Lake of the Woods fishing resorts provide ample opportunities for anglers to experience the joy of catching walleye. Despite the heat of August, the fishing has been exceptional, with one guide noting that although the fish may not be in their usual spots, they can still be found with a little effort.
To successfully locate the walleye, two summer patterns have proven effective: spinners and crankbaits. Drifting spinners with bait such as fathead, frozen emerald shiner, or crawler has yielded positive results. In the absence of wind, trolling slowly at around 1.25 mph ensures the spinner blade continues to spin and covers more water. Using a one hook harness with minnows or a two hook harness with a crawler is recommended. Experimenting with different colors, such as gold, gold/red, or gold/pink, can help determine the most effective bait.
Trolling crankbaits has also been successful in catching walleye. Methods such as downriggers, leadcore line, snap weights, 4 oz. bottom bouncers with a 6′ leader, or deep diving crankbaits with braided line can be employed to reach deeper water where walleye tend to gather. Depths of around 30 – 36 feet in the basin have proven to be particularly fruitful.
Various reefs in Lake of the Woods have continued to produce walleye catches. Depending on the day, fish may be found on top of the reef, on the sides, or at the base where the rock transitions to mud. On certain days, they may even be located over mud just off the reef. Utilizing electronic fish finders can greatly enhance the chances of locating these elusive fish.
In addition to walleye, anglers have also reported successful catches of big pike, jumbo perch, and occasional crappies. This adds to the allure of fishing on Lake of the Woods, as there is always the possibility of reeling in a trophy-sized fish.
Riverbend Resort
Baudette, MN
www.riverbendresort.com