Rainy Lake Houseboat Fishing Report

Walleye fishing is good. The walleyes are in their summer haunts. We have been catching fish on the islands, flats and break lines in 20-35 feet. The Anderson, Hitchcock, Finlander, Marion, Lost, Cranberry, and Dove Bays break lines have been good. The break lines are outside of the bays, the first off shore area 20-35 feet have been best. The 30-36 feet in the Fox Island area on both reefs and break lines has also been good. The break lines are the descending structure off shore. The break usually descends from 0-8 feet, 8-15 feet, and then 15- 35 feet.
 
When the wind blows Cranberry, Lost, Saginaw, Marion, Finlander and Hitchcock Bays have been good. The cabbage weeds are starting to grow to the surface. Trolling crawler harnesses on the windward edges of the weeds works great. 7-10 ft has been the best depths. In the evening trolling floating Rapala’s on the windy shore in 6-12 feet is good. Points from 12-25 feet on the windward sides are holding walleyes.  The current area in Brule Narrows is holding walleyes 30-40feet. The current is strong heavy jigs are needed tipped with minnows. Kettle River near the Kettle Falls Hotel has been good. Fish right in front of the Kettle Falls dock area in 15-35 feet and also right around the corner by the permanent dock. We have fairly strong current in the lake this year, it is starting to slow some but still a major factor.
 
Northern pike fishing has been good. The pike are into the cabbage beds in the afternoon. If there is a breeze use weedless spoons or spinner baits. If it is calm try a buzz bait on the surface black on cloudy days, white on sunny days. When it is cloudy fish the first rock points and shorelines outside the weedy bays. Shad Raps, X-raps, Rattle Traps, Husky Jerks are working well. Fish them with a stop and pause action.  We are catching a lot of good size northern mixed in with the walleyes. Pike have been suspending above the walleyes approximately 10 feet below the surface. Trolling with Shad Raps, Husky jerks, X-Raps or Rattle Traps is an excellent method to catch these fish.
 
Smallmouths are on the points, pockets, and underwater outcroppings. #3 Mepps Spinners, Tube jigs, 3” and 5” grub tails (greenish tinge is best) Husky Jerks and X-Raps are working well.  Fish the jerk baits and X-raps with a stop and go jerk action. The top water action has been excellent in the evenings and early mornings. The bass are schooled now, if you catch one there are more in the area. Please don’t kill the bass, they provide so much fun for so many people it is a shame to kill them.
 
Your fishing report is provided as a courtesy by the Rainy Lake Houseboat Guide staff.