Things To Do

Fishing

With over 1,600 islands on this lake bordering US and Canada, there is a diverse array of fishing.

Rainy Lake and surrounding interior lakes are home to multiple species including walleye, crappie, bass, eelpout, white fish, lake trout, and muskie. Additionally, Rainy River is known for its sturgeon fishing. You can fish from a dock, the river’s edge, boat, and more. Rainy Lake and Rainy River offer ideal fishing for any fishing enthusiast.

Things To Do

Map of a northern Minnesota lakes region featuring Rainy Lake, showing towns, roads, and notable sites such as International Falls, Rainier, City Beach, VNP visitor center, boat launches, campgrounds, trails, and public water access points. | Rainy Lake, MN

Bobber Bay Campsites
A scenic lakeside view of Rainy Lake in Minnesota, with a partly cloudy sky, trees and greenery along the shore, and a parking lot with several cars in the foreground. | Rainy Lake, MN

Bohman Boat Landing – Rainy Lake
Four people in winter clothing kneel on a frozen Minnesota lake, smiling and holding several fish each. More fish are arranged on the ice in front of them, with two off-road vehicles parked nearby—an unforgettable day on Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN

Border Country Outdoor Adventures
A picnic table sits on a rocky, wooded shore overlooking Minnesota’s calm Rainy Lake, surrounded by tall pine trees under a partly cloudy sky. In the distance, small tree-covered islands are visible on the water. | Rainy Lake, MN

Camping in Voyageurs
Map showing International Falls, Minnesota, Rainy Lake, and surrounding area with labeled landmarks such as the International Falls Dam, Dove Island, Rainy Lake Visitor Center, and notable roadways, parks, and waterways. | Rainy Lake, MN

Dove Island Boat Access – Rainy Lake
A man in a gray rain jacket and cap smiles while holding a large fish by the water at Rainy Lake, Minnesota, with trees and rocks visible in the background under an overcast sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

Dove Island Guiding
A concrete dock leads to a small boat with people on it, floating on Minnesota’s Rainy Lake under a blue sky with some clouds. Trees line the horizon in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN

Duluth St. Dock & Boat Landing – Rainy Lake
A wooden wall outside Falls International Airport in Minnesota displays large white letters reading “Falls International Airport, Einarson Field, Your International Gateway, Elevation 1185 feet,” with an airplane graphic and a bench below—near scenic Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN

Falls International Airport
Map of northern Minnesota highlighting Rainy Lake, nearby towns, roads, county lines, park locations, fishing areas, campgrounds, and various access points along the lake—including docks, boat ramps, and visitor centers. | Rainy Lake, MN

Fish Camp Campsite
A wooden sign in front of trees reads “Franz Jevne State Park, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources,” welcoming visitors near Rainy Lake. Green grass and plants grow around the base of the sign. | Rainy Lake, MN

Franz Jevne State Park
Three people stand on a boat at Rainy Lake, Minnesota, holding a large fish together and smiling at the camera. Trees and water stretch into the background beneath a partly cloudy sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

Full Throttle Guiding
A man sits on a white fishing boat labeled "Gator's Charters" on calm Rainy Lake in Minnesota, with fishing rods on board and a wooded shoreline in the background under a clear blue sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

Gator Charters
A trailer with "Bass Championship" graphics is parked on grass near a large white event tent at Rainy Lake, Minnesota. Blue banners with fishing images and the words "COME" are attached to the tent, set against trees and a blue sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

International Falls Bass Championship
A large green and white sign reads “James Oberstar Riverfront Complex” and lists several locations in Minnesota, set on a stone base with trees and grass in the background, near scenic Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN

James Oberstar Riverfront Complex
A wooden lodge named "Island View Lodge" sits by the water on Rainy Lake, surrounded by trees, boats, and docks under a cloudy Minnesota sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

Island View Lodge & Cabins
A man on a boat at a Rainy Lake dock in Minnesota holds a blue net filled with caught fish. Smiling in his jacket and cap, he stands against a backdrop of trees and calm northern water. | Rainy Lake, MN

J.P.E.P Guiding
Map showing the Rainy River and Rainy Lake area in Minnesota with marked locations such as International Falls, boat landings, memorials, and access points along the river and lake, including highways and roads for navigation. | Rainy Lake, MN

Kuttes Boat Landing – Rainy River
A wooden sign in a leafless Minnesota park reads "Nelson Park, Sault Rapids, Rainy River; Boat Launching, Toilets, Picnicking; Constructed by Koochiching County-IRRC NYC." Swings and picnic tables are in the background near Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN

Nelson Park – Rainy River
A man wearing a cap and gray shirt stands on a docked fishing boat, smiling at the camera. Fishing rods and an outboard motor are onboard, with Minnesota’s Rainy Lake scenery—houses and trees—in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN

One Doggie Guide Service
Logo featuring a dark fish silhouette with "OUTDOOR VALUES FISHING GUIDE WATER TAXI" across its body and "VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK • RAINY LAKE" curved below in green text, highlighting this stunning Minnesota destination. | Rainy Lake, MN

Outdoor Values
A store sign with images of a fish and a deer head. The text reads "Lucky Seven Outdoorsman Pro" with "Lucky Seven" in green and yellow on a clover and "Outdoorsman Pro" in yellow and red, inspired by the spirit of Rainy Lake, Minnesota. | Rainy Lake, MN

