Lake of the Woods is showing off today with perfect early summer conditions for anglers. We kicked off the morning with a crisp sunrise right around 5:18 a.m., and the lake is set to glow until sunset about 9:23 p.m. The weather’s giving us mid-70s, partly cloudy skies, and a light breeze out of the southwest—just enough to keep the bugs away but not enough to push you around on the water. With stable barometric pressure and water temps in the mid-60s, the fish are comfortable and on the move.

Walleyes are the big story right now, especially on the south shore and up at the Northwest Angle. Recent reports from Lake of the Woods Tourism and Fishrapper say the jig bite is still red-hot, with plenty of limits coming in. Most folks are setting up in 12 to 24 feet of water, focusing on shoreline structure, underwater points, and those classic rock-to-sand transitions. Jig-and-minnow combos, especially in chartreuse, orange, or gold, have been top producers. If you’re ready for a change-up, try spinners tipped with crawlers or leeches—especially midday when the jig bite slows. Bottom bouncers paired with spinner rigs are pulling nice eater-size fish, and trolling crankbaits along the shallows is turning up schools of active feeding walleye.

Jumbo perch, pike, and smallmouth bass are also in on the action. Perch are running with the walleyes on the same structures, while pike are chasing spinners and larger cranks along weed edges. For smallies, target rocky points and scattered rubble along shorelines; June is their time to shine.

And don’t forget: Muskie season is officially open as of yesterday. With Lake of the Woods boasting a healthy population and seemingly endless structure, this is prime time for big follows and aggressive hits—especially around sunken islands and weed beds near island clusters.

If you’re looking for a couple of hot spots today, check out the Four Mile Bay area at the mouth of the Rainy River for a mixed bag, or head up to Little Oak Island and Garden Island reef areas for walleye and muskie action. At the Northwest Angle, those points and neckdown areas between islands are fishing best.

For lures, bring a mix. Jig-and-minnow is classic, but the "dirty bomb" blinking jig continues to outperform, especially in pink or red. Spinners with half-crawlers, and shad-style crankbaits in gold or perch patterns, round out your must-haves. And as always, stay close to bottom—Lake of the Woods walleyes like rooting down, especially when there’s wind or waves.

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