Lake of the Woods is a vast body of water located on the U.S./Canada border. It is known as The Walleye Capital of the World as the lake and Rainy River are home to literally millions of walleyes, trophy walleyes and a fishery that kicks out good fish 12 months a year.

The lake has 14,552 islands, over 65,000 miles of shoreline and just about every kind of fish-holding areas anglers look for. There are many places to fish. And there are many ways to fish.

Where do you start? With its sheer size and so many choices, here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your Lake of the Woods fishing trip.

1. Initially, consider a guide or jump on a charter. If this is your first time to the lake or you simply want a relaxing fishing trip, much learning takes place by fishing a couple of days with someone who really knows and understands the water. I like to say that on your first time up you get a good lay of the land, and then decide if you should bring your own boat or rent a boat your next time up. Nearly everything you need: rods, reels, tackle, bait, fish cleaning and a very high probability of fishing success is included.

2. Do your homework. The fish are always biting somewhere on Lake of the Woods. The trick is to find the fish and understand what techniques the walleyes are responding to the best. The info is out there,;you just have to look for it prior to your trip. Lake of the Woods Tourism puts out a weekly fishing report that gives you a good starting point. After that, resort Facebook pages, talking to your resort prior to arriving, and bait shops can be good resources before you hit the water. Check out a map so you have a lay of the land prior to coming up. Navionics has a good map online for free as well, as an inexpensive map app for your smart phone with most lakes, including Lake of the Woods.

3. Most fish are caught close to the bottom. You will mark a lot of fish with your electronics. Some are suspended and, at times, these fish are caught. However, most fish caught during the open-water season on Lake of the Woods are relating to the bottom of the lake. Regardless of whether you are jigging, pulling spinners or trolling crankbaits, the fish you are most likely to catch are on the bottom. On occasion, tournament anglers will target suspended fish with success, but they are usually tough to catch.

4. Lure colors. The water on the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods is stained, meaning the tannins from bogs and other plants in the watershed cause the water to have a light brown or rusty color. This is actually a plus for walleye anglers, as the fish bite during the day and are less spooked. The go-to color in this stained water is gold. As one old timer put it, “You can use any color you want, as long as it’s gold.” Other bright colors such as orange, chartreuse, pink and glow are also good, but gold or combos of gold and these other colors are dynamite.

5. Get your jig on! Anchored up and jigging with a jig and frozen shiner is the ticket much of the year when the water is colder and fish are heavily schooled. As a rule of thumb, April, May, June, September, October and November, are good jigging months. Walleyes here prefer the bait presented vertically, rather than being drifted or trolled. Walleyes and saugersmove around a lot, and if you are anchored in an area with fish, they will find you.

6. Drifting or trolling ‘crawler harnesses. When water temps are above 50 degrees, usually June thru September, snelled spinners can be really good. The spinner has flash and vibration. Teamed up with a minnow or ‘crawler, it’s tough for a walleye to resist. The fact you can cover water when fish are spread out is another plus to this technique. It flat-out puts fish in the boat.

7. Crankin’. Trolling crankbaits is a strong technique on most bodies of water including Lake of the Woods. Believe it or not, there aren’t many months pulling cranks doesn’t work. In early spring or fall on the Rainy River, puling cranks in cold water can be really effective. Slowing down to 1.5 to 2 mph is a normally good rule of thumb. This technique covers water, will help you locate fish, produces reaction strikes and allows you to put your bait in the faces of many fish, which normally leads to success.

July through September, anglers troll the basin of LOW, which ranges from 32 to 37 feet deep, with great success. Downriggers, leadcore line or large, 3- to 4-ounce bottom bouncers with 6-foot fluorocarbon leader and shallow-diving crankbaits will get your lures down to the fish.

8. Pay attention to the charter boats. Charter boats are extremely effective at catching fish. Licensed charter captains spend a lot of time on the water and know what is happening. They also are networked with other guides and their business is to help their guests catch fish—and of course, make sure they are having a good time. There is plenty of water on Lake of the Woods to give them fishing space, but pay attention to where they are fishing and what they are doing.

9. Dress for success. It’s northern Minnesota. Some days might be 90 degrees. Other days at the same time of year, you need a sweatshirt in the morning. Be sure to dress in layers, bring rain gear in case of showers, carry sunscreen and wear a good pair of shades.

10. Know the fish limits and have proper tools on board. There is a slot limit on Lake of the Woods in which walleyes from 19.5 to 28 inches must be released. Anglers can keep a combined limit of walleyes/sauger of 6 per person with no more than four being walleyes. Only one walleye over 28 inches is allowed. Having a reliable measuring device is necessary, as you will catch some nice walleyes in the slot, along with your eaters, and maybe even a trophy or two.

Other advice

In addition to these tips, we encourage guests to have cellphones charged up for both communicating and taking pics of big fish. Some find it helpful to bring a backup battery pack on board.

Good food is part of the adventure. Eat at resorts, cook in your cabin or both. Sometimes, resorts offer meal plans called the “American Plan” that includes meals with your lodging and fishing package at reduced rates.

On most trips, Lake of the Woods does not disappoint. This is a very good fishery. That being said, there is a lot of water, and being familiar with some basic tips can really put the odds of a successful fishing trip in your favor.

The lodging community is very accommodating. Whether you bring your own boat and food or utilize resort packages, there are lots of ways to enjoy the area. In today’s world, creating special times like a fishing trip with friends or family is more important than ever. Knowing a few tips prior to your trip can make all the difference in the world.