OK Boys!!!
I know many of you are chomping at the bit for some firsthand info on the river conditions. My buddy Ryan and I headed down for a few hours today to test the waters. Clarity was fair for the river this time of year. I suspect our overnight rains may have clouded up the water slightly for a day or two. Water temps were hovering around 40 degrees. There wasn’t much junk floating down the river and no ice to dodge. The landings of course wide open. General fishing activity was heavy towards LOTW and lighter as you progress east to Ifalls.
As for the fishing; There are multiple different philolophies when chasing Rainy River fish, and I’m not here to say what is best for your crew. For myself I simply have little interest in bumper boat fishing for eater class fish. I’d prefer to hunt sheds any day of the week instead. Once again today the general mass of boats participated in this drive up/drift down fishing vertical fishing. Success was NOT good for those anglers today. We saw a few fish caught, and only a couple slots. Late morning found most boats heading for shore presumably heading home or to a different river position. We fished away from the parade. As always 90% of the anglers were vertical jigging jigs and minnows.
I started pitching Moxies in the Chart/Pepper color scheme laced up with just a 1/4 oz. H20 precision jig……..Yes flow is down. Picked off a nice 23 and 26 inch fish up, but then couldn’t turn another eye. I switched to a tighter tail action for less aggressive fish considering our cold water; The Paddletail also fron BfishN tackle was much better for me. I used this in White with a white H20 Precision jig in 1/4 oz and pulled a few more 21-22 inch fish and a beautiful 27 and then the 29 inch 10lb pig stuffed full of spawn. Eggs didn’t feel very loose, so I think the drop will be a week or two forward.
Find those smaller holding points, cuts, turns and seams. It is my opinion based on our first few hours on the Old Man river that the numbers likely were not quite there yet. Still we fished a cold front with temps dropping 15 degrees from the morning launch to early afternoon, so that can certainly fool you as per true numbers of fish in your area.
Here is what I suggest; Instead of being completely anal on colors be more concerned in size and action change when other anglers give up. This simply means that what 90% of the guys are doing…..ISN’T working that day. Frankly it ISN’T ALWAYS easy fishing!! As it turned out the tight action of the paddletail was much more effective on the big fish than my personal favorite MOXIE today. A guy needs several confidence baits. When they hit it they took the rod out of your hand with smashing power. Still working the presentation slow today was critical. Match your jig weight to the flow. A jig and plastic guy NEEDS options and can’t fall in love with memories. It is crazy to think you’ll fish one weight in the 60 mile stretch of river, or one color, size, action……Year in and year out.
The big fish are of course here, but it will get better with the next warm up.
Dare to fish away from the crowds and dare to be different. 
