Lake of the Woods, MN

Lake of the Woods, fed by the Rainy River and other tributaries, is a magnificent destination for sportfishermen and nature-lovers alike. At 1,680 square miles in area, the huge lake occupies parts of Minnesota as well as Ontario and Manitoba, Canada.

Despite its expanse, and its many square miles of deep, featureless mud flats, veteran fishing guide and Team Northland Pro Jon Newburgh of Baudette, Minn., says Lake of the Woods is one of the easiest walleye lakes to fish. Jigs, live bait rigs and crawler harnesses cover all the hardware an angler needs.

Vast areas of Lake of the Woods lie within Minnesota, and a general fishing license is all that s required if you remain within the boundaries. For 2016 the daily bag limit in Minnesota is 6 walleyes and saugers in combination, with no more than 4 being walleyes. There s also a protected slot limit of 19? to 28 inches, though one walleye within the legal bag may measure more than 28 inches. If you intend to fish Canadian waters, you ll need an Ontario and/or Manitoba fishing license, as well as your Passport and a Remote Area Border Crossing permit. You must follow reporting procedures, and observe all provincial fishing regulations regarding bag limits and tackle restrictions.

1. According to Newburgh, who guides out of Wheelers Point Resort Lodge, Lighthouse Gap, between Sable Island and Pine Island in Fourmile Bay is a productive and popular spot for walleyes from late May through early June. Fish the gap as well as the sandbar that extends into the lake. He recommends vertical jigging a Fire-Ball Jig or Swivel-Head Jig tipped with a frozen shiner or white Impulse Paddle Minnow in 13 to 19 feet of water. The gap gets a lot of boat traffic, as well as numbers of anglers; it s best to anchor and jig below the boat rather than drifting or trolling, he says, and stay on the Pine Island side as the borderline runs down the middle of the gap. Current strength varies with the flow from an upstream dam on the Rainy River, so necessary jig weights range from 3/8 to 1 ounce. In the lake s tannic-stained water, Gold is a go-to jig color, but Bubblegum is hot as well. I ve done very well with the Bublegum Fire-Ball Jig and white Impulse Paddle Minnow, he says.

2. Later in June many walleyes have moved over lake s the vast mudflats. Anglers must search for fish on sonar or by making long drifts with a live bait rig, Baitfish Spinner Rig or Baitfish Spinner Harness behind a ?-ounce Roach Walker Sinker or Rock-Runner Bottom Bouncer, according to Newburgh. Spice the hooks with Impulse Nightcrawlers, Rig n Leeches, live bait or frozen shiners. In addition, the guide suggests fishing the structure-rich reefs and shoals near Knight Island. Anchor off edges of rockpiles and humps and vertical jig ?- to 3/8-ounce RZ Jigs using the baits already mentioned, he says.

3. Through July and August look for walleyes and on the flats as well, especially in the great expanse between Garden Island to the north and Long Point

on the south shoreline, as well as the zone out from Pine Island. They are big areas, says Newburg, but you ll find walleyes there in the summer. If you choose to bypass the Pine Island Flats, the guide suggests starting your search closer to Long Point as the bottom falls faster, and drift or troll the baits, crawler harnesses and spinner rigs already mentioned behind a 1-ounce bottom bouncer. Gold is a standard color, and when I m fishing crawlers, I like some gold in the blade Gold Perch or Gold Shiner. With leeches, bright blade colors work better. Dace Pink is a great option, he says.

4. Walleyes start moving back toward Rainy River in September and October. Among the early-fall hotspots is the area off Zippel Bay. Newburgh recommends vertical jigging or drifting Fire-Ball Jig, RZ Jig or Swivel-Head Jigs, starting at the 20-foot contour, and moving shallower or deeper until you connect with fish. A white or emerald shiner Impulse Paddle Minnow is a good bait option, as are frozen or live shiners. Lighthouse Gap is another good spot this time of year as shiners are beginning to move upriver now, and walleyes stage there to intercept them.

Licensing and Limits on Lake of the Woods

NOTICE: AS OF MARCH 1, 2019, FISHING LIMITS HAVE CHANGED. NOW THE LIMIT IS 6 FISH 4 OF WHICH CAN BE WALLEYES AND ONLY 2 SAUGERS. PLEASE CHECK MN DNR FOR MORE INFO.

