Chris Granrud

Chris, or anyone else that would know

A group of buddies and I are coming to Rainy Lake for the first time ever between Christmas and New Year. We are pulling my wheelhouse and I just had a few questions since you are the local expert.

1. Do Fish bite at night, or does it shut down like LOW?
2. We are going out of the Rainy Lake Marina Road in Sand Bay. Will we be able to do some exploring with my truck and wheelhouse? I have a ¾ ton and an 8*19. How thick is the ice under the snow? I know about the current so I won’t be very brave unless I get good info.
3. How is the fishing in Sand Bay compared to the rest of the lake? We won’t be going into Canada.
4. Can we get away from other people fairly easy?
5. What do you prefer for bait/lure on the deadstick?
6. Can we expect to catch plenty of eater fish?
7. How does the bite do when the weather stays the same for several days in a row?
8. Can you recommend a bait shop/ place to give us some guidance?
9. Can you recommend a place to watch the Vikings and have a couple beverages?
10. Is there anything specific I could look for to target eater fish over slot fish? Depth, bottom, etc. I have the lakemaster chip so I will be able to do some exploring. I just want to make sure we can have a good fish fry while we are there.

You can answer these question with as many, or as few words as you want. I realize you are probably very busy right now. My group is just sick of the crowds on LOW and URL. We just want to spread out and try something new. None of us have ever even been close to Rainy Lake so it will be an adventure for us. We are just trying to get some advice and info before we come up.

Thanks,

Ben

Hi Ben,

Rainy Lake Marine has a road plowed out onto sand bay. My understanding is there is close to 15 inches of ice on that road. I do know from fishing in the area recently as yesterday that there is as little as 6 inches in areas due to nearby current flow. I would not be venturing far off the road with that rig personally. Just not a safe decision for my blood. Sand bay has been kicking out quite a few eaters, dinks and a few big fish. There is some structure out there, and spread the group around different depths to piece together a bite if you plan on going it alone. I’ve been utilizing 1/8 oz. lightning spoons with minnow heads,and have pulled some nice fish from Sand Bay.

You’ll go right past site sponsor Rainy Lake One Stop which you can get your bait and countless last minute supplies. Chance you’ll see me in there getting my morning Bait/Coffee….. Thunderbird Lodge may have the Vikings game on if you care to waste valuable fishing time!!

Client pulled a 26 1/4 yesterday and another client pulled a 27 today. Other nice fish from today include a nice 23 and 25 inch fish.

Good Luck Ben!!

Just in case you aren’t excited yet……These pics are from yesterday and today!!

Oh….No real nightbite to speak of except Superfreak Pout!!

The blaze orange jacket gives that eye red dorsal and caudal fins. The infamous Rainy Lake punk rock walter!

very professional response. If I am ever a guide I hope I can stay as chill as that with someone trying to bootleg my fishing intel for free.

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The blaze orange jacket gives that eye red dorsal and caudal fins. The infamous Rainy Lake punk rock walter!

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Lol!! Trust me that fish caught by Terry had some serious attitude also. I had to convince Terry all the way up to the hole that this COULD be a big walleye!! He was astonished by the battle that it wasn’t a pike!! Rainy Lake eyes are TOUGH!!

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very professional response. If I am ever a guide I hope I can stay as chill as that with someone trying to bootleg my fishing intel for free.

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Thanks!! Always a fine line between information deemed sacred,and enough useful information for those who want roll the dice on putting a bite together on their own. We bust tail, and equipment on a daily basis to attempt to keep customers on top of good fish (Ask the Daze Search and Destroy team!! This is no small tast although often times you’ll only hear of the glory!! My search team is back licking their wounds trying to heal up for next weeks new assignments!! ). The resourcess we are able to utilize here with our guide service help fine tune good bites all 4 seasons, and are far beyond my personal efforts without a doubt. Actually with my guide schedule new bites are most always found by members within the Daze Circle!!Nearly every night we have guys gameplanning on the next move of the elite fish. Sometimes we get it right, and other times we are left scratching our heads. What I can tell you is we spend the needed time on Dead water so customers can eliminate this from the search. That specific information of course is sacred which my wife won’t ask for (She Knows Better!! LOL!!) There are many guys that fish without a fishing guide, or simply haven’t planned it in their budget for this particular trip. I sincerely hope to help all anglers enjoy a nice fishing trip without displacing the need for our services.

Rainy Lake, LOTW, Kab and the Rainy River are VAST fisheries in which I enjoy fishing with clients very much. Each one of these fisheries can be a complex puzzle to uncover when it comes to elite fish. These lakes are complex enough that the utilization of local knowledge from a hardcore fishing guide service is deemed critical for optimum success for many anglers. We look to continue to expand our reach into LOTW and Kabetogama over the next couple years. My only way to do this will be to add further men to the team. This way if anglers have that home body of water that THEY are in love with they can call on Rainydaze Guide Service for all of their needs. LOTW is a short 45 minute drive from our home on Rainy Lake, and of course is also a tremendous fishery. Kabetogama is a 30 minute drive from Our home, and of course the Rainy River starts on the otherside of town

I know I have a biased opinion, but from my experience on most all bodies of water the investment in KNOWLEDGE from a quality fishing guide is ALWAYS worth the price of admission especially when spread across a few fisherman. Fish still need to cooperate for obvious success, but most all fishing guides will agree sometimes fish are just in a bad mood. Fisherman need to take Movement/Pattern/Technique out of their trip to apply it over their next few days on the hardwater. Nobody wants customer to catch big fish MORE than the fishing guide like we’ve pounded the last few days!!

