Lake of the Woods Lures Up for Early Ice Walleye & Panfish Bonanza

Artificial Lure with your Lake of the Woods fishing report for Friday, November 21, 2025. The sun rises at 7:17 am and sets early at 4:44 pm today, so plan your trip around those limited daylight hours. No tides here in Lake of the Woods, but recent cold snaps mean ice is starting to creep in, especially on the bays. Still, open water persists out on the main lake and near the Rainy River, but be cautious—ice varies by location, so check conditions locally and play it safe if you’re venturing far from shore. Weatherwise, it's crisp: overnight lows around 40°F and daytime highs reaching into the mid to upper 60s, a real swing for late November. There's a light south-southeast wind projected in the 5 to 10 mph range. That means manageable boat control and possible chop to concentrate active fish. The bite is HOT along the south shore, as the Lake of the Woods Tourism report says walleye and sauger are stacking up in 15 to 25 feet of water. Water temps are hovering around 42°F and these fish are aggressively feeding before full freeze-up. Anglers are reporting solid numbers, with many landing limits of **walleyes** and **saugers**, some up to 22 inches. Rainy River action for walleyes is also strong—keeper fish coming in, and the occasional jumbo thrown in to keep things exciting. On the panfish side, bluegills, jumbo perch, and crappies are active just ahead of first ice, especially in shallower, weedy bays and channels. Outdoor News highlights that those weed beds and muddy flats under 15 feet are your ticket for fast action, so don’t overlook smaller backwater spots or boat harbors. Best baits today? With temps this chilly, slow presentations rule. - **Jigs tipped with shiner minnows** or **fatheads**—chartreuse, gold, glow, or white have been top producers, especially with a rattle or flash to draw attention. - If you’re vertical jigging, go with a ¼–⅜ ounce jig, bounce it slow along the bottom. - **Emerald shiners** are the local favorite for tip-ups and jigging spoons—make sure you have plenty in your bucket. - For perch and crappie, small tungsten jigs tipped with plastics or waxworms work well. If you’re hole-hopping, keep mobile: fish are shifting as ice sets. Local anglers are praising Northland Buck-Shots, Rapala Jigging Raps, and Swedish Pimples when the fish want metal. On the Rainy, drifting with live bait rigs—rainbow chub or shiner and plain hook—continues to catch fish if the jig bite slows. A couple real hot spots right now: - **Pine Island to Morris Point Gap**: classic for early ice, lots of walleye and sauger stack up here each late fall season. - **Zippel Bay**: fish are moving to these edges seeking bait schools. - **Rainy River**: deep holes near the mouth—good for keeper walleyes and the odd northern pike. Bays like Fourmile and the Lighthouse Gap are producing too, but check ice thickness before heading out. Open water anglers trolling deep diving crankbaits or drifting jigs are picking up bonus fish. No big secret This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.