Late Summer Bounty: Walleyes, Perch, and Bassin' on Lake of the Woods

Artificial Lure reporting from Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, on this crisp Friday, September 5th, 2025.

Sun rose at 6:39 AM and will set at 7:40 PM tonight, stretching out a fine window for anglers to take advantage of early morning bites and lingering evening action. The water’s cooling off after an unusually rainy, humid summer—which means the classic fall patterns have come on quick. Leaves are starting to change along the shoreline, and you might catch that flash of red and gold as you motor out—FOX 9 reports the colors are rolling in a tad early this year.

No tides to worry about on this freshwater giant, just the pulse of north wind and scattered showers leaving the lake surface slick and silvery. CoCoRaHS posted minimal rain yesterday, so water clarity is holding near average, but keep an eye for floating vegetation.

Let’s get to the fishing:
Jumbo perch are a bonus this week, mixing in nicely with the walleyes across the basin, as Outdoor News detailed in their September 1st Lake of the Woods report. For numbers, folks have been loading up steady limits by working the deep mud in 31–34 feet. The bite’s a little more unpredictable as walleyes transition from summer haunts, but the fish are moving and feeding hard on cooler mornings and evenings. Recent catches report big numbers of eater-sized walleyes, several jumbo perch, plus a few bonus saugers thrown into the mix.

Lure selection is straightforward with the conditions. The old standby, frozen shiners on gold or chartreuse jigs, remains top-tier. Anchor up or drift across the mud using a two-hook spinner rig, tipped with minnows or crawlers for bonus action. For aggressive fish, try trolling shallow-diving crankbaits or slow-death rigs along the edge—Rapala PXR Jowler or a subtle spybait like the Duo Realis Spinbait 80 gets extra nods from locals for triggering finicky walleyes and even big smallies.

Bass are biting too—late summer mats mean punching heavy vegetation with Missile Baits Baby D-Bomb, Strike King Rodent, or Zoom Speed Craw. If you’re working weedy edges, keep colors muted to green pumpkin and natural, paired with 1–1.25 oz tungsten weights and strong braid, just as Outdoor News recommends for thick grass lines—ideal for that up-close bass battle.

Crappie fishing isn’t the headline here, but with forward-facing sonar, folks who know where the sunken timber hides are shaking loose a few keepers near creek mouths.

Now, for hot spots:
- The main basin near Zipple Bay—31–34 feet over mud—was the star for consistent walleye limits all week.
- The reefs off Long Point are producing early-morning bites for both jumbo perch and hungry saugers.
- For bass, tuck in around the weed beds by Morris Point and Four Mile Bay—thick stuff where the punch rig shines.

So, whether you’re here for a livewell of walleyes, a pan of perch, or that last summer bass smash, it’s shaping up to be a beautiful early September. Pack the gold jigs, green pumpkin plastics, and a box of frozen shiners—you’ll have everything you need.

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