Keep after them Team!! We’ve got a 30 Lurking in our near future!!

Yeah, sounds like you are the QB and all of those offensive linemen are out there making the hole for you. No love in the press, but the heart of the team. Good luck on the chase for the tank.
On a side note…..still cannot believe that size of the northern suckers we were sinking last winter when we came up and fished in one of your houses. (We didn’t even have big enough hooks to hold them) I’m waiting so see that big northern picture on here also. I’d always rather catch a walleye, but something that would eat those sucker minnows has got to be scary.
Thanks for posting the pics…..I know its good for business, but it also keeps all of that don’t have those fish in our area dreaming of our next trip North.

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very professional response. If I am ever a guide I hope I can stay as chill as that with someone trying to bootleg my fishing intel for free.

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We just decided to go yesterday and we know zero about the area, the fishery, and the ice conditions. With the economy none of us had a very good year, and no we cant afford a guide, not to mention the short notice. Chris’s response definetly guarntees him a chance to guide us someday if we get on some fish from his advice. I have been drooling to do a crappie trip with him. Sorry for wanting to be safe and catch some fish to eat in an area that we know nothing about. Apparently I am stealing his GPS coordinates and that is just to offensive for you. We could just go to Red lake again and spend our money there if this is the attitude we are going to encounter.

Chris thanks for all the info. I will make sure and tread lightly and check the ice good before I put the perm. down. We dont have sleds for our portables, but if I have to I will pull it a mile across the lake. Hope to see you at the One Stop.

Ben

Ben, I understand the safety and economy deal, my bad, my post was pretty pointless, and on top of that I have never been in that area and have nothing to do with any business up there. So please don’t judge that area because of a post some random guy made on a website. With water so huge, I think Chris explained that information from guides is critical for many anglers to get on the fish.

It’s a lot of work to be a solid guide anywhere, and I can imagine on huge water like rainy it is even more of a challenge. The economy can’t be helping people that guide for a living in most places either, and I guess I just figured that if I was trying to make a living putting people on fish it would maybe get a little frustrating when people list out tons of questions like that without hiring me. But that is just me, and maybe I’m way off.

I hope you guys do get on them, and have a nice trip.

I think that elusive 30″ fish will be showing up around Jan 15th . A couple of Illinois guys will show you how it’s done Chris!! Can’t wait for our trip. Happy Holidays!

Here’s the info I know, assuming that’s ok with P4walleye. Just funnin’ ya.

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Chris, or anyone else that would know

A group of buddies and I are coming to Rainy Lake for the first time ever between Christmas and New Year. We are pulling my wheelhouse and I just had a few questions since you are the local expert.

1. Do Fish bite at night, or does it shut down like LOW?
Not much of a night bite except for pout as Chris said
2. We are going out of the Rainy Lake Marina Road in Sand Bay. Will we be able to do some exploring with my truck and wheelhouse? I have a ¾ ton and an 8*19. How thick is the ice under the snow? I know about the current so I won’t be very brave unless I get good info.
I’ve heard there is about 15 inches on the road but is about half that thick not too far off the road. My suggestion is to find a good spot and check it out carefully before trying to get to it with the truck and house. You can always use the house as a base camp and explore for active fish with portables.
3. How is the fishing in Sand Bay compared to the rest of the lake? We won’t be going into Canada.
Sand Bay usually has smaller fish than further east.
4. Can we get away from other people fairly easy?
With your rig and the ice conditions right now it will be tougher to be out on your own
5. What do you prefer for bait/lure on the deadstick?
On a dead stick I like to hook a minnow back to front just under the back skin. Try gold, green, or glow jigs
6. Can we expect to catch plenty of eater fish?
That’s tough to guess.
7. How does the bite do when the weather stays the same for several days in a row?
As anyplace, stable weather usually helps with maintaining a decent bite
8. Can you recommend a bait shop/ place to give us some guidance?
There’s the Outdoorsman and Sportsman’s Service in town. On the way to the lake there’s the Loon’s Nest and Rainy Lake One Stop. As Chris said One Stop has a big selection of bait and tackle. They will be able to help with up to date info also. They have easier parking for your rig than the others mentioned also.
9. Can you recommend a place to watch the Vikings and have a couple beverages?
That depends on where you are staying. I’m guessing your staying in the wheelhouse so I’d say The Thunderbird is a good choice or Woody’s Pub, if I can say that here. If you’re open to some local flavor the Roadhouse or even the Ranier Muni.
10. Is there anything specific I could look for to target eater fish over slot fish? Depth, bottom, etc. I have the lakemaster chip so I will be able to do some exploring. I just want to make sure we can have a good fish fry while we are there.
I’d say one of the bait shops can help you with the most up to date info.

You can answer these question with as many, or as few words as you want. I realize you are probably very busy right now. My group is just sick of the crowds on LOW and URL. We just want to spread out and try something new. None of us have ever even been close to Rainy Lake so it will be an adventure for us. We are just trying to get some advice and info before we come up.

Thanks,

Ben

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Good luck and have fun.

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I think that elusive 30″ fish will be showing up around Jan 15th . A couple of Illinois guys will show you how it’s done Chris!! Can’t wait for our trip. Happy Holidays!

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I’ve got her dialed in for ya!! Looking forward to the trip

Good luck out there everyone!!