Fishing Lake of the Woods: the fish, the seasons, and the plan to catch them
Lake of the Woods is a vast border lake on the Canadian line, and one of the great walleye waters in North America. Walleye and sauger are the draw, in open water from a boat in summer and through the ice in winter. You need a Minnesota licence, and special border-water limits apply.
Licence prices, open seasons and the border-water limits change every year. Confirm the current rules with the Minnesota DNR and the Lake of the Woods border-water regulations before you travel.
What and where it is
Lake of the Woods sits on the Canadian border in the far north of Minnesota, a huge lake of over 4,000 km² (about 1,700 sq miles) shared with Ontario and Manitoba. The Minnesota part is the south end, around the town of Baudette and the mouth of the Rainy River. Shallow stained water in the south, the deeper open lake beyond.
This is big water. Most of it lies in Canada, and the international border runs across it, so it is managed as a border water with its own combined limits (see licence and rules). The Minnesota slice that most visitors fish is the south basin: shallow, coloured, fed by the Rainy River, and rimmed by the resorts around Baudette and Williams. North of that the lake opens out into deeper water and a maze of islands, and beyond the main lake sits the Northwest Angle, the odd scrap of Minnesota that you can only reach over the lake or by driving through Canada.
The character changes with the season more than with the spot. In open water it is a walleye lake fished from a boat over the shallow south basin and the reefs. In winter it freezes hard and becomes one of the best ice-fishing destinations on the continent, fished from heated ice houses that the resorts tow out onto the ice. The same fish, two completely different trips.
It is a long way north, but it is set up for visitors. Baudette is the gateway town, about four and a half hours' drive north of Minneapolis or an hour east of Roseau, and the resorts run the lodging, the guides, the boats and the winter ice houses, so a visiting angler arrives to a fishery that is geared up to take them out.
The fish, and where, when and how to catch each
Walleye and sauger are the headline, fished together under one combined limit, on a jig or a live-bait rig in the south basin and through the ice in winter. Yellow perch fill the freezer, northern pike and smallmouth bass add the bite when you want them, and lake sturgeon run the Rainy River. The cards below give you where, when and how for each.
Walleye and sauger
the headline, fished together
- Where
- The shallow stained south basin off Baudette and the Rainy River mouth, the reefs and mud flats out in the open lake, and the river itself on the spring run. In winter, over the same basin and reefs, found through the ice with a sounder.
- When
- Strong from the May opener through summer and into autumn in open water. The Rainy River spring run, as the ice goes and the fish stage to spawn, is a famous early window. Winter ice fishing (roughly late December to March) is a destination in its own right. Low light, dawn and dusk, fish best, but the bite runs through the day here more than on a clear alpine lake.
- How
- A jig and a minnow (or a soft plastic) worked on the bottom is the everyday method, open water and through the ice. A live-bait rig (the Lindy rig) with a leech or a crawler drifted on the bottom takes the bigger summer fish, and a spinner-and-crawler harness trolled on a bottom-bouncer covers water to find them. In winter, a jig or a spoon tipped with a minnow head under the ice.
Yellow perch
the freezer-filler, open water and ice
- Where
- Over the same basin and flats as the walleye, around any structure, and often mixed in with them. In winter they come thick to the ice-house holes.
- When
- Through the open-water season, best from late summer into autumn, and a strong winter fish. No closed season.
- How
- A small jig tipped with a minnow head, a piece of worm or a soft plastic, fished on the bottom or just off it. The same gear that takes the walleye, scaled down. Through the ice, a small jigging spoon or a tear-drop jig.
Northern pike
the bonus predator, bank and boat
- Where
- The bays, the weed edges, the river mouths and the reef edges. From the bank where you can reach a weedy bay; mostly a boat fish on the open lake. Through the ice, the same bays and edges on a tip-up.
- When
- All year, no closed season. Best in the cooler water of spring and autumn, and a reliable ice fish on a dead-bait tip-up.
- How
- A big soft shad, a spoon or a spinnerbait on a wire or heavy fluorocarbon trace, cast along the weed and reef edges; a dead-bait (a smelt or a sucker) under a float or on a tip-up in the cold. The trace is the one non-negotiable, because pike teeth cut a light leader.
Smallmouth bass
the hard-fighting summer fish
- Where
- The rocky reefs, the rocky shorelines and the island structure, more in the deeper, clearer northern water than the stained south basin. A boat fish, on the rock.
