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Lake of the Woods Fishing Report: Open Water, Sturgeon, Walleyes, and Pike Galore
Good morning from Lake of the Woods, this is Artificial Lure checking in with your local fishing report for May 12, 2025.
We have finally waved goodbye to the last of the ice on Big Traverse Bay, and open water is here across the lake and back bays. With water temps still cool from the late ice-out, the action this past weekend was hot for the Minnesota Fishing Opener, and the bite looks to keep rolling as we settle into spring.
The sunrise was at 5:38 AM this morning, and sunset will be around 8:45 PM, giving you a full, bright day to chase your trophy. No tides to worry about out here, just keep an eye on the wind—it’s coming from the northwest at about 10 to 15 mph, so some chop is expected, but nothing that’ll keep you off the hotspots.
Sturgeon remain a major draw on the Rainy River with the season open through May 15th. The bite has been nothing short of fantastic. Just last weekend saw a potential state record sturgeon caught at a whopping 78.25 inches. Four Mile Bay and the deeper holes up and down the river have been loaded with fish. Anglers are landing good numbers of these giants using heavy rigs baited with crawlers and frozen shiners, anchored up in the deeper bends and classic spring sturgeon holes. If you haven’t checked this off your bucket list, now’s the time to get after it[1].
With the opener just two days ago, walleye and sauger action picked up right where it left off in the fall. The Rainy River and the south shore are seeing plenty of big walleyes—many post-spawn females are still hanging in the river thanks to the late ice-out. A jig tipped with a fathead minnow is the top-producing setup this week, but don’t overlook a jig with a bright plastic tail, especially in stained water. The classic gold and chartreuse patterns are tough to beat. Limits are a combined six walleyes and saugers, with up to four walleyes in your bag; remember, you must release any fish in the protected slot of 19.5 to 28 inches, but you can keep one trophy over 28 a day[1].
Northern pike are still lurking in the shallow bays, especially spots like Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay. Dead bait under a bobber, flashy spoons, and shallow-running crankbaits are all producing fish. Pike are hungry post-spawn and aggressive. This is the time for a shot at a real Lake of the Woods gator[5].
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots to wet a line today, give Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River a try for both sturgeon and early walleyes. Zippel Bay is also turning out monster pike and the odd big walleye.
Pack your rain gear just in case, but as of now, conditions are looking solid for a productive day on the water. Tight lines and good luck out there—this is prime time on Lake of the Woods[1][5].
We have finally waved goodbye to the last of the ice on Big Traverse Bay, and open water is here across the lake and back bays. With water temps still cool from the late ice-out, the action this past weekend was hot for the Minnesota Fishing Opener, and the bite looks to keep rolling as we settle into spring.
The sunrise was at 5:38 AM this morning, and sunset will be around 8:45 PM, giving you a full, bright day to chase your trophy. No tides to worry about out here, just keep an eye on the wind—it’s coming from the northwest at about 10 to 15 mph, so some chop is expected, but nothing that’ll keep you off the hotspots.
Sturgeon remain a major draw on the Rainy River with the season open through May 15th. The bite has been nothing short of fantastic. Just last weekend saw a potential state record sturgeon caught at a whopping 78.25 inches. Four Mile Bay and the deeper holes up and down the river have been loaded with fish. Anglers are landing good numbers of these giants using heavy rigs baited with crawlers and frozen shiners, anchored up in the deeper bends and classic spring sturgeon holes. If you haven’t checked this off your bucket list, now’s the time to get after it[1].
With the opener just two days ago, walleye and sauger action picked up right where it left off in the fall. The Rainy River and the south shore are seeing plenty of big walleyes—many post-spawn females are still hanging in the river thanks to the late ice-out. A jig tipped with a fathead minnow is the top-producing setup this week, but don’t overlook a jig with a bright plastic tail, especially in stained water. The classic gold and chartreuse patterns are tough to beat. Limits are a combined six walleyes and saugers, with up to four walleyes in your bag; remember, you must release any fish in the protected slot of 19.5 to 28 inches, but you can keep one trophy over 28 a day[1].
Northern pike are still lurking in the shallow bays, especially spots like Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay. Dead bait under a bobber, flashy spoons, and shallow-running crankbaits are all producing fish. Pike are hungry post-spawn and aggressive. This is the time for a shot at a real Lake of the Woods gator[5].
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots to wet a line today, give Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River a try for both sturgeon and early walleyes. Zippel Bay is also turning out monster pike and the odd big walleye.
Pack your rain gear just in case, but as of now, conditions are looking solid for a productive day on the water. Tight lines and good luck out there—this is prime time on Lake of the Woods[1][5].
