It’s a fishing day

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

Today 1 pm to tomorrow 7 amMuskellunge

The bite peaks at 80.

Log a trip here
Right now: 75 for muskellunge, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Muskellunge, 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.

  1. 759 am
  2. 71
  3. 71
  4. 7112 pm
  5. 80
  6. 80
  7. 763 pm
  8. 76
  9. 76
  10. 806 pm
  11. 76
  12. 76
  13. 769 pm
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 76Tue
  17. 80
  18. 80
  19. 763 am
  20. 76
  21. 76
  22. 766 am
  23. 73
  24. 73
  25. 739 am
  26. 77
  27. 73
  28. 7312 pm
  29. 73
  30. 77
  31. 803 pm
  32. 76
  33. 76
  34. 806 pm
  35. 80
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Muskellunge range 55–78°

Wind
6 mph

From the northeast

Light
Daylight

Sunset 6:09 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
38°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

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.

Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

80Worth the tripToday 1 pm to tomorrow 7 am

Water

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

Why

Muskellunge feeds aggressively under full moon. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

54" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 54" minimum, 1 a day. Season is the first Saturday in June through Nov 30 (Jun 5–Nov 30, 2027).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

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

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 9 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 6 walleye and sauger a day combined, only 1 walleye over 20". Season runs from the opener (Saturday two weeks before Memorial Day weekend) to the last Sunday in February. Many lakes have their own limits.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

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

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 9 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota Southern and North-central zones: 6 bass a day combined. Smallmouth are catch and release from Mar 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day and again from the second Monday in September.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

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

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 9 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 9 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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

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

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 9 pm

Water

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

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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 8 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
  • Barometer30.59 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today6:09 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:58 am
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 12:20 pm–2:20 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:30 pm–6:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 12:50 am–2:50 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.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Rainy Lake (International Falls)80 mi · MinnesotaBest today 1 pm to tomorrow 7 am
80Worth the trip
Leech Lake121 mi · MinnesotaBest today 1 pm–10 pm
80Worth the trip
Mille Lacs Lake190 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm
80Worth the trip
Devils Lake (Grahams Island State Park)195 mi · North DakotaBest now until tomorrow 9 pm
68Marginal
Lake Minnetonka279 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 1 pm
87Go

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.