Rainy Lake Mn

[bigredbirdfan]

I need help planning a trip next month on my first fishing trip to Minnesota. Really my first fishing trip north of Missouri. We are there for one week at a resort. We will either fish with guides or rent boats. I need to get geared up with the right tackle and find a guide or guides. Any help is greatly appreciated b/c a little homework makes for a much more enjoyable trip.

Sincerely,

BRBF

[techo]

I lived in International Falls for about ten years. Back in the day....Rainy Lake Houseboats was owned by an old guy named Bud. If he still owns it, then I would highly recommend him and his son for setting up trips or guiding. Walleye are the main fish up there, but Rainy Lake has one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the Americas. There are seven large maps to Rainy Lake. I mostly fished on the Canadian side, but Brule Narrows has some great small mouth.

In my time, the jointed Rapala was king for catching large Northern Pike or small mouth bass. The Mepps spinner was another great choice, A lead head jig tipped with a minnow was a walleye main bait.

[techo]

Oops Bud was Northenaire Houseboats.

[loo10]

I have been up there several times but not for a few years.

We always fished the Rainy River at International Falls.

Each trip was different.

Sometimes we caught mostly Northern Pike,

other years the smallmouths were good.

The most fun trip I had was fishing War Eagle spinnerbaits

and catching massive northerns.

Biggest fish I ever saw was a northern a friend caught while in my boat

and we could not get him/her in the net.

It was easily 10-12" across the brow and no doubt world-class!

Lesson learned...

"We gotta get a bigger net."

Be sure to buy some Canada's Saskatoon Jam while you're up there.

Best stuff EVER on a warm biscuit.

Good luck to ya' all!!!!!!!