Rainy Lake Fishing | International Falls MN Fishing Trips

What Makes Fishing Rainy Lake Special?

The exceptional fishing at Rainy Lake may be the best-kept secret in the state of Minnesota. As one of the premier fishing lakes in the Midwest, savvy anglers have praised Rainy Lake’s fast-paced fishing action throughout every season. Rainy Lake, the hotspot for Minnesota fishing trips, is in Voyageurs National Park (near International Falls), and features thousands of islands, bays, and reefs, not to mention over 225,000 acres of sky-blue waters. This favorable geography has created the ideal habitat for a wide range of fish species, which include:

Walleye
Saugers
Smallmouth bass
Northern pike
Crappies
Muskies

The population of these species remains high, as the lake has not experienced problematic overfishing. Many visitors reach their limits quickly, especially with the help of our experienced fishing guides, who know exactly where to go on the lake to find schools of fish. A Rainy Lake fishing trip can be an unforgettable experience, and our team is here to help you get the most out of yours.

Minnesota Fishing Trips For Both Pro Anglers and First Timers

Fishing Rainy Lake is a dream for all anglers. For our less experienced fishers, and even the more experienced ones who want some local tips, we have expert guides that can accompany you on your Rainy Lake fishing trip. Few lakes in the world can offer walleye, northern pike, smallmouth, black crappies and muskies for your fishing experience. Many professional anglers rank Rainy Lake as the very top multi-species lake in the world.

Rainy Lake Fishing Seasonal Considerations

If you’re looking for Rainy Lake fishing information that will help you reel in more keepers than you can count, the time of year is an important consideration. The fish at Rainy Lake behave differently depending on the season, so learn how to find them before your next International Falls fishing trip.

Spring

Minnesota’s early May fishing opener occurs right around the time Rainy Lake experiences its spring thaw. As one of the last lakes in the nation to experience an ice-out, fish in Rainy Lake become exceptionally active and hungry during this time of year. This is also when the majority of fish species begin to spawn in the lake’s plentiful bays and inlets, so staying close to shore during spring is your best bet for Rainy Lake fishing success.

Summer

If you’re taking your International Falls-area fishing trip while the weather warms up, you’ll find that Rainy Lake fish will stay in shallow bays, taking advantage of the fresh cabbage weed beds. These areas are loaded with perch minnows and crayfish, which smallmouth bass and northern pike love to gobble up. Walleyes have an appetite for small perch, so many will move to main lake structures on reefs, islands and shoreline break lines. Head to the lake’s drop-offs, rocky reefs and mudflats to take advantage of this migration. If you’re set on fishing close to shore during this time of year, make sure you are fishing weed edges or in the weeds where the wind is blowing in. For bait, start the season fishing with minnows and transition to leeches or crawlers from mid-June to September.

Fall

As cooler weather arrives, the action picks up once more at Rainy Lake. Fish tend to gather in schools during the fall, and their appetites pick up before the ice arrives. You will find fish on shoreline break lines, so concentrate your efforts in these areas. To get the most out of fall walleye fishing in Rainy Lake, go with brightly colored jigs tipped with minnows. Targeting bass? Colorful lures are sure to do the trick.

Winter

Rainy Lake is no slouch when it comes to quality ice fishing. Although you won’t be able to rent a houseboat to navigate these waters during winter, you can still reel in loads of fish from the comfort of a warm icehouse. You will find a plethora of walleye and northern pike in 3-10 foot deep weedy areas. As winter continues, most fish move to slightly deeper waters near reefs, narrows and mudflats.

Get the Most Out of Your International Falls Fishing Trip

While you’re sure to have some success with live bait when fishing Rainy Lake, artificial bait is a fun and easy way to catch plentiful walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. Paddle tails cast on ¼ oz. jigs, stick baits, twister tails and inline spinners all can provide lots of fun fishing opportunities. You can rely on minnows, leeches and crawlers to attract Minnesota’s state fish at Rainy Lake, and your bait of choice largely depends on what’s working for other anglers. Our fishing experts always stay on top of the latest news from the lake, so we can provide you with the guidance you need to have consistent fishing success.

As for tactics, anglers commonly use the following approaches to find success on the water during their MN fishing trip:

Casting inline spinners, stick baits reeled in with an erratic jerk and pause retrieve on windblown shores and points
Drop shotting
Long line trolling plugs and stick baits with line about 75 feet behind boat 1.5 to 2.5 mph with motor
Trolling jigs, crawler harnesses, Lindy rigs or bottom bouncers with an electric motor
Anchoring for slip bobber fishing
Drifting

However you decide to fish, be sure to keep a close eye on your fish finder — locating schools of fish is the key to a successful day on the water. Whether you’re fishing in a Rainy Lake bay, near an island, above a reef or in the weeds, your success on the water requires careful observation of your surroundings.

Whether you’re a serious angler or just learning how to fish, Rainy Lake is sure to make your MN fishing trip memorable. To get the most out of your experience at Rainy Lake, try renting a houseboat right on the water! Contact us today to plan your trip.