Rainy Lake Crappie Fishing
Rainy Lake slab crappies are at the end of their northern range. Thanks to the smelt population, truly slab crappies in the 10 – 19 inch range can be caught right in front of the resort. Spring or fall is the best time to come and catch crappies with Camp Narrows.
Spring or Fall, Rainy Lake Crappie Fishing is Awesome
Camp Narrows Lodge is Northwest Ontario’s premier crappie fishing destination. Located on the border of Minnesota and Ontario, Rainy Lake slab crappies are at the end of their northern range.
We have great forage in the lake, including smelt, which puts shoulders on these crappies. Truly Slab crappies in the 10 – 19 inch range can be caught right in front of the resort.
Our resort is a boat-in, which brings you minutes away from the best and most fertile crappie regions of the lake. Whether seeking our guide service or prefer to fish on your own, we’ll put you on them!
Spring or fall is the best time to come and catch them.
Let Your Next Fishing Adventure Begin
Rainy Lake is famous for its fishing and scenic beauty. As Northwest Ontario’s top drive-to fishing destination, its world-class fishing offers trophy walleyes, northern pike, smallmouth bass, crappies, and more.
Rainy Lake Crappie Fishing Info
Although Ontario has a long list of panfish that offer dependable action for the whole family, the two species most sought after are the yellow perch and black crappie.
Black crappie travel in schools during the summer and winter. Open-water anglers get their first crack at them as ice clears from backwaters in April or early May and the fish move inshore to feed. Top spots include man-made boat cuts and canals and shallow bays with cover (wood, weeds, docks). More fish move in by late May and June to spawn. In summer, the fish are along deep weedlines or suspended farther out. They’ll hit during the day, especially during overcast weather, but morning and evening are prime times.
Black crappie and other panfish will take small live minnows, spinners, panfish jigs, mini-crankbaits, and streamer flies.
We welcome you to come and experience some premium Ontario crappie fishing.
Tom’s Fishing Tips
- Spring fishing for crappies is done in the shallower bays, located just off the main lake. As soon as the ice goes off, many crappies move up into the shallow, warmer waters. Fly fishing, casting little bobbers, light tubes etc can all be used at this time of year. Many rock piles are located in and around the shallower bays, and can all be targeted for slab Rainy Lake crappies. Northern Ontario weather, is of course little cooler than the waters found in Minnesota. Our ice out is usually the beginning of May, so the fishing starts just after that. Fallen trees, stumps and the rock are all good places to target. Some fish stay in the deeper water out in the main bay. You can also jig for these during the spring.
- Fall fishing on Rainy Lake is truly a crappie angler’s outdoor vacation. The Crappies school up in the thousands. They hang out in the main bays in water 20 – 40 feet deep. Jig fishing is the method to catch them. Dropping down into a large school of fish and giving it a little jig tipped with live bait or a small plastic will bring you great success. the schools of fish can be 10 feet thick at this time of year.
- Winter fishing is another option to catch crappie. Ice fishing for slab Rainy Lake crappies is awesome.
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