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Fishing Reports
Fishing Reports

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2002 High Lake Warning again: Lake of the Woods water level is now 2 feet above normal and rising. Once again this year there's a lot of floating wood, boards, trees, & other junk on the lake, & most of it is floating just below the surface making it very hard to see until it's to late.
Marina and Government dock photos & info (by Ben J.Haight - Sioux Narrows Marina)
Coast Guard boat operator licence guidelines from BoaterExam.com
You must have a licence by the dates listed (for fishing boats its 2009).
All operators born after April 1, 1983 - Sept 15, 1999
All operators of craft under 4m/13.3ft in length, including personal watercraft - Sept 15, 2002
All operators of boats in Canada - Sept 15, 2009
2002 Sport Fishing Licence Regulations Sioux Narrows (Download Regulations)
species open seasons catch, possession & size limits
Walleye Jan.1-Apr.14
May 18-Dec.31		 2 per day with total possession 4
only 1 greater than 46cm/18.1"
Largemouth &
Smallmouth Bass		 Dec.1-June 30 = 2 per day less than 35cm/13.8"
July 1-Nov.30 = 4 per day no size limit
Northern Pike all year 4 per day, none between 70-90cm / 27.5-35.4"
and only 1 over 90cm/35.4"
Muskellunge June 15-Nov.30 1 per day minimum 102cm/40"
Yellow Perch all year 50 per day
Crappie all year 15 per day
Brook Trout all year 5 per day
Rainbow Trout all year 5 per day
Lake Trout Jan.1-Oct.31 2 per day
Fishing Reports for 2002
» Walleyes
June Report
  • All the rising water this past week hasn't affected the fishing too much, with walleyes being caught off the ledges and dropoff's at 20-25', as well as along some of the shorelines from 12-15'. The best techniques for fishing the ledges has been using a 1/4 oz jig tipped with a minnow or leech, and bouncing it up off the bottom. Look for dropoff's that come up out of 50-60' of water, and top out at 10-15'. Along the shorelines, slow trolling little joe spinners or lindy rigs has been working the best. This allows you to quickly locate the walleyes, and then be able to stop and pitch jigs. Some areas that have been producing well are Yellow Girl Bay, just off Yellow Girl point, and the shelfs and islands around Chisholm island, Bath island, and Deadbroke channel. Good Luck. Scott.
    » Muskies
    June Report
  • Muskies have been on a tear, lots of large fish beings released, best to book a guide although there have been many fish taken near Bell Island and Timber island.

    » Northerns
    June Report
  • Good numbers small to medium size, most likely, 15 to 40 feet, larger Northerns are in their deeper locations but are moving up on weedy reefs. Some very big fish are being caught and released. Large spinner baits, Rapalas, and Muskie type baits working well. Large jigs and minnows producing very nice fish. Most fish off the weed lines and on the deeper reefs holding bait fish.

    » Largemouth Bass
    June Report
  • Large fish in weedy locations near shallows is reported. Sparse numbers of bass near the resort and weedy areas of Snake Bay. Early and late best time for larger fish with good midday fishing as well in the deep cabbage weeds. Spinner baits, soft plastic crayfish, plastic worms are getting some results. The fish are moving in the weeds as the water is high. Trying the deep weed edges and moving shallower should be good.

    » Small Mouth Bass
    June Report
  • Smallmouths have also been quite aggressive and hanging tight to the rocky and boulder shorelines. Casting small jigs with twister tails, mepps spinners, small floating rapalas (twitching them on the surface), and sluggo's has been working the best. Good luck. Scott

    » Lake Trout
    June Report
  • Good numbers of trout in depths of apx 60 to 85 feet. Large jigs with twister tails working well. White Fish Bay areas as well as fish in and near the deep water off of Cat Point as well. Down riggers trolling near baitfish schools are working with fish appearing on sonar easily located.

    » Crappie
    June Report
  • Slow reports, medium depth. Nice size, moving from shallows' to deeper water. Very nice fish being caught with small jigs and minnow presentations. The best fishing is now.

