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Lake of the Woods Fishing Report: Walleyes, Northerns, and Sturgeon Await in Spring Conditions
Fishing Report for Lake of the Woods, Minnesota – April 12, 2025
Good morning anglers! It’s shaping up to be a great day of fishing on Lake of the Woods. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip and reel in some big ones.
**Weather:** The day starts off chilly but warms up into the mid-40s by afternoon, with partly cloudy skies and light winds. Perfect for spring fishing conditions.
**Sunrise and Sunset:** Sunrise will be at 6:50 AM, and sunset at 7:55 PM, giving you over 13 hours of daylight to get on the bite.
**Water and Ice Conditions:** Many landings are now open, including Timbermill Landing and others upstream of Wheeler’s Point. Open water is stretching further along the Rainy River, and ice is breaking up at the mouth of the lake. For safe access, stick to boat ramps and paved roads.
**Fish Activity:** Walleyes are on the move, heading into pre-spawn feeding. You’ll find them in deeper waters, around 22-28 feet, where they’re staging before heading shallow to spawn. Northern pike are also aggressive, and sturgeon are beginning to stir.
**Recent Catches:** Anglers have been hooking into a mixed bag this week—walleyes in the 15-20 inch range, jumbo perch, and 2-to-3-pound northern pike have been common. Guides near the islands and along the Rainy River have reported a healthy number of fish over the past few days.
**Hotspots:**
1. Around Wheeler’s Point – Both Rainy River and the mouth of the lake have seen solid action for walleyes and sturgeon.
2. The island area – Deeper waters of 24-28 feet between Garden Island and the US/Canada border are producing good sizes and numbers.
**Best Lures and Bait:**
- Bright, noisy lures like the Rapala Rippin’ Rap or jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head are excellent for walleyes. Pink, gold, and blue are standout colors right now.
- For northern pike, flashy spinners and live minnows should do the trick.
- If targeting sturgeon, a heavy rig with nightcrawlers or cut bait works best.
**Tips of the Day:** Jigging with a steady rhythm is effective for walleyes. If the bite slows, switch to a deadstick setup to entice more cautious fish. For those after trophy sturgeon, anchor up near deep holes in the Rainy River and be patient—it’s worth the wait.
Enjoy the beautiful day on the water! Tight lines and happy fishing from Lake of the Woods.
Good morning anglers! It’s shaping up to be a great day of fishing on Lake of the Woods. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip and reel in some big ones.
**Weather:** The day starts off chilly but warms up into the mid-40s by afternoon, with partly cloudy skies and light winds. Perfect for spring fishing conditions.
**Sunrise and Sunset:** Sunrise will be at 6:50 AM, and sunset at 7:55 PM, giving you over 13 hours of daylight to get on the bite.
**Water and Ice Conditions:** Many landings are now open, including Timbermill Landing and others upstream of Wheeler’s Point. Open water is stretching further along the Rainy River, and ice is breaking up at the mouth of the lake. For safe access, stick to boat ramps and paved roads.
**Fish Activity:** Walleyes are on the move, heading into pre-spawn feeding. You’ll find them in deeper waters, around 22-28 feet, where they’re staging before heading shallow to spawn. Northern pike are also aggressive, and sturgeon are beginning to stir.
**Recent Catches:** Anglers have been hooking into a mixed bag this week—walleyes in the 15-20 inch range, jumbo perch, and 2-to-3-pound northern pike have been common. Guides near the islands and along the Rainy River have reported a healthy number of fish over the past few days.
**Hotspots:**
1. Around Wheeler’s Point – Both Rainy River and the mouth of the lake have seen solid action for walleyes and sturgeon.
2. The island area – Deeper waters of 24-28 feet between Garden Island and the US/Canada border are producing good sizes and numbers.
**Best Lures and Bait:**
- Bright, noisy lures like the Rapala Rippin’ Rap or jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head are excellent for walleyes. Pink, gold, and blue are standout colors right now.
- For northern pike, flashy spinners and live minnows should do the trick.
- If targeting sturgeon, a heavy rig with nightcrawlers or cut bait works best.
**Tips of the Day:** Jigging with a steady rhythm is effective for walleyes. If the bite slows, switch to a deadstick setup to entice more cautious fish. For those after trophy sturgeon, anchor up near deep holes in the Rainy River and be patient—it’s worth the wait.
Enjoy the beautiful day on the water! Tight lines and happy fishing from Lake of the Woods.
