Rainy Lake
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Rainy Lake Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Rainy Lake. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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- Species
WalleyeTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonSummerStructureReefUsed leeches, 3 inch Powerbait Minnows, and 3 inch Yum minnows. Most fish were 27 - 28 feet deep
- Species
CrappieTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonSummerStructureBaitfishMost of the crappie were found at the thermocline
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Popping)SeasonSummerStructureBouldersThe smallies were set up next to the big boulders close to shore. They were anywhere between 2-6 feet of water. Where the banks were steeper was normally the better fishing. The sexy dawg was a great bait for finding where they were set up, but when i wanted to pic apart a spot i would grab the popper. They ranged in size between 1-4 lbs. with my best five going around 15 lbs. The bigger fish came off of the sexy dawg but i caught by far more on the splasher popper.
SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonSummerStructureHumpsSummer/Fall is a great time to vertical jig Rippin Raps on the humps on Rainy Lake. Use your electronics to locate active fish on the tops of the humps and throw back to them. Let the bait get to or almost to the bottom and give it a few rips and if you don't catch a eye right away move on to a new area or hump. 15 min tops before moving on. I like to tie a small barrel swivel between the mono and the braid. or you can tie the braid to the mono and use a snap swivel at the bait. When the fish hits, give it a second before setting the hook to let hit suck the bait into there mouth. Good Luck!
SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueShallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')SeasonSummerStructureRock PileLook for the shallow wind blown rock piles, shorelines and points. Use your electronics to find good areas with your side imaging and plotter to find the big boulders and rubble. Put your trolling motor down and start throwing a Rapala DT-6 into the rocks. The Walleyes will set up waiting for the schools of bait to come through. If you can get on the back side of the rock piles and cast into the wind so the bait will be coming at the the structure naturally with the waves. I like using XT mono as it is more abrasion resistance and holds up better. Good Luck!
SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueLive Bait RigsSeasonSummerStructureHumpsLook for wind blown shorelines and structure, watch your electronics for fish. Troll about 1/2 mph. Use leaches, crawlers and minnows. If using a crawler use the worm blower to give it a puff of air that will keep it of the bottom. I like to use the smallest sinker I can get away with, 1/8 oz in less than 10 feet of water and 3/16 oz in 10-15 feet of water and 20-35 feet 1/4 oz. When you feel the bite release your line and feed it to them to a count of 10 and reel back to the fish slow tell you feel the fish and set the hook. Good Luck!
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Popping)SeasonSummerStructureHumpsMid summer mornings with no wind look for reefs that top out at 5’-10’. Try surface baits, toss them out on the reef tops and slowly pop them back to the boat. When the smally hits wait a couple seconds before setting the hook, let them get the bait into there mouth. I like to use braid and tie 5' - 8' of mono to it, it acts like a shock absorber. Good luck.
SpeciesWalleyeTechniqueVertical Jigging Deep (20'+)SeasonSummerStructureHumpsUse your electronics to locate schools of fish and drop down to them. Use your electronics to stay above the school and keep bouncing the jig a foot or two off the bottom.You can tie the mono to the braid and use a snap swivel the attach the jig to your line or use a short piece of mono about 3 feet long to attach to the braid to the mono with a swivel and then tie to the jig Good luck!
