Fall Fishing on a Minnesota Rig, Rainy Lake, Ontario | LUND

Smallmouth, Walleye, and the Game-Changing Minnesota Rig

There’s something special about Rainy Lake in Ontario’s Sunset Country—something wild, unpredictable, and absolutely thrilling. It’s the kind of place where every cast could turn into a battle with a beast of a fish, and that’s exactly what Kobe Koenig and Ryan DeChaine of Wired2Fish live for. Armed with cutting-edge forward-facing sonar and a handful of high-powered techniques, they hit the water in search of smallmouth bass—but as always, Rainy Lake had a few surprises in store.

The Magic of Fall Fishing

The first cold front of fall had just rolled in, nudging the water temps below 70 degrees, and the fish were on the move. Ciscoes and smelt were the main course, and every predator in the lake was locked onto the baitfish migration. That meant one thing: it was time to throw some serious baitfish imitations and see what the fish were hungry for.

“Out here, you never really know what you’re going to run into,” Kobe said, scanning the deck covered in rods. “Might throw a Minnesota rig, maybe do some moping… but we’ll let the fish tell us what they want.”

The One-Two-Three Punch: Jerkbaits, Jigs, and the Minnesota Rig

Traditionally, the one-two punch for smallmouth bass in this region has been a jerkbait followed by a throwback jig-and-plastic combo. But with the rise of forward-facing sonar, a new heavy hitter has entered the ring: the Minnesota rig.

This bad boy is a stripped-down, single-hook version of the Alabama rig—because in Minnesota, you can only fish one hook. Despite the limitations, it’s an absolute game-changer for drawing fish out of rocky ambush points. It creates a big profile, tons of vibration, and shows up like a beacon on sonar, making it perfect for calling up curious smallmouth from the depths.

“First cast of the morning, second cast… boom, fish on!” Ryan exclaimed as a smallmouth rocketed out of the water, flipping and twisting like an acrobat. “They’re supercharged in this cool water.”

Smallmouth bass are notorious for bringing the whole gang when one of them gets hooked, so Kobe wasted no time dropping a bait into the chaos. Sure enough, another bass crushed the lure before it even hit bottom. The action was non-stop.

Multi-Species Madness: Walleye and Pike Crash the Party

Rainy Lake isn’t just about smallmouth. As the guys worked through rocky points and underwater humps, the sonar started lighting up with fish hugging the bottom. “That’s gotta be a walleye,” Kobe muttered, watching a blip on the screen rise toward his jigging minnow.

Sure enough—thump. A golden walleye inhaled the bait, proving once again why this lake is one of the best multi-species fisheries in North America.

Then, just as quickly, another shadow appeared on the screen. Bigger. Bulkier. With a mouth full of teeth.

“Uh-oh. That’s a pike,” Ryan said, tightening his grip. A flash of silver, a violent head shake, and just like that—a 10-pound northern pike was thrashing boatside, barely hooked.

“That’s what we love about this place,” Kobe laughed. “You never know what’s coming next.”

The Power of Forward-Facing Sonar

One of the biggest game-changers in modern fishing has been forward-facing sonar. It allows anglers to scan underwater terrain in real time, spot fish before they even cast, and adjust their approach based on the fish’s behavior.

“We’re not just catching fish with this thing—we’re learning,” Ryan explained. “We’re seeing how they react, how they set up on structure, and what baits actually get them to commit.”

It was clear that smallmouth were holding tight to steep rock inclines, using them as natural trap points to ambush baitfish. With that knowledge, the guys could target specific high-percentage spots, rather than just blind-casting into open water.

“It’s not about making fishing ‘easier’—it’s about making it smarter,” Kobe added. “And when you put all these tools together, you get some serious results.”

The Perfect Boat for Big Water Battles

When you’re tackling a big, dynamic fishery like Rainy Lake, you need a boat that can handle everything. The Lund 2075 Pro-V Bass is exactly that—a hybrid between a traditional bass boat and a deep-V multi-species rig. It’s got the deck space for multiple anglers, the storage to keep a dozen rods rigged and ready, and the stability to handle big waves.

“Whether we’re fishing massive Great Lakes or sneaking into hidden backwaters, this boat does it all,” Ryan said, standing on the oversized front deck. “And when you’ve got a buddy on board, the bow becomes command central—you hook a fish, the other guy grabs the trolling motor, and the teamwork makes it all come together.”

“This place never gets old,” Kobe said as the sun dipped lower on the horizon. “Every day is different, every spot holds a new surprise, and the fish are always willing to play.”

And with a combination of modern technology, innovative techniques, and a little bit of fishing intuition, it’s no surprise that Kobe and Ryan turned another day on Rainy Lake into an unforgettable adventure.