Rainy Lake, Minnesota fishing report 10-19-09

While many anglers were playing arm chair quarterback this weekend we absolutely put the beatdown on some of Rainy Lakes pumped up…….. Footballs!!!! For those considering fall trips it is important to bring your warm stuff, and might want to leave "Johnny is a kinda chilly guys" at home sipping cocoa. You really don’t know what you are going to endure weather wise, but trust me if your a big fish hunter then Tevo the football game!! If your trying to plan a trip around Ma Nature….Your in the wrong state!! I was able to use this weekends SMACKDOWN as a sort of pre-scouting trip for many of my January/Febuary Portable Ice fishing Destinations, and I’m not gonna lie to you……..I’m scared for our winter clients!! NO DANGLING TOES IN THE ICE HOLES!!

The fantastic thing about THE Rainy Lake is that if by chance you get wind or cold on your trip we have 2500 islands, and about a zillion fishing locations in which you don’t get the unfishable conditions. Saw about 5 boats on the water all weekend!! Even with some strong winds yesterday we were still only working through 1 foot waves. For some reason this fall we have had our best success downsizing instead of upsizing. We’re using the smallest jig possible with larger fatheads, and putting the hurt to the "Humpbacks of borderland". Our fishing locations that were most effective involved current edges and shelves along with some deep mud. BTW deep mud has crappies digging up some larvea snacks it appears.

You know your a fishing addict when after a busy summer; at one point 37 straight days guiding you are saddened to see the open water season coming to an end. BUT YOU STILL HAVE 2 WEEKS!!!Pack up boys!! I usually winterize my guide boats as the end of October rolls around when I then trade my magic wand for the heat seeking rifle to stock the freezer, and re-introduce myself to the family. It has been another unbelievable year of fishing here on Rainy Lake, and I truly feel blessed to have shared the boat with so many of you following In Depth Outdoors!! This report is as much a thank you as it is an update, and Rainydaze guide service from the bottom of our livewells salutes all the big fish hunters utilizing our services this open water season!! I’m pretty sure you boys know that the fish are almost always biting up here!! LOL!! Different stages for different weather conditions, and big fish tend to be most vulnerable around certain times of the year. No need to overcomplicate things. Pocket full of jigs = boat full of walleyes. Well not quite that easy!!

For those of you with warped minds like mine and find yourself anxiously anticipating the freeze up. Here are some things to consider……BIG WALLEYES and PIKE in JANUARY/FEBRUARY…….BE THERE!! Last year if I recall correctly James and I shot the Freak walleye show in the first to second week in January, and really the fishing got better throughout the month. If you need a "ICE SHOT" in the arm look that show up in the archives!! We iced 26 or 27 walleyes OVER 28 inches in the month of January last year!! Whether your a permanent house kind of guy or up for a portable adventure the "Daze Team" has you covered. Trust me we’re letting these recent fish go on our Ice fishing Spots with you in mind!! Until then…..I’ll have to loosen the string on our can to can link while signing off!! SO Shoot that big bruiser this fall, and chase around our feathered friends…..Really!! Get it out of your system!! because we’ve got a date for some hardwater action!! Tight lines team!! We’ll be the boat with the net out, Or the team on the ice posing for PICS!!