The Old Days of Lake of the Woods Fishing

Lake of the Woods, early days, Prairie Sportsman TV

Back by popular demand, The Old Days of Lake of the Woods Fishing…

Things have sure changed over the years when it comes to the old days fishing.  Things have also changed when it comes to looking back at the old days of Lake of the Woods.  It was for this reason Bret Amundson of Prairie Sportsman TV decided to produce a piece chatting with some of the resort owners with a lot of history under their belt from this body of water so near and dear to the hearts of many.

Ed and Jack Arnesen, Arnesen's Rocky Point There were many great resort owners to choose from.  For this episode, time was spent with Ed and Jack Arnesen of Arnesen’s Rocky Point, Steve Ballard of Ballard’s Resort and Mike Trueman, former owner of Border View Lodge.

The stories are interesting, almost like taking a mini history class.  Ed Arnesen speaks of his grandfather walking to Rocky Point in about 1894 from the Red River Valley.  “He wasn’t much for farming and had heard about the sturgeon fishing on Lake of the Woods.  He homesteaded here in 1897 and started his own fishery,” explains Arnesen.  “The sturgeon were used for their caviar.  At one time, Lake of the Woods produced 2/3 of the world’s caviar.”

Steve Ballard, Ballard's Resort “In 1961, my parents moved up here from NW Iowa.  I was five years old,” explains Steve Ballard of Ballard’s Resort.  “They bought their first launch in 1962.  It was a 23′ Chris Craft.  When you were out there, you had no cell phones.  If you broke down, you pretty much had to figure out how to get home.  In the earlier years, there were no marine band radios, so you were on your own.  If the weather changed, you ducked behind an island and rode it out.  Now everyone is looking at their I phone telling everyone where the storm is,” explains Ballard.

mike trueman prairie sportsman 2019 “When we first moved here, we were very fortunate that for the most part, all resort owners got along very well just because of the way things were and the changes that were coming about, getting into the winter business.  The 80’s was a lot of change,” explains Mike Trueman, previous owner of Border View Lodge.  “I got into the ice fishing business the winter of ’85-’86.  At that time, I know we got $25 per person.  That was transportation out and back, the fish house, bait, your tackle.  We supplied the poles and everything.  I wanna say we got about $15 per night per head for the cabin, and it just grew.  The winter business not only helped financially, but you didn’t have to hug and kiss your guides and summer employees in the fall and hope you got them back in the spring because now you could keep them employed,” explains Trueman.

The stories went on and on.  For anyone into Lake of the Woods, into history, into the transformation of both open water and ice fishing, this is definitely a piece to peak your interest.

It is not always easy to get in front of a camera and talk about the past.  I want to personally thank Ed and Jack Arnesen, Steve Ballard and Mike Trueman for taking the time to share about the way things used to be, how and when they started to change and the way you see things now.  Precious history like this is invaluable.  We hope you find this short ten minute segment of Prairie Sportsman TV as intriguing as we did.

 

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7th Annual Wheeler’s Point Ice Derby

Wheeler's Point Resort, Lake of the Woods, logo

Wheeler's Point ice fishing derby 2020 The 7th Annual Ice Derby is set for Thursday, February 6th out of Wheeler’s Point Resort.  There are some fun changes this year with the inclusion of a catch, photograph, release format.  On Lake of the Woods, there is a slot limit.  Any walleye caught between 19.5 inches and 28 inches has to be released immediately with anglers being able to keep one fish per day over 28 inches.  With a normal “keep” ice derby in which fish are brought to weigh in, there could be a number of big walleyes caught over 28 inches and brought back for weigh in.  That means that fish will never swim again.

With this year’s catch, photo, release format, anglers are allowed to photograph the walleye on of of Wheeler’s Point Resort’s official rulers and the image shared with the resort judges vs the actual fish.  This will allow participants the chance to photograph and release trophy walleyes if they so choose to.

In addition, catch, photo, release allows walleyes that are in the protected slot to be photographed and counted for the contest.  In a traditional “keep” tournament, anglers would be looking to catch walleyes up to 19.5 inches and hoping to get a trophy over 28 inches.

Anglers must be fishing Lake of the Woods, but the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay are off limits.  Check out the rules sheet here for official rules of the derby.

Ice fishing is fun all by itself, let alone adding the excitement of an ice fishing tournament or “ice derby” to the mix.  Everyone is welcome regardless of where you are staying.  If you would like to find out more or register for this derby, contact Wheeler’s Point Resort at 218-634-2629,  wheelers point big walleye 012520

 

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Baked Walleye and Vegetables

baked-walleye-with-vegetables

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 small zucchini, julienned
  • 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 4 walleye fillets (about 6 ounces each)
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions:

In a nonstick skillet, cook onion in oil over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Stir in zucchini and mushrooms; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Sprinkle with pepper and garlic powder; stir in lemon juice. Cook and stir 30 seconds longer. Remove from heat; stir in 1 teaspoon cheese.  Place fillets in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top each fillet with about 1/4 cup onion mixture. Drizzle with butter and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 18-22 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Good News-Great Ice

lake of the woods snow drift

Yes, Good News-there’s Great Ice on Lake of the Woods. This great expanse of water in the northland is the sight of near 30 inches of ice and supports many fish houses and wheelhouses.