You ve probably already heard that ice fishing on Lake of the Woods is in full swing. Here s your invitation to come and enjoy some great days on the ice. One of the most frequently asked questions at the Tourism Bureau is about obtaining that fishing license. That s no problem because we have various businesses that have them ready to sell.

Driving into town you ll find a great bait store called Steve s Lucky Bait. They have a great variety of fishing tackle and will accommodate you any time you drive into town to insure you get your license and all the tackle and bait you need They are open 24 hours per day.

Another great fishing store in Baudette is located also on Hwy 11, the main highway through town. Outdoors Again built an enormous building where you can find all your lake maps, tackle, bait, clothing, hunting blinds, guns, and permanent and portable ice shacks. Wow!!

In addition to places in Baudette to get your fishing license, there are also bait shops up near Wheelers Point such as Log Cabin Bait and Border Bait who do a great job. Both have a full line of fishing equipment and a variety of bait.

Holiday Station store and our Cenex Coop also sell licenses and as an added plus, most resorts carry them also. Some resorts furnish customers with poles and bait for ice fishing and others assume you will bring your own. It is best to check with the resort you are going out fishing with.

For those who like to plan ahead, the MN DNR now sells licenses online. This is a convenient way to make sure you are prepared.

Some of our NW Angle resorts will actually guide you into Ontario waters in addition to MN. If you are fishing in Ontario, they too have an online portal to order your license. Consult with your resort if you have any questions on Ontario licenses.

Overall, the ice fishing limit for walleyes and sauger is a combined limit of 8 fish. Up to 4 of those 8 can be walleyes, the rest saugers. The slot limit for walleyes on Lake of the Woods MN is 19 ? to 28 , meaning walleyes between this slot must be immediately released. Anglers are allowed to keep one walleye per day 28″ or over.

Most anglers will keep the walleyes under 19.5″ for the fry pan and if you happen to catch a trophy over 28″, most take a pic and release it or keep it for a mount. Some anglers are now taking a pic and releasing the fish as graphite mounts are very quality, have come down in price and allows the fish to live.

The possession limit in MN is the same as your daily catch. Hence, anglers who are fishing for two or three days usually have a meal of fresh walleyes or two while up.

Northern Pike is continuous fishing with the limit being 3 (all from 30-40 must be released. Only one over 40 allowed in possession). Crappie season is continuous with a limit of 10 and Yellow Perch is continuous and you may keep 20 fish per day.

For a complete list of fishing regulations for Lake of the Woods, consult the MN DNR.

Another added plus is that ice houses may remain on our waters through March 31 each year. That s the news, so plan your trip now because the fish are BITING.

What is the slot limit on lake of the woods

1 Under 36 Inches

1 Over 36 Inches Annually with Tag

10 (including no more than 4 Smallmouth)

EXCEPTIONS:

