It’s a fishing day

Rainy Lake (International Falls) fishing conditions · Minnesota

Today 6 am to tomorrow 7 amMuskellunge

The bite peaks at 80.

Log a trip here
Right now: 71 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. 712 am
  2. 71
  3. 71
  4. 715 am
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 768 am
  8. 80
  9. 76
  10. 7611 am
  11. 76
  12. 80
  13. 802 pm
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 765 pm
  17. 80
  18. 76
  19. 768 pm
  20. 76
  21. 76
  22. 7611 pm
  23. 76Tue
  24. 80
  25. 802 am
  26. 76
  27. 76
  28. 765 am
  29. 76
  30. 73
  31. 738 am
  32. 73
  33. 77
  34. 6611 am
  35. 66
  36. 66
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Muskellunge range 55–78°

Wind
10 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:49 am

Sky
Partly Cloudy

No rain expected

Air
35°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 6 am 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 11 am

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 11 am

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

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

68MarginalNow until tomorrow 11 am

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

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.53 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:49 am
  • Sunset today6:03 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 8:10 am–9:10 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:10 pm–2:10 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:20 pm–6:20 pm

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 sprawling border lake at International Falls draining into Voyageurs National Park — clear, rocky water holding trophy smallmouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, and crappie. A wilderness multi-species fishery reached from International Falls and the park.

Canada–Minnesota border water: 8 walleye and sauger a day, no more than 4 walleye. Walleye from 18 to 26" must be released, and only 1 over 26" kept. Walleye season runs to Apr 14.

Nearby

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

Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)80 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am to tomorrow 6 am
80Worth the trip
Leech Lake115 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am–10 pm
80Worth the trip
Mille Lacs Lake164 mi · MinnesotaBest today 6 am–7 pm
80Worth the trip
Lake Minnetonka254 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 6 am
86Go
Devils Lake (Grahams Island State Park)268 mi · North DakotaBest now until tomorrow 2 pm
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Rainy Lake (International Falls)?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Rainy Lake (International Falls)?

Rainy Lake (International Falls) is listed on this site for 4 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Crappie. 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 Rainy Lake (International Falls)?

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 Rainy Lake (International Falls) 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 Rainy Lake (International Falls) have?

Rainy Lake (International Falls) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Canada–Minnesota border water: 8 walleye and sauger a day, no more than 4 walleye. Walleye from 18 to 26" must be released, and only 1 over 26" kept. Walleye season runs to Apr 14.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Rainy Lake (International Falls)?

state agency regulations apply at Rainy Lake (International Falls). 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 Rainy Lake (International Falls) tidal water?

No. Rainy Lake (International Falls) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.