Waters · United States
Rainy River fishing report
Updated Sunday, October 25, 2026 · refreshed automatically through the day
The border river between Minnesota and Ontario. In early spring, Lake of the Woods walleye run up it while the lake is still frozen, so the open water near Baudette draws anglers from across the region. Lake sturgeon run it too.
Today's report: fair (59/100)
Walleye is the most promising species on Rainy River today. Water temperature at the gauge is 49°F (9.7°C) and barometric pressure is stable. Gauge RAINY RIVER AT MANITOU RAPIDS, MN shows the water level steady.
Rainy River water temperature and flow
- Water temperature: 49°F (9.7°C)
- Discharge: 6,032 cfs (170.8 m³/s) — unchanged over 24 hours
- Level trend: steady
Measured at gauge RAINY RIVER AT MANITOU RAPIDS, MN · reading 16 min ago. Published by the national hydrological service, not estimated by us.
Best time to fish today
- 1:00 PM–3:00 PM local time — score 52/100
- 5:00 PM–7:00 PM local time — score 60/100
- 12:00 AM–2:00 AM local time — score 49/100
3-day outlook by species
| Species | Sunday, Oct 25 | Monday, Oct 26 | Tuesday, Oct 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye | 59 — fair | 48 — fair | 64 — good |
| Northern Pike | 45 — fair | 40 — poor | 39 — poor |
| Smallmouth Bass | 46 — fair | 40 — poor | 38 — poor |
Why this score
Cast & Scan uses a deterministic, published scoring model — no black box. The strongest influences on today's Rainy River rating:
- cloud cover: helping (+1)
- season: helping (+1)
- wind: helping (+0.85)
- pressure trend: helping (+0.8)
- solunar period: helping (+0.8)
- river flow: helping (+0.8)
Forecast computed Sun, 25 Oct 2026 18:46:29 GMT · data: Open-Meteo + gauge RAINY RIVER AT MANITOU RAPIDS, MN · refreshed automatically through the day · see our published accuracy
Winter fishing on Rainy River
The Rainy River is fished through the ice in midwinter and as open water in early spring, when Lake of the Woods walleye run up it and the current opens the river before the lake. Ice on a river with current varies a lot over short distances, so use local reports and marked access. Minnesota and Ontario rules both apply depending on which side you fish.
Seasons, closed sections and permits are set by the state and change. Check the current regulations before a winter trip, and never trust shelf ice or a forecast for your safety.
Wondering how this stacks up against the apps you already know? Cast & Scan vs Fishbrain vs BassForecast — an honest comparison, including where they beat us.
Read before you go
- When pike bite: the pressure, light and temperature windows
- The best time to fish for bass
- How river flow trend changes the bite
- Barometric pressure and fishing, explained
More walleye waters
- Lake Erie (Western Basin) — Ohio, USA
- Lake St. Clair — Michigan, USA
- Au Gres River — Michigan, USA
- Burt Lake — Michigan, USA
- Devils Lake — North Dakota, USA
Nearby waters
- Upper Red Lake — Minnesota, USA (49 mi away)
- Lake of the Woods — Ontario, Canada (55 mi away)
- Lake Winnibigoshish — Minnesota, USA (84 mi away)
- Lake Vermilion — Minnesota, USA (90 mi away)
- Leech Lake — Minnesota, USA (104 mi away)
- St. Louis River — Minnesota, USA (150 mi away)