1. The following bodies of water are restricted as follows:
   1. Horseshoe Bend Pool (Strawberry River in Izard County) 1/2 the daily limit for all sportfish.
   2. Lake Poinsett All game fish except catfish must be released immediately, with a catfish daily limit of 5. Effective January 1, 2022, all game fish except bream and catfish must be released immediately, with a bream daily limit of 25.
   3. Mercer Bayou (Sulphur River WMA) no daily limit for harvest of game fish.
   1. Smallmouth bass:
      1. Ozark Zone (Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Cleburne, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Newton, Randolph, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Burenand Washington counties) smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 12 inches with a daily limit of 4, except Bull Shoals, Beaver, Greers Ferry, Table Rock, and Norfork lakes (see Ex. 1(B) below). Greers Ferry Lake smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 12 inches, daily limit 6.
      2. Ozark Zone Blue Ribbon Streams Crooked Creek from Arkansas Highway 101 bridge downstream to the confluence with the White River; between the U.S. Highways 62-412 and U.S. Highway 62 Spur bridges at Pyatt smallmouth bass minimum length limit 18 inches, daily limit of 1; Buffalo River from confluence with Clabber Creek downstream to the confluence with the White River smallmouth bass minimum length limit 18 inches, daily limit of 1; all other water of Crooked Creek and Buffalo River smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 14 inches, daily limit of 2.
      3. Ozark Zone Catch-and-Release Area Crooked Creek, along boundary of Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation property near Kelley’s Slab Access.
      4. Ozark Zone Quality Streams Kings River from Trigger Gap to U.S. Highway 62 bridge smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 18 inches, daily limit of 1; all other water of the Kings, Illinois, Spring, South Fork of the Spring and Eleven Point rivers and War Eagle Creek smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 14 inches, daily limit of 2.
      5. Ouachita/Boston Zone (all Arkansas counties not included in the Ozark Zone) smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 10 inches, daily limit of 4.
      6. Ouachita/Boston Zone Quality Streams (Mulberry, Caddo above DeGray Lake, DeGray Lake, Cossatot River, Ouachita River upstream from Lake Ouachita, Ouachita River downstream from Remmel Dam, Saline River, including its 4headwater forks in Saline, Perry and Garland counties, South Fork/Ouachita, Little Missouri above Lake Greeson) smallmouth bass minimum length limit of 12 inches, daily limit of 2.
      7. Ouachita/Boston Zone Catch-and-Release Area all smallmouth bass caught in Lake Catherine must be immediately returned to the water.
      1. Lake Terre Noire, Lake June, and Lake Sylvia daily limit 5.
      2. Lake Millwood daily limit 6.
      3. Mallard Lake daily limit 1.
      4. Marion McCollum Lake, Lake Sylvia Largemouth bass caught must be immediately returned to the water.
      1. Beaver, Bull Shoals, DeGray, Norfork, Table Rock lakes, Lake Jack Nolen, Ouachita, Ashbaugh daily limit 6.
      2. Lake Lou Emma daily limit 5.
      3. War Eagle Creek daily limit 2.
      4. Lakes Ouachita, DeGray, and Greeson in addition to the daily limit of black basses, 10 spotted bass may be taken.
      1. No limit on catfish on Grand Lake Chicot County, Lake Chicot (including that portion of Connerly Bayou downstream from Connerly Dam to the bayou’s mouth and Ditch Bayou from the inlet on Lake Chicot to Ditch Bayou Dam) and between the main levees of the Mississippi River, from the confluence of the Mississippi/White rivers upstream to the Benzal Railroad Bridge, and from the confluence of the Mississippi/Arkansas rivers upstream to the Yancopin Railroad Bridge.
      2. No limit on blue and channel catfish from Little River (below Millwood Dam) Red and Sulphur rivers.
      3. No limit on channel catfish on Marion McCollum Lake Greenlee Monroe County and Lake Erling.
      4. Catfish daily limit 5 in DeWitt City Park Lake (Arkansas County); Lake Atalanta (Benton County); Hidden Lake (Carroll County); Big Timber Lake and Gurdon Lake (Clark County); Hubble Lake (Clay County); Lake Bailey (Conway County); Lake Cambadelle and Lake Lou Emma (Crawford County); Marion City Park Lake (Crittenden County); Village Creek State Park Lakes (Cross and St. Francis Counties); Lake Bennett (Faulkner County); Lake Clearfork (Garland County); Crowley Ridge State Park Lake and Reynolds Park Lake (Greene County); Newark City Lake (Independence County); Lake June (Lafayette County); Ward City Park Lake (Lonoke County); Hindsville Lake (Madison County); Blytheville City Park Lake (Mississippi County); Donald Branch Fishing Pond (Monroe County); Lake Sylvia (Perry County); Shady Lake (Polk County); Twin Lakes A and B, Camp Ferncliff (Pulaski County); Old Davidsonville State Park Lake (Randolph County); Forrest City Park Lake (St. Francis County); Truman Baker Lake (Scott County); Cave City's Lakes (Sharp County); Gunner Pool and Hayden Bend Pond (Stone County); Devils Den State Park (Washington County); Spring Lake, Kingfisher, Clubhouse Lakes in Petit Jean WMA (Yell County) and posted USDA Forest Service ponds and lakes.
      5. In addition to daily limit, 10 channel catfish may be taken on the Arkansas River.
      6. In addition to daily limit, 10 blue catfish may be taken in Lake Erling.
