Kab/Rainy/Vermilion?

Thinking about going to one of these lakes in late July or August. Which would be the best choice? Targeting walleye and pike.

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Can’t really go wrong with any of them. If the Canadian border is still closed I would hit Vermilion for size. Kab. for numbers & Rainy just because it’s Rainy.

The later in August the more I would lean towards Rainy. Instead of Kab. I would hit Namakin on mid to late August as the 2nd or 3rd option.

What you want to do is see where you can get a cabin. With Canada closed Kab. is getting hit hard this year.

Let us know how you do.

Are there resorts on Namakan or do you have to boat to it via Kab?

Try the resorts on the Ash River Trail. They will be your closest option.

Ash-Ka-Nam Resort
Ash Trail Lodge
Sunset resort
Frontier resort

IMO thats the order of resorts I prefer.

Or you can do the Kab resorts but that will add about 30 minutes of travel time (or more) depending on your boat and which resort you choose.

I assume that Kettle Falls is closed.

fred bartling wrote:

I assume that Kettle Falls is closed.

I’m not sure. They lease from the Park Service so it well could be. That also is a unique option.

The Ash River….just looking at Google Maps aerial, that looks a bit shallow. Do you have to idle from like Ash Ka Nam to the lake or can you plane your boat out?

No the river is all NO WAKE from the Ash Trail Lodge to the bend just past Frontier. It’s about a 10 minute ride from Ash-Ka-Nam.

My buddy was just on Kab for the last week. Goes every year first week of June. Always catches good numbers and plenty of mid 20s fish.

The Kettle Falls portage appears to be open. I’d call first.
https://www.kettlefallshotel.com/coronavirus-update

I fish vermillion and crane heavily. I would always suggest vermillion. I will be up there July 1st to the 9th

Our group booked a cabin on Rainy at Sha-Sha 2 weeks ago for 8/1 to 8/8, there were not many available cabins for more than a 3 days stay at the resorts on Rainy for late July and early August. I would assume other resorts on other lakes are getting pretty booked up as well with nobody being able to go to Canada

I see the Kettle falls boat operating everyday out of the Ash river so the must be open.

Kettle Falls is open, gas, bait, and food. Lodging is closed for this year.

Wayne

Thanks for the replies. At this point I think it’s down to either Kab or Rainy. I’ve fished Vermilion a couple times and both were a bust, but that was some years ago with unfavorable weather.

We might look into one of those VRBO things if resorts are full which i anticipate many resorts will be.

Weekender wrote:

Thanks for the replies. At this point I think it’s down to either Kab or Rainy. I’ve fished Vermilion a couple times and both were a bust, but that was some years ago with unfavorable weather.

We might look into one of those VRBO things if resorts are full which i anticipate many resorts will be.

It’s a little spendy, but if you have some guys that can split the cost you can’t beat a houseboat. Fish right off the back or start trolling as soon as you pull away from the HB!

Yep! I thought about that too BW. This would be a family trip though and those things are a bit spendy. Plus, I just know I’d screw something up on the houseboat.

My wife would LOVE doing that kind of trip, but me…. I’m not so sure.

Weekender wrote:

Thanks for the replies. At this point I think it’s down to either Kab or Rainy. I’ve fished Vermilion a couple times and both were a bust, but that was some years ago with unfavorable weather.

We might look into one of those VRBO things if resorts are full which i anticipate many resorts will be.

We do vrbo for trips like that. I like it way more then going to or dealing with a resort

I just got back from Vermilion on Weds after a four day trip. From others at the resort, I’m hearing the walleye fishing is rather disappointing right now. They were struggling for both numbers and size while dragging live bait during the day and cranks after dark.

I was up there fishing musky initially. Didn’t see a fish the first day, so I switched to smallmouth bass and didn’t regret it one bit. Great run-and-gun fishing over shallow rocks.

Out of curiosity, and I’m only speaking in general terms, how far east from Rainier on Rainy Lake do you have to go before you get to good walleye and pike fishing? 10mi? 20mi? Way over to the Big Island area?

The condos/cabins have been opened up at Kettle Falls. The hotel is closed for the season but they recently opened up the condos. Either a 3,4 or 7 night stay in them.
Just another option for you to check out.

Give Rick a call they might have a spot for ya. Late July is eyes on the reefs on the East end of Rainy.

I want to thank all that responded again. We were lucky enough to take the last 3 cabins available at Ash Trail Lodge on Kab/Nam for the week we were scheduled for Canada.

Very excited to get up there, explore and try brand new waters!

Weekender wrote:

I want to thank all that responded again. We were lucky enough to take the last 3 cabins available at Ash Trail Lodge on Kab/Nam for the week we were scheduled for Canada.

Very excited to get up there, explore and try brand new waters!
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Ash Trail Lodge has nice cabins, you will be happy there. Dominic guides out of there last I heard, he works hard for you. If you need other guide options send me a PM.

Thanks Dutch. We won’t be hiring a guide though. I’ll try and gather as much info as I can and I’ve already got about 30-40 spots marked on my handheld GPS to consider/try. Should be able to put something together and scrounge up a few fish for a meal or two.

BTW…I spoke to Deb on the phone a couple times. Sounds like a super nice lady.

Be nice to Deb, she will do your cooking and Steve will do the pouring in the bar.

Haha. Sounds great! We have our meal planning gathering this Saturday night. I think we might opt for eating at the lodge our first night there. Hope they have a good selection of beers. I haven’t found info on that yet. Food menu looks pretty good though. Be there July 11-18!

Weekender,
I’ll be up camping with the family on the west end of Namakan (Williams island) from July 5-10. We fish smallies and eyes all over the west half of the lake. I’ll try to shoot you a report the evening of the 10th on how it went.

We have always camped the week after the 4th on either Namakan or Rainy. It is usually a time of transition, there will be eye’s still near shallower weeds and wind-blown rocks, and they will be heading out to the reef areas also. We still cast the shallow rocks for smallies and pike this time of year, thats our go-to after dinner plan most evenings for an hour or 2 before lighting the fire.

Good luck and enjoy!

Thanks I appreciate that! I’ve got a number of spots in mind to try from Ash River narrows over to Hoist Bay. An embarrassing amount actually. Haha. And same in the other direction into Kab.

We’ve gone to the north arm of Rainy for over 40yrs and although different, I’m applying similar knowledge to Kab/Nam. Weedlines, reefs, neckdowns, saddles, etc.

Most of my family members love to pull crawler harnesses and it appears from my research, this is a pretty solid tactic mid July. I love jig fishing with meat and plastics too. Pitching cranks can be super fun, but fish might not be quite that shallow throughout the day? Maybe early morning over shallow rocks.

Lots of thoughts and ideas running through my head. Probably pull spinners first and try to find aggressive fish. I’m in that group though that typically won’t wet a line until I see life on the locator unless it’s a weedline, then I’ll work it for 20-30min.

Ugh. I could go on forever! 😁