Here you go boys!!! Over the past 3 years I’ve did my best to roughly outline fishing bites coinciding with calendar months for groups planning their upcoming open water ventures here on Rainy Lake.
In recent years I’ve noticed many new groups of anglers choosing to spend their one week in Paradise on the pristine waters of Rainy Lake which is predominately nestled within the confines of Voyageurs National Park, and a short cast away from Canada. Whether anglers renewed interests are because of a long overdue shortage in press for this magnificent fishery or simply becuase many anglers are choosing to stay in the United States many fisherman are touting Rainy Lake as their new annual fishing destination. I’d like to thank In Depth Outdoors for working as a modern medium allowing our area to connect with hardcore anglers!! It is my hope that this “Captains Outline” of 2010 fishing information will lend itself useful for your group leaders, and ecourage you to pass this information on. If the unparalled fishing doesn’t hook you the tranquil backdrops for your daily fishing ventures consisting of over 2500 pine studded islands will surely reel you in!! 
Here we go!! 
Keeping mind the Big “Jacks” (Northern Pike) are open to angling all year here, I begin my open water trips targeting these massive spotted fish as they begin their move into spawning grounds. Myth uncovered from one whom targets these fish all 4 seasons……….They do NOT lose their teeth!! I have a sticker in my boat insisting Kids keep your toes out of the water!! 
Fish from 10-25 pounds of drag screaming power are very common, and last year found the Daze Casket was slimed with 49 pike exceeding 10lbs with 3 special fish pushing over the 20lb Threshold during an action packed 3 week period. We highly encourage Catch and release during this timeframe with all trophy fish. Careful handling of these trophy fish is practiced. Many customers choose to have proper measurements and pictures taken to have fiberglass replicas made of their trophy Rainy lake fish. I’m still in search of a true 30lb pike, and letting that 23lb beast go last year has my hopes held high!! Timeframes can vary year to year as we like everyone are often at the Mercy of Mother Nature. Often times I’ll be slipping the Now (NEW SKEETER) 
into the icy waters towards the middle of April with the best bite for these “GIRTHY GIRLS” lasting through the middle of May.
As the fishing opener timeframe rolls in this year there will be much attention given to the Lake Kabetogama area just south of us as they are to play host for the 2010 Goveners Fishing Opener. We’d like to wish Kab a great opener, and congratulate them for the honor of hosting this event. I am confident they will do it with much style and class!! Here on Rainy Lake We’ll maybe be the “Sleeper” likely continuing the Smackdown on Scary pike, but will also have clients wearing their Walleye game face as we mix in big walleyes with the pike on a variety of shallow water presentations. If you like working stickbaits or shallow spinner rigs this is a fun time of year as anglers often times get a brief window to even sight fish some of the biggest and baddest. Don’t bring out any family heirlooms as these baits may very well get a bit beat up during this timeframe!! 
Also for all the die hard jig fisherman; working light H20 precision jigs tipped with minnows often proves deadly for early season walleyes.
Towards the 3rd weekend in May or more specifically when water temps rise towards 56 degrees you’ll see the annual movement of Big Rainy Lake Slab Crappies towards spawning grounds. Stability in weather patterns can be critical in the schooling of large spawning crappies. Males will enter the grounds first with the heavy females staging a bit deeper,and coming in shortly to drop eggs. The masses of fish will be determined by water temperatures on the best spawning structure on that particular year. Many anglers enjoy the multi-species options of late May early June fishing. Crappies, Walleyes and Pike can all be fought in relatively close proximity. Of course shallow water allows anglers easier boat control, and often leaves fisherman with nice pine wind breaks from whatever “Mother Nature” decides to dish out.
As we boat into June the “Chillins” are officially finally getting out of school, and many families are loading the boat venturing north. Anglers often struggle with what to fish for this time of year as the allure of barred toad Smallies crushing everthing that gets close to their beds, and 2lb “Ri-Donk-ulous” crappies sinking flu-flus under small floats has the beautiful sunsets often arriving a bit too fast. Both Walleyes and Northern Pike are often transitioning to deeper haunts leaving some fish shallow and some in an intermediate depth.
