This past week and weekend we had awesome weather again, maybe a little bit heavy on the wind, but heck it’s October and we’ve had 70 degree days. This past weekend Jody and I participated in the 1st Chili Bowl Fishing Contest over at Borderview and it was a great event. There were a total 50 teams participating and 95% of them were locals…we finished 16th. This was a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate a fantastic summer of fishing on Lake of the Woods. I was able to shake hands with a multitude of new friends that I’ve been able to make over the last year and half, and that’s what makes it all worth while. In the Chili Bowl Fishing Contest Jody and I fished the Rainy River (that’s where we had to fish, Wheelers Point to Baudette) and the fishing was ok, but not great. We caught all our fish in 18 – 20 feet of water, a majority of them Saugers. We looked for spots of calm water, those Walleyes don’t like that heavy currant. We used 1 oz and ¾ oz Chartreuse/Gold jigs to ensure we were fishing the bottom, oh and by the way, the color made all the difference. Jody started with the Chartreuse/Gold and I started with Pink/Gold (my personal all time favorite color), but after she set the hook on the fourth fish of the day I said enough, is enough…haha. Needless to say I switched over and started getting bites right away.
The fishing in Lighthouse and Morris Gaps has most definitely been better. The depth on the lake is 12 – 21 feet of water, at least that’s the word on the street. I know that some of our guests are fishing all the way around Pine Island and having great success in those depths. The Shiners are really running in the river, but it seems to me the fishing is still better in the Gaps and Lake of the Woods. Be sure to have your jigs and frozen Shiners to ensure your best chance at landing those Walleyes.
Tomorrow night we should have a few clouds from time to time, low 32F with winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Friday should be mainly sunny, high near 60F with SSW winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Saturday should be sunny, highs in the low 60s and lows in the low 30s. Sunday should be mostly cloudy, highs in the upper 40s and lows in the upper 20s.
Today’s fishing report will be provided by me, Billy “The Sniper” Kloos, a few of our guests and some local talent. As I noted in the last fishing report the Shiners have started their run and I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Some of our guests and many of the locals have been fishing and catching some nice Walleyes in the Rainy River from the Baudette Airport (right by the boat launch) to the mouth of the Rainy River on Wheelers Point. For everyone still wanting to fish Lake of the Woods no worries, right outside of Lighthouse Gap on the Line, just past the green buoy, and along Pine Island (12 -14 & 19 – 21 feet of water) into Morris Gap there is a line of boats jigging away and catching plenty of Walleyes. The bite is starting to slow in 30 – 33 feet off the line and all the way to Zipple in the bowl, but we are still catching a few out there. The fish are starting to congregate into “The Gaps”. Gold/Chartreuse was the colors this weekend. Anything with Gold on it right now is what you’ll want to have on, and don’t forget your frozen Shiners. If you’re fishing the river, be sure you have ¾ to 1 oz jigs, we really have some current flowing and you have to be on the bottom to catch the Walleyes. You can purchase your Jigs, Frozen Shiners, Rapalas and Reef Runners from the same place that I get mine, Log Cabin Bait and Tackle, which is about ¾ of a mile south of the Wigwam on 172. Also, Tom’s Tackle, a local tackle making company makes all the jigs and spinners that I use and you can get your own Tom’s Tackle jigs and lures at Log Cabin Bait. Use what works for us on Lake of the Woods, “Tom’s Tackle”, a local company that know what works on Lake of the Woods. Keep checking out the fishing report, and I’ll give you all the hard facts as soon as I find out where they’re hiding next. Good luck and Happy Fishing to all! Thanks for fishing with us and visiting with us at the Wigwam Resort on Lake of the Woods.
Happy Fishing to all, and to all a good day.
Wigwam Fisherman