1st Timer needs advice

Hello all, my son and I will be coming up for 4 days of houseboating and fishing on Rainy Memorial Day week. I’ve read up on the lake as best as I can, have gleaned a ton of information from this site, as well as several IDO videos on youtube. Have a 2014 Navionics chip and some maps, so navigation shouldn’t be a problem. Several questions still, so here goes.
Will a 14 footer with a 15 horse be able to handle most water and weather? I don’t intend on needing to go out too deep, sounds like the fish will be biting shallow.
What is your favorite fishing line for walleye and bass? Mono or braided? 6, 8, or 10lb test?
Your favorite lures that consistently perform?
Can I pitch a tent at a houseboat site?
Are there picnic tables at houseboat sites?
Are crawlers productive at this time of year?
Besides toilet paper and a filet knife, are there any other must-have items it might be easy to overlook?

Thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions.

From the VNP website:
https://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/houseboating.htm

“2016 Houseboat Requirements

Houseboats will require an overnight permit – available any of the park’s three visitor centers during business hours or from the commercial houseboats companies.
Houseboats can stay at designated houseboat sites – first-come, first-served.
Houseboats can stay at an undesignated site as long as they are at least 200 yards away from any developed site.
Fires are allowed only in NPS metal fire rings in developed sites.
There is a 14-consecutive day stay limit and a 30-day maximum in a calendar year.
Houseboats wishing to pitch a tent must go onto http://www.recreation.gov and reserve a tent site for those in the party who want to do this. However, a Houseboat may not moor at the tent sites.
Houseboat sites are limited to two (2) houseboats per site. Special Use Permits are available for more than two houseboats upon approval.”

Photos of houseboat sites here:
https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=AF1BF98F-07CC-88B1-E589F767B0A9E910

Regarding the 14ft boat, I wouldn’t go too far from where you have the houseboat just because the lake is big and I’ve been in 5 footers out there. Granted I fish there in the fall and the walleyes are on the deep structure. At least early season, they should be in shallower and that means you have a lot more places to fish with a small boat

As far as baits/lures to use, in the fall we use a jig with a minnow or shiner, but with fishing being shallower, I would think some crank baits would work pretty well. Don’t be surprised if you hook into some good sized northerns in there too

A couple pointers to Rainy Noobs…

Rainy lake has main and secondary navigational channels. They’ll be marked on your map. Familiarize yourself with them. Generally, the secondary/inside channel is better when its windy.

Rainy lake flows from east to west. This may seem counter intuitive but its REALLY important for navigation. So, remember that because you’ll see navigational buoys everywhere. Heading east = Red Right Return.

You should be fine in a 14′ boat most of the time. However, it can get pretty bumpy if the wind picks up…especially in the afternoon. Honestly, I wouldn’t worry much about that. Just don’t overload it…those load/capacity plates aren’t just there for decoration. I often see folks overloading their boats as they head out camping in the park. Sounds like you have a houseboat so you shouldn’t have that problem.

I usually run braided with a flouro leader. However, I use mono too. Its usually a matter of how lazy I feel when respooling and what I have laying around. In late May you’ll probably do well pitching crankbaits (I like xraps) and pulling spinners near the shore lines. For live bait, I’d bring a variety of different types. There are not any bait shops on the lake.

Camp sites vary. I would say you could pitch a tent at most sites. However, some are on solid granite. Many have picnic tables but not all. I would recommend heading east of Brule Narrows and getting a site in the Blueberry Island area. Its about a 15-18 mile boat ride, depending on which houseboat company you’re renting from. Brule Narrows navigation isn’t difficult but PAY ATTENTION and make sure you look at the next buoy ahead of you…not the buoy 2 or 3 ahead.

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

Also, check out these links for maps. Is the whole lake but in 3 separate maps. The solid pink line with the arrows is the main channel and the dashed line with arrows are the secondary/inside channels.

