is just flat out very good right now, and has been all summer. Good fishing on both sides of the border. Again, a jig and minnow on points, over reefs, neck-down areas, and mud-to-rock transitions. Saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, smallmouth bass and pike are in the mix. Fall crappie anglers are reporting nice catches. A jig and minnow off of points and in deeper water off of structure. Electronics help to find the crappies. Muskie activity traditionally increases as days get shorter and water cools. We have one of the two and things will only get better into the rest of October. Get in on a last minute fall trip and plan for ice… Charter boats and guides are rolling through October, a few into November. Fishing is excellent and now is a great time to slide up.

    1. Ashley Pippin 0
      great catch!
    2. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍
    3. View full conversation
  5. Joe Henry

    On the South End… Walleyes continue to congregate along the south shore, and despite unseasonably warm weather, anglers are putting good numbers of fish in the ...more boat. The best bite has slid slightly deeper this week to 22–30 feet. Vertical jigging with a frozen emerald shiner remains the top producer. Hot jig colors have been green, gold, orange, chartreuse, and glow white; on certain days, pink or plain gold still shine. Schools of walleyes are located across traditional stretches, Pine Island, Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, Zippel Bay, Long Point, and Twin Islands, with bonus jumbo perch mixed in. While jigging is the go-to, some anglers continue to pull spinners with crawlers or troll crankbaits to cover water when marks are scattered. Expect shoreline activity to strengthen further as temperatures cool. Rainy River… Emerald shiners are trickling into the river, and walleyes are following. The bite is improving by the day; a real cool-down will kick things into high gear. Work a jig and frozen shiner along current breaks, deeper holes, and sand flats. Sturgeon action remains strong. A classic sturgeon rig with crawlers (optionally tipped with a shiner) has been effective. Reminder: sturgeon harvest season is open through September 30, switching to catch-and-release October 1 – April 23, 2026. The Rainy River offers about 42 miles of navigable water from Wheeler’s Point through Baudette to Birchdale, with numerous public ramps for access. Northwest Angle… Excellent walleye fishing continues on both the Minnesota and Ontario sides. The program is simple and productive: a jig and minnow on points, over reefs, neck-down areas, and mud-to-rock transitions. Saugers, jumbo perch, and pike are also showing up consistently. It’s prime time for fall crappies. Many anglers are finding nice fish around islands and off of points. Muskie reports are strong as water temps edge downward, with follows and hookups on shoreline structure. Plan your fall trip… Excellent fall fishing typically runs into November. If you’re looking for that last good open-water trip before ice season, now’s the window.

    1. George Horvath 0
      Wow 😮 that’s a big one ☝️
  6. Joe Henry

    On the South End… Walleye action has been excellent along the south shore in 17 – 27 feet of water. Vertical jigging with a frozen emerald shiner continues to be ...more the top producer, with anglers reporting strong numbers of both walleyes and saugers. Jig colors making a big difference this week include gold/red, green, plain gold, white, pink, and gold/orange. The fall bite is setting up nicely, with fish spread out across a variety of locations. Anglers are targeting traditional spots like Pine Island, Morris Point, Zippel Bay, and Long Point, but schools are showing up in other nearshore areas as well. Jumbo perch remains a nice bonus, adding variety to the bucket alongside limits of walleyes and saugers. While jigging has been the go-to, some anglers are still pulling spinners with crawlers or trolling crankbaits to cover water effectively, proving all three techniques can produce depending on conditions. As water temps continue cooling and daylight shortens, expect shoreline activity to strengthen even more in the weeks ahead. The 10 day forecast shows warm temps and very low precipitation, a great stretch of fall weather ahead. Rainy River… Emerald shiners are starting to show in the river, and walleye fishing in the river this week was good. The bite will only improve as the shiner run builds. The most effective presentation remains a jig and frozen emerald shiner, worked along current breaks, holes, and sand flats. Sturgeon activity is also strong this fall. A sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers, sometimes tipped with a shiner, has been the winning setup. Remember, the sturgeon harvest season is open through September 30, switching to catch-and-release October 1 – April 23, 2026. The Rainy River offers 42 miles of navigable water from Wheeler’s Point through Baudette and east to Birchdale, with numerous boat ramps for access. Northwest Angle… Fishing is excellent up at the Angle, with strong numbers of walleyes and saugers keeping anglers busy. Crappies are also in the mix, and many are being found around islands and over basin mud. Structure such as reefs, neck-down areas, and mud-to-rock transitions remain key. Muskie activity is ramping up as water temps cool, with both follows and successful hook-ups being reported. Pike and smallmouth bass remain solid backup options, with pike coming from weedy bays and smallmouth relating to rocky points and shorelines. With dropping water temps and shorter days, the bite across Lake of the Woods will only continue to get better.