- When
- Summer, from the warming water through to autumn, best in the heat when the walleye fishing slows in the middle of the day. No closed season.
- How
- A soft plastic on a jighead or a small swimbait worked over and around the rock, a tube, or a topwater early and late. The walleye jig, scaled to the rock and the fish, covers most of it.
Lake sturgeon
the river giant, mostly catch and release
- Where
- The Rainy River, from the deep holes off Baudette up the river, and at the river mouth into the lake. A boat fishery, anchored over the holes.
- When
- The river spring window (roughly April and May) and again from July, around the harvest and catch-and-release seasons set by the DNR (see licence and rules). Spring, as the river warms, is the classic time.
- How
- A heavy sliding-sinker bottom rig with a strong leader and a circle hook, baited with a gob of crawlers or a frozen emerald shiner, anchored on the bottom in the river current. A big-fish, heavy-tackle method.
Others, for context. The lake also holds crappie, sunfish, burbot (eelpout, a good winter fish and good eating), and muskie in places, and the Canadian side fishes the same species under Ontario rules. Those five cards above are the trip for most visiting anglers, and the walleye and sauger are why people fly in.
I have set each species out as a card. Read the one for the fish you want, then check the seasonal section for how it moves through the year, and follow the rig link to build the method.
How the fishing changes by season
Spring is the Rainy River run, walleye staging and the sturgeon window. The May opener starts the open-water season. Summer is steady walleye on the basin and the reefs, with smallmouth on the rock and perch building. Autumn is a strong all-round window. Winter freezes the lake hard and becomes a destination ice fishery from heated ice houses.
Here is the year in plain terms.
- Early spring (the Rainy River, March into April). As the ice goes, the walleye and sauger run up the Rainy River to stage and spawn, and the river fishes hard from boats and the banks. Note the river spring rule: from 1 March to 14 April the river and Four Mile Bay are catch and release for walleye and sauger (see licence and rules). The lake sturgeon season opens for keep on 24 April. This is a famous early window, but read the river rules first.
- The opener (mid-May). Minnesota's walleye opener (9 May in 2026) starts the open-water season on the lake itself. The fish are still relatively shallow in the warming south basin, so the early-season fishing is close in and good.
- Summer (June to August). Steady walleye and sauger on the basin and the reefs, on the jig, the live-bait rig and the trolled harness. The perch build through summer, the smallmouth come on the rock in the warm water, and the pike fish the weed edges. Long days, so fish dawn and dusk for the best of the walleye, and chase the smallmouth or troll through the bright middle.
- Autumn (September to October). A strong all-round window. The walleye feed up for winter, the perch are at their best, and the pike are active in the cooling water. Often the most consistent open-water fishing of the year, and quieter than the summer.
- Winter (late December to March). The lake freezes hard and the ice fishery opens up. The resorts tow heated ice houses out onto the basin and the reefs, and you fish the walleye, sauger and jumbo perch through the ice in comfort, plus pike on tip-ups. This is a destination trip in its own right, not a fallback. Check the ice with the resort, never go out on uncertain ice, and let them put you on safe, proven ice.
What you can eat (and what you must release)
Walleye, sauger and yellow perch are superb eating and a shore lunch is part of the trip here, kept within the border-water limits. The key rule is the protected slot: all walleye from 19.5 to 28 inches (about 50 to 71 cm) must be released, with one over 28 inches allowed. Lake sturgeon are largely catch and release with a narrow keep-season. Follow the state's fish-consumption advice.
This is a keep-and-eat fishery in a way the protected alpine lakes are not, but the border-water rules are specific, so it is worth being exact. The combined walleye and sauger limit is 6 fish, of which no more than 4 may be walleye, and the protected slot means every walleye from 19.5 to 28 inches (about 50 to 71 cm) goes back, with one fish over 28 inches allowed in your bag (Minnesota DNR border-water regulation, as of 5 June 2026). So you keep the small-to-mid walleye and the sauger for the pan, and you release the big walleye. Walleye, sauger and perch are among the best freshwater fish on the plate, and the resorts will clean and pack your catch.
Lake sturgeon are mostly catch and release. There is a narrow keep-season (roughly late April to early May, and July into September) when an angler with a sturgeon tag may keep one fish per calendar year, and only one measuring 45 to 50 inches, or over 75 inches (Minnesota DNR, as of 5 June 2026). Outside that, and for any fish outside the slot, the sturgeon goes back. In practice most sturgeon anglers fish purely for the catch and release. Northern pike also carry a protected slot here (released from 30 to 40 inches, one over 40 inches allowed), so check the pike slot before you keep one too.
