Up to the minute Rainy Report!

The fishing for walleyes here on Rainy Lake has been about as ever changing as the weather lately! I have been on the water almost every day over the last week in search of walleyes and smallmouth bass. Most days the majority of the walleyes are still coming from shallow water…and by shallow I mean 3 to 5 feet. That being said I have also boated a fair number of fish from depths of 26 to 30 feet. The most important piece of information I could give would be “fish the conditions of the day”. Don’t fish a “spot” because it has been a good “spot”. Weed growth is lagging behind what you might expect given an earlier ice out then average. The shallow bite may get a ton better before it gets any worse! Be versatile out there. Some days it has been a spinner and shiner turning the most fish and other days it has been pitching 1/8 or even 1/16oz jigs to wind blown areas. The light jigs in the wind can be a challenge, but the results won’t disappoint. Water temps have cooled and the baitfish seem to have moved out of some areas en mass…probably due to the cold and the changing environment around them. It seems like you can pop a fish or 3 in one distinct area and then it’s done. Then move and get 1…then move and get 2…etc… Keep moving, keep positive, and keep changing tactics to keep you bait in the strike zones and you will out fish most!

The smallies are poised to cut loose if the warm trend they are predicting actually happens! I guided for smallies yesterday on the US side and it was a tough day. I felt like I should have zigged instead of a zag. Suspending stick baits in a little deeper water may have produced more consistently yesterday. We did get a couple PIGS that sure helped but the fish were just not “up” in any numbers. I suspect that will change in a day or 2…they have been waiting to move up and nest and just have been stymied by Mother Nature. When they come…they might come all at once! Please handle these beauties with care and get them back in the water!

Good luck out there!

Attachments:

1. 

   IMG_2240.jpg
   

2. 

   20160530_164112.jpg
   

3. 

   20160607_122505-1.jpg
   

LOL good report Deron! I like the Snidely piece too!

This report is spot on,I agree.
BB1

Thanks again for the great report! We will be staying in the Saginaw Bay Area June 18 – 25 on a houseboat. Any areas near there worth exploring for crappies?

We’ve caught a few crappies accidentally while running raps up some of the inlets to Saginaw Bay. Otherwise, Black Bay and the Rat Root river are right by Rainy Lake Houseboats, and there are quite a few posts on here about chasing the crappies up there. As with anywhere on the lake, be careful running around too quickly. Leave a few fish in Saginaw Bay, we will be leaving RLHB’s dock in 13 days 1 hour and 53 minutes (not that I’m counting )

BigWerm, Thanks for the info and I will leave you a few fish! We are leaving on the 25th so hit me up and I will give you a report. Nate

Duluth Fish,

Sorry I didn’t see your report earlier! I agree with the previous comment. Crappies will be tough to target in that part of the lake. I too have caught crappies in a lot of surprising areas, so I am certainly not saying they are not there! To target them successfully and with consistency would be very interesting!! You would be onto something that others are not. If they are there I would say they are off any bedding areas (males included) and likely holding in adjacent waters…how deep? Not sure. Trust your electronics if are looking for crappies and fish what you see. You may be rewarded!

DoRight

I have been out the last couple of days and the fishing has been great.I was up in the North Arm mainly bass fishing .We did very well on bass mostly post spawn fish that are starting to feed,along with the bass we are getting some nice walleyes.We have been concentrating on points close to spawning areas.Wind really helps and the fish seem to be tight to shore.
BB1

Anyone been out the last week/weekend? Heading up Thursday, and can. not. wait!!!

Looking for a report too. Heading up Friday night. 8 days of fishing the north end. Staying at Labelle’s campground. Big Red Skeeter. Preparations going well. Work not so much.

Attachments:

1. 

   20150626_195415.jpg