Lake of the Woods (2)
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Lake of the Woods (2) Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake of the Woods (2). Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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WalleyeTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonSummerStructureOpen Water/BasinIt was a great week of fishing on Lake of the Woods. Some walleyes are starting to transition to the mud, and one reason why may be the mayfly hatch that's underway. Throughout the summer months, various hatches are common on big lakes like Lake of the Woods, and they're a tremendous food source for walleyes, saugers, perch, and plenty of other fish. As we've mentioned before, not every fish is doing the same thing — but this time of year, they're all really focused on food, and right now there are a lot of options on the menu. Here's where things stand this week across the system. Big Traverse Bay (South Shore) On the south end, the deep mud is holding big numbers of walleyes and saugers. With the hatch underway and many other food sources available in and around the mud, the fish have moved to where the food is, offering more than one way to take advantage of the situation. Some anglers are still vertical jigging with a jig and minnow, which continues to produce. Many have been pulling spinners and crawlers, which is working very well with good success. Spinners do a nice job of covering water as fish spread out over the mud flats. Other anglers are trolling crankbaits, which is also an effective way to cover water and find active fish. Any of the three is a solid option — it often comes down to how you want to target them and naturally, what the fish want on a given day. Rainy River A nice variety of fish are being caught on the Rainy River. The walleyes may not be stacked in the river the way they are in spring and fall, but there's a strong resident population that lives in these forage-rich waters all year long, and they're always available for anglers willing to work for them. Smallmouth bass tend to fly under the radar here, but they're in good numbers and well worth targeting. Pike can be found in many areas too, especially the back bays and along the first break of the river out from shore. Sturgeon season opens July 1st and runs through September 30th. This is a harvest season. Anglers who purchase a $5 sturgeon tag in addition to their Minnesota fishing license can harvest one fish in the 45 to 50 inch range, or one over 75 inches, per calendar year. That said, many simply catch and release. Sturgeon are in big numbers in the river and are, in most cases, the largest freshwater fish a person will ever catch — a genuine bucket-list experience and a great reason to plan a summer trip. Target them on your own or grab a resort guide with all of the equipment and sturgeon know how. NW Angle Good fish are going on both sides of the border up at the Angle. On the Minnesota side, both sand and mud are producing nicely right now. Naturally, with so many islands, there are always plenty of fish relating to rock structure — but this time of year, the tip is to look just adjacent to those rocky areas, out on the mud. In addition to the great walleye bite, muskie season opened this past weekend. Lots of big muskie pictures are floating around and the word is the weekend was great. Just like the Rainy River, don't forget about smallmouth bass. With all of the islands, bass are everywhere and definitely don't get the love they do vs other parts of the country. 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. Lodging and guides are available all around the lake. Want to make life easy and catch a bunch of walleyes? Stay at a nice resort, step aboard a charter, or hop in with a guide, and make some summer memories. The guides bring the boat, the gear, and the local know-how — all you have to do is show up. They even clean your fish! To find out more about fishing Lake of the Woods, check out our website at lakeofthewoodsmn.com/fishing/.Stay connected on social media for daily updates all week long!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
Many different bites are happening across Lake of the Woods right now, and that variety is a good thing. The consistent factor through all of it: anglers are catching good numbers of walleyes. There are plenty of eaters under 19.5 inches in the mix, some nice slot fish in the 19.5 to 28 inch range that must be released, and even some true trophy walleyes over 28 inches showing up. Whatever you're after, the opportunity is there. Here's where things stand this week across the system.Big Traverse Bay (South Shore)Three main techniques are catching fish right now, both here on the big water and also up at the Angle and on the Rainy River. The two used most often are vertical jigging with minnows and drifting with bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses. The third technique producing well is trolling crankbaits. Any of the three can be the right call on a given day, so it pays to stay flexible.Depths are varying depending on the kind of structure you're fishing, and that's worth understanding because it opens up your options:Some walleyes are set up along shorelines targeting schools of minnows, anywhere from 6 to 19 feet. Good numbers are also holding over deeper mud, feeding on minnows and on the larvae that emerge from the mud during bug hatches — picking them off before they ever make it to the surface and become a bug. That deep mud is typically 20 to 33 feet. Still other walleyes are working rock piles, targeting crayfish and the forage that lives among the rocks, most often in 20 to 25 feet. Add it all up and there's no shortage of ways to get on fish.On color: Lake of the Woods has stained water, so gold, pink/white, chartreuse, orange, glow white, or a combination of these tends to work well. This past week, gold, pink/white, and bubblegum were strong. A good rule of thumb is to lean on gold and brighter