I always keep a handheld radio for weather alerts…and you’ll need to know what is rolling down the lake from the North/West where you’ll be. ~$80 for a 5W submersible handheld just to monitor the weather is well worth it. If you have Verizon – add the roaming package for a few bucks per day when you get there.
There’s enough signal for me to call/text/etc.

Jig & shiner is best. Pulse R plastics, and Flat Raps are my go-to artificial baits. I usually take an obscenely large amount of shiner minnows for that trip in May….cause when you run out, you’re gonna be pissed you didn’t bring more!

Don’t drink too many Pink Things at Kettle Falls and you’ll be ok.

Cheers.

Hey 1st Timer…you’re going to have a blast.

Since I’m high on life knowing that I’ll be up there next weekend, let me give you my take on Rainy:

She’s big, big water…so, use your ‘big boat’ to get to small boat areas. I’m headed up to the East end camping near Kettle Falls. We rarely get blown off the water in our larger Lunds, BUT…you need to watch the weather closely, so carry a marine radio and keep updates on the weather forecast at all times.

If you can make the run, try getting a spot East of Blueberry. If I was in your shoes and the weather permitted I’d run all the way to Sand Bay Island area and you can enjoy sheltered small-boat shallow water fishing for the duration of your trip.

This next weekend the pattern looks good to match what we did in 2013 – which was a complete Walleye murder-fest. We caught most of our eater sized fish in the Kettle channel, but the best fishing was out near first basin breaks. Big jigs / big minnows in the channel was deadly in the early morning. Sun comes out…I’m headed to the first exposed reefs and you will find me pitching Gold/Perch/Silver Flat Raps until I get too tired of hauling them in.

We spent opener in Cranberry Bay this year and the weather, while brutal, kept the lake quiet and we enjoyed a real slug fest from shore. Lots of very large post-spawn females and zero males. Huge Pike were roaming shallow water in there and we were continually bit off until we sized up and took in our own 40 inchers on heavy tackle.

I spent a bit of time here looking over my logs from the last 6 years and I’m feeling very confident that we’re headed for a fantastic setup for Memorial. I’ve got years worth of Memorial trips in the same area to pattern now and we NEVER have trouble catching our share, although the biggest Walleyes are a bit more elusive.

Blue jig / red shank / shiners (preferred frozen with a rubber band stop), sometimes chubs will work for us. If we run out of minnows you can buy more at Kettle Falls. I never had to tie up a Lindy rig, just jig & minnow, don’t be afraid to go big with your jig heads either. Sunny weather with mild winds – get up shallow – fish will be hiding in bolders/rocky areas. Pitch in and slow retrieve moxies or (my favorite) Flat Raps. If it’s really hot you can get away with a steel leader to keep the Pike from killing your tackle box. I run Fluorocarbon either direct or leadered on braid. Mono if you find a slip bobber reef to work (typically later in the year for us).

All else fails just look for The Jewbetcha – an 18.5′ All-Black Lund Rebel with a 17’ Black/Grey Explorer shadowing me. I’ll be the one yelling “get the net” with an IDO hoodie.

Cheers!

Headed up tomorrow to stay at the east end…can’t freakin wait.

Hard to top a jig n minnow for the last 5 years I’ve fished this holiday weekend in that area. If the sun is out a couple days I’ll be tossing flat raps into shallow water rock piles w/wind. Little concerned about rising water and temps, but who cares…we’ll hammer ’em…it just might not be as easy to locate.

Have fun!

Just got back from 4 days on the East side…holy smokes what great weather! Water temps were all over the place averaging low to mid 40’s. Lots of fish in prespawn. We literally caught them everywhere in all different depths, but the biggest fish we caught were very deep in the main lake areas we target. The best bite for was in the channel if you can handle the traffic. Flat raps were good with overcast and chop, but not as dynamite as this time last year. I’m dying to get back up there soon as I’m sure that area will be lights out with another warm week ahead.

Cheers!

Water temps swung 10 degrees from the bays to the main lake where we were. Anywhere from 42-52. Weather was cold and overcast when we got there and hot clear and then windy when we left. I’m actually a but burnt. If it stays that way I’m heading back up as soon as possible!

Just got back from a long weekend on the far East end. Thanks to Chris and a few others here I gave the shallow water sickbaits top billing and it really paid off. I’m officially a believer. Found lots of male walleyes full of milt that just hammered a flat rap in 3′-5′. Found big pike were roaming the shallows also. No need to stop for minnows next time!

I can’t wait to show my wife this great advice.

All the turnin’ and burnin’ I do when the HDS shows no signs of pods of fish are worth the extra time. Of course, none of that matters to my fishin’ girl, but perhaps now that Granrud has spoken it may be justifiable for our next trip!

Thank you….Chris!

I know that statewide the most URL eyes you can have in possession is 4 total…at any time, fresh off the water, or in the freezer at home. If you consume them on the water (ice fishing) I believe you have to keep the carcass for measurement. I don’t think this applies to resorts, cabins, or campsites if you’re having a fish fry but you should check with the DNR to be 100% sure.

Barring bad weather, I don’t see any reason to suspect you wouldn’t easily fill a limit or two on your last fishing day to take home with you on ice…never failed to before

Are you staying at Rogers? If not, you may want to give their resort a shout for more advice…they’re incredibly helpful.

I’ve used this setup for the last 3-4 seasons to hammer crappies w/o bait…and I insist on re-tying them on to my guests’ rods when they show up to chase Crappies with me sporting the old standby slip rig.

Seeing this post makes me feel confident about my instincts, but not nearly as much as seeing Mr. Ganrud pass by our boat to fish nearby!

After years of small water openers on the Iron Range, last year I convinced my dad to come with me to Rainy. It took a LOT of convincing, but after the action we had last year…I honestly don’t think he would even consider any other destination.