Whatever you keep, check the size and bag limits and the season first, follow the Minnesota fish-consumption advice for the lake, handle fish you will release in wet hands, unhook them in the water where you can, and clean your kit between waters so you do not carry anything from one lake to the next.
Licence and rules
Yes, you need a Minnesota fishing licence. A non-resident annual individual licence is $51 for 2026, with short-term options ($14 for 24 hours, $36 for 72 hours, $43 for 7 days). Buy it online at the Minnesota DNR, in the app, or at resorts and bait shops. Because this is a border water, the special combined limit and the protected slot apply, and the Ontario side needs an Ontario licence.
The figures below are 2026 prices and rules from the Minnesota DNR, but they change every year, and the border-water limits in particular are reviewed regularly. Confirm with the Minnesota DNR and the Lake of the Woods border-water regulations before you fish.
What the licence is. Fishing is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A single non-resident angling licence lets you fish the Minnesota waters of the lake; you do not need a separate Great Lakes or border-water stamp on top of it. To fish the Ontario (Canadian) side of the lake you would need an Ontario licence, which is a separate thing (Minnesota DNR, as of 5 June 2026).
2026 non-resident licence prices (Minnesota DNR, as of 5 June 2026):
| Licence | What it is | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|
| 24-hour | A single day. Good for a one-off session. | $14 |
| 72-hour | Three days. A short-trip option. | $36 |
| 7-day | A week. The usual choice for a visiting angler. | $43 |
| Annual (individual) | Full year, for the angler who will fish a lot or return. | $51 |
| Annual (family / married couple) | The non-resident family option. | $68 |
Buy online at dnr.state.mn.us, in the DNR app, or in person at the resorts, bait shops and licence agents around Baudette and Williams (Minnesota DNR, as of 5 June 2026). Carry the licence (paper or on your phone) while you fish.
The border-water limits that matter (Minnesota DNR Lake of the Woods border-water regulation, as of 5 June 2026). These are different from the rest of Minnesota, so read them:
| Species | Size rule | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger (combined) | walleye 19.5 to 28 inches (about 50 to 71 cm) released; one over 28 inches allowed | 6 combined, no more than 4 walleye |
| Yellow perch | no minimum size | 20 per day (40 in possession) |
| Northern pike | 30 to 40 inches (about 76 to 102 cm) released; one over 40 inches allowed | 3 per day |
| Smallmouth bass | check the current regulation for the slot/limit | check the current regulation |
| Lake sturgeon | keep one of 45 to 50 inches, or over 75 inches | 1 per calendar year, with a sturgeon tag |
- The combined limit is the headline rule: walleye and sauger count together toward six fish, and no more than four of those may be walleye.
- The protected slot: every walleye from 19.5 to 28 inches goes back, and you may keep just one fish over 28 inches. This is what grows the big walleye, so it is taken seriously.
- Confirm the smallmouth bass and any seasonal river rules in the current border-water regulation, because the smallmouth limit and the Rainy River spring rules are set separately.
Seasons and the spring river rule (Minnesota DNR, as of 5 June 2026):
| Species | Open | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walleye / sauger (lake) | from the mid-May opener (9 May in 2026) | the open-water season; winter ice fishing runs roughly late December to late March |
| Walleye / sauger (Rainy River and Four Mile Bay) | catch and release 1 March to 14 April, then keep | read the river rule before the spring run |
| Northern pike | year-round, no closed season | |
| Yellow perch / smallmouth bass | year-round, no closed season | |
| Lake sturgeon | keep-season roughly 24 April to 7 May and 1 July to 30 September; catch and release at other open times; closed 16 May to 30 June | a tag is needed to keep; see what you can eat |
So the spring is the Rainy River run (catch and release until 14 April), the open-water lake season runs from the mid-May opener through autumn, the pike and perch are open all year, and winter is the ice fishery. The sturgeon has its own narrow keep-windows on the river.
Other rules that matter
- It is a border water. The combined limit and the protected slot above apply on the Minnesota side; the Ontario side needs an Ontario licence and follows Ontario rules.
- Follow the Minnesota fish-consumption advice for the lake before you eat a large catch.