    • 2001 High Lake Warning: Lake of the Woods water level is now an alarming 3 feet above normal. The excessive mid&late-June rain storms are the cause, hopefully July's weather won't be as wet. This is the 2nd highest water level since in 1940. Many docks and lake front cottages have been flooded. The Kenora area is suffering the most with many businesses flooded. Watch out for rocks and floating logs. Check out these photos
    Fishing Reports for 2001
    » Walleyes
    May Report
  • The fishing for the last week of May has been quite well. The walleyes have been hanging deep on the ledges or drop offs coming off islands. The points of Chisholm island has been producing, as well as inside Martin island. The depths have varied from 25-35 feet. The best baits have been jigs tipped with minnows or leeches. Both baits have been working equally well. Our weather has began to stabilize this past couple of days, with some average temps settling in. Scott
    June Report
  • Mid-June's weather has been very unstable making the longer boat trips near-impossible. We did have excellent results trolling for walleye with little-joe spinners and live minnows in the bay just in front of Misty Inlet on Long Bay. This is definately a June hotspot since many of the bigger Lodge Guide boats frequent the area. The walleye hit early morning while mist was still visible back in the shallow Inlet, and then again just after heavy rains when the surface water was cooler. Tom
  • The walleye fishing June 18th has been quite spectacular so far. The fish have been very shallow and their depths have varied quite a bit. They seemed to be hitting in the 6-18 foot range. The bigger fish were shallower. A lot of 25-28" walleye have been released already this year, with the biggest release at 32" (One released, and one 31.25" kept). The bait of choice has been jigs tipped with leeches or minnows. The best spots have been shorelines with a small shelf and a drop off, as well the mouths of bays with mud bottoms. The NW corner of Chishlom island has been producing, as well as some of the other unnamed islands around it. Deadbroke Channel and Bath Island have also been good producers. Today the fish have seemed to drop deeper after the cool front and high winds we had over the weekend. They were still active, but dropped down to the 25' level. The surface temps have dropped from the high 60's to the low 60's due the lake being churned up after 2 days of 30 mph winds. They may come back up shallower once the weather stabilizes. Good Luck. Scott.
  • Update on Long Bay walleye - after some exploration trolling we hit another hotspot. The surprising part was its a shallow 17-20 foot area on the north side of an island infront of a large bullrush weedy shoreline. Travelling thru Rendezvous Point go east down Long Bay no more than 1 mile and you'll see the larger island and the wedy bay behind it. While trolling the mid section between the island and shore we could actually see the walleye hanging in the deep weeds, enjoy. Tom
    July Report
  • These fish are using reefs for most feeding. With some fish suspending on the deep sides of the reefs during the day and moving up on top as feeding begins. Snake Bay has still been producing some nice one's as well. Larger size fish reported in Snake Bay near resort channel with nightcrawlers, as well as White Fish Bay around Cat Point, Annie Island, Bell Island & Three Sister Islands and Timber Island. Minnows still working well with jigs, trolling Lindy rigs for bottom hugging fish is working too.
  • Walleye fishing this past while has been doing quite well. They have been catching them mainly on the sunken humps and drop offs out in the open bodies of water. The walleyes have been sitting on the edges of these drop offs in depths of 20 to 30 feet, and right tight to the bottom. The most productive humps have been ones that top off at 15-20 feet, and are surrounded by 50-65 feet of water. Working the tops and the edges of these is what has been working the best. Also, 15-20' shelfs protuding off of points of islands has also been producing. The walleyes are holding to these the same way they are on the humps. The bigger walleyes are holding to the humps more than they are to the shelfs. Some of the better humps have been right off Bath island (even the shelf off the very east tip), as well the ones inbetween Chislom island and Ferrier island. Jigs tipped with a leech or a minnow seem to be the bait of choice. Just about every colour seems to be working. The tried and true are the whites, chartreuse, orange, and two-tones of those colours. Scott
    August Report
  • The walleye fishing throughout the last part of July slowed down a bit. There were a few tough days where the fish were hitting very lightly. The bite has improved and people are now doing pretty well out there. The walleyes are still hanging out on the reefs and humps at depths of 20 to 30 feet. They are sitting on the tops of the humps, as well as just off to the sides on the dropoff. Jigs tipped with leeches or minnows have been working the best. The best tactic has been jigging it real slow to almost dragging it on the bottom. Crawler harnesses (Lindy rigs)with bottom bouncers have also been working quite well. Troll these slowly across the tops and around the edges of the hump. The best areas have been up around Yellow Girl point, some humps around Black island, as well as Chisolm. Also beginnig to get a few off the humps in Whitefish Bay during the mornings and evenings. The Perch have also been mixed right in with the walleyes. Scott

    » Muskies
    no reports

    » Northerns
    May Report
  • Opening day on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods was great. All the fish are up in shallow water just waiting for us. Northern Pike fishing with fly rods has been fantastic. Everyone brought in their one over 35.5 inches and the Pike we had for supper last night was delicious. Tom
    June Report
  • Our largest was 36" and we had several more over 22". The northerns were hitting Johnson silver spoons tossed in the bullrushes, we also did well on Rapalas Husky Jerk in rainbow color. Steve

    » Largemouth Bass
    July Report
  • Large fish in weedy locations near shallows is reported. Sparse numbers of bass near the weedy areas of Snake Bay. Early and late best time for larger fish with good midday fishing as well in the deep cabbage weeds. Spinner baits, soft plastic crayfish, plastic worms getting some results. Trying the deep weed edges and moving shallower should be good.

