Fishing remains to be good here in borderland. Walleyes are in a transitional phase from the shallower spawning grounds and are starting to show up on windblown points, shorelines, and shallow rockpiles. Still look for the walleyes to be hanging in relatively shallow water, usually 18 feet or less. Saginaw and Hitchcock Bay remain the best places on the American side to find decent numbers of walleye. Redgut Bay, Cormorant, and the Seine continue to produce walleyes on the Canadian side. Pitching ¼ oz jigs with a minnow or a plastic such as the Gulp thumpin’ grub has been a good tactic as has trolling spinners or drifting lindy rigs. The smallmouth are starting to show up in shallow and with some more stable weather they should be spawning. Right now assorted plastics such as senkos and tubes are working well. Crappies can still be caught, but they are few and far between now. Big northern are aggressively hitting raps off deeper rockpiles and points.
Water levels on the Rainy River are about 14 feet high and are showing no signs of cresting. This has made the walleyes on the river a hard target closer to the dam, but they are still biting well further downstream around Birchdale, Clementson, and Baudette. A 3/8-1/2 oz jig has still been the best bet to catch a few walleyes for a fish fry. Smallies are hitting tubes and twister tails along the rocky shorelines and northern pike are hitting off the deeper breaks.
The fishing is great now and will only get better!! Rainy Lake...BIG FISH/Small Crowds! Come up for a Canadian experience, without the hassle of going to Canada!
Bill Landmark
www.rainylakeonestop.com
218-286-5700