West to east order they are:
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/14998.shtml
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/14997.shtml
http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/14996.shtml

Photos of Rainy Lake located houseboat sites in the park

https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=AF1BF98F-07CC-88B1-E589F767B0A9E910

Stephen Swiss wrote:

Will a 14 footer with a 15 horse be able to handle most water and weather? I don’t intend on needing to go out too deep, sounds like the fish will be biting shallow.
What is your favorite fishing line for walleye and bass? Mono or braided? 6, 8, or 10lb test?
Your favorite lures that consistently perform?
Can I pitch a tent at a houseboat site?
Are there picnic tables at houseboat sites?
Are crawlers productive at this time of year?
Besides toilet paper and a filet knife, are there any other must-have items it might be easy to overlook?

This summer will be my 6th in a row going on a Rainy Lake Houseboat, and based off of that experience here’s my opinions. No a 14 footer will not handle most of the water nor weather. Thankfully you are using a houseboat, so that will get you to where you want to go and you can fish that area with the 14 footer. You may be able to make a run in the 14 fter on a calm day, but if you do pay close attention to the weather because it can get bad fast.

Line depends on the type of fishing I’m doing, but in general 8 lbs Sufix 832 is my favorite, and may tie a leader on if needed.

Lure’s will vary depending on what you want to do. We fish walleye almost exclusively and our most productive have been Lindy Rig’s/Spinners on all sorts of structures and Rapala Shad Raps shallow. If I wanted to chase smallies and pike I’d have a variety of plastics and spinners for casting the shallows.

Yes, you can pitch a tent on a HB site, if you are occupying it w/ a HB also. If your site is too rocky, you can also pitch a tent on top of your HB if needed. Picnic tables are hit and miss if I recall correctly. Your HB should have a patio style table on the front deck you could use in a pinch.

I wouldn’t go out on the lake w/out crawlers, leeches and chub minnows.

Other stuff: A variety of bug spray/repellent/foggers etc, they can get terrible (tho you may be early enough to avoid them). Sunscreen and rain gear, with a limited amount of time up there you don’t want the weather to steal a day. Ice, and lots of it. You will have a fridge/freezer, but that won’t keep up with the amount of ice you need. A good cooler will help a lot too! Charger or extension cord if you have a trolling motor. A good camera or phone camera, just shut the service off on your phone. Any service you might get is likely coming from Canada, plus you are in God’s Country don’t waste time worrying about the real world! Finally, a credit card to put a deposit down on next years trip!!! Once you go once, you will start counting the days until you can go again. Besides the world class views and fishing, the biggest thing is the peace and quiet. Post a report and pics when you get back, I’ll be up late June and can’t wait!!!!

Your houseboat will have a radio, but if you plan to go out in your 14′ a VHF handheld is a good investment. You can get weather reports and potentially call for help if you have a serious problem. Many boats, lodges and I believe the local authorities monitor channel 16.

Based on my limited experience I think that a 14′ would be alright in some, but not all, conditions. As has been stated the wind and weather are key. It doesn’t take much wind to drive up the chop in open areas. Be particularly careful in the Brule narrows. I wouldn’t plan on venturing too far from the houseboat.

http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=85&encProdID=D639A25DA78F0B4765904098105226F8&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

I’ve owned a private houseboat on Rainy for 10 summers.
Any of the fishing lines you suggested will be fine in both braid and mono, whatever you prefer. Just about anything and everything can work for you: various crank baits in various styles and colors, jigs with minnows or plastics, spinner rigs, live bait rigs, etc. should be good. The water is still cold and fishing shallow < 12 ft is a good bet.
We’ve asked and tents are not allowed at houseboat sites; Park rangers may not ticket you for that and just ask you to take it down. Sometimes they ignore them. You can set a tent up on the roof and tie off to the railings (no tent stakes <g>). It should handle a tent about 8 ft wide, maybe 9 ft .
Your houseboat company will provide navigation maps, explain how to read the buoys, and recommend good sites to tie up. I don’t recall ever seeing a picnic table at a houseboat site, but you will have a table on the front deck of the houseboat. The sites will have tie off rings or posts, and fire rings.