    » Small Mouth Bass
    May Report
  • Smallmouths are up close to the bank, and seem to be hitting jigs tipped with twisters or tubes. Casting the shoreline with these and hopping them back underneath the surface has been working better than using topwater. Scott
    June Report
  • Smallmouths have also been doing quite well. They are right tight to the banks with small rocks as well as shallow points. Casting surface lures (floating rapalas, mepps spinners, or poppers) have been working great, as well as small jigs (1/8   1/4) with twisters. Areas around Fire Island, the points in Regina Bay, and bays in Yellow Girl Bay have been producing well. Good Luck. Scott.
  • Caught alot on surface baits around Fire Island, but also several right in Regina bay. The smallies loved the shad color spit'n image and would blow it clear out of the water. Steve
    July Report
  • Fish are being caught with a variety of techniques. Jig and minnow, small tube jigs and shad raps working best. Crayfish soft plastics also working very well. Expect to fish deeper and move shallower with rock reefs and bait fish near by. Leeches, minnows, and nightcrawlers working well now also at various locations. Fire Island narrows have been the spots of many 30 fish days. With most anglers practicing catch and release this should be a great season.
  • Smallmouths are still holding close to the shorelines. They have began foraging on the crayfish, so are quite active and feeding aggressively. Islands in Lobstick Bay have been holding some good smallies, as well as around Fire Island, Log Bay, Long Bay, and all around Yellow Girl. Using a 1/4 oz jig and twister or a tube jig has been working the best, as well as casting small cranks to the shoreline. Working shorelines that hold some small boulders, as well as rocky points, seem to be the most productive. Over the next couple of weeks, the smallmouths will stay in these spots, but will begin to move into deeper water. Good luck! Scott
    August Report
  • Smallmouths have been hitting quite well. They are now hanging in 5 to 10 feet of water on boulders and dropoffs. Islands that have boulders running out of the points, as well as shallow rockpiles seem to be best areas for holding the smallies. Can pretty much find the smallies anywhere around the lake where this structure exists. Scott.

    » Lake Trout
    May Report
  • The lake trout have also been quite active. They are hittig spoons at depths of 20-45 feet over 35-60 feet of water. Usually long lining a spoon with a 1-1.5 oz weight about 3 feet up the line. Troll these depths were there's a good drop off to some deep water. Scott
  • Lake Trout are biting like flies and size is average 8 lbs. with the upper size hitting all the way to 22 lbs.We're using flatter spoons and wigglers. Tom
    July Report
  • Good numbers of trout in depths of apx 35 to 75 feet. Large jigs with twister tails working well. White Fish Bay areas as well (see hotspots map) as fish in and near the deep water off of Cat Point as well. Some are still using Snake bay deep water area's. Down riggers trolling near baitfish schools are working with fish appearing on sonar easily located.

    » Crappie
    June Report
  • Misty Inlet on Long Bay has non-stop crappie action. Use silent electric trolling motors or drift in from 20 feet to the idea 10 foot depths where you can anchor and cast small spinners or use your favorite worm or minnow rigs. Nightcrawlers cut in half work best throughout the day. The trick is to approach in silence and reduce boat noise as much as possible, once you hit a school the feeding frenzy will keep the crappie nearby. Joseph
    July Report
  • Very nice fish being caught with small jigs and minnow presentations. Best bite still is nearing sunset time of day. The better fishing is approaching with normal summer patterns on the horizon. With lake water levels higher its now easier to get to BlueBerry Inlet which in my opinion is the hottest spot of all for Crappie and other panfish.