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By Quiet. PleaseFishing Report for Lake of the Woods, Minnesota – April 12, 2025
Good morning anglers! It’s shaping up to be a great day of fishing on Lake of the Woods. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip and reel in some big ones.
**Weather:** The day starts off chilly but warms up into the mid-40s by afternoon, with partly cloudy skies and light winds. Perfect for spring fishing conditions.
**Sunrise and Sunset:** Sunrise will be at 6:50 AM, and sunset at 7:55 PM, giving you over 13 hours of daylight to get on the bite.
**Water and Ice Conditions:** Many landings are now open, including Timbermill Landing and others upstream of Wheeler’s Point. Open water is stretching further along the Rainy River, and ice is breaking up at the mouth of the lake. For safe access, stick to boat ramps and paved roads.
**Fish Activity:** Walleyes are on the move, heading into pre-spawn feeding. You’ll find them in deeper waters, around 22-28 feet, where they’re staging before heading shallow to spawn. Northern pike are also aggressive, and sturgeon are beginning to stir.
**Recent Catches:** Anglers have been hooking into a mixed bag this week—walleyes in the 15-20 inch range, jumbo perch, and 2-to-3-pound northern pike have been common. Guides near the islands and along the Rainy River have reported a healthy number of fish over the past few days.
**Hotspots:**
1. Around Wheeler’s Point – Both Rainy River and the mouth of the lake have seen solid action for walleyes and sturgeon.
2. The island area – Deeper waters of 24-28 feet between Garden Island and the US/Canada border are producing good sizes and numbers.
**Best Lures and Bait:**
- Bright, noisy lures like the Rapala Rippin’ Rap or jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head are excellent for walleyes. Pink, gold, and blue are standout colors right now.
- For northern pike, flashy spinners and live minnows should do the trick.
- If targeting sturgeon, a heavy rig with nightcrawlers or cut bait works best.
**Tips of the Day:** Jigging with a steady rhythm is effective for walleyes. If the bite slows, switch to a deadstick setup to entice more cautious fish. For those after trophy sturgeon, anchor up near deep holes in the Rainy River and be patient—it’s worth the wait.
Enjoy the beautiful day on the water! Tight lines and happy fishing from Lake of the Woods.
Good morning anglers! It’s shaping up to be a great day of fishing on Lake of the Woods. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip and reel in some big ones.
**Weather:** The day starts off chilly but warms up into the mid-40s by afternoon, with partly cloudy skies and light winds. Perfect for spring fishing conditions.
**Sunrise and Sunset:** Sunrise will be at 6:50 AM, and sunset at 7:55 PM, giving you over 13 hours of daylight to get on the bite.
**Water and Ice Conditions:** Many landings are now open, including Timbermill Landing and others upstream of Wheeler’s Point. Open water is stretching further along the Rainy River, and ice is breaking up at the mouth of the lake. For safe access, stick to boat ramps and paved roads.
**Fish Activity:** Walleyes are on the move, heading into pre-spawn feeding. You’ll find them in deeper waters, around 22-28 feet, where they’re staging before heading shallow to spawn. Northern pike are also aggressive, and sturgeon are beginning to stir.
**Recent Catches:** Anglers have been hooking into a mixed bag this week—walleyes in the 15-20 inch range, jumbo perch, and 2-to-3-pound northern pike have been common. Guides near the islands and along the Rainy River have reported a healthy number of fish over the past few days.
**Hotspots:**
1. Around Wheeler’s Point – Both Rainy River and the mouth of the lake have seen solid action for walleyes and sturgeon.
2. The island area – Deeper waters of 24-28 feet between Garden Island and the US/Canada border are producing good sizes and numbers.
**Best Lures and Bait:**
- Bright, noisy lures like the Rapala Rippin’ Rap or jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head are excellent for walleyes. Pink, gold, and blue are standout colors right now.
- For northern pike, flashy spinners and live minnows should do the trick.
- If targeting sturgeon, a heavy rig with nightcrawlers or cut bait works best.
**Tips of the Day:** Jigging with a steady rhythm is effective for walleyes. If the bite slows, switch to a deadstick setup to entice more cautious fish. For those after trophy sturgeon, anchor up near deep holes in the Rainy River and be patient—it’s worth the wait.
Enjoy the beautiful day on the water! Tight lines and happy fishing from Lake of the Woods.