As the end of June pushes in we all cross fingers for our weather to stabilize. It is my personal opinion that weather is the X factor playing the biggest role in the bite whenever your fishing. It is the Flat tax of fishing that effects everyone. Even bug hatches can be conquered through different areas fished in the lake. Rapidly changing barometers can turn fish from aggressive to negative with the flick of a switch. Thus End of June-August can be some of the most consistent fishing for numbers of bruising walleyes on Rainy Lake as our weather settles in. I guide a variety of anglers each summer, but have rarely tied up to a houseboat without a group of smiling faces greeting me each morning. I guess floating condos in the midst of Voyageurs National Park makes people happy. I’d highly encourage contacting Rainy Lake Houseboats for your upcoming trip. Billy, Tommy, Wendy Kathy are very pleasant to work with, and will surely get your group dialed in. Depending on Water temperature trends, and how our 220,000 acres of water is responding will often determine whether large schools of fish will be holding on first deep water breaks or mid-lake structure. This is a classic Jig and minnow time boys. Lakemaster will be your new best friend here, and effectively eliminating territory will determine individuals success or failures to locate target fish. Getting pointed in the right directions through service of a licensed Captain will often times will pack a months worth of trial an error into an exciting 8 hour day, and at the same time serve as a worthy insurance package for your lower unit. During this time period we’ll often times be utilizing slip bobbers or fishing jigs with live bait.
As the Kids are now back school shopping I highly encourage all the guys to get your September/October BIG FISH FIX……..”Run for the border trip” inked in FISH BLOOD. This isn’t a timeframe for the “It’s Kinda Chilly Billy” to make his first trip up north. Pack your bibs and jackets and be ready to potentially battle the biggest walleyes, and Crappies of your entire lifetime. It is a crucial time period in the season where walleyes HAVE TO bulk up for the upcoming Ice Sheet. NICE!! Big walleyes, Pike and Slabs are commonplace during this period, yet many locals are chasing around feathered friends or fixing up the Deer shack!! 
Keep in mind we will be hosting the 2nd annual In Depth Outdoors/Rainy Lake houseboat excursion this September 15th-19th. I believe there are still openings for full boats and individual anglers. James has the specifics on that, and you can follow that thread as it is heading up the General discussion forum. I will be attending this event again this year along with James, and Billy from Rainy Lake Houseboats. There are also many other high “Vis” anglers on the site that like to rub elbows while smacking giant fish on this trip. I look forward to meeting even more new people again this year. I’ll be in the lead houseboat lipping off, so try keep up!! We’ll be laying down the throttle on those twin Mercruisers!! We’ve got some serious fishing to do team!! Billy and I will once again hold an opening day fishing seminar to help enable anglers to get up to speed on the current bite along with fishing techniques that are efficiently boating big fish. We also will be putting together another Rainy lake shorelunch featuring the infamous Bacon and Onion Sandwich!! BRING YOUR APPETITE!! I’ve opened my guide schedule up for follow boats during this years event, and currently have a couple openings left to be filled.
Lodging here on Rainy Lake can accomodate whatever your group is looking for, and I can help facilitate your lodging arrangements. Corporate groups choosing Rainy lake as their destination are encouraged to book early to ensure openings in guides schedules as well as block lodging.
For any questions please feel free to PM me, and I’ll be happy to help assist you in this years fishing adventure!!
This year I have traded in my Lund Fisherman Magnum aka “Daze Fish Casket” for a 2010 WX2100 Walleye series Deep V Full windshield Heat seeking vessel. I’ll be powered with a 250 4 stroke yamaha and geeked out with tons of fun fishing stuff. I think the Skeeter Boat Center is seeking a straight up trade!! LOL!! Probably not, but I am absolutely amped to provide our customers with a “Magic Carpet” ride through the twists and turns in the back channels of Rainy lake!! My back is also fired up for the trade!! Although my old boat is a free agent now I wish it well, and thank it for all the great work over the past years!! I’ll be able to fish 6, so bring the chillins too!! Getting kids hooked on fishing is a high priority of my guide service!!
Don’t forget to patronize one of our great site sponsors who also participates in our forum. The Rainy Lake One Stop is a tremendous business up here, and they have everything you need before heading out on the lake, and for that matter everything you’ve forgot!! Awesome bait and tackle, morning coffee, boat gas,maps, gifts, clothing, groceries……….A very educated staff………..AND A SMILE!!
Tight lines Team!!! We’ll be the boat with the net out!!
Thanks for doing all of the leg work for us. The information you just presented is very generous. Hope to meet you some day.
