Best fall fishing on rainy river (LOW)?

I have heard and know that the reports on the rainy river are excellent in april but i am curious as to when would be the best time in the fall to fish the rainy, by lake of the woods?

I’m thinking either the last weekend in september or the first or second week in october. Any input or advice would be much appreciated. This will be my first time up there so thanks for any advice!

Hi JKskeet,

I fish the river a bit in the fall towards Ifalls. In my experience October has been better than September. Actually sometimes is really rolling in November. As the Walleyes chase skip jacks up the river the bite really gets rolling. Now my guess would be that bite might pick up a bit earlier towards the West or closer to the mouth of LOTW. In any event the River can be a a sleeper for big fish in the fall when timed correctly!

Its all about the timing. Do your homework in finding some good resources in that neck of the woods. I have made several trips and have never hit the fall bite perfectly. I know it can be very good for big fish like Chris mentioned. When the shiners make the run up river the walleyes follow, if you can time that you will be in good shape.

Depends on what you are fishing for. Sturgeon fishing is excellent in September. The walleye bite depends on the bait fish run. Locals will check in the fish cleaning stations along the river and if there have been fish cleaned, they will stop and fish. If not, they just keep moving. The river gets loaded with boats when the walleye bite starts.

JP at Wigwam may be a good resource for information on the fall bite. I seem to remember him making a few reports on this last fall. Clemetsons resort may be another good resource.

we go up the first week of october every year. it really depends on whats going on weather wise. we’ve found the last couple of years early october a little too early for our liking for our lazy river fishing experience. a 2 hour trip to the gap is not something the older guys i fish with want to do.

we generally haul out at least a few 6-10lbers though each and every year even in the slow years.

the last 2 years we’d avg 10-15 fish a day. 4 years ago we avged 40-50 in early october.

I can’t add much that hasn’t already been said. All these guys are right on. It really depends on weather and the “Shiner Run”. That being said, if you are like me and you’ve got a wife and three kids and you can’t leave on a spur of the moment and need to put it on the calendar, the best advice I can give is: the later, the better.

A good buddy of mine goes up there every year during the opening weekend of deer hunting. Some years the bite is phenominal, other years it’s brutal. Hope this helps.

Erik Osberg

Well i won a raffle for 4 night 5 day lodging etc.. out of ballards resort and it expires after the second week of october so i’m thinking that i’m going to try and set it up for that second week. Thanks for all the help and any more advice is much appreciated. Thanks.. Justin