As of November 23, 2024, the fishing scene at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota is thriving despite the onset of deer hunting season. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Sunrise/Sunset
The weather forecast for the next couple of weeks looks favorable, with unseasonably warm temperatures that are keeping the fish active. Today, expect a sunrise around 7:30 AM and a sunset at about 4:30 PM.

### Fish Activity
The walleye and sauger bite remains excellent across the lake. On the south end of Lake of the Woods, anglers are finding success in depths of 22-28 feet of water. Water temperatures are dropping, which has intensified the bite as the fish become more active with the cooling waters[1][3][5].

### Best Lures and Bait
Vertical jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the most effective method right now. Some anglers are also having success trolling crankbaits to cover more ground and find fish. For jig colors, gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, or pink are highly recommended, with a gold jig paired with any of these colors being a winning combination[1][2][5].

### Hot Spots
- **South Shore:** Focus on areas in 22-28 feet of water. The dropping water temperatures have made this depth particularly productive for walleyes and saugers.
- **Northwest Angle:** Points, neck-down areas with current, shoreline breaks, and transition zones from rock to mud are all productive locations. This area is traditionally a mixed bag, with walleyes, pike, jumbo perch, and crappies being caught. A jig and minnow is the most effective presentation here[1][3][5].

### Additional Notes
Sturgeon fishing remains strong, especially in the Rainy River, where good numbers of shiners are present. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open until the "keep season" starts on April 24th. Muskie fishing is also excellent, with both casting and trolling effective methods amongst the islands[1][3][5].

Overall, if you're not out deer hunting, now is a great time to take advantage of the excellent fall fishing at Lake of the Woods before the ice forms.