The weather forecast is looking cool. Good news! That should kick the river fishing into high gear! Walleyes are schooled up just outside the gap right now. The cool weather and shiners should start pushing them up river soon. Current water temperature is 61 degrees.

10 Day Forecast

50 fish in 3 hours
You don’t have to wait for the river fishing to get into some good fishing!  Sunday afternoon, the crew pictured went out for 3 hours just outside the gap anchored in 27’ of water and reeled in fish after fish. They sorted fish and kept a limit in no time. Jigging with red/white/gold and sparkly gold jigs tipped with a minnow was the hot ticket.

3 hours Turner-Hennum-Vig crew

6-year-old Jameson and 6-year-old Wyatt catching
their 8th fish of the day!

Fall foliage is at peak right now. Come enjoy the beautiful views, crisp air and incredible walleye fishing!

Halloween Party
Sportsman’s Annual Halloween Party is Saturday, Oct 26. Come for the fishing and stay for the fun! $200 cash prize for best costume! Entertainment, contests, prizes, drink and food specials are being planned. Book one of our Stay and Play packages for the best value. Only 50 are available.

Restaurant & Bar will be open until Oct 26/27. Lodging will remain open through the fall. Come and enjoy peace and quiet this fall.

Book your winter trip today!
**SPECIAL** Book your trip by Oct 25 at any of the 3 Sportsman’s locations and pay in full for winter dates and receive DOUBLE Sportsman’s Loyalty points! Reserve online or call 800-862-8602 today.

We are starting to see quite a stream of shiners the past few days in the river. Water temperature is falling, currently at 61 degrees this morning, down 5 degrees this week. The stage is getting set for the walleyes to start pushing up river soon!

Currently the best bite is in 25’-30’ outside Pine Island, Long Point and Zippel Bay. Crank baits or jigging with spinners or jigs tipped with a minnow have been equally successful.  The Lighthouse Gap has been a good place too, especially late afternoon and evening.

Bernie Jilek 26 inch walleye with Captain Flip

Bob Meyer 27.5 inch walleye with Captain Flip

Fall Specials
Lodging as low as $39* per person per night and lodging and fishing packages as low as $188 per person. Reel in some walleyes and enjoy the view today. Reserve online now.
*Plus tax based on double occupancy.

Halloween Bash
Sportsman’s annual Halloween Bash is Saturday, Oct 26. $200 cash for best costume! Contests, entertainment and a whole lot of fun! Reserve one of our Stay and Play packages today. Two night package is only $169 ($363 value). Packages are available to the first 50 people. Reserve yours today!

Changing weather, changing leaves and changing fish patterns.  The weather especially in the evenings has been cooler this week. We are still enjoying the warm up in the afternoons in the 60’s and 70’s.  We expect to enjoy much of the same weather in the next few weeks.  Water temperature has made a 7 degree drop this week to 64 degrees. Starting to cool down!

We are starting to see some of the walleyes start to make a move a little shallower. Areas outside Long Point and Pine Island were good in 27’-30’ trolling with crank baits or bait fishing, anchored with a minnow and jig yesterday morning and early afternoon.  A shallower bite was found late afternoon and evening bait fishing in 6’-15’ in the same areas.  Some shiners are starting to show up in the river. It won’t be long and the fall Rainy River fishing frenzy will be in full force! Do you have your reservation in?

Does it get any better then this?

Fall Specials
Lodging, Camping, Outfitter Guided Trips, Charter Guided Trips are available all at great fall rates!

Noon with Captain Dave McDougall

Winter is just around the corner
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Halloween Party
Our annual Halloween costume party is Saturday, Oct 26. Contests, $200 Cash for best costume, specials, entertainment and more! Book one of our stay and play packages for discounts and free stuff! We have a limited supply so do not delay.

We are still finding some of the best fishing in the usual late summer areas, but cooler temperatures are in the forecast.

Captain Dave reports some of the best fishing this week has been found in 30’-35’ of water pulling crank baits over shallow rocks. Areas near Zippel Bay and Long Point have been some of the best. A good evening bite just near Pine Island in 6’-12’ of water bait fishing with a minnow and 3/8 oz. gold  jig or gold spinner has also been consistent.

Walleyes should start moving in shallower waters and up river and bait fishing with jigs or spinners will dominate the presentation of choice in the coming weeks.  Once the emerald shiners start to run up river the walleyes will sure to be after them. Water temperatures in the lower forties are usually one of the indicators of prime time for the shiners to start to run. Right now our current water temperature is sitting between 69-71 degrees. The forecast is calling for highs in the 60’s  and lows in the 40’s maybe even a dip into the 30’s this week. Few rain showers tonight. The wind forecast is reporting winds light and variable for the next few days.

Fall Sturgeon Bite
The fall sturgeon bite has been very good. A large 5 or 6 size circle hook tipped with a gob of worms works best. Areas at the edge of deep holes in the Rainy River bottom have been the most successful.

Erica Eichhoff from Shakopee with
28 inch walleye and Captain Darryl

Mark and Captain Dan

No equipment necessary!
Reserve your guided charter trip today and just bring yourself and a camera. We supply the bait, tackle, poles and clean your fish. We can even prepare you a box lunch or shore lunch. No hassles, just fun! Click here to book now.

Beautiful fall weather started out the week and it sounds like the balance of the week will be the same.  Cool nights and warm days. Up next, fall colors, emerald shiner run and changing walleye patterns.

A mixed bag of approaches for targeting walleye has been working this week. Pulling crank baits in the mud and along rocky points in 11’-12’.  Bait fishing in 20’-25’and 38’-40’ along rock edges with a minnow and gold spinner too.  For an evening bite, bait fishing with a minnow and 3/8 oz jig along Pine Island and Morris Point in shallow 8’-12’ has been very successful.

Don’t count out the sturgeon!
The lake sturgeon season to keep one is only open for one more month. September 30 will mark the close until next spring. These dinosaurs of the water can put up quite a fight so if you are looking for a challenge or would like to extend your day of fishing, ask about our, Guided Outfitter trips. We have a few eighteen to twenty-foot Lund boats that work great for sturgeon and northern pike fishing in the river.

It’s a double! Captain Troy’s crew had a great day!

Connor Cusick with 28 inch walleye guided by Captain Troy

Fall Specials
Check out our fall specials and book your fall charter or outfitter trip. Soft water trips are available until late October. We can accommodate groups of 1-200. Reserve one of our packages that include 2 nights lodging, guided fishing, use of gear and meals starting at only $188 per person.