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Opener Success: Walleyes, Saugers, and Trophy Sturgeon on Lake of the Woods
Artificial Lure with your Lake of the Woods report for Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
The spring fishing season is in full swing here on Lake of the Woods, and what a start we had for the opener. The south shore has been producing excellent numbers of walleyes and saugers, with most anglers getting into steady action. Both eater-sized fish and some nice slot walleyes have been reported, and the sauger bite has also been strong. Limits are being caught, with a good mix of walleyes and saugers coming out of the main basin and near the south shore structure[1][2].
On the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing continues to be excellent through May 15, with several big fish caught the past few days, including a potential state record. Sturgeon are spread throughout the system, with Four Mile Bay and the deeper river holes being top spots. Anglers targeting sturgeon are using heavy rigs with nightcrawlers or a mix of crawlers and frozen shiners on the bottom[3].
For walleye and sauger, a jig and minnow is hands-down the top producer right now, but some anglers are having luck with larger plastics as well. The water is clearing up as ice is long gone, and water temperatures are rising, which is pushing more fish onto the windblown shorelines and shallow reefs. Anchor up and work those jigs slow for best results. Pink, gold, and chartreuse jigs have been the go-to colors lately[1][4].
Northern pike are still active in the back bays and creek mouths, with some trophy fish being reported. Dead bait under a bobber or casting spoons and shallow-running cranks are putting big pike in the net. Check out Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay for your best shot at a spring gator[5].
Weather is shaping up nicely today, with the forecast calling for mild temps in the upper 50s to low 60s and a light breeze out of the northwest. Sunrise was at 5:31 AM and sunset will be at 8:54 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to chase fish. No tides to worry about in this freshwater fishery, so focus on wind direction and water temp for your plan.
Hot spots today are heading out from the mouth of the Rainy River into Four Mile Bay for a mixed bag, or working the edge of Pine Island and the reefs outside of Zippel Bay for walleyes and saugers. For sturgeon, deep holes along the main river channel are producing well.
Overall, the fishing is about as good as it gets for the start of the season. Get out there and enjoy it, and remember to snap a quick photo before you put back those big ones. Good luck and tight lines!
The spring fishing season is in full swing here on Lake of the Woods, and what a start we had for the opener. The south shore has been producing excellent numbers of walleyes and saugers, with most anglers getting into steady action. Both eater-sized fish and some nice slot walleyes have been reported, and the sauger bite has also been strong. Limits are being caught, with a good mix of walleyes and saugers coming out of the main basin and near the south shore structure[1][2].
On the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing continues to be excellent through May 15, with several big fish caught the past few days, including a potential state record. Sturgeon are spread throughout the system, with Four Mile Bay and the deeper river holes being top spots. Anglers targeting sturgeon are using heavy rigs with nightcrawlers or a mix of crawlers and frozen shiners on the bottom[3].
For walleye and sauger, a jig and minnow is hands-down the top producer right now, but some anglers are having luck with larger plastics as well. The water is clearing up as ice is long gone, and water temperatures are rising, which is pushing more fish onto the windblown shorelines and shallow reefs. Anchor up and work those jigs slow for best results. Pink, gold, and chartreuse jigs have been the go-to colors lately[1][4].
Northern pike are still active in the back bays and creek mouths, with some trophy fish being reported. Dead bait under a bobber or casting spoons and shallow-running cranks are putting big pike in the net. Check out Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay for your best shot at a spring gator[5].
Weather is shaping up nicely today, with the forecast calling for mild temps in the upper 50s to low 60s and a light breeze out of the northwest. Sunrise was at 5:31 AM and sunset will be at 8:54 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to chase fish. No tides to worry about in this freshwater fishery, so focus on wind direction and water temp for your plan.
Hot spots today are heading out from the mouth of the Rainy River into Four Mile Bay for a mixed bag, or working the edge of Pine Island and the reefs outside of Zippel Bay for walleyes and saugers. For sturgeon, deep holes along the main river channel are producing well.
Overall, the fishing is about as good as it gets for the start of the season. Get out there and enjoy it, and remember to snap a quick photo before you put back those big ones. Good luck and tight lines!