- Buy at dnr.state.mn.us or at a resort or bait shop, and clean your kit between waters.
Where to fish
Most visitors fish from a resort: the south basin and the reefs out of Baudette and Williams in open water, and heated ice houses on the same ground in winter. The Rainy River is the spring run and the sturgeon water. From the bank, the river and the Zippel Bay area give some access, but this is mostly a boat-and-resort lake.
| Area | What it is | By |
|---|---|---|
| The south basin off Baudette and Wheeler's Point | The shallow, stained main bowl the resorts fish, holding walleye, sauger and perch close in. The everyday open-water ground, and the winter ice-house ground. Start here. | Boat · ice |
| The reefs and mud flats out in the open lake | As the season goes on the walleye spread out onto the reefs and the flats, found by covering water and the sounder. Where the trolled harness and the live-bait rig earn their place. | Boat |
| The Rainy River Baudette to Birchdale, and the mouth | The spring walleye and sauger run, and the lake-sturgeon water. About 42 miles (roughly 68 km) of navigable river with public ramps. The one part with real bank and small-boat access. | Both |
| Zippel Bay and the state park south shore, Williams | A bay on the south shore with a state park, a public launch and shore access, and the resort water for the Zippel Bay side. | Both |
| The northern open lake and islands deeper, rockier water | Deeper, clearer, rockier water for the smallmouth and the bigger pike, more of a run from the south-shore resorts. The Northwest Angle beyond is its own destination. | Boat |
This is big, open water, so where you fish is set as much by the season and your boat as by named marks. These are the areas a visitor works.
- The south basin (off Baudette and Wheeler's Point). The shallow, stained main bowl the resorts fish, holding walleye and sauger close in early and through the season, and the perch with them. The everyday open-water ground, and the winter ice-house ground.
- The reefs and mud flats out in the open lake. As the season goes on, the walleye spread out onto the reefs and the flats, found by covering water and watching the sounder. This is where the trolled harness and the live-bait rig earn their place.
- The Rainy River (Baudette up to Birchdale, and the river mouth). The spring walleye and sauger run, and the lake-sturgeon water. About 42 miles (roughly 68 km) of navigable river with public ramps. The one part of the fishery with real bank and small-boat access.
- Zippel Bay and Zippel Bay State Park (south shore, Williams). A bay on the south shore with a state park, a public launch and shore access, and the resort water for the Zippel Bay side.
- The northern open lake and the islands. Deeper, clearer, rockier water for the smallmouth and the bigger pike, more of a run from the south-shore resorts. The Northwest Angle beyond is its own destination.
What the water means for method
- The shallow south basin (open water): walleye, sauger and perch, on a walleye jig rig (jig and minnow) worked on the bottom, a live-bait (Lindy) rig with a leech or crawler, or a trolled spinner harness to find the spread-out fish.
- The reefs and flats (boat): walleye on the troll and the live-bait rig; smallmouth on the rock with a soft plastic.
- The Rainy River: spring walleye and sauger on a jig; lake sturgeon on a heavy sturgeon rig anchored over the holes.
- The ice (winter): walleye, sauger and jumbo perch on an ice fishing rig, a jig or a spoon tipped with a minnow head, and pike on a tip-up.
Bank, boat and ice, and the time of day
This is mostly a boat-and-resort lake in open water, and an ice-house fishery in winter. From a boat you fish the south basin and the reefs for walleye, sauger and perch on a jig, a live-bait rig or a troll. The Rainy River gives spring run and bank access. Through the ice you fish the same ground from a heated house. The bite runs through the day more than on a clear lake, with dawn and dusk best.
| Fish | How you fish it | Best time / season | Rig |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye and sauger | Boat over the south basin and reefs (open water); the Rainy River in spring; ice house in winter | Mid-May opener through autumn; the Rainy River spring run; winter ice | Walleye jig rig, live-bait (Lindy) rig, trolling; ice fishing rig in winter |
| Yellow perch | Boat over the same ground; ice house in winter | Late summer and autumn; strong winter fish | Walleye jig rig scaled down; ice fishing rig |
| Northern pike | Weedy bays and edges, bank where reachable, boat on the open lake; tip-up through the ice | Spring and autumn; reliable on the ice | Pike rig; ice fishing rig tip-up |
| Smallmouth bass | Boat on the rocky reefs and shorelines, more in the northern water | Summer into autumn | Walleye jig rig over rock; light soft-plastic jig |
| Lake sturgeon | Boat anchored over the Rainy River holes | River spring window and July onward (keep-season) | Sturgeon rig |
Plain version: in open water you want a boat, and the easy route is a resort that supplies the guide and the boat. The south basin and the reefs hold the walleye and sauger; the river is the spring run and the sturgeon; the rock holds the smallmouth. In winter you book a heated ice house and fish the same walleye, sauger and perch in comfort. The walleye fishing here runs through the day more than on a clear alpine lake, but dawn and dusk are still the best of it.
