Hey there, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Lake of the Woods fishing report for March 23, 2025.

The ice is finally starting to break up, folks! We're seeing open water in some areas, especially along the Rainy River. Water temp is hovering around 36°F. Sunrise today was at 6:12 AM and sunset will be at 7:31 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to get those lines wet.

Weather-wise, we're looking at partly cloudy skies with a high of 45°F and light winds from the southwest. Perfect conditions for some early spring fishing!

Now, let's talk fish. The walleye and sauger bite has been heating up as these fish start moving into shallower waters. Anglers have been reporting good catches in 15-25 feet of water, especially around Pine Island and Long Point. Most folks are pulling in walleyes in the 15-20 inch range, with a few trophies over 28 inches.

Northern pike fishing has been on fire lately, with many anglers landing fish in the 30-40 inch range. They're hitting hard in the shallows, particularly in areas with emerging vegetation.

For you perch lovers, the jumbo perch bite has been steady in 8-12 feet of water. Some real slabs coming in, with quite a few in the 12-14 inch range.

Lure-wise, gold and pink jigs tipped with a minnow have been the ticket for walleyes and saugers. For pike, large spoons and swimbaits in bright colors are working well. Perch are hitting on small jigs tipped with waxworms or pieces of nightcrawler.

If you're looking for some hot spots, I'd recommend trying the mud flats north of Pine Island for walleyes, or the weed edges in Sabaskong Bay for pike. For perch, Archie's Reef has been producing consistently.

Remember, the walleye and sauger season closes on April 14th, so get out there while you can! And don't forget, if you're fishing the Rainy River or Four Mile Bay, it's catch-and-release only for walleye and sauger until May.

That's all for now, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off. Tight lines and good fishing!