Outdoors

The 2024 Minnesota Walleye Opener was a quiet one on Rainy Lake.The majority of boats were in the Black Bay Narrows area or the east end.

How we got hereWho is M.T.

The following report has been prepared by area fisheries managers for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.Falls areaIn the International Falls area, the best and most consistent walleye-angling success on Rainy Lake usually occurs during the summer months when fish can be found on the mid-lake reefs.

Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close

Bob LeClair and Nick Foix, from Grand Rapids, caught this trophy lake sturgeon fishing Sunday near Birchdale. The fish measured 76 inches long, with a… Login to continue reading Login…

With boating season fast approaching, the Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA, reminds all private boaters of their entry and reporting obligations when navigating Canadian waters or entering Canada by boat.

Moms who live in Minnesota are invited to join a free virtual fishing challenge Saturday, May 11, through Sunday, May 12, during Take a Mom Fishing Weekend, when all Minnesota moms can fish without purchasing a fishing license.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the Student Angler Organization and Women Anglers of Minnesota to host the challenge.To participate in the Mother’s Day weekend fishing challenge, moms simply need to join the Facebook group called “Minnesota Moms Fishing Challenge 2024” and post one photo of each fish they catch.All participants who submit one or more fish photos will have their name entered in a random drawing for prizes provided by the Student Angler Organization and their partners, including gift cards for SCHEELS and Lund.

Rainy Lake: Earliest ice out - April 6, 2012; latest – May 22, 1950; median ice out date – May 4.Kabetogama Lake: Earliest ice out - April 1, 2012; latest - May 1; Median ice out – April 29.Rainy Lake• 1930 May 3• 1931 May 5• 1932 May 7• 1933 May 6• 1934 May 6• 1935 May 8• 1936 May 13• 1937 May 7• 1938 May 3• 1939 May 5• 1940 May 10• 1941 April 25• 1942 April 25• 1943 May 4• 1944 May 11• 1945 April 23• 1946 April 22• 1947 May 11• 1948 May 6• 1949 April 28• 1950 May 22• 1951 May 9• 1952 May 4• 1953 May 4• 1954 May 14• 1955 April 23• 1956 May 11• 1957 May 7• 1958 April 22• 1959 May 6• 1960 May 16• 1961 May 8• 1962 May 7• 1963 April 30• 1964 May 6• 1965 May 7• 1966 May 15• 1967 May 5• 1968 May 6• 1969 April 28• 1970 May 9• 1971 May 2• 1972 May 16• 1973 April 23• 1974 May 11• 1975 May 10• 1976 April 18• 1977 May 3• 1978 May 10• 1979 May 12• 1980 May 2• 1981 April 29• 1982 May 7• 1983 May 1• 1984 April 28• 1985 April 30• 1986 April 23• 1987 April 18• 1988 May 6• 1989 May 6• 1990 April 29• 1991 April 27• 1992 May 7• 1993 April 30• 1994 May 8• 1995 May 2• 1996 May 18• 1997 May 5• 1998 April 13• 1999 May 1• 2000 April 22• 2001 May 1• 2002 May 4• 2003 May 5• 2004 May 1• 2005 April 23• 2006 April 16• 2007 May 4• 2008 May 14• 2009 April 29• 2010 April 10• 2011 May 3• *2012 April 6• 2013 May 16• 2014 May 20• 2015 April 28• 2016 April 30• 2017 April 18• 2018 May 12• 2019 May 2• 2020 May 2• 2021 April 18• 2022 May 12• 2023 May 11• 2024 April 21Kabetogama• 1952 April 28• 1953 April 30• 1954 May 4• 1955 April 20• 1956 May 9• 1957 May 2• 1958 April 17• 1959 April 30• 1960 May 10• 1961 May 6• 1962 May 4• 1963 April 28• 1964 May 3• 1965 May 5• 1966 May 14• 1967 April 25• 1968 April 29• 1969 April 25• 1970 May 6• 1971 April 30• 1972 May 12• 1973 April 21• 1974 May 9• 1975 May 8• 1976 April 18• 1977 May 1• 1978 May 5• 1979 May 10• 1980 April 28• 1981 April 18• 1982 May 5• 1983 April 26• 1984 April 24• 1985 April 28• 1986 April 18• 1987 April 17• 1988 May 2• 1989 May 6• 1990 April 26• 1991 April 25• 1992 May 5• 1993 April 29• 1994 April 25• 1995 April 27• 1996 May 18• 1997 April 29• 1998 April 13• 1999 April 30• 2000 April 20• 2001 May 1• 2002 April 30• 2003 May 1• 2004 April 28• 2005 April 20• 2006 April 16• 2007 April 30• 2008 May 9• 2009 April 29• 2010 April 4• 2011 April 30• *2012 March 31• 2013 May 14• 2014 May 13• 2015 April 17• 2016 April 26• 2017 April 15• 2018 May 9• 2019 April 30• 2020 May 1• 2021 –• 2022 May 13• 2023 May 11• 2024 April 14*Earliest ice-out dates for the lakes.

The current water level targets for Rainy and Namakan lakes have been extended through the period up to May 15, reports the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Water Levels Committee.The committee reported April 26 that Rainy Lake’s water level target will remain between the 75 percent and 100 percent band, or the top quarter, of the rule curve, without going below the 100 cms (~3,530 cfs) minimum outflow.Namakan Lake’s target will remain at the top 50 percent band of the rule curve.