This table is the core decision the trip turns on. It lives on the cheat sheet too. Read it as: pick your fish, pick where and when, and it gives you the rig.
The boat: guided, hire, and the resorts
The easy way onto this lake is a resort. The Baudette and Williams resorts run guided open-water trips and tow heated ice houses out in winter, supplying the boat, the gear and the local knowledge. There are public launches on the Rainy River, at Zippel Bay State Park and around the south shore for your own boat. The resort route is the standard for a visiting angler.
This is a resort-based fishery, and that is the simplest way to fish it well, especially on a first visit and especially in winter. The resorts know where the fish are holding on a lake this big, and in winter they put you on safe, proven ice in a heated house, which is not something to improvise.
The resorts (the standard route)
Book a resort and you book the whole trip: lodging, a guided open-water boat in season, or a heated ice house with transport out onto the ice in winter, plus fish cleaning and packing. The main south-shore resorts:
- Zippel Bay Resort, Williams – the only resort on Zippel Bay, with lodging, guided open-water trips and winter ice houses (day houses, sleepers and spear houses). zippelbay.com.
- Ballard's Resort, Baudette – lodging, guided trips and winter ice houses on the Rainy River and the lake. ballardsresort.com.
- Border View Lodge, Baudette – open-water and ice-fishing packages on the river and the lake. borderviewlodge.com.
- Sportsman's Lodge, Baudette – lodging, guided fishing and winter ice houses. sportsmanslodges.com.
- The Lake of the Woods Tourism site, lakeofthewoodsmn.com, lists the full set of resorts, guides and packages for both seasons.
Resort guide trips and ice-house rentals are priced per resort and per package and move year to year, so book a current rate direct rather than working from a figure we cannot stand behind. Confirm the boat, the tackle and what else is included when you book.
Launch your own
If you bring a boat, there are public launches on the Rainy River (numerous ramps from Wheeler's Point up to Birchdale), at Zippel Bay State Park, and around the south shore. The open lake is big water that can turn rough fast, so check the forecast, carry the right safety gear, and treat it as the inland sea it is.
Where to stay
Stay at a fishing resort. The Baudette and Williams resorts (Zippel Bay Resort, Ballard's, Border View Lodge, Sportsman's Lodge) put you on the water with lodging, boats and guides in open water and heated ice houses in winter, so you stay, launch and fish in one place. Baudette is the gateway town for shops, bait and licences.
Stay near the water
- Zippel Bay Resort, Williams – cabins and a campground on Zippel Bay, the only resort on the bay, with open-water guiding and winter ice houses. zippelbay.com.
- Ballard's Resort, Baudette – a large resort on the Rainy River with lodging, guided trips and winter ice houses. ballardsresort.com.
- Border View Lodge, Baudette – riverside lodging with open-water and ice packages. borderviewlodge.com.
- Sportsman's Lodge, Baudette – lodging, guided fishing and ice houses. sportsmanslodges.com.
- Zippel Bay State Park, Williams – a state-park campground and launch for the self-sufficient angler with their own boat.
Book directly with the resort and choose your package by season (open-water guided trips, or a winter ice-house package), since the lodging, the boat and the licence sales are usually bundled. Baudette has the shops, the bait and the licence agents.
The methods, and the rigs to build them
A small set of rigs covers everything here, and they share most of their tackle. The walleye jig rig is the everyday method for walleye, sauger and perch, open water and ice. A live-bait (Lindy) rig and a trolled spinner harness find the spread-out summer fish. The ice fishing rig is the winter setup. The pike rig and the sturgeon rig add the bonus fish. Each links to its own build page.
Map of fish, where and when, to a rig. The build instructions and the knots live on the rig pages, so I link rather than repeat them.
- Walleye, sauger and perch, the everyday method → walleye jig rig. A jig and a minnow (or a soft plastic) worked on the bottom, open water and through the ice. The rig to learn first here. The same page also covers the bottom-bouncer spinner-and-crawler harness for covering water on the reefs and flats.
