As of October 9, 2024, the fishing scene at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota is buzzing with activity. The weather is cooling down, with water temperatures now at around 64°F, which is ideal for fall fishing.

For those planning to head out, sunrise is at about 7:30 AM, and sunset will be around 6:30 PM. While Lake of the Woods is a large, inland lake and does not have tides, the changing water temperatures and daylight hours are triggering a strong bite.

Yesterday, anglers on the south end of the lake reported excellent walleye and sauger fishing. Fish are being found in depths ranging from 24 to 31 feet, particularly around areas like Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, Zippel Bay, and Long Point. These spots are producing good numbers of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and even some pike.

The best method right now is vertical jigging with frozen or live emerald shiners. Successful jig colors include gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, and pink, with gold combined with any of these colors often being a good choice. Drifting spinners with night crawlers or trolling crankbaits are also effective techniques.

For those targeting smallmouth bass, the Rainy River is a great option, with a good bite reported on both the lake and the river. Sturgeon fishing is also picking up as the water cools, though it's catch-and-release until April 2025.

If you're looking for hot spots, consider the areas around Lighthouse Gap and westward to Morris Point and Zippel Bay. The Northwest Angle is also seeing strong walleye action on both sides of the border, with fish using areas from mud flats to structured zones with current.

Overall, it's a great time to be on Lake of the Woods, with a mixed bag of fish common and the bite expected to get even better as the days get shorter and the water cools further.