Lake of the Woods Fishing Report
Regularly updated information on the current fishing conditions, including which fish species are biting and what types of bait or lures are most effective. Our fishing reports can provide insights on weather conditions, ice thickness (for ice fishing), and the best fishing spots on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River fisheries.
- Last Update: December 29, 2025
here are the
Latest Lake of the Woods Fishing Reports
December 23rd, 2025 Fishing Report For Lake of the Woods
Exciting Start to Ice Fishing Season at Lake of the Woods!
Welcome to an extraordinary ice fishing season at River Bend Resort on beautiful Lake of the Woods, Minnesota! Our ice fishing season has kicked off with strong early ice, good travel conditions, and outstanding fishing reports right from our doorstep on the South Shore and Rainy River. Our cozy Day Houses are out, and guests are reveling in some of the finest early ice fishing experiences in the Midwest.
Ice conditions along the South Shore are progressing magnificently. While ice thickness varies, the resort road we operate on, are now allowing ½-ton pickups not pulling any trailers out. Weight limits differ among roads, so we strongly recommend checking with us for the most up-to-date travel advice before heading out. We update on our facebook page when road restrictions change. So be sure to follow us to stay updated.
Fishing is excellent, offering a delightful mix of Walleyes, Saugers, Jumbo perch, Eelpout, the occasional Northern Pike, and multiple surprise sturgeon. Most catches are coming from depths of 23 to 28 feet.
Lake of the Woods is a vast and dynamic body of water. Our dedicated Ice Team is out daily, checking ice conditions, maintaining our ice road and trails, and ensuring the safest routes to our Day Houses. We highly recommend traveling through our resort rather than striking out on your own.
We encourage our guests to use the classic Lake of the Woods one-two punch for the best results:
Jigging Line: Use small to medium jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head or tail, Rippin’ Raps, and Jig and minnow combinations. Light-up lures are also proving highly effective.
Deadstick or Bobber Line: A simple hook or small ice jig with a live minnow set 6 inches to 2 feet off the bottom is working wonders.
Best colors for success have been Gold, Pink, Glow red, Glow white, and Firetiger are the top performers.
We can’t wait to see you at River Bend Resort, where the fishing is as exciting as the winter scenery. Tight lines and see you soon on the ice!
November 28, 2025 Ice Report for Lake of the Woods & Rainy River
We have ice formation happening on the Rainy River, and it’s a great sign that the river will remain locked up frozen moving forward. That means we’ll be getting on the ice soon!
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October 20, 2025 Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods
Fall walleye fishing is hot on the Rainy River in Northern Minnesota. The walleye and sauger are funneling from Lake of the Woods into the Rainy River, chasing balls of bait fish. There’s still time to come up and fish in this fun fall season before the ice arrives, so contact us to book a quick trip.
September 14, 2025 Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods
Water temperatures continue to cool, with reports that Big Traverse Bay is showing 61 – 63 degrees. This drop, along with shorter days, signals the transition period for walleyes. They are beginning their move up the Rainy River, past our docks at River Bend Resort, in pursuit of the emerald shiners.
As the water cools, these walleyes continue moving closer to the shorelines and into Four Mile Bay. This trend will continue to intensify in the coming fall weeks. Currently, all three main fishing methods are effective on the lakeside: jigging with a frozen emerald shiner, pulling spinners with crawlers, and trolling crankbaits. Versatility is key, and the shoreline bite is expected to strengthen soon.
Currently, there is a large school of walleye and sauger in 24-29 feet of water in Lake of the Woods, just north on Pine Island, offering a great fishing opportunity for all anglers. And, you don’t have to travel to far from our docks.
The first signs of fall are appearing on the Rainy River. Emerald shiners are starting to arrive, prompting walleye movement up the river. The big run hasn’t begun yet, but more fish are being caught daily. Four Mile Bay, between Big Traverse Bay and the Rainy River, is also yielding nice walleyes.
