Lake of the Woods Fishing Report

[lakeofthewoodsmn]

Ice continues to be good with 24-27 inches in most areas.  As always, use a resort or outfitter road for safety as they are monitored daily.  Some resorts have pulled houses, some still have houses out.  Some ice roads closed, others still open.  Call ahead.  Bite has been great overall with many keepers among smaller year classes. Fish are very aggressive but electronics are very helpful as some walleyes and saugers are suspended.  Jigging spoon tipped with minnow head or tail and a dead stick with a plain hook or small ice jig and minnow are doing good.  Key depth  20-33 ft.  Best colors glow pink/red. Northern pike are on fire in spawning areas and are very active with fish over 40" caught daily. Some resorts have pulled houses for the year but others are still going strong depending on where on the lake they are stationed.

Game On!  The Rainy River is open from 4-5 miles west of Birchdale. Birchdale landing is open to all boats. Frontier will be soon.  Some anglers pushing boats over the ice on landings more west. Good reports so far of walleye bite. Daily open water progress on Rainy River at http://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/rainy-river/

Up at the NW Angle, ice conditions decent with 18-24 inches of solid ice in non-current areas but current areas are opening up quickly.  Travel with caution. On the Minnesota side, walleye fishing is good in 20-30 feet. Jumbo perch still turning up in buckets.  In Ontario the crappie bite is hot with all this warm weather.  Remember to shift to another species after you have your limit of crappies as these fish have a high mortality rate over 25' of water. Work through resorts and give them a call before you head up as ice conditions change rapidly this time of year. Fish houses can stay on ice through March, walleyes/saugers through April 14th.  Pike and crappies open all year for LOW MN.