    • Fishing Reports for 2000
    » Walleyes
    Walleyes are being caught from 16 to 50 feet, Yellow Girl Bay and Red Cliff Bay 40 feet in general. These fish are using reefs for most feeding. With some fish suspending in the deep sides of the reefs during the day and moving up on top as feeding begins. Larger size fish reported in Snake Bay as well as White Fish Bay around Cat Point, Annie Island, Bell Island & Three Sister Islands. Minnows still working well with jigs, trolling Lindy rigs for bottom hugging fish is working too. With leeches working well on jigs as well as Lindy rigs.
    July Report
    The best action was up thru Long Bay to Black River Bay, Yellow Girl and Red Cliff. This requires a bit of a boat ride, but was well worth it. Watch the guide boat armada that leaves Long Bay every morning at 8-9 am. There is a reason why they're leaving Long Bay to fish elsewhere. Follow, watch and learn. Have a good map, an extra tank of gas, a good graph and you'll get em. Leeches with bright colored spinners or jigs worked great. Use any long body blue crankbait preferable a Rapala Magnum 4 inch countdown near dropoffs that has giant boulders the size of a minivan in the Channel Island area.
    August Report
    Did well on walleyes up around Fog Island and west out in the main basin of that area. Fish were caught in 20-24 ft of water on rock reefs early in the week but as a couple of fronts went through, the fish dropped to 30-35 in the same areas. Caught on bottom bouncer with spinner/crawler or powerbait crawler, jig/minnow, live bait rig/leech, crankbaits. When we caught fish on the cranks, the fish were suspended. The baits were diving to 12-14 ft and had to be in perch color. Caught several fish in the 20" range. Limited out easily the 3 days we fished for them. The last day the algae bloom was thick and fish were tough.

    » Muskies
    Muskies are getting active, with some smaller fish being caught and released, (fish in the 40 inch range) Location varies, but most are on rocky reefs containing some vegetation and with deep water nearby. Large Muskie baits are the rule, some anglers are trolling these spots, others are fan casting. The fishing for these fish should get better as fall nears. Locations vary, but Bell Island and area's around Timber Island are seeing good activity. We encourage Catch Photo and release, of these big fish.
    #1 - Astron Bay, its far but excellent for trophy Muskie/Pike.
    #2 - Sunset Channel, also far but very close to Cliff Island.
    #3 - Bell Island East Side, alot closer, look for Guide boats!
    There are other locations but the ones above are consistent producers of Trophy Muskie. Be sure to take some pictures of your catch for entry in our Photo Contest!
    August Report
    Muskies were thin. Saw about 8-10 fish all week. My buddy caught one that was 25" on a Suick. His first so all was good. Had 2 others hit but lost (36 and 40 something). All activity was around Bell Island on the East side. Find the weed/rock areas.

    » Northerns
    Good numbers small to medium size, most likely in water 15 to 35 feet, large Northerns are in there normal deeper locations. Some very big fish are being caught and released. Large spinner baits, Rapalas, and Muskie type baits working well. Large jigs and minnows producing very nice fish. Most fish off the weedlines and on the deeper reefs holding baitfish. If you just want to get hammered by Northern pike use a 1/2 oz tan and gold willow blade Titanium Terminator with a slow retriever and hang on to your rod real tight.
    August Report
    Well couldn't get anything over 27". We tried. Lots from 22 to 27 so we had fun. Hit most anything topwater, spinnerbaits, bucktails, crankbaits. Did well in Log Bay trolling jointed rapalas in blk/slvr combo (6") in 20 ft of water. Fish were suspended at 10-12 feeding on clouds of baitfish.

    » Largemouth Bass
    Large fish in weedy locations near shallows is reported. Excellent numbers of bass near the resorts and weedy areas of Snake Bay. Early and late best time for larger fish with good midday fishing as well in the deep cabbage weeds. Spinner baits, soft plastic crayfish, plastic worms getting good results. The fishing are moving in the weeds as the water is at season high temperature, trying the deep weed edges and moving shallower should be good. The biggest fish are typically caught in the fall.

    » Small Mouth Bass
    Good reports, 16 to 35 feet most common. Fish are being caught with a variety of techniques. Jig and minnow, small tube jigs and shad raps working best. Crayfish soft plastics also working very well. Expect to fish deeper and moving shallow with rock reefs and bait fish near by. Leeches minnows and nightcrawlers working well now also at various locations. Fire Island narrows have been the spots of many limits.

    » Lake Trout
    Good numbers of trout in depths of appox 60 to 80 feet. Large jigs with twister tails working well. White Fish Bay areas as well as fish in and near the deep water off of Cat Point as well. Down riggers trolling near baitfish schools are working with fish appearing on sonar easily located.
    May Report
    My brother and I caught several lake trout in May just outside of Misty Inlet; east of the island there. We were trolling large rapalas behind one ounce sinkers. The lake trout seem to be very active all day long. We caught 10 nice 12 to 20 lb. lakers in the two days we fished..

    » Crappie
    Good reports, medium depth. Nice size, moving deeper after spawning. Should continue good fishing. Very nice fish being caught with small jigs and minnow presentations. Best bite still is nearing sunset time of day. The best fishing is approaching with fall on the horizon. By far the best locations are still Misty Inlet on Long Bay and alot farther away the old-time favorite Blueberry Inlet which has hazardous shallow narrow channels to navigate.

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