Rainy Lake muskies

[slotfish]

Does anyone have any experiences or advise to share about hunting down the illusive Rainy Lake muskie? Also, should they be fished simillarly to how you hunt them down in the northern part of LOTW? And if so, what (in general, of course) has worked for people?
Thanks.

[David Swenson]

Slotfish,

You probably could get more help with this question at muskiecentral.com or muskiesfirst.com.

I have not fished Rainy for muskies but I believe Red Gut bay is the area of choice. This would be on the Canadian side. Rocks I beleive are the prime locations to fish.

Hopefully this will get you pointed in the right direction for more help. Good luck.

David Swenson
http://muskieguide.homestead.com/

[Guest]

I went with a group of 5 couples for a week at The Landing on Red Gut Bay. Mainly fished for walleyes and smallies. Did manage to catch about a half dozen small muskies...some of the walleyes we caught were bigger, the largest was about 30". We didn't have the right tackle, left in the garage. We would cast small cranks to the rocks. Neat area, would love to get back there. Thats been my experience.

Rob

[slotfish]

anything else?

[Fish-n-Freak]

We have had some mixed succes on the MN side of the lake. Not for numbers but great quality.

We always fish the Eastern lake, and then mostly the eastern half of that lake, about a 35 mile ride from Int. Falls.

Out around Blue Berry Reef and the channel behind the big island. Also we have hit a few at the Kettle River area.

Good Luck, it's a place we go for Walleye and play with the other fish -- not a trip to make just for the Muskie fishing, they are a bonus fish to our Walleye fishing.

[slotfish]

Fish-n-freak,

Funny you should mention that, I fished Rainy last weekend by Kettle Falls and
(my buddy) caught a 10lb. muskie while fishing for Northern! That is the first one I've seen on the MN side in over 20 years of fishing up there.

Thanks

[Fish-n-Freak]

Hope you had a good trip?

Those Muskie are out there, but with more rocks than weeds, there really aren't that many spots that will hold fish on a constant basis.

We like to toss lures that are more "pike sized" and see what we catch. Husky Jerks, #5 Mepps, Super Shap Raps will catch a variety of fish - Pike, Muskie, Smallmouth and Walleye - we even caught a HUGE Crappie on a 6" Rapala!

Rainy and Vermilion are a couple of my favorite lakes for fishing ALL species.

Freak