- Walleye on a slow day, the bigger summer fish → the live-bait (Lindy) rig. A sliding sinker, a long leader and a single hook with a leech or a crawler, drifted slowly on the bottom. It does the same job as the harness when the fish want a slower, more natural presentation. (This slip-sinker live-bait rig does not have its own page yet; for now build the very similar bottom-bouncer harness on the walleye jig rig page, or fish a plain sliding-sinker rig with a live-bait hook.)
- Finding spread-out walleye over the reefs and flats → trolling rig. Crankbaits, or a spinner harness on a bottom-bouncer, run behind a moving boat to cover water until you find the fish, then slow down and jig them.
- Winter, through the ice → ice fishing rig. A jig or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head worked by hand over a hole for walleye, sauger and jumbo perch, and a tip-up with a dead-bait for pike. The resorts put you on safe ice in a heated house; the ice safety is the first thing, not the rig.
- Pike, the bonus predator → pike rig. A wire or heavy fluorocarbon trace, then a big soft shad, spoon or spinnerbait (lure version) or a dead-bait (bait and tip-up version). The trace is the one non-negotiable, because pike teeth cut a light leader.
- Lake sturgeon, on the Rainy River → sturgeon rig. A heavy sliding-sinker bottom rig with a strong leader and a sturgeon-legal hook, baited and anchored over the river holes. A big-fish, heavy-tackle method, mostly catch and release.
The knots that tie these rigs are the Palomar (the workhorse, for jigheads, hooks, swivels and the bottom-bouncer), the improved clinch (for the mono and fluorocarbon joins) and the non-slip loop (a free-moving loop at a jighead or lure). Each rig page links to the knots it needs.
Build your kit (the kit builder and the shopping list)
Pick your fish and whether you are in open water or on the ice, and the kit builder trims the shopping list and the rigs to what you need. A medium spinning outfit and a small box of jigs, hooks and weights build the walleye and perch work, and carry into winter on a short ice rod. Pike adds a trace and bigger lures; sturgeon is a separate heavy outfit. No brands, no prices.
Walleye & sauger, Yellow perch, Northern pike and Lake sturgeon from the bank and a boat: walleye jig rig, trolling rig, ice fishing rig, pike rig and sturgeon rig. 25 items to pack.
| Item | Spec | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| Rod & reel | ||
| Spinning rod | 1.8 – 2.1 m (6 – 7 ft), medium-light to medium, fast tip | walleye jig rig, live-bait rig, perch, smallmouth |
| Reel | 2500 – 3000 size, smooth drag (for example a Shimano Sienna) | all open-water rigs |
| Ice rod (winter) | a short 60 – 90 cm (24 – 36 in) ice rod and small reel | the ice fishing rig; often supplied with a resort ice house |
| Trolling / baitcasting outfit (optional) | a medium baitcasting rod and line-counter reel | trolling the harness or crankbaits; only if trolling |
| Heavy sturgeon outfit (optional) | a heavy 2.1 m (7 ft) rod and strong reel | the sturgeon rig only; a separate big-fish outfit |
| Lines | ||
| Main line | 10 – 14 lb (≈4.5 – 6.4 kg) braid, or 8 – 10 lb (≈3.6 – 4.5 kg) mono for live-bait work | walleye jig rig, live-bait rig, trolling |
| Leader | 8 – 12 lb (≈3.6 – 5.4 kg) fluorocarbon | walleye and perch (low visibility in the stained water) |
| Pike trace | a wire trace, or 0.50 – 0.90 mm heavy fluorocarbon | pike only (teeth cut a light leader) |
| Sturgeon main line and leader | 50 – 80 lb (≈23 – 36 kg) braid and a strong mono/fluoro leader | sturgeon rig only |
| Terminal tackle | ||
| Jigs | 1/8 – 3/8 oz (≈3.5 – 11 g), bright and natural heads | walleye jig rig, perch, smallmouth |
| Live-bait (Lindy) rig parts | a sliding/walking sinker, a bead, a swivel and a long-shank live-bait hook | the live-bait rig (walleye on leech or crawler) |
| Bottom-bouncer and spinner harness | a 1 – 2 oz (≈28 – 57 g) bottom-bouncer and a two-hook spinner-blade worm harness | trolling the harness (walleye) |
| Hooks | size 6 to 1 for live bait and perch | walleye jig rig, perch, live-bait rig |
| Swivels | small, plus a couple of larger for the pike trace and the bottom-bouncer | most rigs, the pike trace, joining leader |
| Ice jigs and spoons (winter) | small jigging spoons and tear-drop jigs | the ice fishing rig (walleye, sauger, perch) |
