On Minnesota’s legendary Lake of the Woods, fall brings more than just beauty; it brings some of the most consistent, exciting, and rewarding walleye fishing of the year. And with a few key strategies in your back pocket, you can turn a good day on the water into one you’ll never forget.

Lake or river? Know your water

As summer fades and daylight shortens, walleye behavior shifts. Cooling water temps and falling leaves signal one thing: Fish are putting on the feed bag. Where you fish—lake or river—often depends on where the shiner run is happening.

Lake of the Woods is loaded with walleyes all year, but when emerald shiners start running into the Rainy River, big numbers of walleyes follow. Keep tabs on local reports, the Lake of the Woods Tourism Facebook page or resort social media pages to know if the river bite is heating up. If the run hasn’t started or is slow, the lake remains a solid bet.

Fish the Gaps

The Lighthouse Gap, where the Rainy River enters the lake, and the Morris Point Gap, where Bostic Creek flows into the big lake, are fall hot spots. Both serve as natural funnels where walleyes gather during the shiner migration. Anchoring up or Spot-Locking and vertically jigging with minnows in these zones often results in fast action.

Don’t forget the Northwest Angle

The Northwest Angle is a world-class fishery on its own. In the fall, look to rocky points, neck-down areas, and stretches of soft-bottom flats in 10 to 20 feet of water. This area consistently produces fish thanks to a rich mix of structure and forage.

Stretch the river

The Rainy River offers 42 miles of navigable water from Wheeler’s Point to Birchdale Rapids. Conditions can vary, so doing your homework—checking reports, asking local resorts, or just getting out and exploring—goes a long way. Don’t be afraid to trailer upstream if reports indicate a hot bite.

When the shiners are running, it isn’t uncommon to see multiple boats towards the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler’s Point area in front of the many resorts in this area, with lots of nets swinging. Let’s just say that the fish cleaning shacks are busy and full of good fish stories.

Jigs vs. cranks: match the mood

Trolling crankbaits is deadly in fall, especially for covering water and triggering reaction bites on both the lake and the river. As the water cools further, walleyes often shift toward preferring a slower, more vertical presentation. That’s when anchoring up and jigging with minnows shines.

Spinners

Spinners (a.k.a. crawler harnesses) shouldn’t be overlooked in fall. In stained waters, the vibration, flash, and scent combo can be magic, plus you are covering water. Slowly trolling them on the lake through good schools of fish, or on the river, trolling them upstream through holes, over flats and in current break areas, are all effective.

Read the current

River anglers must adapt to changing flow. In high current, target slack-water along edges or behind points. When flow is light, deeper holes or mid-river seams can be productive. Give each spot a fair shot—about 30 to 45 minutes—and move if you’re not seeing life.

Jig nuances matter

A basic jig-and-minnow combo catches plenty of fish, but small tweaks can make a big difference. Consider jigs with rattles, blades, or unusual head shapes to add sound and flash in stained water. On tough days, the little things often trigger more bites.

Know your minnows

In fall, emerald shiners are a preferred meal for walleyes. If you can get them live, and this time of year is when bait dealers net them, great. If not, frozen shiners are a solid option. For a good hook-setting percentage, run the hook of the jig through the shiner’s mouth and out the gill, turn the hook, slide it up the jig, and hook the minnow through the midsection. It keeps the bait intact and boosts hookups.

Don’t forget the stinger

A stinger hook—a small treble connected to your main jig hook—is your best friend when fish are short-striking or biting light. It’s surprising how many quality walleyes are landed on that tiny treble when the main hook gets missed.

There’s a reason Lake of the Woods fall fishing is on every walleye angler’s bucket list. It’s a magical time when nature is on full display, and the fish are feeding hard. Whether it’s a pile of eaters for a fresh fish fry or that trophy you’ve been chasing all season, fall delivers.

For more insight and tips for fishing throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.