      1. Crappie daily limit 15 in Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork reservoirs, Cane Creek Lake (Lincoln County),Gurdon Lake (Clark County) and Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc Lake.
      2. Crappie daily limit 50 between the main levees of the Mississippi River, from the confluence of the Mississippi/White rivers upstream to the Benzal Railroad Bridge, from the confluence of the Mississippi/Arkansas rivers upstream to the Yancopin Railroad Bridge and on Horseshoe Lake (Crittenden County).
      3. Crappie daily limit 20 in Lake Chicot and Blue Mountain Lake.
      4. No crappie daily limit on Lake Charles, Lake Frierson, and Lake Hogue.
      1. Beaver Lake and its tributaries; Table Rock Lake and its tributaries to Beaver Dam; Bull Shoals Lake, and Norfork Lake minimum length limit of 18 inches, daily limit 4.
      2. In compliance with Addendum N1.02 and Code Chapter 28.00.
      1. White bass:
         1. Between the main levees of the Mississippi river, from the confluence of the Mississippi and White rivers upstream to the Benzal Railroad Bridge, and from the confluence of the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers upstream to the Yancopin Railroad Bridge daily limit of 50, possession limit of 100.
         2. Beaver Lake and its tributaries; Bob Kidd Lake; Greers Ferry Lake and its tributaries; Lakes Ashbaugh, Sequoyah, and Monticello no limit.
         1. Beaver and Norfork Lakes; Lake Ouachita daily limit 3.
         2. Arkansas River and connecting lakes daily limit 10.
         3. Lake Monticello no limit.
         1. Alligator gar longer than 36 inches may not be harvested from noon May 1 noon July 1 statewide.
         2. Alligator Gar Tag is required to harvest alligator gar over 36 inches (Code 26.28).
         1. Brown trout:
            1. White River from Bull Shoals Dam to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge (Bull Shoals Tailwater) and North Fork White River (Norfork Tailwater) minimum length 24 inches, daily limit 1; only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches.
            2. Spavinaw Creek (Benton County) west of Arkansas Highway 59 minimum length 16 inches, daily limit 2.
            3. Spring River (from 100 yards below Dam No.1 at Mammoth Spring State Park to the mouth of Myatt Creek.) minimum length 14 inches, daily limit 1; only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches.
            4. Little Red River from Greers Ferry Dam to Arkansas Highway 305 Bridge (Greers Ferry Tailwater) daily limit of 5 (only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches).
            5. White River from Beaver Dam to boundary signs at Houseman Access (Beaver Tailwater) protected slot limit of 13-16 inches, daily limit of 5 (only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches).
            6. Little Missouri River from Narrows Dam to Arkansas Highway 27 Bridge (Narrows Tailwater) all brown trout must be released immediately.
            1. White River from Bull Shoals Dam to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge (Bull Shoals Tailwater) minimum length 24 inches, daily limit of 1; only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches.
            2. North Fork White River (Norfork Tailwater), Spavinaw Creek (Benton County) west of Arkansas Highway 59 minimum length 16 inches, daily limit of 2.
            3. Little Red River from Greers Ferry Dam to Arkansas Highway 305 Bridge (Greers Ferry Tailwater) only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches.
            4. White River from Beaver Dam to boundary signs at Houseman Access (Beaver Tailwater) protected slot limit of 13-16 inches (only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches).
            1. White River from Bull Shoals Dam to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge (Bull Shoals Tailwater), North Fork White River (Norfork Tailwater) minimum length 14 inches,daily limit of 1; only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches.
            2. Spavinaw Creek (Benton County) west of Arkansas Highway 59 minimum length 14 inches, daily limit 2.
            3. Little Red River from Greers Ferry Dam to Arkansas Highway 305 Bridge (Greers Ferry Tailwater) only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches.
            4. White River from Beaver Dam to boundary signs at Houseman Access (Beaver Tailwater) protected slot limit of 13-16 inches (only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches).
            1. Lake Atalanta (Benton County) daily limit of 5.
            2. White River from Bull Shoals Dam to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge (Bull Shoals Tailwater), North Fork White River (Norfork Tailwater), Spring River daily limit of 5 (only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches).
            3. Little Red River from Greers Ferry Dam to Arkansas Highway 305 Bridge (Greers Ferry Tailwater) daily limit of 5 (only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches).
            4. White River from Beaver Dam to boundary signs at Houseman Access (Beaver Tailwater) protected slot limit of 13-16 inches, daily limit of 5 (only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 16 inches).
            1. White River from Bull Shoals Dam to Arkansas Highway 58 Bridge (Bull Shoals Tailwater) and North Fork White River (Norfork Tailwater) minimum length 24 inches, daily limit 1; only 1 of trout daily limit may be longer than 14 inches.

            All fish measurements must follow procedures listed in the definition of Length Limits in Code 01.00-C.

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