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By Quiet. PleaseGood morning from Lake of the Woods, this is Artificial Lure checking in with your local fishing report for May 12, 2025.
We have finally waved goodbye to the last of the ice on Big Traverse Bay, and open water is here across the lake and back bays. With water temps still cool from the late ice-out, the action this past weekend was hot for the Minnesota Fishing Opener, and the bite looks to keep rolling as we settle into spring.
The sunrise was at 5:38 AM this morning, and sunset will be around 8:45 PM, giving you a full, bright day to chase your trophy. No tides to worry about out here, just keep an eye on the wind—it’s coming from the northwest at about 10 to 15 mph, so some chop is expected, but nothing that’ll keep you off the hotspots.
Sturgeon remain a major draw on the Rainy River with the season open through May 15th. The bite has been nothing short of fantastic. Just last weekend saw a potential state record sturgeon caught at a whopping 78.25 inches. Four Mile Bay and the deeper holes up and down the river have been loaded with fish. Anglers are landing good numbers of these giants using heavy rigs baited with crawlers and frozen shiners, anchored up in the deeper bends and classic spring sturgeon holes. If you haven’t checked this off your bucket list, now’s the time to get after it[1].
With the opener just two days ago, walleye and sauger action picked up right where it left off in the fall. The Rainy River and the south shore are seeing plenty of big walleyes—many post-spawn females are still hanging in the river thanks to the late ice-out. A jig tipped with a fathead minnow is the top-producing setup this week, but don’t overlook a jig with a bright plastic tail, especially in stained water. The classic gold and chartreuse patterns are tough to beat. Limits are a combined six walleyes and saugers, with up to four walleyes in your bag; remember, you must release any fish in the protected slot of 19.5 to 28 inches, but you can keep one trophy over 28 a day[1].
Northern pike are still lurking in the shallow bays, especially spots like Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay. Dead bait under a bobber, flashy spoons, and shallow-running crankbaits are all producing fish. Pike are hungry post-spawn and aggressive. This is the time for a shot at a real Lake of the Woods gator[5].
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots to wet a line today, give Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River a try for both sturgeon and early walleyes. Zippel Bay is also turning out monster pike and the odd big walleye.
Pack your rain gear just in case, but as of now, conditions are looking solid for a productive day on the water. Tight lines and good luck out there—this is prime time on Lake of the Woods[1][5].
We have finally waved goodbye to the last of the ice on Big Traverse Bay, and open water is here across the lake and back bays. With water temps still cool from the late ice-out, the action this past weekend was hot for the Minnesota Fishing Opener, and the bite looks to keep rolling as we settle into spring.
The sunrise was at 5:38 AM this morning, and sunset will be around 8:45 PM, giving you a full, bright day to chase your trophy. No tides to worry about out here, just keep an eye on the wind—it’s coming from the northwest at about 10 to 15 mph, so some chop is expected, but nothing that’ll keep you off the hotspots.
Sturgeon remain a major draw on the Rainy River with the season open through May 15th. The bite has been nothing short of fantastic. Just last weekend saw a potential state record sturgeon caught at a whopping 78.25 inches. Four Mile Bay and the deeper holes up and down the river have been loaded with fish. Anglers are landing good numbers of these giants using heavy rigs baited with crawlers and frozen shiners, anchored up in the deeper bends and classic spring sturgeon holes. If you haven’t checked this off your bucket list, now’s the time to get after it[1].
With the opener just two days ago, walleye and sauger action picked up right where it left off in the fall. The Rainy River and the south shore are seeing plenty of big walleyes—many post-spawn females are still hanging in the river thanks to the late ice-out. A jig tipped with a fathead minnow is the top-producing setup this week, but don’t overlook a jig with a bright plastic tail, especially in stained water. The classic gold and chartreuse patterns are tough to beat. Limits are a combined six walleyes and saugers, with up to four walleyes in your bag; remember, you must release any fish in the protected slot of 19.5 to 28 inches, but you can keep one trophy over 28 a day[1].
Northern pike are still lurking in the shallow bays, especially spots like Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay. Dead bait under a bobber, flashy spoons, and shallow-running crankbaits are all producing fish. Pike are hungry post-spawn and aggressive. This is the time for a shot at a real Lake of the Woods gator[5].
If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots to wet a line today, give Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River a try for both sturgeon and early walleyes. Zippel Bay is also turning out monster pike and the odd big walleye.
Pack your rain gear just in case, but as of now, conditions are looking solid for a productive day on the water. Tight lines and good luck out there—this is prime time on Lake of the Woods[1][5].