At last word, the ice in the Little Fork River had pushed north to White's Bridge just outside of Littlefork. That means it will push into the Rainy River very soon, and the Big Fork River will do the same. When the Forks break out, water clarity in Rainy River drops and there will be debris and ice floes to dodge. That usually means a bit less fishing pressure for a few days. Meanwhile, ramps on the Rainy have been busy and word is the walleye fishing is very good. This spring, it is a catch-and-release extended walleye season on Rainy River, but you can still keep some fish. Northern Pike, crappie and smallmouth bass seasons are open continuous on our border waters. On Rainy River, all northern pike between 30 and 40 inches must be released immediately. You can keep a total of three and one can be over 40 inches. You can keep 10 crappie and 6 smallmouth bass. It's worth checking out the forest at this time of year too, the forestry roads are generally open and wildlife is stirring. If you listen, you can hear grouse drumming to attract a mate. Songbirds are arriving from the south as are all sorts of waterfowl. Birders will have improved access this summer. the Polar Polers Ski Club has started construction on a boardwalk over the wetland at the head of their Tilson Creek Trail system. That will provide access to several miles of trails through quite a bit of varied habitat. The likelihood of spotting wildlife is pretty good, especially at this time when the trees have not yet filled out creating dense cover. Another option for getting out into nature is to check on the waterfalls, where spring runoff is thundering through with a roar, and providing great photo opportunities. I suggest hiking around the hundreds of yards long cascades on the Big Fork at Big Falls, or checking the narrow restriction of Vermilion Falls just south of Crane Lake. Both have great trails and adequate parking areas. This post was brought to you by Rainy Lake Guide Association. It promises to be a productive fishing opener for those anglers hoping to land our state fish. The season for Walleye anglers starts at 12:01 AM on May 11 this year. Anglers are advised to purchase their license ahead of this time to avoid the last minute rush and valuable time on the lake. Rainy Lake is a vast 210,000 acre body of beautiful scenery and supply of fish species. According to the MN DNR, Rainy Lake has special rules and regs that should be reviewed and observed regarding limits and is fortunate to be more generous than many MN lakes. There are also special rules that apply if you are fishing along the Canadian side of the lake meaning anglers should read up on these ahead of planning their trip to the area. Boat rentals, fishing guides and lodging are all available and recommended to maximize the possibilities of success on opener weekend. Again, plan ahead to secure these resources before they fill up. While no one can predict the weather, the fact that Rainy Lake is part of the Rainy River, there is always open water available by opening weekend to explore and cast a line.
Boats are now launching onto Rainy River from Nelson Park at Birchdale, and Koochiching County officials say the Frontier Access will soon be open too. People flock to Rainy River for some of the earliest open water fishing in the state. The border waters remain open to walleye fishing until April 14, however, Rainy River is catch-and-release only. You can reel in a big Walleye, snap a few photos and release a breeder back into the system.
If you're looking to keep a fish, Northern Pike, Crappie and Smallmouth Bass are open continuous but there are size restrictions on the Northern Pike. On April 24, the first Sturgeon tag season opens on Rainy River. You are allowed one per year with a tag, and it must be 45-50 inches inclusive, or larger than 75 inches. The tag season will remain open until May 7th with a catch-and-release period to follow from May 8-15 and it is closed entirely to allow for spawning from May 15-July 1. Rainy River is a recovering Sturgeon fishery and doing very well. Do your part if you fish for these monsters, use barbless hooks and keep the fish in a horizontal orientation during any handling, holding fish this large in a vertical orientation can cause damage to internal organs. International Falls, Rainy Lake and Ranier Convention and Visitors Bureau |
Keep Up With Rainy Lake!
Plan Your Trip!
Learn More:
All
|