Bait for LOW trip!!

[RocketRich]

Last year we fished LOW out of Borderview Lodge. The shiners we used (provided by the lodge) were about the size of crappie minnows. Is there any advantage to bringing your own bait with larger redtails or shiners or can you even do this on LOW? Rocket

[hanson]

There is a reason they use those shiners up there, the walleyes love them!

They are called Emerald shiners and are the major forage for the walleyes on Lake of the Woods. The walleyes follow the shiner run up the Rainy River in the spring & fall.

The shiners they sell up there, and the ones you fished with, are my go-to choice for a minnow on Lake of the Woods.

[Wookiee]

You can bring up shiners. Jeff at Cabin Fever in Victoria has had some great lively shiners so far this year. I would probably be using some sort of oxygenated system to bring them up there though. Get the goldens from him.

[vitalshot5]

I agree with Hanson the emeralds definatly work best in the winter...the walleyes seem to prefer the smaller presentation over the larger shiners.

[Blaze]

We've always done just fine using fatheads - are emeralds that much better?

[SSSTaxidermy]

What is the best aerator pail or system out on the market you would trust buying shinners 3-4-5 hrs away from LOW, and have them last the trip?

[Eastwind]

Just get them Oxy bagged at the bait shop. They will last no problem until you get to LOW. After that, just keep them cold, just short of freezing and they will easily last two to three days. If you are fishing out of one of the resorts North of Baudette, there is a bait shop that sells Fatheads and Emerald Shiners just 1 mile East of Baudette on Hwy 11 and one that sells both a half mile South of Borderview Lodge and Sportsman's Lodge. Besides, if you're jigging, a half minnow works best.

[RocketRich]

Thanks for the advise. I fish Whitefish alot and there a nice chubby redtail seems to always work best. So when you look down at what appears to be crappie minnows you have to wonder. Also, last year was our first year up there and we understand that the fishing conditions were not good at all. Any feedback on what is working this year and how good? Rocket

[Wookiee]

Check the LOW forum seems to be better than last year from what is said in there.

[hanson]

Quote:

---

Also, last year was our first year up there and we understand that the fishing conditions were not good at all. Any feedback on what is working this year and how good? Rocket

---

Its game on up there this year. LOW still has its slow days but we don't have to deal with the muddy water this year.

Here's a link to the Lake of the Woods Forum at Fishing Minnesota for more Lake of the Woods information than a guy really needs.

Lake of the Woods Forum

[Walleye Patrol]

Emerald shiners have always worked well for our groups on LOW, but I have found that puting an extra shiner on the jig is often successfull. The last time we were up there we left the oxy bag of shiners in the back of the truck and the water got too cold. All of the shiners were belly-up, but when we warmed them back up they livened up.

[dirtking]

Sometimes the shiners and fatheads work equally as well - no noticeable difference. But there are times where you cannot buy a bite on a fathead and the shiners will produce. This was the case last weekend for us. I was fishing a fathead and puddleduck was fishing a shiner and that s.o.b. was just flat out whooping me. Then puddleduck left and gave me the rest of his shiners and I started catching fish!

[Northlander]

When jigging spoons I just use fathead heads or tails. I believe they have more smell to them then shiners. On a boober rod or deastick I will use shiners. I always get mine in Rapids in a oxy bag and they last fine to LOW.

Red lake Crappies also love them shiners.