Outdoor Report: Good fishing continues on Lake of the Woods and Rainy River, Lake Region awaits mallard influx

Anglers continue to catch walleyes and saugers in good numbers across the south shore, with best action in 14 feet to 24 feet of water, Lake of the Woods Tourism reports in its weekly update. Anchoring up with a jig and frozen shiner is the ticket. Jumbo perch and pike also are in the mix. Walleyes also being caught around Knight and Bridges islands and structure off of Long Point and Rocky Point.

Good reports continue to flow from the Rainy River, as well, where anglers are catching some bigger walleyes, Lake of the Woods Tourism said. There’s still a lot of current with the high water levels, so walleyes are congregating in areas with current breaks, often closer to shore, behind points or midriver holes; 7 to 16 feet of water is a good starting point, depending on the spot. Anglers are using jigs up to 1½ ounces in the main channel and lighter jigs in the slack water.

Hunters had mixed results last weekend in the Lake Region, with most hunters falling short of limits of either ducks or geese, reports Mark Fisher, wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Devils Lake. Lesser scaup and northern shoveler were the most common ducks taken, but Canada goose hunting continued to be very good, Fisher said.

Mallards have just not arrived from Canada, and if they are here, they are scattered across the abundant wetlands or grain fields, Fisher said. Road and access conditions continue to improve. A hard freeze in Canada could improve the hunting outlook in the Lake Region in the near future, he said.

Colors are past peak across northern Minnesota.

-- compiled by Brad Dokken