| Tip-up (winter) | a tip-up with a wire leader for pike | the ice fishing rig (pike) |
| Sturgeon terminal | a heavy sliding sinker (no-roll), a strong leader and a circle hook | the sturgeon rig only |
| Lures & bait | ||
| Soft-plastic paddletails / twister tails | 3 – 4 in (≈7.5 – 10 cm), chartreuse, white, gold and natural | walleye jig rig, perch (jig) |
| Live bait | a minnow, a leech or a nightcrawler (worm); a minnow head for perch and the ice | walleye jig rig, live-bait rig, perch, ice fishing rig |
| Trolling lures | small to medium crankbaits to run behind the boat | trolling (walleye) |
| Big shads / spoons / spinnerbaits | for pike on a trace, plus a smelt or sucker dead-bait | pike (lures and tip-up) |
| Sturgeon bait | a gob of nightcrawlers (worms) or a frozen emerald shiner | sturgeon rig only |
| Other kit | ||
| Landing net, cradle and unhooking gear | a big net for pike and a cradle for sturgeon, long forceps and side-cutters and an unhooking mat | everything, pike and sturgeon especially |
| Sounder | a sounder for finding the fish on a boat | everything on a boat |
| Warm layers and ice cleats (winter) | warm, layered clothing and ice cleats; a resort ice house usually supplies the rod, heater and bait | the winter trip |
That is the whole list. A medium spinning outfit, a spool of braid, a spool of fluoro leader, and a small box of jigs, hooks, weights, swivels and soft plastics build the everyday walleye and perch work, and carry into winter on a short ice rod. Add a wire trace and bigger lures for pike, a trolling outfit if you will troll, and a separate heavy outfit for sturgeon. Buy generic sizes and types; you do not need a named brand to catch a walleye.
A trip checklist
Before you go: check your dates against the seasons (the opener, the Rainy River spring rule, the sturgeon windows, or the ice season), buy the Minnesota licence, book a resort for the boat or the ice house, pack the one shared kit, and note the border-water limits and the protected slot. Then print the cheat sheet and take it with you.
Do this in order:
- Check your dates against the seasons. Confirm the fish you want is open on your days (the "what's on" strip above). The lake walleye opener is mid-May (9 May in 2026); the Rainy River is catch and release for walleye until 14 April; the sturgeon keep-windows are late April to early May and July to September; winter ice runs roughly late December to late March.
- Buy the Minnesota licence. Online at dnr.state.mn.us, in the app, or at a resort or bait shop. The 7-day card suits most visitors. Add a sturgeon tag if you intend to keep one. Carry it while you fish.
- Book a resort, for the boat or the ice house. A resort supplies the guide and the boat in open water, or a heated ice house with transport in winter, and it knows where the fish are and where the ice is safe. Book by season (open-water guided trip, or a winter ice-house package).
- Pack the one kit. A medium spinning outfit, braid, fluoro leader, the small jig-and-hook box, soft plastics and a net. Add a wire trace for pike, a short ice rod for winter (check what the resort supplies), and a heavy outfit for sturgeon. The shopping list above (trimmed by the kit builder) is your packing list.
- Note the limits. Walleye and sauger combined 6, no more than 4 walleye, every walleye 19.5 to 28 inches released, one over 28 allowed. Perch 20 a day. Pike 3 a day, 30 to 40 inches released. Sturgeon one a year with a tag, in the slot. Wet hands, release carefully, follow the consumption advice.
- Print the cheat sheet and fold it into the box. Get the printable cheat sheet
Common mistakes
The big ones: fishing the Rainy River in spring without reading the catch-and-release rule, keeping a walleye in the 19.5 to 28 inch protected slot, treating winter ice as an afterthought instead of a real trip, going out on uncertain ice, expecting much bank fishing on the open lake, and bringing the wrong line for pike or sturgeon. None is hard to avoid once you know.
- Ignoring the Rainy River spring rule. From 1 March to 14 April the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay are catch and release for walleye and sauger. The run is famous, but you cannot keep fish from the river in that window. Read the river rule before you go.
