Fish of all species continue to cooperate with anglers when located. Ma Nature has been throwing curve balls to fisherman with cooler than average temps and swirling winds. It is important to remember to fish water temperatures rather than the calendar. Last years hot spots may very well be worthless this year in the same timeframe due to the stage of the transition being slower with the inclimate weather. With that being said weather is expected to remain below normal through the end of June, but the fishing should remain strong. Most days we haven’t had much problem locating big walleyes and pike for the camera, and many for “Hot Oil” baths during shorelunch. Crappies are strong one day, and then scarce the next due to decreasing water temps. Look for that bite to become very steady and strong with some stability in water temperatures. Smallmouth bass have been coming shallow, and look for the “Bed Bite” to get hot likely coinciding with the slab bite as water temps hold in the low 60’s.
I often talk about fishing the weather patterns, and when I refer to that I simply mean trying to match the mood of the fish with the conditions. If your fishing after a 4th of July thunder and lightning storm it is likely fish will be a little spooked, so a toned down presentation fished slowly will be needed to boat fish. If your fishing cold front conditions (ALL OF JUNE SO FAR) slow it down….size it down in most cases. Fish will often still be caught, but keep in mind these fish likely don’t want to chase big baits 10 mph behind the boat. When jig fishing leave the fancy mid-summer SNAP jigging behind and utilize a subtle lift/twitch/hold method. As always utilize the smallest weight jig head which allows you effective bottom contact. The general reason you want a smaller weighted jig head is this allows you more time in the strike zone, and when a fish picks up your offering it will hold it a split second longer before blowing it out. IN THEORY this will allow a better hook up percentage!! Don’t get caught up in being the ULTRA finesse guy that can’t get his jig into the strike zone though.
Rainy Lake continues to offer Trophy caliber fishing, yet at times challenging fishing. I can’t say I’d prefer it any other way. Keep in mind Rainy Lake covers over 220,000 acres. There is plenty of dead water in those 220. I am a firm believer that on any given day those big fish are biting SOMEWHERE!! Recognizing a pattern is much more important than remembering A SPOT. These big walleyes and pike will locate themselves adjacent to forage. As the water warms some fish will be driven out of early season “Hang Outs” and target different swimming treats in cooler haunts. When you’ve located a pattern (Depth,water temp, Structure Breakline…) that is producing BANK IT!! The next day may have zero fish on that structure as the baitfish have been driven off, but another piece of similiar structure may be white hot.
For the ri-Donk-ulous slabs hunters you can view Ma Natures fury in a couple different ways. I like to view it as an extension of the spawn run. These crappies will not spawn until conditions are right. I’ve been told that if conditions don’t become prime for spawn that these fish will actually absorbe the spawn making for a very poor year class. I’m not sure at what point these fish give up, or are simply not able to drop eggs effectively. We’ve found nice slabs most days other than a couple with temps in the hight 30’s!! I expect the bite to pick up with intensity as water temps increase. Keep in mind shallow mud bottom bays can warm in a DAY. Doesn’t take much as back water bays are reading at 57-59 degrees. I feel 63 plus will have these fish FIRED UP!!! From the “DAZE CAMP” to the real world….Good fishing Team!!
Nice Report Chris and Great Pictures!
Next week I am planning of a 6 days excursion camping in the park and if possible prefer to fish plastics for walleye over live bait. Any suggestions? The cool thing about Rainy is its such a great multi-species lake, I am curious what stage are the smallmouth?
Fred
Love them smiles you are putting on faces Mr. Daze
Another great report and pictures Chris
Hi Fred,
Hopefully our weather warms up a bit for you. Been pretty chilly camping for visitors so far this year. Must admit being a longtime BWCA guy I thoroughly enjoy coming home to a nice warm dry place in tough weather conditions. As far as the Smallies go some are being found up shallow, but I wouldn’t expect it to be in full swing until our water warms up a bit. Heck Crappies aren’t even spawning as of yet. As far as fishing plastics go with some stability in the weather I think you will do fine. I might suggest a paddletail type action versus a Big Krub…
Hope your trip goes well!!
Man you make it look and sound so easy. I’ll be up there Thursday June the 18th. So keep the reports comin’! We could use all the help we can get.
Great report Chris with excellent tips on “fishing the weather patterns”.
It took me a long time to figure that out and I’m still learning. 
Truly an incredible fishery that you have there in your backyard and I agreee – there’s always fish (whether it would be walleyes, northerns, crappies etc..) to be caught somewhere on that lake!
Keep the good reports coming!
Thanks for the report Chris.
Michael and I are counting the days!
Great fish and report Chris!
Rainy sure is an awesome fishery and you sure are good at connecting anglers with big walleyes, pike & crappie.
Rainy Lake is every anglers dream!! The only dilemna a guy has is what to target. Trust me I feel very fortunate to spend most everyday on this fishery. The other thing I really enjoy about fishing Rainy lake is the fishing is what I call personal fishing. There is no need to run down riggers or run multiple planer boards… Now you can if you like, and it can be effective also. But for the average joe he can run his boat up here and sling jigs, stickbaits, or live bait rigs at these fish with success all year. With 2500 islands you always have the option to get a wind break. Nevermind the absolute beauty and tranquility of this body of water Rainy Lake continues to be one of the hottest and most consistent fisheries in the state.
For all those looking for a unbelievable Rainy Lake experience I’d keep my ears open as Mr. Holst and I have something you ARE going to want to hear about. 
…. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS!! 
Sorry Can’t let the Walleye out of the box yet!!
Chris
My fishing partner and I were up at Rainy the last week of May water was about 10 degrees colder than we usually encounter. We had some good fishing but not as great as some of the trips we’ve been on. We caught smallmouth and walleye pretty well but the pike numbers were off. I did catch my first blue phase walleye on this trip For the crappie I would say they have a few more weeks before they will give up trying to spawn. Spawning is triggered by a combination of water temp and day length. If the crappie do spawn it still may not be a good year class if the temps stay low as growth will be slow and the young of the year may not make it through the winter.
Chris,
Thanks for the report, and I too need to learn more about fishing to the temperatures. S’pose I better get something to measure temps with…
Like Erik above, my son (also named Erik) and I will be up there on Father’s Day weekend, too, so I’ll be working to learn all I can until then.
I have a Lake Michigan style center console boat, but no outriggers, so glad they’re not necessary!
Scottie