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RAINY

RIVER

The Rainy River forms part of the Canadian and U.S. Border separating northern Minnesota and Northwestern Ontario and enters in to the southern end of Lake of the Woods. The spring and fall walleye run in the Rainy River creates some of the best fishing in the world. Birchdale, Vidas, Franz Jevne, Frontier, Timber Mill, and Wheeler’s Point landings are open to all boats.

FISHING

License Rates

Non-Resident, Annual – $52.00
Non-Resident, 7-day – $44.00
Non-Resident, 72-hour – $37.00
Non-Resident, Youth Ages 16 to 17 – $6.00
Non-Resident, Married Couple 14-Day – $55.00
Non-Resident, Family – $69.00
Resident, Annual – $26.00
Resident, Married Couple Annual – $41.00
Trout Stamp – $11.00

View the fishing regulations

SPECIES OF FISH

Here are a few of the common fish caught on the Rainy river:

  • WALLEYE/SAUGER

    Aggregate limit is 6 (not more than 4 can be Walleye). Walleye and sauger between 19.5 – 28 inches must be immediately released. Only one Walleye over 28 inches total length can be possessed.

  • SAUGER

    The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30. The catch and release season runs May 8th – May 15th and Oct. 1 – April 23rd. This means from May 16 – June 30, no sturgeon fishing. The rest of the year, you can fish for sturgeon. See MN DNR Fishing Regulations for more info.

  • NORTHERN PIKE

    The possession limit for northern pike is 3. Only one may exceed 40 inches and any northern pike from 30 to 40 inches must be released immediately. For northern pike on Rainy River the season is continuous.

  • BASS

    9/12/16 – 2/26/17. Catch-and-release only.