Catching a Mixed Bag

[lakeofthewoodsmn]

On the south end...  Fishing was excellent this week.  Resorts are open for business, fishing has been great and guests are catching fish.

The MN Tournament Trail was on LOW this week and the winning teams each day had walleyes averaging 8 lbs per walleye for their 5 fish total.  Day one winning weight was 39.75 lbs and day two was 41.00 lbs for this catch and release tournament.

Good numbers of walleyes being caught.  A nice bite for eaters in 10-15 feet just off of Pine Island and other areas on the south shore.  Most are pulling spinners with crawlers to catch these fish.

Another good bite taking place in deeper water over mud in that 28 - 31 feet of water in the basin.  Jigging with a fathead or frozen emerald shiner and pulling spinners with a crawler have been the goto methods. 

Walleye fishing has been good on many of the scattered reefs in Big Traverse Bay.  Some days they are on top, other days on the edge or just off the edge over mud.   

Trolling crankbaits and covering water continues to be effective.  Shiny gold, firetiger and purple continue to be good colors. 

Walleye anglers reporting a mixed bag including saugers, jumbo perch pike, smallmouth bass and even an occasional muskie, crappie or sturgeon. 

On the Rainy River...   Anglers fishing the river report good summer fishing with fish on current breaks and bays as a rule. 

A nice mixed bag in the river right now includes walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, and pike.  Lots of shiners in the river, which is drawing and keeping fish close. 

Sturgeon anglers reporting some good action as the season opened July 1st.  Using a sturgeon rig loaded up with crawlers or crawlers and frozen emerald shiners combined with a no roll sinker is the go to technique.   

Some big pike are still prowling back bays and feeder rivers.  Smallmouth bass are living around rocks and bridges.

Up at the NW Angle...  Fishing is excellent up at the Angle.  Anglers continue to fish both the U.S. side and Ontario side of the lake with good success.

Anglers are catching fish jigging, pulling spinners and trolling crankbaits.  A lot has to do with the structure you are fishing and if fish are congregated or spread out.  Jigging is most conducive when fish are congregated.

Anglers fishing rocks are still reporting crayfish in the bellies of walleyes.  Walleyes are normally active in these areas.

Anglers fishing deep reefs and edges of reefs are still having success with gold, pink or glow jigs tipped with a minnow or plastic. 

A mixed bag for most anglers with walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass, crappies, jumbo perch and muskies.

Muskie anglers reported another strong week of fishing with a lot of fish caught and released with pike mixed in.

Various ways to travel to the Angle.

1.  Drive through Canada to the Angle  (must be vaccinated, no covid test required)

2.  LOW Passenger Service (charter boat service across the lake avoiding customs)

3.  Lake Country Air.(fly from various Midwest locations to LOW and NW Angle)

4.  Take your own boat.  (Safety first, this is a 40 mile ride over big water)

A complete list of lodging, guide and charter boat trips at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.