​Yes, it's been calm on our waters, everyone appears to be busy with fall projects or heading to the hunting grounds. I couldn't find anyone that had recently gone fishing on either the Lake or River so the best I can do is repeat what I was told last week. Walleye are running up the river chasing emerald shiners and can be caught along the weedy edges of bends or where you find a bit more current. On Rainy Lake, the best fishing was for crappie in the west end of Black Bay. 

Bird hunters are getting out more with several dry sunny days helping knock down more of the forest cover. Hunters believe they are seeing more grouse, but waterfowl hunters have been disappointed with seeing few migrating birds. 

If you're just out for the fall colors, this will probably be the last weekend as the leaves are coming down daily. Some trees though have just turned and will hold some colors into next week

Fall patterns are settled in on Rainy Lake following an unusually warm start to September. Big northern pike are becoming quite aggressive as the days grow shorter and the water temperature cools. Try the weedy edges of the bays casting a large flashy lure or trolling a spinner rig with a large minnow.

Anglers continue to find walleye on submerged structures throughout the lake. Smallmouth bass are also in the mix. Look for a depth of about 35 feet and put your live bait a foot or two off the bottom. Use a jig if it's calm, or troll the live bait if there's some chop. 

Ruffed grouse hunting started last Saturday and although the weather was not great, hunters did get out and flushed quite a few birds. In fact, the Department of Natural Resources predicts the best season in years because of the great weather for brood survival and the increase in drumming counts last spring.  There's still a great deal of underbrush in the forest so the birds can disappear in seconds. However, the colors are showing and the leaves will be coming down as fall progresses. 

The Voyageur tour boat continues to operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of September. The 2:00 pm cruise is an excellent way to take in the spectacular scenery of Voyageurs National Park while the fall colors are showing.

The International Falls Bass Championship takes place this weekend. Good luck to all the anglers. Smallmouth have been pulled from the deeper waters where the walleye are now lurking, but also from the rocky shorelines and weedy edges of the bays along the south shoreline of Rainy Lake. No one has been talking about what they are using to pull in the smallmouth. Walleye are responding to minnows on a jig on the submerged reefs. There have been some big northern pike caught in those same areas.

The North American Sturgeon fishing contest was held this past weekend in Birchdale. The tournament is strictly catch and release and the winner was Chris Qualley with a 56 and ¾ inch fish.  The youth championship was won by first-time sturgeon angler Maxx Deroy of South St. Paul with a 55 inch fish. The sturgeon tag season remains open on Rainy River. Meanwhile, the best walleye and bass action has been around the structure and swifter waters below the dam at International Falls. Emerald shiner minnows work best in Rainy River.
​
​For the most up-to-date information you can call the International Falls, Ranier and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau at (218) 283-9400.