Rainy River Fishing Guides and Conditions, Minnesota
The border river between Minnesota and Ontario, running from Rainy Lake past Baudette to Lake of the Woods, famous for its spring walleye run and its lake sturgeon.
Guides on the Rainy River
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About the Rainy River
The Rainy River runs west from Rainy Lake at International Falls to Lake of the Woods at Baudette, marking the Minnesota and Ontario border the whole way. It is a big, dark, slow river through boreal forest and farmland, and it supports two fisheries that draw anglers from across the Midwest: a spring walleye run that is one of the best in North America, and a lake sturgeon population that has recovered to the point of being a genuine trophy fishery.
The spring walleye run is the event. As soon as the ice goes out in late March and April, walleye move up out of Lake of the Woods to spawn, and the boat ramps from Baudette to Birchdale fill with anglers jigging the current seams and holes. It is cold, crowded, weather-dependent fishing and it can be spectacular. Sturgeon season follows its own calendar, with catch-and-release and limited harvest windows and fish that regularly exceed fifty inches. Summer brings good smallmouth along the rock shorelines and pike in the bays, and the river is quiet then compared to April.
The Manitou Rapids gauge reads the whole Rainy basin. This is a large river and flows in the low thousands to tens of thousands of cfs are normal, with the spring peak driving both the walleye run and the difficulty of boat control. Ice covers the river from roughly December into late March or April.
Baudette and International Falls are the towns, with a string of lodges and resorts along the Minnesota bank. Because the border runs down the middle, anglers need to know which side they are fishing and hold the right license; Ontario and Minnesota regulations differ.
Access
International Falls: the top of the river at the Rainy Lake outlet.
Frontier and Loman: upper river landings on Highway 11.
Birchdale: a popular spring walleye ramp.
Manitou Rapids: access near the gauge.
Clementson and Wheelers Point: lower river ramps near Baudette.
Baudette and the Lake of the Woods mouth: the main hub for spring walleye and sturgeon trips.
Seasons
Late March through May: the spring walleye run, the busiest and best-known season here.
May and June: sturgeon fishing under current season and harvest rules.
July and August: quiet water, smallmouth on the rock, pike in the bays.
September through November: fall walleye; ice forms in December and ice fishing follows.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Rainy River?
As of Sep 3, 10:30 pm, the USGS gauge RAINY RIVER AT MANITOU RAPIDS, MN reads 4,250 cfs, the 11th percentile for this date, with water temperature 72.3 F. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Rainy River?
Anglers target Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Sauger, Smallmouth Bass, Sturgeon, Walleye on the Rainy River in Minnesota.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Rainy River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Minnesota agency site: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/regulations/fishing/index.html