Lake of the Woods (2)

Published: Nov 1, 2018Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Species

Walleye

Season

Spring (Current)

26 Fishing Reports

167 Followers

Overview
Current Conditions
Fishing Reports (26)
Techniques

Lake of the Woods (2) Overview

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Top Techniques Reported for Walleye + Spring

Spoons
2
Vertical Jigging Deep (20'+)
2
Vertical Jigging Mid Depth (10-19')
2
Ice Fishing Spoons
1
Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12')
1

Total Fishing Reports

Top Species Reported for Spring

Walleye8 Reports
Northern Pike4 Reports
Sturgeon2 Reports
Sauger1 Report

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Fishing Reports

26 Reports on Lake of the Woods (2)

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Joe Henry
Blue Ambassador
6/2/26
- Species
  Walleye
- Season
  Spring (Post-Spawn)
- Technique
  Vertical Jigging 20'+
- Structure
  Open Water/Basin
- Forage
  Minnows
- Water Temperature
  67°
Summer is settling in on Lake of the Woods, and the fishing is following right along. Water temps are climbing, the walleyes are feeding, and there's good action to be found from the south shore all the way up to the NW Angle. Here's where things stand this week across the system. Big Traverse Bay (South Shore)The walleye bite has been good, and it keeps getting better as the water warms. The Lake of the Woods Tourism wave buoys are reading surface temps of 65 to 69 degrees right now, and the fish are responding to it. Most anglers are working 20 to 27 feet of water and vertical jigging, which has been the bread-and-butter approach for finding good numbers of walleyes and saugers. With the stained waters of Lake of the Woods, a gold jig paired with a bright color such as pink, orange, glow white, or chartreuse is hard to beat. Tip it with a frozen emerald shiner or a live minnow and the walleyes and saugers have a tough time resisting. Color and contrast do a lot of the work in this kind of water, helping fish key in on your presentation. Mornings and evenings, some anglers are trolling shorelines with crankbaits and having good success. Walleyes take advantage of a variety of forage opportunities both offshore and close to shore, so don't overlook the shallows. And remember, not every walleye in the lake is doing the same thing. There are a lot of opportunities out there, and finding the pattern that's working on a given day is half the fun. For anglers who want to keep things simple, the resort charter boats are dialed in on nice schools of walleyes. Guides and charter captains take the guesswork out of it. Step aboard and everything's included. Rods, reels, bait, a licensed charter captain, and fish cleaning upon return are included. Dress for chilly mornings and layer up as it can get warm during the afternoon. Bring your sunglasses and sunscreen, and pack a good camera. Memories will be made. Rainy River The Rainy River is still holding some nice walleyes along with a mixed bag of other species, making it a great option for anglers who like variety. Typical river structure like holes, flats, weed edges and shoreline structure can all hold fish. Smallmouth bass have been especially active. Try current breaks, shoreline structure, rocky areas, and the water near bridges, all of which give smallmouth the ambush points they like. Nice pike can be found around docks, weed edges and in the bays and feeder rivers that enter the Rainy River. A note for the sturgeon crowd: the sturgeon season is currently closed and will reopen July 1st. NW Angle Up at the NW Angle, the jig bite for walleyes is on. One of the things that makes the Angle special is the choice it offers, Some anglers slide over the border to fish Ontario waters, while others prefer to stay in Minnesota waters. Both are available to you, along with all 14,552 islands. There's a good fishing spot and an adventure around just about every corner. Expect strong multispecies action up here, with walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and smallmouth bass all in the mix. This area is nice for small boats as well. With so many islands, the water isn't so big and there is always a leeward shoreline or island to fish behind. Mark your calendars: muskie season opens Saturday, June 20th on both sides of the border. Lake of the Woods is a world-class muskie fishery with good numbers of fish and a healthy population over 50 inches, and the NW Angle resorts sit right in the middle of prime water. If muskies are on your list, this is the place and the time. Before You Go A quick reminder on the regulations. The combined walleye and sauger limit is 6 fish total, with up to 4 being walleyes. All walleyes between 19.5 and 28.0 inches must be released immediately, with one walleye over 28.0 inches allowed. A 2026 Minnesota fishing license is required. June, July and August are great months to be on Lake of the Woods. Warm days, excellent fishing, and a comfortable stay at one of the area's resorts add up to the kind of trip that's worth making. Resort fishing guides and charter captains are ready to put you on fish, with everything provided and the local know-how that makes the difference. Prime dates fill quickly, so it's worth booking ahead. For resort information, lodging, and guide services, visit lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging/, and for complete fishing information visit lakeofthewoodsmn.com. Stay connected on social media for daily updates all week long!
See Video
Joe Henry
Blue Ambassador
5/26/26
- Species
  Walleye
- Season
  Spring (Spawn)
- Technique
  Vertical Jigging 20'+
- Structure
  Open Water/Basin
- Forage
  Minnows
- Water Temperature
  50°
