Although there have been some hot days, Rainy Lake water temperatures have been slow to rise and walleye have not yet headed for the deeper structure in cooler water. Anglers are still pulling walleye from around 15 feet of water using live bait and either jigging or drifting with a spinner rig. There have been some strong winds lately and walleye anglers are sticking to the more protected islands and smaller bays, and some of those bays are also holding crappie and smallmouth bass.
Rainy River is getting some fishing pressure below the dam at International Falls and downstream around the confluence of the Little Fork River. Walleye are hanging in about 12 feet of water for several miles downstream of the dam. You can pull out some small mouth bass from below the dam west to the golf course or so. For the most up-to-date information you can call the International Falls, Ranier and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1 800 325 5766. Rainy Lake has been busy, lots of anglers are getting out, they are hitting the lee sides of the points and islands and jigging or slow trolling live baits, leeches, worms and minnows are all working for walleye. Smallmouth bass are hanging along the rocky south shorelines and respond to top water lures and shallow divers. You might also catch a large northern pike with that same method. You don’t have to travel far from any of the launches to find some likely spots, for instance, crappie are hitting near the structures in Black Bay, just south of the big ramp at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Walleye fishing has been good around the islands north and east of Bohman Landing near Crystal Beach.
Rainy River fishing has been best just below the Little Fork River and below Manitou Rapids. Shiner minnows on spinner rigs are working well for walleye. For the most up-to-date information you can call the International Falls, Ranier and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1 800 325 5766. Walleye are still foraging near the shorelines in about 12 feet of water, try finding the edges of emerging weeds for the most action. Anglers have been finding fish around Sand Bay, Jackfish Bay, Black Bay and Cranberry Bay on the west end of the Lake. For those heading east through Brule Narrows, some of the hot spots have been around Kempton Channel and the channels from Kettle Falls to Rabbit Island. For walleye, jigging with a minnow, or slow trolling a spinner rig and minnow has been the best bet. Smallmouth Bass will be in the same general areas as the walleye but will respond more to a lure nearer the surface.
Rainy River walleyes are hanging in about 12 feet of water near the weedy edges also, they are responding to emerald shiner minnows on a spinner rig. For the most up-to-date information you can call the International Falls, Ranier and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1 800 325 5766. |
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