On the south end…  The fish are there, the anglers this time of year, not so much.  Some are deer hunting, some have put their boats away and are getting the ice fishing gear ready.  For those who have not winterized their boats, there are plenty of walleyes and saugers to be had.

Those who hit the water this week were rewarded.  Schools of walleyes and saugers are set up along the south shore and are active.  Anchored up and jigging with a fathead or emerald shiner is the most common method of fishing.

Most anglers report good fishing in 17-27 feet of water.  Gold, pink and glow continue to be hot colors in the stained waters of LOW.

Pike, jumbo perch, sturgeon, crappies and eelpout are also being caught by walleye anglers.

Looking forward to ice fishing!

On the Rainy River…   A great week of fishing on the Rainy River with good numbers of walleyes.  Most are jigging with emerald shiners.  Gold, glow and pink, gold / orange have been strong colors.

Sturgeon are still being caught, many by unsuspecting walleye anglers jigging with minnows.

Up at the NW Angle…  Back harbors and bays are just starting to ice up.  For the few anglers out fishing, the bite continues to be really good.  Most anglers are jigging.

Gold, pink and/or glow colored jigs are doing well.  Anglers fishing the U.S. side are tipping with a fathead or frozen shiner.  Those fishing the Ontario side tipping with various plastics.

Points, reefs and sandy areas in neck down areas continue to hold good fish.  12 – 24 feet depending upon the spot.

Travel to and from the Angle via vehicle through the 40 miles of Canada is open.  Must be vaccinated and have a negative PCR COVID Test. Rapid tests available in Baudette and soon in Warroad.

Want to avoid crossing the border?  Charter transport via bombardiers via the ice trail and flights over the lake delivering you to your desired resort are available through the LOW Passenger Service and Lake Country Air this winter.

On the south end…  Unseasonably warm temps are prolonging anglers’ appetites to continue open water fishing and it is paying off.  The late fall bite is very strong!

As many anglers are focused on deer hunting, those who hit the water were rewarded.  Schools of walleyes and saugers are set up along the south shore and are active.  Looking ahead, these fish are set up nicely for first ice.

Anchored up and jigging with a fathead or emerald shiner is the go to method.  Live shiners are available and effective.

Most anglers report good fishing in 17-27 feet of water.  Gold, pink and glow continue to be hot colors.

Mixed in with the walleyes are pike, jumbo perch, sturgeon, crappies and eelpout.

Some back bays iced up on cold mornings!

On the Rainy River…   More and more walleyes are being caught in the river each week.  Mother Nature appears to be a couple of weeks behind this fall.  To no surprise, most are stuffed with emerald shiners.  Jigging with a frozen or live shiner has been the go to method, however, those trolling crankbaits also producing.

Sturgeon activity continues to be good with some big fish caught and released.

Up at the NW Angle…  For the few anglers out fishing, the bite continues to be really good.  Most anglers are jigging with big numbers of fish are being caught.

Gold, pink and/or glow colored jigs are doing well.  Anglers fishing the U.S. side are tipping with a fathead or frozen shiner.  Those fishing the Ontario side tipping with various plastics.

Structure such as points, reefs and sandy areas in neck down areas continue to hold good fish.  12 – 26 feet continues to be the range depending upon the spot.

Travel to and from the Angle via vehicle through the 40 miles of Canada is open.  Must be vaccinated and have a negative PCR COVID Test. Rapid tests available in Baudette.  Boating into Canadian waters is now open.

Want to avoid crossing the border?  Charter transport via water and ice and flights over the lake delivering you to your desired resort are available through the LOW Passenger Service and Lake Country Air both this fall and into the winter months via ice.

On the south end…  Great fall walleye fishing again this week.  As the traditional deer hunting opener approaches, walleye fishing is typically in high gear.  This pattern is holding true.  Various spots along the south shore are producing nicely.  The walleyes and sauger are active.  These fish are also setting up nicely for ice fishing which is just around the corner with water temps in the upper 40’s.

Anchored up and jigging with a fathead or emerald shiner is the go to method.  Live shiners are available and effective.  Some anglers are still pulling spinners with a minnow or trolling crankbaits with good success.  Gold, pink, white and chartreuse hot colors this week.