Lake of the Woods MN Fishing Report Walleye Fishing The warmer weather has arrived and fishing is turning on as water temps climb into the high 40s to low 50s. This is the transition anglers have been waiting for, and the bite is responding. A jig and minnow remains the go-to presentation, with those proven colors — gold mixed with glow white, pink, orange, or chartreuse — continuing to produce. Trolling crankbaits at 1.8–2.5 mph is working well for those who want to cover water, and some anglers are also mixing in spinners with good results. Best depths... Walleyes are being caught shallow to deep based on their feeding activity, but generally, 20 - 26 feet has been strong for finding good numbers of fish. Don't be surprised to find nice fish in 5–15 feet this time of year as well. Don't overlook casting or trolling along shoreline structure as a great way to cover water and find fish. Working the shoreline is not only productive for walleyes but can also put together a nice multispecies bag. Fish are being caught throughout the system — some on the Rainy River and in Four Mile Bay, others across the south shore of Big Traverse Bay, and up at the NW Angle, points and slightly warmer water areas continue to hold some very nice fish. June and July are outstanding months to be on Lake of the Woods. Warm summer temperatures, great fishing, and a comfortable stay at one of the area's excellent resorts create the perfect combination to catch some fish, relax, and make memories. Pike Fishing Big pike continue to show up for anglers across the lake. Often under the radar given the incredible walleye fishery here, Lake of the Woods is home to a truly strong population of trophy pike. Shallow bays, leeward shorelines, and near-shore structure are all worth targeting, and casting or trolling shoreline structure can put pike in the boat alongside other species. Nice pike are often caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers. Pike regulations: The limit is 3 fish per day with one over 40 inches allowed. All pike 30–40 inches must be released immediately. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth bass continue to show up on rock piles in 6–15 feet of water, and working shoreline structure is a natural way to connect with them. Bass fishing often gets overshadowed by the outstanding walleye fishery, but the bass are here in good numbers from north to south. Sturgeon Season Update The sturgeon fishery is currently closed through June 30 before the harvest season resumes July 1–September 30, 2026. Muskie Opener — Mark Your Calendars Muskie anglers have a date to circle: Saturday, June 20th, 2026 is the muskie opener for both the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods and Ontario Zone 5. Lake of the Woods is renowned as one of the premier muskie fisheries in North America, and the opener is always an exciting event. Start getting your gear ready — June 20th will be here before you know it. Know Your Walleye / Sauger Limits The combined walleye and sauger limit is 6 fish total, with up to 4 being walleyes. All walleyes between 19.5 and 28.0 inches must be released immediately, with one walleye over 28.0 inches allowed. A 2026 Minnesota fishing license is required. Fishing Guides Available Fishing guides from Rainy River and Lake of the Woods resorts are ready to put you on fish. Everything is provided — boat, tackle, bait, and the local expertise that makes all the difference. Book now, as prime dates fill quickly. For resort information, lodging, and guide services visit lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging/ and for complete fishing information visit lakeofthewoodsmn.com. Stay connected on social media for daily updates all week long!
See Video
Joe Henry
Blue Ambassador
5/18/26
- Species
  Walleye
- Season
  Spring (Spawn)
- Technique
  Crankbaits 7'-12'
- Structure
  Submerged Vegetation
- Forage
  Minnows
- Water Temperature
  48°
Walleye Fishing It has been a cold spring, but warm, summer-like weather is in the forecast and very much welcomed. Water temperatures are still in the mid-40s, and the majority of walleye anglers are getting it done with a jig and minnow. Those traditional jig colors — gold mixed with glow white, pink, orange, or chartreuse — continue to produce. There are also some good reports coming in from anglers trolling crankbaits at 1.8–2.5 mph, which is a great way to cover water and locate fish as conditions improve. It is good to remember that not every walleye in the system is doing the same thing. Fish are targeting forage in various areas. Some fish are still on the Rainy River and in Four Mile Bay. Others are spread across the south shore of Big Traverse Bay, where near-shore structure like rock piles and sand-to-gravel transitions are holding fish. Up at the NW Angle, points and areas where the water is just a bit warmer have been holding some very nice fish. As the water continues to warm through the week, expect fish to become more active and the bite to get better across the board. Guides and charter boats have found good fish and despite the cold weather, wind and pressure systems, nice catches have been coming in. Pike Fishing Big pike have been showing up for anglers across the lake this week. Often under the radar given the incredible walleye fishery here, Lake of the Woods is home to a truly strong population of trophy pike. Shallow bays, leeward shorelines, and near-shore structure are all worth targeting. The season is open year-round, making pike a great option any day of the week regardless of conditions. Pike regulations: limit is 3 fish per day with one over 40 inches allowed. All pike 30–40 inches must be released immediately. Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth bass have been showing up on rock piles in 6–15 feet of water. Like pike, bass fishing often gets overshadowed by the outstanding walleye fishery on Lake of the Woods, but the bass are here in good numbers from north to south. The Rainy River, reefs across Big Traverse Bay, and the waters amongst the 14,552 islands of the NW Angle all provide excellent habitat. If you're looking to mix things up, it's a great time to target them. Sturgeon Season Update The sturgeon catch-and-release season went through May 15th. The fishery will close from May 16 through June 30, and the harvest season will resume July 1. Catch and release: May 8–15, 2026 Closed: May 16–June 30, 2026 Harvest season resumes: July 1–September 30, 2026 Muskie Opener — Mark Your Calendars Muskie anglers have a date to circle: Saturday, June 20th, 2026 is the muskie opener for both the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods and Ontario Zone 5. Lake of the Woods is renowned as one of the premier muskie fisheries in North America, and the opener is always an exciting event. Start getting your gear ready — June 20th will be here before you know it. Know Your Limits The combined walleye and sauger limit is 6 fish total, with up to 4 being walleyes. All walleyes between 19.5 and 28.0 inches must be released immediately, with one walleye over 28.0 inches allowed. A 2026 Minnesota fishing license is required. Fishing Guides Available Fishing guides from Rainy River and Lake of the Woods resorts are ready to put you on fish. Everything is provided — boat, tackle, bait, and the local expertise that makes all the difference. Book now, as prime dates fill quickly. For resort information, lodging, and guide services visit lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging/ and for complete fishing information visit lakeofthewoodsmn.com. Stay connected on social media for daily updates all week long!