    1. George Horvath 0
      Wow 😮 that’s a big one
  7. Joe Henry

    On the South End... Water temperatures are starting to drop into the low 60s, with wave buoys on Big Traverse Bay showing 61 – 63 degrees. This cooling trend combined ...more with shorter days signals the transition period for walleyes, and anglers are finding fish in a variety of places. Walleyes are still holding over deep mud, but schools are also showing up adjacent to shorelines and on the edges of reefs. As waters cool, more fish are pushing toward the shorelines, and this movement will only increase as the fall progresses. All three primary methods of fishing are producing fish right now: Jigging with a frozen emerald shiner, pulling spinners with crawlers and trolling crankbaits to cover water. Each technique has its time and place, and being versatile is paying off for anglers. The shoreline bite will only get stronger in the weeks ahead. Rainy River... The first signs of fall are beginning to show on the Rainy River. Emerald shiners are starting to trickle in, and with them comes an uptick in walleye activity. The big run hasn’t started yet, but anglers are finding more fish in the river each day. Four Mile Bay, an area between Big Traverse Bay and the Rainy River, is also giving up some nice walleyes. A jig tipped with a frozen emerald shiner continues to be the go-to approach, a tried-and-true method for tempting these river walleyes. The lake sturgeon bite has also picked up which is the norm in the fall. A sturgeon rig with a ball of nightcrawlers and even a frozen shiner or two is the goto bait. The sturgeon "harvest" season continues through September 30th. From Oct 1 - April 23, sturgeon fishing continues with catch and release. Northwest Angle... Up at the NW Angle, walleye fishing remains excellent. This region is known for its sheer abundance of fish, and right now it’s living up to its reputation. With countless islands and diverse structure, anglers are working areas such as deep mud, neck-down spots with moving water, underwater points and reefs, and transition areas where walleyes are staging. Not only is this a great environment for walleyes, but it also holds a wide variety of other species, making the Angle a multi-species destination this time of year. Fall is a go-to time for those fishing big black crappies in this region. Pike and smallmouth bass are staples and are only more aggressive as the waters are cooling. Muskie anglers are also reporting good activity with both follows and catches. Summary South End: Walleyes transitioning from mud to shorelines; all methods (jigging, spinners, crankbaits) still working. Rainy River: Shiners trickling in, walleye activity increasing; jig and frozen emerald shiner the go-to. Sturgeon activity is increasing. NW Angle: Excellent walleye bite continues, with diverse structure and plenty of fish. As water temps continue to cool, expect the shoreline and river bite to heat up even more in the coming weeks.

    1. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍
  8. Joe Henry

    On the South End – Big Traverse Bay It was another excellent week of fall walleye fishing on Big Traverse Bay. Good numbers of walleyes continue to hold over the ...more deep mud basin in 28–32 feet of water, and the bite has been very cooperative. Other reports show fish sliding up into 20–22 feet, which is typical as not every walleye in the system is keying in on the same food sources during this fall transition. Anglers are catching fish using a variety of techniques: Drifting or trolling spinners at 1.0–1.25 mph with crawlers has been very productive. Top spinner colors this week were gold/pink, gold/red, and silver/blue. Trolling crankbaits is also putting fish in the boat. Productive colors include gold, chrome/blue, chartreuse, pink, and firetiger. Covering water over the deep mud remains an effective approach. Some anglers are now anchoring up and jigging with a jig and frozen emerald shiner. Once a school of fish is located, this method allows anglers to sit tight and entice steady action. Jumbo perch remain a bonus catch, mixing in with the walleyes across the basin. Veterans attending the 12th annual Pay It Forward veterans event caught good numbers of walleyes this week, filling coolers of ice on charter boats along with some trophy fish. A walleye over 31 inches took big fish honors with a handful of walleyes over 28 inches in the mix as well. The Lake of the Woods wave buoys report water temps at 68 degrees. On the Rainy River Activity is picking up on the Rainy River. With cooling water temperatures, both walleyes and sturgeon are becoming more active. Anglers with dock lights are reporting increased shiner activity, a sure sign that the annual emerald shiner migration from the lake into the river is just beginning. Bird activity has also noticeably increased, another signal of bait movement. Walleyes are being caught jigging with minnows or by trolling crankbaits along current breaks and deeper holes. Sturgeon fishing has been solid as well—anchoring with a 3-ounce no-roll sinker and a sturgeon rig packed with crawlers continues to produce big fish. Some sturgeon over 60 inches along with many smaller fish in the mix as well. Sturgeon anglers report catching some walleyes and suckers while waiting for the sturgeon bite. Up at the NW Angle Fishing remains strong at the Angle, with good numbers of walleyes spread across the deep mud of Little Traverse Bay (east and NE of Little Oak Island). Covering water with spinners or crankbaits has been the best way to connect with pods of fish. Other productive areas include north of Garden Island and west of Little Oak Island, where anglers are finding walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch. On the Ontario side, jigging with frozen emerald shiners has been very effective. With 14,552 islands starting at the Angle and stretching into Ontario, anglers have countless spots holding walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass, crappies, and jumbo perch. Muskie fishing has been consistent, with good numbers of fish reported boated this past week. As days shorten and water temperatures cool, the bite will only continue to improve. The Fall Outlook September and October are prime months for fishing on Lake of the Woods. Fish are actively feeding, water temperatures are dropping, and the scenery is unmatched as fall colors take hold. Whether chasing walleyes on the main lake, jigging the Rainy River, or casting for muskies at the Angle, anglers are set up for some of the best fishing of the year.

