Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) fishing conditions · Minnesota

Now until 7 pmYellow perch

The bite peaks at 82.

Right now: 82 for yellow perch, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Yellow perch, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

823 pm
82
82
826 pm
60
60
609 pm
60
60
60Sun
60
60
603 am
60
68
686 am
68
68
689 am
68
68
6812 pm
68
68
683 pm
68
60
586 pm
58
60
689 pm
68
68
68Mon
68
68

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 14 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Partly Sunny
Air: 54°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Minnesota regulations for these waters.

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 20 yellow perch a day, 40 in possession, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Walleye

Sander vitreus

59MarginalNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Release 19.5–28".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 6 walleye and sauger a day, no more than 4 walleye; walleye from 19.5 to 28" must be released and only 1 over 28" kept. Open to Apr 14.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Lake of the Woods (border water)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Jun, Sep–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Smallmouth bass is here May–Oct. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 6 bass a day combined, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Canada–Minnesota border waters

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Muskellunge is here Jun–Sep. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

50" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 50" minimum, 1 a day. The 2026 season ran Jun 20–Nov 30.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Canada–Minnesota border waters

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on muskellunge

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Crappie is here May–Oct. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 10 crappie a day, open all year. Many lakes cut it to 5.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Sep. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: carp have a continuous season and no limit. Carp may not be taken by spear, archery or dip net in designated trout lakes and streams.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
Barometer29.71 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:50 pm
Sunrise tomorrow7:17 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 6:30 am–7:30 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Minnesota DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A 950,000-acre international lake on the Minnesota–Ontario border — a year-round walleye and sauger powerhouse, with muskellunge, smallmouth bass, and jumbo yellow perch. One of the great ice-fishing destinations in North America, fished from Baudette and the Northwest Angle.

Canada–Minnesota border water: 6 walleye and sauger a day, no more than 4 walleye. Walleye from 19.5 to 28" must be released, and only 1 over 28" kept. Walleye season runs to Apr 14 on the main lake; the Rainy River at Baudette and Four Mile Bay are catch and release from Mar 1 to Apr 14. Muskie is 50" minimum.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesMinnesota
WhereLake of the Woods County · 48.8739, -94.8730

Nearby

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Lake Minnetonka279 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

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Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)?

Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Yellow Perch, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) have?

Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Canada–Minnesota border water: 6 walleye and sauger a day, no more than 4 walleye. Walleye from 19.5 to 28" must be released, and only 1 over 28" kept. Walleye season runs to Apr 14 on the main lake; the Rainy River at Baudette and Four Mile Bay are catch and release from Mar 1 to Apr 14. Muskie is 50" minimum.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)?

state agency regulations apply at Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) tidal water?

No. Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.