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By Quiet. PleaseArtificial Lure with your Lake of the Woods report for Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
The spring fishing season is in full swing here on Lake of the Woods, and what a start we had for the opener. The south shore has been producing excellent numbers of walleyes and saugers, with most anglers getting into steady action. Both eater-sized fish and some nice slot walleyes have been reported, and the sauger bite has also been strong. Limits are being caught, with a good mix of walleyes and saugers coming out of the main basin and near the south shore structure[1][2].
On the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing continues to be excellent through May 15, with several big fish caught the past few days, including a potential state record. Sturgeon are spread throughout the system, with Four Mile Bay and the deeper river holes being top spots. Anglers targeting sturgeon are using heavy rigs with nightcrawlers or a mix of crawlers and frozen shiners on the bottom[3].
For walleye and sauger, a jig and minnow is hands-down the top producer right now, but some anglers are having luck with larger plastics as well. The water is clearing up as ice is long gone, and water temperatures are rising, which is pushing more fish onto the windblown shorelines and shallow reefs. Anchor up and work those jigs slow for best results. Pink, gold, and chartreuse jigs have been the go-to colors lately[1][4].
Northern pike are still active in the back bays and creek mouths, with some trophy fish being reported. Dead bait under a bobber or casting spoons and shallow-running cranks are putting big pike in the net. Check out Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay for your best shot at a spring gator[5].
Weather is shaping up nicely today, with the forecast calling for mild temps in the upper 50s to low 60s and a light breeze out of the northwest. Sunrise was at 5:31 AM and sunset will be at 8:54 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to chase fish. No tides to worry about in this freshwater fishery, so focus on wind direction and water temp for your plan.
Hot spots today are heading out from the mouth of the Rainy River into Four Mile Bay for a mixed bag, or working the edge of Pine Island and the reefs outside of Zippel Bay for walleyes and saugers. For sturgeon, deep holes along the main river channel are producing well.
Overall, the fishing is about as good as it gets for the start of the season. Get out there and enjoy it, and remember to snap a quick photo before you put back those big ones. Good luck and tight lines!
The spring fishing season is in full swing here on Lake of the Woods, and what a start we had for the opener. The south shore has been producing excellent numbers of walleyes and saugers, with most anglers getting into steady action. Both eater-sized fish and some nice slot walleyes have been reported, and the sauger bite has also been strong. Limits are being caught, with a good mix of walleyes and saugers coming out of the main basin and near the south shore structure[1][2].
On the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing continues to be excellent through May 15, with several big fish caught the past few days, including a potential state record. Sturgeon are spread throughout the system, with Four Mile Bay and the deeper river holes being top spots. Anglers targeting sturgeon are using heavy rigs with nightcrawlers or a mix of crawlers and frozen shiners on the bottom[3].
For walleye and sauger, a jig and minnow is hands-down the top producer right now, but some anglers are having luck with larger plastics as well. The water is clearing up as ice is long gone, and water temperatures are rising, which is pushing more fish onto the windblown shorelines and shallow reefs. Anchor up and work those jigs slow for best results. Pink, gold, and chartreuse jigs have been the go-to colors lately[1][4].
Northern pike are still active in the back bays and creek mouths, with some trophy fish being reported. Dead bait under a bobber or casting spoons and shallow-running cranks are putting big pike in the net. Check out Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay for your best shot at a spring gator[5].
Weather is shaping up nicely today, with the forecast calling for mild temps in the upper 50s to low 60s and a light breeze out of the northwest. Sunrise was at 5:31 AM and sunset will be at 8:54 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to chase fish. No tides to worry about in this freshwater fishery, so focus on wind direction and water temp for your plan.
Hot spots today are heading out from the mouth of the Rainy River into Four Mile Bay for a mixed bag, or working the edge of Pine Island and the reefs outside of Zippel Bay for walleyes and saugers. For sturgeon, deep holes along the main river channel are producing well.
Overall, the fishing is about as good as it gets for the start of the season. Get out there and enjoy it, and remember to snap a quick photo before you put back those big ones. Good luck and tight lines!