    1. Mina Grace 0
      Looks good
    2. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍
    3. View full conversation
  9. Joe Henry

    On the South End... The fall transition is underway, and the bite has been excellent. Anglers are reporting limits of walleyes in 20–34 feet of water, with two ...more main techniques leading the way: drifting spinners and trolling crankbaits. Productive spinner color patterns this week have been gold with red, silver with blue, and gold with pink. Water temperatures from the wave buoys are running 65–67°F, showing that cooler weather is beginning to move things along nicely. It continues to be a great year for jumbo perch, with good numbers mixed in with the walleyes. On the Rainy River... Signs of fall are showing. Water temps are cooling, and more bird activity along the river typically means more baitfish are present. Soon, emerald shiners will begin their annual migration into the river, followed closely by big numbers of walleyes—what anglers call the fall run. Already, some anglers are boating nice walleyes while targeting the river. Sturgeon fishing is also picking up, with reports of fish over 60 inches landed this week. As water continues to cool, both the sturgeon and walleye bites will only get better. Up at the NW Angle... Fishing remains strong on the Minnesota side of the Angle, with good limits of walleyes being caught. The deep mud of Little Traverse Bay is holding pods of walleyes and saugers, and anglers are finding success by making long drifts or trolling passes to pick off nice eater-sized fish. Jumbo perch and the occasional pike are also showing up in the mix. Multi-species anglers are enjoying consistent action as well. Muskie anglers are reporting steady activity, and smallmouth bass fishing continues to provide great action around islands, reefs, and rock piles. This weekend marks the annual Buoy Bash Celebration at the Angle. Best of luck to all participants fishing in the Max Multi-Species Fishing Tournament! Great fall weather and fishing is upon us.

    1. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍
  10. Joe Henry

    On the South End – Big Traverse Bay. The late-summer walleye bite continues to shine, and fishing has been excellent. Big numbers of walleyes are holding over the ...more deep mud basin in 31–34 feet of water. Anglers are finding success with two main techniques: Drifting or trolling crawler harnesses – two- and three-hook rigs tipped with crawlers are producing well. Some anglers are also using minnows, with a minnow on each hook or even a minnow on one and a piece of crawler on the other. Productive blade colors this week include gold, pink, orange, chartreuse, and firetiger. Don’t be afraid to go heavy with your bottom bouncer—up to 3 ounces—to maintain a 45-degree angle and stay near the bottom. Trolling crankbaits – another go-to tactic right now. Lead core, snap weights, or bottom bouncers with a shallow-diving crankbait are all helping anglers reach the right depths where the schools of walleyes are feeding. The action has been steady, and many anglers are reporting limits of eaters along with memorable fish in the slot and even a few trophies. On days where walleyes get a bit sluggish, speeding things up with crankbaits has been helpful. On the Rainy River. The Rainy River continues to provide a mixed bag of action. Walleye fishing is stable, meaning the river in the summer has resident fish with fish spread along current breaks, holes, and shoreline structure. Certainly good fish to be had, but you have to work for them. In addition to walleyes, anglers are hooking into sturgeon, pike, smallmouth bass, and even a few crappies. The river is a great option when winds are up on the big lake. As early as early to mid September, emerald shiners from the lake will start entering the river pulling in numbers of walleyes which will continue to ice up. This is what they call the "fall run". Up at the NW Angle. Fishing remains excellent on both sides of the Angle. U.S. side – Targeting the deep mud of Little Traverse Bay with spinners or crankbaits continues to be effective. Much like Big Traverse Bay, deep mud is holding good fish. Walleyes are also relating to rock-to-mud transitions, and some anglers are finding success jigging these areas. Ontario side – Walleyes are being caught by pulling spinners or jigging with frozen emerald shiners or minnows in 12–28 feet of water. Areas of deep mud adjacent to rock holding fish. As is often the case, structure, points and neck down areas with current have been reliable locations. The Angle continues to produce not only good numbers of walleyes but also strong multi-species action, including smallmouth bass, crappies, pike, and even muskie activity around the islands. Water Conditions. Lake water temperatures are slowly starting to cool, currently holding around 69°F. As late summer transitions into fall, fishing patterns will shift, but for now, anglers are enjoying some of the best action of the year.

    1. George Horvath 0
      Nice 👍

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