08/24/2026
Lake of the Woods MN Fishing Report
The successful summer pattern rolls on at Lake of the Woods, with big numbers of fish stacked over the deep mud. Most anglers are pulling spinners and crawlers or trolling crankbaits, and both are producing with great success.
Big Traverse Bay (South Shore)
The deep mud on the south end remains the place to be. Big schools of walleyes are roaming the basin, and the same two presentations continue to shine: crawler harnesses pulled slowly behind a bottom bouncer, and crankbaits trolled to cover water and trigger active fish. Watch your electronics, get your presentation down to the fish, and the rest tends to take care of itself.
Just how good is that deep-mud bite? Good enough that the AIM Pro Walleye Series held its Minnesota Championship here this past week, and the winning bag of five walleyes tipped the scales at 54.29 pounds — right around an 11-pound average per fish. Many of the tournament anglers were using forward-facing sonar to sharp-shoot individual walleyes out over the deep mud, and the huge weights that came to the scale tell you everything you need to know about the caliber of fish swimming out there right now.
Most anglers are finding eater walleyes (under 19.5"), saugers, some slot fish that must be released (19.5 - 28.0 inches), and an occasional trophy (over 28").
Rainy River
For a change of scenery, the Rainy River is always a rewarding option. A resident population of walleyes lives here year-round, joined by good numbers of smallmouth bass, pike, and sturgeon, so there's plenty to keep a rod bent. Some anglers make the river their main destination this time of year, while others treat it as a great fallback when the wind kicks up on the big water. With miles of navigable, fish-filled current to explore, it rarely disappoints.
NW Angle
Up among the islands at the Angle, variety is the name of the game. Walleyes are being caught on both the Minnesota and Ontario sides, with spinners and crankbaits doing much of the work, though guides who favor structure will keep jigs tied on all summer with good results. Whether the fish are spread out over mud or schooled tight to a reef, good numbers and a genuine mixed bag are the rule up here — walleyes, pike, smallmouth, perch, and more all in play.
There's lots of good muskie activity throughout this part of the lake. Reports are overall very good, with anglers casting shorelines with a variety of lures from spinners to topwater to hardbaits, nice fish are being caught.
Before You Go
We appreciate the tournaments that choose to come to Lake of the Woods, and we especially appreciate the catch-and-release format the vast majority of tournament circuits have adopted. Sending those big, healthy walleyes back to the water is a big part of what keeps this fishery as strong as it is.
A quick reminder on the regulations: the combined walleye and sauger limit is 6 fish total, with up to 4 being walleyes. All walleyes between 19.5 and 28.0 inches must be released immediately, with one walleye over 28.0 inches allowed. A 2026 Minnesota fishing license is required.
Fishing has been excellent, and there's still plenty of open-water season left to enjoy. Plan your trip, come on up, and make some memories.
To find out more about fishing Lake of the Woods, check out our website at lakeofthewoodsmn.com/fishing/.
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