This is going to be short and sweet gentleman!! We’ve endured a tough case of “The Winds” throughout Northern Minnesota as of late. Rainy Lake has been in the midst of a turnover which I think combined with strong winds had scattered some fish. With that being said…..Putting a Beatdown to the fish once again. The Big fish have really been found in tight Pods. Location Location Location!! Precision Boat control is the difference between sulking and giving high fives back at the lodge!!
I believe there are two dominant patterns to hooking up with big fish right now. There is a shallow water pattern with immediate deep water access with wind, and there is a deep water ciscoe pattern. Most all of our fish are blowing ciscoes up when caught in the deep pattern. Fish caught deep are coming from 35+ f.o.w. I always slow down a presentation as the water cools when fishing deep to a drop and lift or lift and hold when it comes to working the H20 Precision jigs. I still haven’t found the larger minnows to outproduce the smaller minnows this year.
Crappies have been scattered shallow, and also somewhat scattered deep. I’ve yet to see large concentrations of the freakish “Donks”. We’re getting 3-10 Slabs while were fishing for walleyes. The Crappies are running on average around 13 inches.
Sorry this report needs to be short and sweet as FREE time is really limited in the heat of the battle. There still simply is NO better time to hook up a tank then Fall and First ice on Rainy Lake. A guy looking to put a PB on the wall has got to put his time in on Trophy waters in prime time. This by no means assures you of a tanker like pictured above, but the cards are definately stacked in your favor!! Yesterday we landed 10 Walleyes between 23-24 inches. We also landed a 24.5,25,26.5 and HEAVY 29!! Several 20-22’s along with smaller slots and keepers!! Still I’d estimate I ALONE had 2 or 3 walleyes I would have guessed might have pushed the 27+ class blow a hook out on me prior to getting visual!! This is trophy chasing, and NOT for the faint of heart. Weather might be cool. Might rain, snow, blow………Who knows, but the big fish MUST eat. I am in high hopes of besting my own PB of 32.5 a couple years ago. A nice 34 would make for “HappyDaze!!”
See you on the water team!! First ice Mid-December-January still has some openings for Hardwater Tanks!! GET SOME!! Short on time I’ll try add more pics soon along with more information!!
Ok…..Heres a few more pics!! Hopefully BIG FISH load the same as smaller ones!!
As I henpeck this report I see at the bottom of my computer it reads 30 degrees!!!!!!! 
Thats right baby!! “Bibs and Bruisers” 
Thanks for the report Chris & the pics of those tanks
Another awesome read and pictures Mr. Daze
Happy clients all-around Chris, looks great. The pics speak for themselves! I’m wondering if you guys have a shallow crankbait bite during the day up there with all that wind? It seems like many of your fish are caught jigging the reefs, and from the looks of it, there’d be no reason to abandon that pattern! Just curious. Nice work again and as always!!!
Joel
Thanks Guys!! I’m just driving the boat,and taking pics!!Mr. Clark (Iceman) We need to hit the hardwater together soon Pal!!
Joel I certainly do believe there is not only a Cranking bite that takes place, but also a shallow to mid depth Plastics bite. Rainy is a very diverse fishery with several bites taking place at one time most of the season. Sometimes as a fishing guide you simply lack the spare time needed to develop another pattern as you don’t want to chance bombing a trip for your customers in your quest to develop another Tank Plan. There are so many great crankbait fisherman on this site I truly believe that if they put their cranking wisdom to Rainy Lake they could experience tremendous success. For Example Ben Garver uncovered a Deep Water Cranking pattern that was very cool to see. Holst Knocked some Great walleyes in the Mid-Depth ranges that can be tough to fish with live bait while snapping Moxies from the new Authentx line. Cranking for Tank Walleyes is on the top of my list to dial next year. I’m expecting to be able to shed some light on a few Cranking patterns for those of you who like to dig up big walleyes. I believe there is a key period of time during the mid-summer months that this knowledge will continue to allow IDO anglers to put bigger fish in the net. As for right now we are simply BEATING the big fish, and I believe we’re on the best big fish pattern. Yesterday we boated another (7)20-21’s (4) 22’s (6)23’s (1) 24 (2) 25’s (2) 26’s and (1) 27. Didn’t pop a 29-30 yesterday, but don’t think we weren’t trying!!
HUGE HUGE HUGE shout out to Custom Jigs and Spins. Bob you create the best jig in the industry. I have beat those jigs through rocks, slammed them in heavy walleyes and pike mouths for several years now. The paint selections are tremendouns. The Longer shank allows anglers such versatility especially now in the fall when many of us like to select a larger bait. DO NOT overlook the ability to drop that barb slighty farther back into the minnow. It Can and DOES make a huge difference in hooking up fish. http://www.bfishntackle.com
Here are a few more from yesterday gentleman!! 
Chris:
Thanks for the insight and attention to detail, this is good to hear. However, as mentioned, I don’t think I’d be straying from whatever it is you’re doing, the pics speak for themselves!
Joel
Ahh… the Fall Rainy Reports! It doesn’t get much better. Nice work Chris
Hey Joe!! Have to get you up here someday. Love to fish with you sometime.
Chris, that’s deffinatly on my to do list. We’re just going to have to pick a date and make it happen
I hear ya Joe!! Your always welcome!!
Chris, My wife and I had an fantastic time fishing with you for 5 days. We have never caught so many huge walleye in my life. Thanks for working so hard to make sure we caught the tanks we did. We will be back!
Keith
Hi Keith!!
Welcome to IDO!! Nice to see you on here.
Had a great time fishing with you 2. You literally have a photo album of monster fish from your trip (AS SOON AS I GET THEM ALL SENT!! 
) LOL!! I’m going to work on it right now!! 
I think you will agree it is quite difficult no matter where in the world you travel to boat fish of that magnitude with such consistency!! Congrats on your 29!! Did you get the replica specs to Bob?? I’ll be sending him close up pics also!! Hope you saved your Lucky H20 Precision jig to hang in tha “Big Girls” mouth when she comes home!!