Your houseboat may include a 16 ft fishing boat without a motor as part of the package. You can rent a motor or maybe pull the one off your 14 ft boat. Ask the company for recommendations for sites and fishing areas where you can stay substantially out of the wind. I would be concerned that two excited adults leaning over the side to land a really big fish could tip a 14 ft boat enough to fall out. Wear life jackets. The shock of cold water can suck the air out and disable an experienced swimmer – I saw that happen to a life guard/swimming instructor.
Be careful in your fishing boat anytime you are within 100 ft of visible rocks, rock markers, or shoreline. Boulders can come up fast and are hard to see.
Bring warmer clothes than you expect – the air gets cool as it blows over the cold lake water. If you travel east of the Brule Narrows, don’t count on cell phone coverage – its spotty at best. Turn off global roaming to avoid Canadian towers and billing surprises.

If you have questions or need help with anything, get on the marine radio. The houseboat company, their customers, and other private houseboats all monitor the company’s designated channel, and everyone is very willing to help. But don’t expect detailed fishing tips over the radio.
Don’t get too concerned with all these warnings – just relax, use common sense, and you will have a great time. Rainy Lake and the park are incredibly beautiful.
We’re heading up there tomorrow afternoon thru Memorial Day. We monitor channel 06 almost continuously (even from our fishing boat), and if we’re within range we’ll respond. Our boat name is Vagabond.
Have lots of fun!
Bob

Hey 1st Timer…you’re going to have a blast.

Since I’m high on life knowing that I’ll be up there next weekend, let me give you my take on Rainy:

She’s big, big water…so, use your ‘big boat’ to get to small boat areas. I’m headed up to the East end camping near Kettle Falls. We rarely get blown off the water in our larger Lunds, BUT…you need to watch the weather closely, so carry a marine radio and keep updates on the weather forecast at all times.

If you can make the run, try getting a spot East of Blueberry. If I was in your shoes and the weather permitted I’d run all the way to Sand Bay Island area and you can enjoy sheltered small-boat shallow water fishing for the duration of your trip.

This next weekend the pattern looks good to match what we did in 2013 – which was a complete Walleye murder-fest. We caught most of our eater sized fish in the Kettle channel, but the best fishing was out near first basin breaks. Big jigs / big minnows in the channel was deadly in the early morning. Sun comes out…I’m headed to the first exposed reefs and you will find me pitching Gold/Perch/Silver Flat Raps until I get too tired of hauling them in.

We spent opener in Cranberry Bay this year and the weather, while brutal, kept the lake quiet and we enjoyed a real slug fest from shore. Lots of very large post-spawn females and zero males. Huge Pike were roaming shallow water in there and we were continually bit off until we sized up and took in our own 40 inchers on heavy tackle.

I spent a bit of time here looking over my logs from the last 6 years and I’m feeling very confident that we’re headed for a fantastic setup for Memorial. I’ve got years worth of Memorial trips in the same area to pattern now and we NEVER have trouble catching our share, although the biggest Walleyes are a bit more elusive.

Blue jig / red shank / shiners (preferred frozen with a rubber band stop), sometimes chubs will work for us. If we run out of minnows you can buy more at Kettle Falls. I never had to tie up a Lindy rig, just jig & minnow, don’t be afraid to go big with your jig heads either. Sunny weather with mild winds – get up shallow – fish will be hiding in bolders/rocky areas. Pitch in and slow retrieve moxies or (my favorite) Flat Raps. If it’s really hot you can get away with a steel leader to keep the Pike from killing your tackle box. I run Fluorocarbon either direct or leadered on braid. Mono if you find a slip bobber reef to work (typically later in the year for us).

All else fails just look for The Jewbetcha – an 18.5′ All-Black Lund Rebel with a 17’ Black/Grey Explorer shadowing me. I’ll be the one yelling “get the net” with an IDO hoodie.

Cheers!

Sage advice, thanks so much! I plan on staying in somewhat sheltered areas, Saginaw Bay, Hitchcock Bay, or Blueberry Island. Maybe Anderson Bay. Maybe all of them. I’ll leave a few fish fer youse guys.

Here’s another link to a good Rainy Lake map you can zoom in on.

http://webapp.navionics.com/?lang=en#@8&key=krxgHjvxvP