Outdoorsman Headquarters
A white motorboat is docked at a wooden pier on calm Rainy Lake in Minnesota, surrounded by rocky shore and trees. The clear sky holds a slight haze, and distant tree-covered islands are visible across the water. | Rainy Lake, MN

Rainy Lake Charters
Two people standing on a boat hold a large fish they caught on Rainy Lake. Both wear sunglasses, hats, and outdoor clothing, smiling with a wooded shoreline and water in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN

Rainy Lake Fishing Adventures
Three people dressed in winter clothing stand on a snowy, frozen Rainy Lake in Minnesota, each proudly holding up several fish they caught. The sky is overcast, and the background shows a distant tree line. | Rainy Lake, MN

Rainy Lake Guiding
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Season Information

Open Season: May 10th, 2025 – April 14th, 2026
Combined possession of walleye and sauger limit 8 (not more than four can be walleye).
​All walleye from 18-26″ must be immediately released. One walleye over 26″ allowed in possession.

Open season: Continuous
Possession limit: 10

Open season: June 15 – Nov. 30
Possession limit: 1 (minimum size 50″)

Seasons on when you can catch and release sturgeon and keep sturgeon vary.

  • Harvest season: April 24 – May 7
  • Catch-and-release only: May 8 – 15 (No tag needed)
  • Closed: May 16 – June 30
  • Harvest season: July 1 – Sept. 30
  • Catch-and- release only: Oct 1 – April 23 of following year (no tag needed) 

​
Anglers looking to catch and keep a sturgeon during the keep season must purchase a sturgeon tag.  They are allowed 1 sturgeon per calendar year. Fish must be 45″-50″ inclusive or over 75″. Fish must be immediately tagged and registered within 48 hours. 

See the “Canada-Minnesota” Border Waters section of the MN DNR fishing regulation booklet for more details about Lake Sturgeon fishing regulations.

Open season: May 10 2025 – February 2026
Regulations allow for a 3-fish limit, with a crucial conservation measure in place: only one fish can be 36 inches or greater, and any pike between 24 and 36 inches must be immediately released to ensure healthy populations for future generations.

Open Season: Continuous
Smallmouth Bass can be found on Rainy Lake and Rainy River.
Possession limit: 6 total

MN Fishing Regulations
Spring Walleye Fishing
Three people dressed in winter clothing stand on frozen Rainy Lake in Minnesota, each smiling and holding two fish they caught, with snow and a cloudy sky in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN
Four men smile while standing on a wooden dock by Rainy Lake in Minnesota, with boats and a lodge in the background. One man holds a fishing net containing fish. It’s a sunny day with clear skies and trees in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN
A smiling man wearing sunglasses and a cap kneels on a boat at Rainy Lake, Minnesota, proudly holding up a large fish with one hand. A fishing rod and net are visible beside him, and the scenic lake is in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN
Two smiling people in outdoor clothing hold up freshly caught fish on a boat at Rainy Lake, Minnesota, with cloudy skies in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN
Five freshly caught fish with speckled yellow and green scales lie inside a black, open-mesh fishing basket, viewed from above—perfect evidence of a successful day on Minnesota’s Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN
A smiling young boy wearing a life jacket proudly holds up a fish he caught on Rainy Lake in Minnesota, standing on a boat with water and green trees in the background. An adult stands nearby, partially out of frame. | Rainy Lake, MN
Two people wearing hats and jackets smile while standing on a boat, holding a large fish together over Rainy Lake on a sunny Minnesota day, with a grassy shoreline and trees visible in the background. | Rainy Lake, MN

Blog Posts about Fishing

Aerial view of Minnesota’s Rainy Lake with numerous tree-covered islands and calm blue water. A boat creates a wake, while a tall observation tower rises among the trees on one of the islands. | Rainy Lake, MN

Facts About Rainy
A scenic aerial view of Rainy Lake in Minnesota, bordered by lush green trees, with a small marina, parked boats, and RVs along the water's edge under a partly cloudy sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

Boat Landing Accesses on Rainy Lake
A small passenger boat named "Voyageur" cruises on Minnesota’s Rainy Lake with several people standing on the upper and lower decks, enjoying the view on a sunny day. Trees line the distant shore under a partly cloudy sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

A First-Time Visitor’s Guide to Voyageurs National Park
Four people in winter clothing kneel on a frozen Minnesota lake, smiling and holding several fish each. More fish are arranged on the ice in front of them, with two off-road vehicles parked nearby—an unforgettable day on Rainy Lake. | Rainy Lake, MN

Rainy Lake Fishing “Cheat Sheet”
A snow-covered frozen lake at sunrise or sunset on Rainy Lake, Minnesota, features an ice fishing hut, a snowmobile, and an ATV. Tire and track marks crisscross the snow as distant trees line the horizon. | Rainy Lake, MN

Keep It Clean
A person snowshoes uphill through a snowy Minnesota forest with sunlight streaming through tall, snow-covered pine trees under a clear blue sky. | Rainy Lake, MN

Winter Fun on Rainy Lake: 6 Outdoor Activities