RangerGuy Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) It's been way to many years, since Tina & I took a week to fish, and actually have anything to report. I'm a little out of practice, hope you enjoy LOL! We had to make a 2 day stop in Iron Bridge, Ontario for a friends wedding. Then on Sunday, October 9th we hit the road for Rainy Lake, Minnesota! I have always wanted to fish Lake of the Woods & Rainy Lake. We got to Thunderbird Lodge around dinner time, Thunderbird Lodges was one of the nicest cottages we ever stayed at. Our Cottage for the week Me and the dogs relaxing after driving 12 hours and unpacking hehe! Rainy Lake really lived up to it's rep as a walleye factory! The first day we fishing by ourselves, we didn't travel far from the lodge under 30 mins from the lodge. We caught walleye ranging from 14 to 25 inches in every spot we hit. If you could put fish on the screen and stay on them you would get bite..First day on the lake ever and end we filled our limit, which all were released because I couldn't remember the slot HAHAHA! AWESOME! Here's a few shots of our first day We caught a bunch of these: The big one for the day 25" https://mc8pcq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mQiDfPmjdtxxGR7h7i_BDSacLg84ATlqlk7DeomGu8AmLkyanrKBhCNaGq7M79ZYB-NrMSun8w_Bzju_3e8zZVlb5SkorJ3-ry0UYUCrASxEzJ4kucKI0xSWexN2fsYOysOp2rrUM95g2qGatvHHKvqQY0udPP0ya7EIe-v5kKvg?width=623&height=467&cropmode=none" width="623" height="467" /> Our second day was spent with Chris of RainyDaze Guide Service. Let me tell you, Chris is a top notch guide with top notch gear. Our boat for the day a Skeeter WX2190 with 300 yamaha! What an awesome boat, I seriously have two foot-itis now for sure! Running the large expanse of Rainy Lake in 20mph winds and you could hardly feel the waves! So cool! Here is a shot of Chris looking for fish. https://ly8vcq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mNKb_morNpf8Q9-1x403ZpIOF0Eqm5txb5oULpvLfCZOeW6RFlBbNGt5flJPsJBpufwW2iJvdKUn3BwiX-iKCqzOXfjHxPLczPxGNzkodeW4avSQOX-vHWFgYmS8Do9oRcVwimUrskIY8exPCqk-AVGlswrkWUN1ny3S39FZx6s4?width=480&height=270&cropmode=none" width="480" height="270" /> The bait moved and his fish scattered, so we were not sitting on big schools of walleyes. He explained that once the ciscos move to spawn they can be very hard to locate on Rainy Lake. Still, he really figured them out. We enjoyed this way more as we got to watch and learn how he found and worked them! We would find small groups of 5 to 10 fish and got fish from every group all day! We were using custom made rods designed by him and his guides, apparently they are made in the same factory as the G Loomis NRX rods. I gotta say they were the nicest jigging rods I have ever used.. feather light and super sensitive. I could feel bottom in 30' of water with a 3/16 jig/ minnow combo! Needless to say we came home with a new pair of jigging rods! If you looking for a nice cheap but very smooth reel. A Pflueger President is the ticket. WE LOVED THESE REELS! Here is a sample of the fish we caught with RainyDaze Guide Service (Chris Granrud) Tina out fished both myself and Chris. She filled both our limits and still caught some in the top of the slot! Although I did get the biggest eyes, all my fish bounced between 20- 25 inches, yes were competitive with each other LOL! https://mc8ocq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mzvdYsxWj1lnjREloc9mbg_9Gwy1L-0YOY3tm40DzdnPs_C9lpzAYUef-1Wea-wuNnnjIZggaGh7_ySIINiyO_TzIYnNVxca1I0Vu0D-b4UuPego3HApGW-3a3M0noq7pujdde9G6x_nNyA_-l_fJcg1BO8GiZmGEbPPRXgm3Frk?width=519&height=389&cropmode=none" width="519" height="389" /> https://ly8lcq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3m9rAmCejmzS2Z6qRIbq8SOCkRZakUvYsyxj1LfUy1ohOJZGtsAEGQphLCipSrVldOOoPo9EJm83KJhuWyWq67ZHe8NCFap_isA8FFm9mHHyZhXGvX1vlblfS4n1W9eBUaGnCqAlOBCYnVHVtVSDnCNxmg0Z48ZPww86LwIN1C1uU?width=396&height=720&cropmode=none" width="396" height="720" /> https://li8vcq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3miH8XBcx_