Rainy River is open from the dam, downriver past Pelland Junction. Anglers are waiting for the accesses to be opened so they can fit in some of the earliest open water fishing available. The photo shows Kuttes Landing just west of International Falls where the anglers have beaten a path to the open water to fish from shore.

The walleye season extends to April 14 on our border waters, plus you can try for huge sturgeon that lurk the river waters. Sturgeon fishing is catch-and-release only, and please be careful handling them, Rainy River is one of the true success stories in efforts to reestablish the species.

Rainy Lake anglers continue to get out, seeking walleye and crappie in 18 to 24 feet of water around Sand Bay, and using tip ups for big northern pike around Black Bay.
Trail conditions are deteriorating and you expect them to be closed very soon.

Floating Bogs were put on the move with recent storms and one has been causing concern in the west end of Rainy Lake heading into the popular islands area west of Grindstone Island. Naturally, our advice is to steer clear of it. Meanwhile, there have been good reports on walleye hitting jigs or spinners tipped with live bait near the submerged reefs east of Grindstone Island and well away from the floating bog. Crappie are hitting in Black Bay and up the Rat Root River to Rat Root Lake. The crappie are apparently a bit finicky, showing up on graphs, but not hitting on the bait. Northern Pike are fairly active in the morning and evening along the weedy edges at the mouth of Cranberry Bay and in Black Bay.  

On Rainy River, the outside bends have been producing walleye and smallmouth bass, while the sturgeon anglers are sticking to the shallow flats downstream from any of the deeper holes. The sturgeon tag season is now open and the catch-and-release only North American Sturgeon Championships are coming up August 19, 2017 at Nelson Park in Birchdale. 

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.