Jigging with a frozen emerald shiner remains the top method for catching these river walleyes.
The lake sturgeon bite is also picking up, typical for fall. Use a sturgeon rig with a ball of nightcrawlers or a couple of frozen shiners. The sturgeon “harvest” season runs through September 30th, followed by catch-and-release from October 1st to April 23rd.
Our fall rates are in full swing! Book a cabin now and see immediate savings.
See you on the water!!
September 3, 2025 Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods MN
On the South End of Big Traverse Bay, fall walleye fishing has been productive. Walleyes are primarily found in the deep mud basin at depths of 28–32 feet, with some moving to 20–22 feet. Anglers are using various techniques:
Drifting or trolling spinners with crawlers at 1.0–1.25 mph, with hot colors being gold/pink, gold/red, and silver/blue.
Trolling crankbaits in colors like gold, chrome/blue, chartreuse, pink, and firetiger.
Anchoring up with a jig and frozen emerald shiner. Jumbo perch are also being caught.
Wave Buoys are reporting water temperatures from 65-68 degrees.
On the Rainy River, activity is increasing as water temperatures cool. Walleyes and sturgeon are more active, with increased shiner activity indicating the start of the emerald shiner migration. They are funneling up the Rainy River, right past our docks. Walleyes are caught jigging with minnows or trolling crankbaits along current breaks and deeper holes. Sturgeon fishing is successful with a 3-ounce no-roll sinker and a sturgeon rig loaded with crawlers. Anglers are catching fish over 60 inches in addition to smaller ones, but there is no shortage of action! Walleyes and suckers are also caught while waiting for sturgeon.
The fall outlook for Lake of the Woods is promising, with September and October being ideal for fishing. Fish are feeding actively, water temperatures are dropping, and the fall scenery is beautiful. Anglers can enjoy fishing for walleyes on the lake, jigging them up in the Rainy River, or seeking them out in 4 Mile Bay. Any of these options will produce a memorable fishing experience up here on the Northern Border Waters of Minnesota!!
July 29, 2025 Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is continuing to deliver excellent fishing experiences, with anglers enjoying consistent success using several effective techniques. As deep summer patterns hold, fishing for walleye remains rewarding.
Anglers are favoring crawler harnesses across the expansive mud basin of Big Traverse Bay, typically at depths of 25 to 35 feet. Drifting or trolling at a pace of 1.0 to 1.25 mph is proving effective for catching eater-size walleyes and saugers. Occasionally, larger slot fish (measuring 19.5–28 inches) are caught and released.
Gold is the standout color for spinner rigs, but other combinations like gold/orange, gold/pink, and gold/glow red are also performing well in stained waters.
Trolling crankbaits is great for those eager to cover more water while targeting dispersed walleye schools. Popular crankbait colors include firetiger, pink UV firetiger, chartreuse, chrome/blue, and gold.
While many anglers typically move away from jigging in late July, it continues to be effective this year. Vertical jigging or drift jigging, on calm days, with frozen emerald shiners, leeches, or nightcrawlers, has yielded positive results. It’s been a versatile season with spinners, crankbaits, and jigs all offering rewarding catches.
For those seeking a more peaceful setting, or an amazing alternative on those windy days, the Rainy River is another fishery in its self. Acting as a fish funnel from Lake of the Woods, the variety of fish species available keeps things interesting. Oh ya, and the sturgeon “keep” season remains open through September. Anglers target sturgeon using circle hooks with crawlers or frozen emerald shiners, fishing deep holes or around current seams.
Alongside sturgeon, Rainy River provides opportunities to catch walleyes, saugers, smallmouth bass, and northern pike, making it an exciting destination for diverse catches.
July 15, 2025 Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods
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June 30, 2025 Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods
Greetings from River Bend Resort! We’ve been experiencing outstanding fishing here at Lake of the Woods, and we’re thrilled to share the excitement with you. Whether you’re jigging, pulling spinners, or trolling crankbaits, we find anglers leave with their fill of walleyes and saugers.
