Chilly Bite Continues on Lake of the Woods as Ice-To-Open Transition Progresses

Artificial Lure here with your Lake of the Woods fishing report for April 19, 2025. Spring is in the air, and the transition from ice to open water is underway, but there’s still some late-season ice fishing happening, especially on the south shore of Lake of the Woods and parts of Rainy River. Ice thickness remains decent in several areas, with access now open for vehicles, but always check the latest local reports and use caution. Today’s weather is set to be chilly in the morning with a light breeze from the northwest, warming up slightly by midday but staying on the cool side. Expect partly sunny skies, highs around the low 40s, and a steady barometer—prime conditions for fish activity to spike, especially during bite windows near sunrise and sunset. Sunrise was at 6:15 am and sunset will be at 8:15 pm. The fish have been cooperative lately. Walleye and sauger catches remain strong, with a nice mix of eater-size fish and some slot and trophy walleyes in the bag. Ice anglers are also seeing good numbers of jumbo perch, with the occasional northern pike, tullibee, burbot, and even some crappies. Sturgeon action on the Rainy River has been excellent, with multiple reports of big fish caught and released from the deeper holes and river bends. Anglers using nightcrawlers or emerald shiners on the bottom are consistently hooking into them. Jigging remains the preferred technique. Rippin raps and flashy jigging spoons are triggering bites in deeper holes (25 to 30 feet), especially when tipped with a minnow or a small strip of white bread. Deadsticking with a small jig and a live minnow about a foot off bottom is producing well too. For walleye and sauger on the Rainy River, a jig and minnow remains hard to beat. If you’re chasing sturgeon, anchor up in a deeper hole or at the slope and use a basic sturgeon rig with nightcrawlers or shiners. For jumbo perch or pike, target shallower weed edges or transitions where rock meets mud. The Northwest Angle is still a solid bet for mixed bag action, especially near structure. Hot spots to try today include the Four Mile Bay and the mud flats off Pine Island for walleye and perch, as well as the deeper holes on the Rainy River—especially upstream from Wheeler’s Point—for those big sturgeon. Summing up, today’s bite is shaping up great with cold temperatures keeping the ice solid, mixed bags coming up the holes, and sturgeon in peak spring form. Tackle up those jigs and stay safe out there. Tight lines from Artificial Lure! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.