Lake of the Woods (US)
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Lake of the Woods (US) Fishing Reports
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Species
Northern PikeSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Inline Spinners
Structure
Reeds
Species
WalleyeSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
40°
Austin Williams
Bronze Ambassador
4/8/23
Species
WalleyeSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Vertical Jigging 10-19'
Structure
River Channels
Water Temperature
34°
Fishing on the rainy river was a little slow with the cold water temps, but we were able to put some nice walleyes in the boat along with a bonus sturgeon. We focused on the edge of the channel breaks pitching our jigs into shallow water and popping it off the edge. We would do a slow controlled drift with the trolling motor. Plastics performed better than live bait. Pink and orange were the best colors for us. 1/2 oz or 3/8 oz jigs worked best to keep the bait in the strike zone.
Species
SturgeonSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
River Channels
Water Temperature
33°
Fished the Rainy River from Birchdale to Frontier. Fish the upstream part of a deeper hole or the edges of the bottom side of the holes. 14-18ft was best. Heavy rods, reels and line are better for everything. Easier to fish the large weights, easier to reel in these big fish and easier on the fish. Flat no roll weight in 3-4oz keeps the bait in place. Put that above a heavy swivel and tie on a piece of the same kind of line or other heavy line, 6-12" below the swivel with the circle hook on a snell knot. Glob on a few or more crawlers and maybe a frozen shiner or 2 and get it to the bottom. With a circle hook you don't set the hook, just reel slowly until you feel some pressure and give a little pressure back. You can also skip the swivel and add a large bead above the hook. Some people even will add a small spinner or rattle when it's extremely muddy.
HotbaitBullet Weights No Roll Sinker - EOL 3 oz
Out of Stock
VMC Rolling Swivel #2 / Black Nickel
Out of Stock
Bullet Weights No Roll Sinker - EOL 4 oz
Out of Stock
Species
WalleyeSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Vertical Jigging 10-19'
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
33°
Fishing the Rainy River. Ice had skimmed over the river and it took a while to clear up but we were able to hop around and try a few different styles of fishing. With the cold water and falling water some of the fish we caught were in deeper pockets from 12-18ft adjacent to shallow flats on the edge of current seams, We spot locked and vertically jigged 1/2oz jigs with plastics, rainbows, small suckers and frozen shiners along with hair jigs. We fished shallower flats upstream from deeper holes with the 1/4 to 3/8oz jigs again and hair jigs in the 8-12ft range. Using spotlock vertical jigging, pitching jigs to the side or slightly cornering back downstream let the jig roll and hop in the current until it straightens out behind the boat downstream. Most bites would happen right away as our lines straightened out or on the fall jigging. 1/2oz also worked for more aggressive snapping. Dragging jigs upstream at 0.3 mph on shallower flats in 8-12ft worked well too. 1/4-1/2oz jigs pitched back behind the boat and jigged just enough to touch bottom when dropping the rod tip back a couple feet was key. Jigs with plastics like the rage simmer and keitech fat swing or BfishN moxie or pulseR worked the best. Pulling shallow diving minnow crank baits upstream at 1mph to 1.5mph on 3 way rigs with 2 or 3oz weights 12-16" down on lighter mono with 5-6ft leaders of 12lb flourocarbon back to the lure worked well for bigger fish
HotbaitVMC Bucktail Jig 3/8 oz / Pink Fire UV
Out of Stock
VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig 1/2 oz / Glow
Out of Stock
VMC Neon Moon Eye Jig 1/4 oz / Assorted - UV
Out of Stock
VMC Bucktail Jig 3/8 oz / Chartreuse White
Out of Stock
VMC Moon Tail Jig 3/8 oz / Purple Albino
Out of Stock
VMC Moon Tail Jig 3/8 oz / Pink Fire UV
$3.99
$5.99
Bullet Weights Pyramid Sinker - EOL 3 oz
Out of Stock
Bullet Weights Pyramid Sinker - EOL 2 oz
Out of Stock
Species
WalleyeSeason
Ice
Technique
Ice Fishing Jigs
Structure
Baitfish
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Points
Water Temperature
55°
Pike fishing is open year round on Lake Of The Woods. Once the bays ice out on the south end of the lake, pike congregate in the bays and creeks to spawn. Last year (2022) I caught 2 trophy pike over 40 inches. This year (2023) I caught one trophy 40 inch pike, a 39 inch pike and several in the mid to upper 30's. A white half ounce Z-Man Chatterbait with a white paddle tail has produced every year for me. Bring a large net...you're going to need it! :)
Species
Northern PikeSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Bladed Jigs
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Water Temperature
58°
When fishing Lake Of The Woods you hear it over and over. Use a gold colored jig. I decided to try the half ounce Z-Man BIG BLADE in Blue Gill color. The blade is gold. It was an overcast day and I added a green pumpkin paddle tail. This combination was creating a lot of noise in the water and the pike noticed. I caught several in the mid to upper 30's.
Species
SturgeonSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Live Bait Rigs
Structure
River Channels
Post up on the Rainy and drop anchor (a chain above your anchor does wonders). On heavy gear, drop a 5/0 circle hook on a 12" heavy floro snell anchored down with a sinker slide and pyramid style weight. Gob that hook up with as many worms and frozen shiners as you can and hang on. Sturgeon are on the move -- headed to the main lake for summer. These pre-historic monsters forage by smell, your ball of bait will bring them in. They'll hit light, but once you set the hook on one of these dinosaurs --you'll fight for every inch of line. Practice CPR: bend back your hook barb for a quick release to keep the fish healthy. Bonus fish abound in the river this time of year, you'll be cursing that 30 inch walleye you reeled in that stole your ball of stank.
Team Catfish Sinker Slides - EOL Default Title
Out of Stock
Bullet Weights Pyramid Sinker - EOL 3 oz
Out of Stock