Along the South Shore, the walleyes are heading toward the deep mud basin. With bug hatches drawing hungry fish to the area, anglers find success in depths between 27 and 35 feet. This change makes it a prime time to fish, especially with the jig bite remaining robust.
For those anchoring up or using spot-locks, a jig tipped with a frozen emerald shiner is working wonders. This week’s hot jig colors are orange, chartreuse, gold with orange or pink, and glow white. Mixing things up and letting the fish show a preference has proven fruitful.
Spinners and crawlers are gaining traction as well. Drifting or trolling slowly at 1.0 to 1.25 mph with a 2-3 ounce weight or bottom bouncer, along with a two or three hook harness with a hammered gold blade and pink, orange, chartreuse, or glow red or white beads, has been highly effective. This method has allowed anglers to cover more area, enticing walleyes and saugers spread across the basin.
Trolling crankbaits is another winning strategy. Techniques vary, with some using downriggers while others opt for leadcore line, snap weights, or a 3-4 ounce bottom bouncer paired with a 6-foot mono or fluorocarbon leader with a shallow diving crankbait. These methods ensure lures hit the right depth and remain in the strike zone. The ability to cover extensive water while offering wobble, vibration, and color makes trolling cranks an efficient way to find and catch walleyes.
We invite you all to join us and experience the incredible fishing here at River Bend Resort. Tight lines and great catches await!
June 24, 2025 Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods
South Shore:
The summer walleye fishing continues to be excellent on Lake of the Woods. Anglers are successfully catching good numbers of walleyes and saugers using various techniques. The three most effective methods currently are jigging, pulling spinners, and trolling crankbaits.
A notable hotspot this week was Pine Island, where walleyes were caught in 12 to 15 feet of water. Across the south shore, spinners tipped with crawlers are proving effective in depths ranging from 12 to 35 feet. Anglers are targeting various schools of walleyes over sand, mud flats, and near structural features.
Jigging remains a reliable technique, especially for those anchoring or using spot-lock over concentrated schools. The preferred bait for jigging continues to be frozen emerald shiners or fathead minnows.
As summer progresses and water temperatures rise, more anglers are turning to spinners and crankbaits to cover more water and find active fish. Trolling crankbaits is gaining popularity as it not only covers water quickly but also increases the chance of catching bonus species like pike and perch.
For those wondering about colors, in the stained waters of Lake of the Woods, gold or combinations of gold with pink, orange, chartreuse, or glow white are recommended.
Rainy River:
The Rainy River is currently offering excellent multi-species action. There’s a reliable local population of walleyes and saugers, with fish being caught in deeper holes and along channel edges.
Smallmouth bass are very active, found around current breaks, rocky shorelines, and along weed edges. Effective lures include crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics. Pike are spread throughout the river system, with back bays and areas of slack water near current breaks serving as prime ambush spots.
A reminder that the summer keep sturgeon keep season begins July 1st.
Here's What Happened on the Rainy River this Last Spring
Rainy River Fishing Reports
As the ice melts and the water opens back up, Springtime Sturgeon Season on the Rainy River becomes our focus. It’s a great time catch trophy walleye and these legendary giants.
March 11, 2024 - Rainy River Update: Ice & Open Water Report
Paul and Brandi head to the river in Baudette to provide a report on the open water. View the video for more information.
Excited to come up for some spring sturgeon fishing? Click the link below to learn more in our guide.
Here's What Happened During the Winter Ice Fishing Season
Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Reports
Here’s your resource on what’s happening on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River with the latest status on fishing, weather, and conditions.
March 3, 2004 - Lake of the Woods Ice Season Wrap-Up
More information is coming soon. Stay tuned!
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Our fishing resort on the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods offers an incredible opportunity to come up and catch a variety of walleye and other trophy fish. We’d love to have you up!
