Rainy Lake information

[Roger B]

Our group has rented a houseboat on Rainy Lake for the 3rd week in September. We have never fished Rainy Lake and I would appreciate any information regarding fishing hot spots, baits, techniques, fishing on the Canadian side and any other information that might be helpful.

Thanks

[dave]

you need remote border crossing permits to go into
the canadian side. also may need special tags in addition to the license. stick with the minnesota side. I recomend camping near the brule narrows in sag bay. good fishing when the wind is blowing in.

[rschaeff]

My family and I rented a Houseboat from Canadian Wilderness Floating Lodges the 3rd week in June. We fished the Northern part of Rainy Lake on the Canadian Side. We are heading back to Rainy Lake this year and using a outfitter called "Labelle's" staying a-shore this time in cabins.

We caught quite a few Smallmouth 14"-19" range, using crawfish looking lures, tube baits and top water lures in the shallows around the islands. Many Northern Pike in the 25"-33" range in cabbage weed filled bays or near drop off's around the islands. Be sure to have those steel leaders on for the Pike. There were NO Walleye in the Northern part of the lake. We fished many hours for Walleye and caught only 1. We heard from some locals that the Native Americans in the area are allowed to go "netting" for the walleye's and thus remove quite a few walleye in the area. Best bet would be to go east for the walleye.

Best lures for the Pike were a fire-tiger colored husky jerks and Mepps Cyclops spoons for the bigger northerns.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Iowa Eye]

Just got back from Labells yesterday. you are right about the walleyes how ever try to the south or moore island 12' - 20'. for walleyes you might want to try lake despair there is a boat landing and or rental about 4 miles from labells. They have a good population of eating walleyes/ The best small mouth fishing was in in rocky boulders 8-10' best spots were in narrow channels between two islands.

See my post on the Cnada Eh message board.

Good Luck

[fishsniffer]

i used to fish the north west bay of rainy out of labells,if you are in this areatry out side of the bay by the indian village,the three sisters,galibriths pointsouth side,and if your up there at the rite time you can fish the half way inlet ibelieve it opens in mid june check local laws.best fishin to ya.

[Chester]

I fish Rainy for the past 13 years and we always go in July. In one of the previous post they mentioned Sag Bay as being good. It good when we go in July. We stay about 6 miles East of Int'l Falls, so going to Sag we need to pick our days carefully. If the wind picks up out of the West or Northwest we have a very long ride home. I've also heard that fishing for walleyes you'll want to fish the Minnesota side. I've never fished the Canada side for walleyes because we weren't allowed to until this year. The crappie fishing can be good in Red Gut if you like the slaps. I must advise you to use extreme caution when going through the Brule. You must follow the marker system to the "t". This year I would image the water will be low like it was two years ago. We saw rock reefs that we normally run over the top of without any problems.

Happy Fishing

[rschaeff]

Thanks for the helpful information "Iowa Eye". Look forward to fishing Rainy in 3 weeks. You mentioned "Canada Eh" message board, where is that at?

What lures/baits worked best for ya, biggest smallmouth, northern, walleye, etc...

Hope you had a great time, I know last year was productive for us for Northerns and Smallmouths. Would like to catch a few Walleye's this year, at least some smaller ones to eat.

[Iowa Eye]

The Canada Eh message board at at this site. At the top click on conferences and you will find the different message boards.

For eating size walleyes you might want to try Lake Despair. It is at the end or Highway 613 about 4 miles from Labells. Great boat launch or you can rent at the Lake Despair Lodge. The folks at Labbells are great and a nice clean facility.

Biggest Walleye 23.5" Smallmouth 18" ( lost a bigger one to the trolling motor) Pike 31.5"
The best small mouth fishing was ing Alaxndria Bay about a 15 mile run. Also heard that Ash bay was good (5 miles + above Alex Bay) but did not run up there.

Here is what I posted on the other Message
Board.

Just got back from the Northwest Bay of Rainy Lake. The walleye fishing was slow. (two days of east wind) Water was very clear 10' plus you can see the bottom.
Smallmouth starting to come on. Water temp 58 - 60F. smallies were in 6 - 10' boulder bottoms. Hitting on 1/8 oz jig with silver, green and brown twiter tail grubs. Just cast and swin the grub with a steady retreive. keep the rod tips low.

Northerns were mostly hanging around drop offs not too many in the weeds.

Going to be at Eagle nest landing in Manitoba June 3-10. In the mean time got to take care of some of this work that just gets in the way of fishing.
LOL and Get Bit.