As of October 20, 2024, the fishing scene at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota is nothing short of exceptional. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Conditions
The weather is transitioning into fall, with water temperatures now in the low to mid 50s. This cooler water has significantly enhanced the jig bite, making it an ideal time for walleye and sauger fishing. Expect partly cloudy skies with mild temperatures, perfect for a day on the lake.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at around 7:45 AM, and sunset will be at approximately 6:15 PM, giving you ample daylight to explore the vast waters of Lake of the Woods.

### Fish Activity
Walleye and sauger fishing remains excellent on the south end of the lake. Anglers are finding fish in depths ranging from 20 to 25 feet across the south shore. The areas around Lighthouse Gap, where the Rainy River enters Lake of the Woods, west to Morris Point, Zippel Bay, and Long Point are all producing nice catches.

### Types and Amounts of Fish
Yesterday saw a mixed bag of fish, with walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, pike, smallmouth bass, and muskies all being caught. Walleyes and saugers are the most sought after, but the fall season also brings active muskie and crappie fishing.

### Best Lures and Bait
Jigging with frozen or live emerald shiners is catching most of the fish. Successful jig colors in the stained waters include gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, and pink. Combining gold with any of these colors often yields good results. Drifting spinners with night crawlers or trolling crankbaits are also effective, especially in areas with structure like points and neck down areas with some current.

### Hot Spots
- **Lighthouse Gap to Morris Point**: This area is known for its consistent walleye and sauger catches, especially over deep mud and structure.
- **Zippel Bay to Long Point**: These areas are holding good numbers of fish, including walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch.
- **Northwest Angle**: Fishing on both the Minnesota and Ontario sides is excellent, with fish using various areas such as points and neck down areas with current.

### Additional Tips
Using sonar to locate schools of fish over deep mud, sand, and areas of structure is highly recommended. Anchoring up for about 30 minutes in these spots can give you a good idea of what is living in the area.

With the fall bite in full swing, Lake of the Woods is offering some of the best fishing of the year. Make sure to bundle up, as the cooler weather is setting in, and get ready to make some incredible fall fishing memories.