This week has found the walleyes becoming more aggressive and showing up in larger concentrations. My groups were able to anchor on top of large schools of active fish at times with lights out action. It is imperative to be fishing the spot on spot for the active fish. Fishing a hump or shoal is a very general description of what we are looking for when in search of these active fish. Very often the active fish will be found on the immediate upwind side or tops of the hump receiving current and/or wind while the fish just chillin will be on deep edges or backsides of the structure.
Rainy Lake boasts miles of untapped walleye structure in which all “LOOKS” good. Many of good anglers will make their way back to the dock with empty livewells if they can’t get on the right patterns. Fish can be caught here on numerous methods, and I’m a firm believer that we boast a large population of both “Shallow” and “Deep” walleyes. This is not always a case of fish in transition. Trust me we catch fish in 12 f.o.w. literally all year here into the winter. Over the past week I have concentrated our efforts predominately over 22-35 f.o.w. We have employed our H20 Precision jigs in teh 1/4 oz orange/Chartruesse color combo. Fatheads have been fine. You have the option of either anchoring precisely over top of the school, or running your motor. I prefer anchoring if at all possible as it is the most effective method to pulling large numbers of fish out of the school as you are always in the “Zone”. If you have less than 150 feet of anchor rope you will likey struggle.
Graph work is essential on Rainy. Fishing memories will often times give way to frustration. Just because they were stacked up yesterday in no means they will be found there the next day. Even with same wind directions, speed, temperature… These fish have endless structure to feed on, and will consequently move in accordance with the fish they prey on. Thus a high quality graph loaded with the up to date Lakemaster Chip for Rainy will dramatically increase your odds of pinpointing active fish.
When fishing deeper haunts you will predominately be catching a nice mix of eater sized 12-16 inch walleyes with a few larger fish mixed in. Yesterday morning my customer and I landed 40 walleyes before noon. If you prefer to target big fish I would suggest moving to shallower structures at this point. Effective presentations include but are not limited to Jig and minnow, lindy rigs, spinner rigs, slip bobbers… Shallow water cranks are turning fish, and can be effective ways to locate active schools. Fish your confidence baits!! I am a jig guy, so will typically fish a jig to death as I know that is a strong point of mine. Once I have located the fish then I can adjust my game to what the fish are looking for, or what is most effective for that particular day. Good Fishing Guys! I hope to see you out on the water! I’ll be the guy with the net in the water!!!
Great report! Thanks for the tips.
Next week my high-school son leaves for a band trip to Europe. My oldest is doing his first canoe trip in Quetico without adults leaving my wife and I for our firt “empty next” vacation, we are planning on doing 4 days camping in voyageurs. Thanks for the great reports I know I am really looking foreward to fishing the lake, Rainy clearly offers the angler multiple patterns and opportunities to fish differnet stuctures for walleyes. Then throw in smallmouth, crappie and northern. Its like Christmas in July.
Everyday is Christmas up here buddy! Everyday is Christmas! LOL! Have an awesome trip!
WOW some nice fish there RD. I wanted to get my
up there this year, but it just ain’t going to happen. 
Maybe next year! Keep those reports comng so at least I can look at all those nice fish up there.
Hey Rob,
You can still make it. Lights out action in the fall here buddy as you well know. You’ve got some time to plan yet. If I had my pick of showstopping walleye fishing here on Rainy lake it would no doubt be from mid-July to mid-November. Something about this massive lake that tips these fish over the edge during this period. Of course the fish are concentrated then. Great thing about the fall is that our “Minimal” lake pressure is reduced further. I am always amazed at how anglers continue to get gobbled up by other fishing destinations prior to Rainy Lake. We are experiencing loads of used to be border crossers now making Rainy there fishing destination though. Our lake is really hot in areas, and big fish are abundant. The trouble day in and day out is deciding what to fish for. I’ve been targeting walleyes as of late and received a phone call from a good buddy explaining to me how they are laying the wood to giant female Slabbers AGAIN!!! Whats a guy to do…. I’m talking 15 inch fat, thick backed, monsters!!! None of those minature 13 inch fish! LOL! Good Times Buddy! Look me up WHEN you make it here, and we’ll hook some up.
We’ve also been on a GOOD walleye bite the last 2 days in 6-8 fow throwing jigs and plastic to wind blown shorelines. Plastics have outfished live bait both days 3 to 1.
It’s even better than Christmas in July!