Lake of the Woods Fishing Report: Pike Prespawn Heats Up, Sturgeon Biting on Rainy River

This is Artificial Lure with your Lake of the Woods fishing report for Sunday, April 20, 2025. Ice season has wrapped up and the big lake is waking from its winter slumber. The spring walleye season closed back on April 14, so right now the spotlight is on northern pike until the opener rolls around in May. Back bays and ditches are seeing water moving, and bays are opening up fast. That means big, hungry pike are moving shallow into their spawning grounds, and the action is picking up in a hurry. With the cooler temps at night and some sunshine during the day, water temps are staying cold—perfect for pike chasing sluggish bait in the shallows[2]. Sunrise today came at 6:16 AM and sunset’s around 8:20 PM. There’s still a chill in the air, but anglers are hearty up here! The wind has been moderate out of the northwest, keeping boaters on their toes but not putting a damper on the bite. No tidal action, of course, since we’re freshwater, but water levels are on the rise with melting snow and runoff. In terms of fishing activity, most folks have shifted tactics to target those prespawn pike. Dead bait on a quick-strike rig is a go-to—smelt, sucker minnows, or frozen ciscoes all work great just off the bottom. If you prefer to be on the move, casting big flashy spoons or trolling shallow-diving crankbaits like a classic Rapala in firetiger or silver-blue will draw vicious strikes from aggressive fish. Both methods have been producing pike, with fish reported in the mid to upper 30 inch range and an occasional trophy pushing 44 inches showing up for those putting in the time[2][5]. A few anglers are also setting up for sturgeon in the Rainy River, and early reports are strong. Anchoring up in the holes with a gob of nightcrawlers has seen fish in the 40 to 60 inch class caught and released. The keep season for sturgeon kicks off April 24 if you’re itching to bring one home[3][5]. Hot spots right now include Four Mile Bay, Zippel Bay, and the backwaters off the Rainy River near Baudette. These areas have open water, warming up faster, and are drawing in both pike and sturgeon. Timbermill Landing and Wheeler’s Point are both popular launches with good access as shore ice recedes, but stick to the paved launches to avoid getting stuck in the thawing mud[5]. To sum up: Focus on shallow, weedy back bays for pike with dead bait or flashy spoons. Rainy River holes are firing for sturgeon with nightcrawlers. The opener is just a few weeks away, so get those boats ready because the best is yet to come. Tight lines and see you on the water! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.