0io0tMrtEvr0wd5GlYHIcAQFWdOOWp3fCFpx22RWBaD8OF84OOPyppmCbdKED-bKbk7LXU8mBaRLMavDGxugFp_QQrvVHnR6uQ9iJ6NO2LtU-9PmM-l1tU0zREi2Ad_AnwthNidm5mLuMySugzO8PPtRWIpL2IctDEc?width=396&height=720&cropmode=none" width="396" height="720" /> https://li8ucq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mPSmHJyjokvrpbmylEthZBNa0HY1eIqewloh6k_yRjqkM6B9XnwcPAB1PbeTDMYsUnskupopBV4AAqnazAntghoXjqY4FeX37vrCX8eVyvT6EXomBsGjiUWyIHihU5Mf8ZAlihoSHSH00BpztfmyOEHdGXqP-M1og0IuCdpSWpV8?width=396&height=720&cropmode=none" width="396" height="720" /> https://ly8pcq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mO0_jNjt6ccn9-qJ9LnghXe1IllEzZTBjT9GfQumBANGPQv3fIRwiaGY-4fslKf0V-cMpdlALZpQCn9CyIKwv-uar5Szfumd64TsklnipqIOAXPQOMIZ-nKdq_GXFW9fEDxIDSutUI0TfHtmw7SedcJRIAHn4lXoBv_3DYJrg3ow?width=720&height=405&cropmode=none" width="720" height="405" /> It was an amazing day! We will be making the drive again to Rainy Lake some day for sure. It's only 18 hrs from us HAHA! The rest of our week was pretty tough as the winds didn't seem to let up 15 mph and 20 mph westerly winds are not friendly on Rainy, so we never ventured to far from the lodge. We did manage to round up some more walleye but nothing over 17". We did break in our new JTX Mag Med-LT Custom rods with 2 PB's! Tina with her PB Smallie! 4.5lb https://ly8ocq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mSMSibTB5YfdrEX3ArMpjFgKiyH6zWa7tOXboMaXF6O3oxgX3fd73AU0DH7UG6fvp8LkSs_mVsmsyPcb0lFznOgNK0vOq0dFchJwjhAmFQStkIryuD-4Nk61T6Iu2CMMelDh6o3h_aHmueLTCWVMxVx0u26w-7WkV7Ske3X-rzB0?width=480&height=640&cropmode=none" width="480" height="640" /> And me with my PB Pike 38.5" AWESOME!!! https://ly8kcq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mvjrr2I1EU5m260rVX5XQ55UUvZIIYCiJc9tWZ8R6rs8WIvIPIZbxtpuCeOkhUE-fFBec7XSu6BoryHVtXL11qV1uH8Tz3C1J7qhn_sXXBvEtnO8LlD8wAZDFT23fKOiVxWjhGFsVvl6e4UM9ux4hvPvOx-N6AQVAAXxD7cfkkpA?width=640&height=480&cropmode=none" width="640" height="480" /> And finnally Tango likes to help me detect the light walleye bite! She spent the week perched just like this watching for fish HAHA! https://ly8icq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mzoxxtoNDcrCjeXnTRXP5P1307rIjgDxQnf7iHIIl_xF35SPSsyHmK667bKOaURefGLTpWKk3szOjreUdDfCNfqlNsUQOvYzORb7JrEaB5L65LEsEw9X7Nj6tVBLC1kgbFj-ka7y-1bVdJEFFvscLOj6spExJXoAtONrI50WrfWU?width=888&height=500&cropmode=none" width="888" height="500" /> Last one is for Tango! https://ly8jcq-dm2306.files.1drv.com/y3mePO9s0CzKICLzGyBAHX9x7A06lTaOZzd3s4xk25bogmRPPtpSa0uS92dKcIzD8P4m0vizf1U8UGX2iwUa91tO8uMym2Td2kLkzewGVgeaeZRE3igdqL5LJ_ZO_Yj17YePjfLoK7yNoth1hdKMpjzsPtQKr_enyCczRMI1r6kkH8?width=618&height=640&cropmode=none" width="618" height="640" /> Hope you enjoyed! Edited October 21, 2016 by RangerGuy
manitoubass2 Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) Wicked!!!! I wish ya woulda hit me up, its on my doorstep! Great pics and looks like an amazing time!!! Did Chris tell ya about guiding for fushing shows? His stories are hilarious and disturbing Edited October 21, 2016 by manitoubass2
RangerGuy Posted October 21, 2016 Author Report Posted October 21, 2016 (edited) Man! I wish I knew to ask about that! Would have loved to hear about those stories hehe! Your close to Rainy? You lucky man!!! Wish I knew a fellow OFC'r was close! I totally would have met up Oh and yes, I think I found my dream boat! Once my garage is built I will be working towards get'n into a WX2190 with that yammie!!! We ran 45 mins 1 way and burned 1/2 tank gas (20 gallons roughly) , incredible for a boat that size and wieght. Edited October 21, 2016 by RangerGuy
