Last Call for Pre-Spawn Walleyes- Rainy River

Well, it has been a great start to the open water guiding season. I just wrapped up three awesome days on the Rainy River with two great guys who made the most of every minute out there.

Our bites were split evenly this year between a vertical jig and minnow presentation and a pitched jig and bright colored plastic. 

                                                            "Not bad...not bad."

It's certainly nice to get back into practice with boat control and netting fish.

I even got to catch a few myself. 

Larry tied his personal best for length, but this fish was heavy!

With MN Walleye season still three weeks away, I'll be doing C&R Sturgeon trips on the Rainy River (many dates are available). Also, it's looking like Leech Lake Crappie and Perch trips in the first half of May are going to happen this year!

                                                      Cheers and hook-sets,
                                                      Captain Phil

Respect

Wow do lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) have heart, they just don't give up. What a great success story here on the Rainy and St.Croix rivers. Their ancestors may have been swimming lakes and rivers since the triassic period some 245 to 208 million years ago. They have been around as we recognize them now since the upper cretaceous period 136 million years ago, during the peak of the dinosaurs. Many live in excess of 100 years. Respect.

Book your sturgeon adventure today at  

http://www.outrightangling.com

Cheers and hook-sets!

Whatever Floats Your Boat- Kicking off the Open Water Season

Two of us arrived at the Rainy River just after noon, launched and set up in 14 f.o.w. Our first spot was a good one as we managed 20+ fish from that one anchor position in just a couple of hours, with half of them being 23-1/2"-25-1/2". After the bite slowed we moved around quite a bit with only a few walleyes and one giant sturgeon to show for our efforts. It was amazing weather and a great afternoon on the water. Besides getting our first walleyes and sturgeon of the open water season, I got to enjoy my first open water sunset as well while my fishing partner fetched the truck. Open water has arrived in the north country!!

Lake of the Woods Walleyes pour into the Rainy River in March and April to stage for spawning. 

Temperature, flow and fishing pressure can affect the bite and walleyes are not always a sure thing.

On this afternoon, we experienced a couple hour bite window followed by the fish completely shutting down for the evening.

   Jigs and plastics can indeed put more fish in the boat than minnows when the fish are on the chew.Longer casts and faster presentations can be made with plastics, making it far more efficient at times.

Big lake sturgeon are abundant in the Rainy and can provide an awesome change of pace from jigging for walleyes. 

                           My first open water sunset was a good one too. Cheers and hook-sets!