As of October 16, 2024, the fishing scene at Lake of the Woods in Minnesota is thriving, especially with the fall season in full swing. Here’s what you need to know for a successful day on the water.

### Weather and Water Conditions
The weather is crisp with a hint of frost, typical for this time of year. Water temperatures have cooled down to around 64°F, which is ideal for walleye and sauger activity. The lake's water level is stable, and there are no significant tidal changes to worry about, as Lake of the Woods is a freshwater lake.

### Sunrise and Sunset
Sunrise today is at about 7:30 AM, and sunset is around 6:00 PM, giving you ample daylight to fish.

### Fish Activity
Walleye and sauger fishing remains excellent on the south end of the lake. Anglers are enjoying consistent action, particularly in the deeper waters. Fish are being found at various depths, but the sweet spot is consistently around 18 to 29 feet.

### Catches
Yesterday saw good numbers of walleyes and saugers being caught. The deep mud areas, especially those transitioning from sand to mud, are holding significant schools of fish. Anglers reported catching some impressive walleyes, with some reaching trophy sizes.

### Best Lures and Bait
For jigging, gold, orange, chartreuse, and pink jigs are performing well, especially when tipped with frozen emerald shiners. Drifting or trolling crawler harnesses with two-hook setups and spinner blades in colors like gold, gold/pink, pink, orange, glow red, or glow white are also highly effective. Using a 2 to 3-ounce weight or bottom bouncer with these setups has been successful.

### Hot Spots
One of the hot spots is the area from Long Point straight east to the US/Canadian Border, and up to Garden Island. This deep-water triangle is holding a significant number of big walleyes and saugers. Another productive area is the deep mud regions, particularly where the mud transitions to sand.

Overall, the conditions are perfect for a great day of fishing at Lake of the Woods. Make sure to use your sonar technology to locate schools of fish and adjust your techniques accordingly. Happy fishing