manitoubass2 Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 Man! I wish I knew to ask about that! Would have loved to hear about those stories hehe! Your close to Rainy? You lucky man!!! Wish I knew a fellow OFC'r was close! I totally would have met up Im from international falls dood. Lived my childhood in fort frances. No im in emo smack dab between LOTWs and Rainy lake. Ive fished both all my life(I love these waters) Im 40 minutes from NW bay rainy lake(retarded fishery) I also fish porters inlet alot and black sturgeon. Rainy is just rediculously good fishing year round. Ive guided the lidners here a few times. Chris has a chip on his shoulder. He was telling me two years ago ice fishing NW bay. Pros wrecking his gear, rehooking fish for pics etc. And if ya know chris he friggen hates it. Hes a funny guy, and one heck of an angler. FYI my cousin owns camp narrows way up on the north arm of rainy. And one of my best friends own rainy lake houseboats right by the thunderbird lodge
wormdunker Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 Awesome report! I love the walleye pix! Thanx for posting. Too bad you didn't hook up with Rick. I was fortunate enough to meet him in June while I was in the area working. That area is an awesome fish factory. I spent a week in Ear Falls before returning home - non stop action!!
Ralph Field Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 Awesome report and a great looking cottage.
captpierre Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 Bucket list for me. Thanks for that. Makes the Kawarthas seem anemic.
aplumma Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 Nice trip you got into. Glad you enjoyed the area. Thanks for the report. art
bigcreekdad Posted October 21, 2016 Report Posted October 21, 2016 Can I have your dogs? Nice report.
MCTFisher9120 Posted October 22, 2016 Report Posted October 22, 2016 Nice stuff great looking fish thanks for sharing!
buick14 Posted October 23, 2016 Report Posted October 23, 2016 Yes, thanks for sharing looks like a fun trip
Joeytier Posted October 24, 2016 Report Posted October 24, 2016 You were in serious walleye country! Would you brave that drive again?
GBW Posted October 24, 2016 Report Posted October 24, 2016 thanks for sharing and if you go, make a stop in Lindsay and pick me up please.... lol!
manitoubass2 Posted October 24, 2016 Report Posted October 24, 2016 thanks for sharing and if you go, make a stop in Lindsay and pick me up please.... lol! Aaaaand stop by my place!!!
RangerGuy Posted October 24, 2016 Author Report Posted October 24, 2016 (edited) Hey everyone, Thank you for all the comments! Would I brave that drive again absolutely! I got the feeling this was a slow week from talking to a few guys, with the bait moving and the walleye scattering but honestly I did not feel like we had slow fishing. I have been so busy training my retrievers the last few years, We stepped back from fishing to only on long weekends if there was no trial to compete in and during duck season no fishing at all until December once or twice on Quinte. I miss it, it`s in my blood! When I`m training my dogs, I`m wondering how the walleye are biting on Nip, when I`m sitting in the duck blind I`m wonder how the walleye are biting.. To be honest our duck hunting as been dismal the last few years, my public spots have dried up for some reason and I am having a hard time dragging my butt out at 2:30 am to drive 1.5 hrs to watch the sun rise and promise my dog the birds are coming LOL!. Rick I think we should fish together up your way for sure! Would it not be great to put a group of people together, have everybody meet up there, just throwing it out there! Edited October 24, 2016 by RangerGuy
adempsey Posted October 24, 2016 Report Posted October 24, 2016 Very nice! I have yet to do a fall trip out west and would love to do it. Although, the switch from the rain gear to the float suits made me shiver a bit, lol.
Moosebunk Posted October 24, 2016 Report Posted October 24, 2016 That was a gem of a post. If it has been awhile, it shouldn't be next time. Brenda and I are competitive too, and I can see it in Tina's eyes and grin that she loves kickin' your arse on the water. lol. Cool stuff. Gives a man an itch to go jiggin' for gold.
RangerGuy Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Posted October 25, 2016 You got that right Bunk, she sure does!
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