How’s the fishing

I am going to be going up to Rainy next weekend and wondering if anyone knows how the fishing has been?
Thanks,

Alphid,
The fishing has been very good as of lately. The water is cooling down fast (50 some degrees today) and everyone else is out hunting. Huge pike, smallies and walleyes are pretty active out on the main lake reefs and humps. The best bet right now for the walleyes are the reefs out from Saginaw bay and north of Blueberry island. These spots are kicking out some dandy ‘eyes right now on the ‘ole standby…….jig n minnow.

Bring your warm clothes and your camera. The serious anglers (the ones that aren’t out hunting) are getting quite a few bigguns out there

Good luck!

Would you recommend staying on the Canadian side or the US side when going up there? From the people I have talked to in my club they have said the Canadian side is a better place to fish.
Do you recommend any good places to stay?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Alphid,
Your question is a tough one to answer. It largely depends on what you like to do. Catch and release? keep a limit? Walleye? Pike? Bass? If it is walleye you are after the bite has been good all over. If you stay in Canada then you can keep one fish (a slot applies). If you fish the US side you can keep 4 fish (slot). If you have a big enough boat and motor then head for the reefs and humps on the east end of lake.

Call the International Falls and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors bureau at 1-800-FALLS-MN to find a place to stay. They’ll point you in the right direction. There is too many good places to stay at to list here! The best boat landing to use for fishing the east end of the lake is at the Rainy Lake visitors center (hwy 11 east).

Good luck!

Steve,
Thanks for the message. I appreciate you helping me out. How far would we need to travel going to the humos and reefs on the east side from the access.
Hopefully, the weather cooperates a little better than what it looks like it is going to. But, it will be beter than being at work.
Do you have any information on how the lake is doing in realtion to the turnover?
Thanks for everything.
Alphid

Steve,
Are you also a guide up there?

alphid,
The reefs out by blueberry (which is the furthest you’d have to go) is approx 18 miles or so. What I’d do is get some good maps (NOAA or local) and try a few reefs closer to IFalls along the way out there. You might not have to go all the way out to blueberry if you run into them along the way. The east end of the lake is a pretty safe bet, especially this time of the year.

One note of caution: Rainy Lake is full of rocks and rock reefs and the Coast Guard will be removing the rock buoys anytime now. If you don’t know the lake be extremely careful. I am a guide but I do not have my coast guard certification yet to be able to legally work on Rainy.

One final note: look for the ‘eyes to be in about 30 feet of water on the reefs that have access to deep water nearby. The water continues to cool fast, but the ‘eyes have still been pretty active. Oh, and go with shiners for bait.

Good luck!