Rainy River access in International Falls, Pelland Junction, and Birchdale are all open.

Rainy River provides some of the earliest and best open water fishing in the upper midwest as walleye head upstream from Lake of the Woods. Walleye season on our border weaters remains open until April 14, and you might also pull in one of the huge sturgeon lurking in the river. The swifter waters below the dam at International Falls are almost always good for a few walleye and smallmouth bass. Kuttes Landing at Pelland Junction is just upstream from the confluence of the Little Fork River, which is another great hot spot. Nelson Park at Birchdale is just below the Long Sault Rapids where you can find concentrations of walleye and sturgeon.

Related: What Fishing On Rainy River is like. 

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.

​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