colors when the sun is out, and shift toward more solid colors on cloudy days. Better yet, start the day with a few different jig colors going on the boat and let the walleyes tell you what they want.Rainy RiverIn addition to walleyes, the Rainy River is offering up a nice mixed bag. Saugers, smallmouth bass, pike, and crappies are all in the mix, and the same techniques working out on the lake — jigging minnows, dragging crawler harnesses, and trolling cranks — carry over here nicely.Looking ahead, the lake sturgeon season re-opens July 1st, and plenty of anglers are already planning some nice summer days soaking worms on the slow-moving river. It's a relaxed, rewarding way to spend a day on the water once the season is back in.NW AngleUp at the Angle, anglers are reporting good walleye catches combined with a mixed bag coming in from both sides of the border. Anglers are looking forward to the muskie opener this weekend on Saturday, June 20th. Lots of fish have been spotted and the population is strong — Lake of the Woods is a world-class muskie fishery, and the NW Angle puts you right in the heart of it. Otherwise, there was a good shoreline bite in 10 to 15 feet this past week, with the walleyes cooperating for those working the structure.Before You GoA quick reminder on the regulations, since the fish are coming in across all sizes right now. 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.Many anglers bring up their own boats, which is a great way to explore. Another option is jumping on a resort charter boat or a smaller guide boat. Guides bring the know-how, the experience, and all of the equipment for a stress-free and successful trip — an easy way to shorten the learning curve and get right on fish.To find out more about fishing Lake of the Woods, check out our website at lakeofthewoodsmn.com/fishing/.Stay connected on social media for daily updates all week long!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
Walleye and sauger fishing has been on fire across Lake of the Woods. All three of the proven methods are putting fish in the boat right now — vertical jigging with minnows, pulling spinners and crawlers, and trolling crankbaits. Water temps have climbed to around 69 degrees, and with that warmth holding, the fishing should only continue to be strong. Here's where things stand this week across the system. Big Traverse Bay (South Shore) The south end has several bites going at once right now, which is a good problem to have. The biggest takeaway: not every walleye is doing the same thing, so there's more than one way to get on fish. Across the south shore in 13 to 19 feet, there have been good numbers of walleyes spread across many different areas. These fish are being caught a variety of ways, but jigging and pulling spinners have been the most common. If you're not sitting on a good school, consider covering water — troll a Shad Rap or your favorite crankbait in 10 to 15 feet along shore, and good things tend to happen. Looking for something different? About five miles out in 30 feet of water, some nice fish are showing up for anglers willing to run out and look. And on the north end of Big Traverse Bay, 22 to 26 feet has been holding good numbers as well. Between the shallow shoreline bite, the deeper water, and the north-end schools, there are plenty of options depending on how you like to fish. Rainy River Some good reports of walleyes are coming out of the river and Four Mile Bay. Work the edges of the channel, and with the stained water on the river, don't be afraid to slide up shallow into 6 to 10 feet — those darker waters let walleyes feed comfortably in skinny water. Pike are being found in the bays and, often enough, right around the schools of walleyes, so an unsuspecting walleye angler may end up with a bonus on the line. Smallmouth bass are scattered through the usual spots — rock, weed edges, and current breaks. A note for the sturgeon crowd: the sturgeon season is currently closed and will reopen July 1st. NW Angle The Angle has put up some good fishing this week on both sides of the border. On the Minnesota side, some fish are still holding on shoreline structure, while others are beginning to slide out onto the mud. As the warmer water kicks off the bug hatches, that mud bite will only get better — it's one of the patterns worth watching as the season progresses. It's a true multispecies destination up here. Along with the walleyes and saugers, expect pike, smallmouth bass, crappies, and jumbo perch in the mix. With 14,552 islands and waters full of fish on both sides of the border, NW Angle resorts are located perfectly to access both. 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 sits right in the middle of some of the best water. If muskies are on your list, this is the place. Reminder on Limits 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. The pike limit is 3. All pike between 30 and 40 inches must be released and one fish over 40 inches is allowed. Want to make life easy? Guides and charter boat captains are on good fish right now — jump in with one of them and plan on some good success. Everything is provided, along with the local know-how that makes the difference, and 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!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
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!
- SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureOpen Water/Basin
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!
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSummerStructureBouldersSide scan for boulders and throw a ned or tube at em.
Bad DogBronze AmbassadorSpeciesWalleyeTechniqueTrolling Deep (20'+)SeasonSummerStructureOpen Water/Basinused 3 and 4 oz quick swap teardrop weights bring rain gear
- Doug BensonBronze AmbassadorSpeciesWalleyeTechniqueTrolling Deep (20'+)SeasonSummerStructureRiver Channels
Very windy which made fishing on the Lake a rough ride. Choose to fish the river channel instead. Troll crank baits slowly.
