As of January 23, 2025, the fishing scene on Lake of the Woods is buzzing with activity. Given that Lake of the Woods is a large, inland lake, tidal reports are not a factor here; instead, anglers focus on other environmental conditions.

The weather is cold, typical for this time of year, with ice covering much of the lake. Sunrise today is at around 7:45 AM, and sunset will be at about 4:45 PM, giving anglers a good window to get out on the ice.

Fish activity has been excellent, particularly for walleye and sauger. Anglers are reporting good success in areas with day houses located 3.5-4 miles north of Pine Island, where the fishing depth ranges from 26 to 29 feet. This depth range is providing various opportunities to catch a variety of species.

Yesterday, anglers caught a significant number of walleyes and saugers using flashing and rattling lures. The best colors to use are gold, pink, white, blue, and wonderbread patterns. A combination of jigging rods paired with deadstick setups has been the most productive method, maximizing chances of attracting fish.

For bait, frozen emerald shiners are highly effective, especially when jigging. Some anglers have also reported success using spinners and trolling crankbaits, though jigging is becoming the primary technique as the ice fishing season progresses.

Hot spots include the areas around Pine Island and the south shore of Big Traverse Bay, where walleyes are moving closer to the shorelines as part of their fall patterns. The Rainy River is also worth checking out, as it continues to support robust recreational fisheries with a variety of species, including walleyes and sturgeons.

Overall, it's a great time to be out on Lake of the Woods, so grab your gear and enjoy the fishing. Happy angling