Rainy Lake, Minnesota fishing report

When fishing Trophy waters such as the Mighty Rainy Lake it is very easy to stay focused. Whether we’re chasing Big pike, walleyes, smallies, or Crappies Rainy lake offers anglers a fair chance at a Personal Best fish during every excursion on the water. Those that target the biggest and the baddest realize that there are specific periods of time that has the freaks of nature a bit more vulnerable to hook and line. For me I love to focus my energies on Monster pike prior to the fishing opener. Of course Rainy Lake offers a continuous season for these big JACKS!! As always we HIGHLY encourage cautious CPR on ALL trophy fish!!

220,000 acres of water and 220,000 possibilities. The magnitude of Rainy Lake can be overwhelming at a first glance, but when working a spawning pattern you can quickly eliminate unproductive water. Pike like mud bottom bays as they warm quickly with the early season rays of sun. When finding a bay that has vast spans of 2-8 f.o.w. you can bet that there are pike relating to that water. Getting yourself on top of the fish can be a bit more challenging. Pike CERTAINLY are not always up in the weeds, but 95% of the fishing pressure takes place there. In fact the best prolonged bites often take place at weed edges off shoreline structure. I refer to these as primary breaks. It may only be 1 foot or could be 2-3 feet, but the difference in depth effects underwater plant growth. This creates a highway for pike to follow along. BTW you want to play in the street, but don’t dangle your toes in the water!!

When it comes to triggering strikes many anglers get caught up in a “My way or the highway” fishing technique. One day you need to snap it the next day you need to crawl it back to the boat. Play around with different retrieves to clarify what these pike are looking for. As of late we’ve had our best luck Crawling jerkbaits back to safety. Small twitches, pauses and crawl combinations have put many bruises on our stickbaits. Tomorrow might have us fishing a completeley different retrieve.

When keeping pike for shorelunch or the Grill a 5lb pike seems to be prime. Lots of meat for a group after the Y-bones are extracted, yet not a trophy caliber fish. I personally feel keeping a 5lb fish is better than keeping 3 2-3lb fish or a big fish. Pike are very good eating here in this cold water!! With the fishing opener right around the corner I predict a few BIG walleyes being caught with many other eating size fish. I plan on a combo trip with customers chasing pike and walleyes. May Openings available in the Daze Fish Casket!! Look forward to chasing the big girls with you!!

Tight Lines Team!!