The best reports are coming from 17-27 feet of water across the south shore in areas such as Pine Island, Morris Point, Zippel Bay, Graceton Beach, Long Point and Rocky Point.  Various schools within these depths.

In addition to walleyes and saugers, pike, jumbo perch, sturgeon and even a few crappies are in the mix for walleye anglers.

On the Rainy River…   Nice pockets of walleyes being caught in the river.  Jigging with a frozen or live shiner, is the go to method.  Emerald shiners are tough to beat.

Some groups are trolling crankbaits in the river and because of their consistency, they never switch.  Also great in locating walleyes or when fish are scattered.

Sturgeon activity with cooler water is good with numerous fish caught and released.

Up at the NW Angle…  Fall fishing up at the Angle continues strong.  Most anglers are using a jig and minnow or jig and plastic (when boating into Canada) for walleyes.  In some areas, walleyes continue to be stacked and big numbers of fish are being caught.

Gold, pink and/or glow colored jigs and spinners are doing well.  Reminder, no live, frozen or dead bait being able to be transported over the border from the U.S. into Canada, consequently anglers boating into Ontario waters reporting various plastics on their jigs and spinners working great.

Various areas of structure such as points, reefs and sandy areas in neck down areas continue to hold good fish.  12 – 26 feet is the range depending upon the spot.

Big crappies are being caught on jigs and minnows in 24-30′ adjacent to structure.

Muskie action continues to be strong.  Jigging large baits has boated good numbers of fish as well as casting and trolling.

Travel to and from the Angle via vehicle through the 40 miles of Canada is open.  Boating into Canadian waters is now open.

Want to avoid crossing the border?  Charter transport via water and ice and flights over the lake are available through the LOW Passenger Service and Lake Country Air both this fall and into the winter months via ice.

On the south end…  The jig bite has begun and walleyes and saugers are cooperating very nicely.  The walleyes continue to transition to fall locations including in 25-30′ in front of Pine Island and west along the south shore have been hot.

A nice mix of walleyes and saugers with perch and pike mixed in.  Lots of good eaters along with some sorting of smaller fish.  Most anglers anchored up and jigging with a fathead or emerald shiner.  Strong jig colors, gold, orange, glow white, pink or a combo.

Some anglers trolling crankbaits with success.  This is a good method if the jigging bite isn’t happening or if water goes flat.

The month of October is an excellent time to fish walleyes.  If you like the jig bite, anchor up and jig over the side of the boat for a very enjoyable and typically memorable day.  Charters and guides are available with area resorts.

Pike continue to be active with the cooling water temps.

On the Rainy River…   Emerald shiners continue to run in the Rainy River and overall the walleye fishing has been good.

Most walleye anglers on the river are anchoring up along a current seam or on the edge of a hole with a jig and minnow.  Try different areas.  There are 42 miles of navigable river and lots of boat ramps.  In some cases, it is helpful to find your own spots and get away from other boats.

Sturgeon activity has picked up as well with good fall reports.  A gob of crawlers and/or frozen shiners on a sturgeon rig (18 inch leader made of 60lb test with a 2-3 ounce no roll sinker) is the ticket.  The keep season ends September 30, 2021.  The catch and release season continues through April 23, 2022.

Up at the NW Angle…

Excellent fishing this week.  In U.S. waters, deep mud of Little Traverse Bay continues producing walleyes in 24 – 31 feet.  Spinners with crawlers or minnows still producing.

Areas with structure and sandy areas in neck down areas continue to hold fish.  14 – 19 feet are good starting points.  Jig and a minnow is the goto on structure and neck down areas.

Big crappies being caught on jigs and minnows in 25-32′ around structure.

Muskie anglers report good fish being boated trolling and casting shiny crankbaits.

Travel to and from the Angle via vehicle through the 40 miles of Canada is open.  Boating into Canadian waters is now open.  Please note, no live, frozen or dead bait allowed into Canada from the U.S.  The various plastics on a jig are working well.  Contact a NW Angle resort for details.

Charter boat transport and float planes are still available through the LOW Passenger Service and Lake Country Air.