Walleye, Pike and Crappie Action on Lake of the Woods - Early Fall 2025 Fishing Report

Artificial Lure here with your Lake of the Woods fishing report for Sunday, September 28, 2025. We’re rolling into early fall, but conditions are still feeling downright summery with water temps holding warmer than usual for this time of year, and fish patterns reflecting that. Let’s dig in. Today’s weather is setting up nicely: expect daytime highs around 73°F, with overnight lows dipping to about 52°F. Sunrise came at 7:11 a.m., and you’ll see sunset at 7:02 p.m. We’ve got clear to partly cloudy skies and a gentle breeze—just enough chop for a walleye chop, but nothing too rough for getting out there. According to the latest from Outdoor News and their September 24 report, walleye action is still excellent, especially along the south shore in 17 to 27 feet of water. Fishrapper echoes this, with anglers pulling some quality fish by focusing on those mid-to-deep breaks and mud flats. Crappies and perch are starting to get more active near structure as that water cools, but the big story is still walleye. The major bite windows today, per Solunar Forecast, fall between 12:43 p.m. and 2:43 p.m.—that’s your best shot for the day’s biggest fish. Don’t ignore the morning minor window from 6:06 a.m. to 7:06 a.m.; early risers have found hungry fish snapping at first light. Folks are reporting solid numbers of eater-sized walleyes, with plenty of 17 to 19-inch fish and some true “overs” latching on if you’re patient. Pike activity is also strong, especially for those putting in time casting big crankbaits, oversized spoons, or dragging large live suckers off deep weed edges. According to Fishrapper, if you’re out for northern pike and can’t get suckers, turn to large swimbaits and topwater lures—a few trophy fish have fallen for these recently. For gear, it’s tough to beat a gold or chartreuse spinner rig tipped with a fathead minnow for walleyes. If you prefer jigging, a 3/8-ounce jig in orange or glow with a frozen shiner or live minnow has been the go-to. Crankbaits—particularly Rapala Shad Raps in perch or firetiger colors—are still pulling fish in deeper water. For those chasing crappie, small jigs with plastics or fatheads around brush piles at 15-20 feet are producing. Hot spots? Zip down to the south shore near Long Point or Pine Island; boats have been stacked up with good reason. Another solid bet is Zippel Bay to Morris Point. If you’re heading up river, Four Mile Bay is drawing attention as shiners start to run and walleyes follow. There’s also been a sneaky good bite in the Northwest Angle for those willing to make the longer run—work those main lake reefs, especially the ones that top out around 23 feet. Angler success rates are looking good: steady catches and quality fish are the norm, and with water temps beginning to dip a touch more at night, it’s only going to get better from here. There haven’t been any extreme flows or tidal swings to worry about on Lake of the Woods—being an inland lake, it’s all about wind and weather, so This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.