- Keeping a slot walleye. Every walleye from 19.5 to 28 inches (about 50 to 71 cm) goes back, and you may keep just one over 28 inches. This is the rule that grows the big fish, and it is enforced. Keep the small-to-mid walleye and the sauger.
- Treating winter as a fallback. The ice fishery here is a destination in its own right, fished from comfortable heated houses, not a poor substitute for summer. If you can only come in winter, book it properly.
- Going out on uncertain ice. Ice fishing this lake is safe when you let a resort put you on proven ice in a known house. Do not wander out on ice you cannot judge. The ice safety comes before the fishing.
- Expecting a bank trip on the open lake. This is a boat-and-resort lake in open water. The Rainy River and Zippel Bay give some bank access, but for the lake itself you want a boat, and the easy route is a resort.
- Bringing the wrong line. For pike a wire or heavy fluorocarbon trace is essential, because pike teeth cut a light leader. For sturgeon you need a heavy outfit with strong line; light walleye gear will not land a fish that size.
Frequently asked questions
The questions travelling anglers ask most about Lake of the Woods: what is here, the Minnesota licence, prices, the border-water walleye and sauger limits, the seasons, bank versus boat, the winter ice fishing, what you can eat, getting on the water, and the kit.
Walleye and sauger are the headline, fished together under one combined limit. Yellow perch fill the freezer, northern pike and smallmouth bass add the bite, and lake sturgeon run the Rainy River. Walleye is the reason most visitors come, in open water from a boat in summer and through the ice in winter.
Yes. You need a Minnesota fishing licence, bought online at the Minnesota DNR, in the app, or at a resort or bait shop. One licence covers the Minnesota side of the lake. To fish the Ontario (Canadian) side you would need a separate Ontario licence. Buy it before you fish.
For 2026, a non-resident annual individual licence is $51, with short-term options at $14 for 24 hours, $36 for 72 hours, and $43 for 7 days (Minnesota DNR). Buy online at dnr.state.mn.us, in the DNR app, or at resorts and bait shops around Baudette.
It is a border water with special limits: a combined daily limit of 6 walleye and sauger, of which no more than 4 may be walleye. Every walleye from 19.5 to 28 inches (about 50 to 71 cm) must be released, with one over 28 inches allowed. Confirm the current limits before you keep a fish.
The lake walleye opener is mid-May (9 May in 2026), running through autumn. The Rainy River is catch and release for walleye until 14 April, then keep. Pike and perch are open all year. Lake sturgeon has narrow keep-windows. Winter ice fishing runs roughly late December to late March.
This is mostly a boat-and-resort lake in open water. The Rainy River and the Zippel Bay area give some bank and small-boat access, but for the open lake you want a boat. The easy route for a visitor is a resort that supplies the guide and the boat, or a winter ice house.
Yes. Lake of the Woods is one of the great ice-fishing destinations in North America, fished from comfortable heated ice houses that the resorts tow out onto the lake, for walleye, sauger and jumbo perch, plus pike on tip-ups. It is a destination in its own right, roughly late December to late March.
Walleye, sauger and yellow perch are superb eating, kept within the border-water limits. You must release every walleye from 19.5 to 28 inches, keeping one over 28. Lake sturgeon are mostly catch and release with a narrow keep-season. Northern pike from 30 to 40 inches must go back. Follow the state consumption advice.
The standard route is a resort. The Baudette and Williams resorts (Zippel Bay Resort, Ballard's, Border View Lodge, Sportsman's Lodge) run guided open-water trips and tow heated ice houses out in winter, supplying the boat and the gear. There are public launches on the Rainy River and at Zippel Bay for your own boat.
A medium spinning outfit (1.8 – 2.1 m rod, 2500 – 3000 reel, 10 – 14 lb braid, an 8 – 12 lb fluoro leader) and a small box of jigs, hooks, weights and soft plastics build the walleye and perch work, and carry into winter on a short ice rod. Add a wire trace for pike and a heavy outfit for sturgeon.
Print it and go fishing.
That is the whole plan: the fish and where each one holds, how the lake changes month by month and into the ice season, what you can keep, the Minnesota licence and the border-water limits, where to fish, the resort and boat options, the rigs and the one box of tackle that builds them. Print the cheat sheet, fold it into your box, and go.
New water now and then
New water added now and then. I'll email you when there's a new place to fish. Nothing else.