Jerry Carlson of the St. Cloud Times recently wrote an article while interviewing Lake of the Woods Tourism Director, Joe Henry. Joe Henry with walleye He wrote, “For much of the northern part of the state, the ice conditions have been a disaster this winter. Heavy snow, slush and thin ice have had a major impact on fishing.

Normal winter hotspots like Red, Winnie and Leech have all had issues. Travel has been limited to snowmobiles and ATVs in many locations. In some cases, there are plowed roads that are open to truck traffic and wheelhouses, but those are limited. If you are traveling to these lakes in the near future, call ahead for current conditions.

There’s Good News-Great Ice, a bright spot up north at Lake of the Woods. Most of the major snows have missed the area allowing them to develop over two feet of good ice.

This popular winter destination is home to over 50 resorts and outfitters that work Lake of the Woods in the winter. About a dozen of these resorts plow and maintain roads for those that wish to bring their own wheelhouse. bobber in fish hole, Lake of the Woods great ice with sun dogs

The walleye and sauger activity has been consistent. Henry did remind me that as of last year, the limits have changed. An angler can have a total of six fish in possession with no more than four of these walleyes. It used to be eight. There is tremendous wintertime fishing pressure on Lake of the Woods with more than two million angling hours put in last year. In an effort to protect the sauger population, they reduced the limit by two. The protected slot limit for walleyes is still 19.5 to 28 inches. Anglers can keep one walleye over 28. Fishing regulations on Lake of the Woods are different from the rest of the state. Houses are allowed on the ice through the end of March. The walleye season stays open through April 14th.

If traveling to Lake of the Woods, Henry highly recommends using sonar equipment as fish often come in suspended off of the bottom.”

This has been the opinion of outdoors columnist Jerry Carlson. Contact him at jerrycarlson@cloudnet.com.

Fishing Report 1/27/2020

wheelers point lake of the woods

On the south end…  Ice conditions on LOW remain excellent. Resorts reporting around 30″ of ice most places being fished.  Warmer weather turned the bite on for many, a good week of fishing.  Good numbers of big fish caught this week.   Most anglers fishing 27′ – 36′ with ice roads 7 -12+ miles.  Resort houses continue to move constantly following the fish.  Both jigging line and deadstick with a live minnow producing based on mood of walleyes.  Downsize offering or get aggressive if bite is slow.  Rattles and vibration help in stained water.  Gold, glow and firetiger good colors.  Electronics will increase results.  

On the Rainy River…   The river is frozen over with snowmobile traffic on marked trail.  Current has dropped some and river continues to build ice.  Extra caution is always needed on the river.  Thin ice around the International Bridge in Baudette.  Work through resort if ice fishing the river as ice thickness varies.

Up at the NW Angle…  A good week of ice fishing with houses in 23 – 32′ of water.  Some houses on structure, others in mud on edge of reefs.  Jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head or tail on jigging line, plain red hook with live minnow on deadstick.  Snowmobile trails from south end to Angle groomed and in good shape.  Fish houses on the ice through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14.  A complete list of lodging and ice fishing options available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging

Historical Sites at Lake of the Woods

fort st. charles sign

 

Whether visiting to the north country in winter or summer, you’ll find a number of Historical Sites at Lake of the Woods. Let’s visit some of them now.

  1. Lake of the Woods County Museum in Baudette is a bridge to the past. It has exhibits on geology, natural history, native cultures, the Great Forest Fire of 1910, commercial fishing in the past, logging, agriculture and pharamaceutical industries.
    Cairn of Peace
    Cairn of Peace
    World Ploughing 2019

    The new exhibit coming in the spring of 2020 will be the Cairn of Peace from the World Ploughing Competition which was held the fall of 2019 in Lake of the Woods County where 28 countries joined in from around the world. The museum is open seasonally or by appointment

  2. The Baudette Depot – Once abandoned in the 1980s, is now completely renovated as of 2011. The Depot of 1923 is one of Historical Sight at Baudette Depot cleardot1 Baudette’s favorite connections to the Canadian Railway and start to the city of Baudette. The depot sits on land leased from CN (the Canadian National Railways) at the very end of Main Ave. Head in for a private tour or attend one of the many festivities and art shows this beautiful location holds.
  3. Fort St. Charles – is the site of the original fortress and fur-trading post erected in 1732, by the French-Canadian voyageurs. The fort is on Magnusson’s Island and is open to the public. This island is accessible by boat during open water Historical Site of Fort St Charles on Magnussen Island months and snowmobile during the winter months. There is no charge to visit this site
  4. Faunce Tower Lookout – is a 100 foot stairway tower erected by the Civilian Conservations Corps in 1935. It replace an
    Faunce Tower Historical Site at Lake of the Woods
    Faunce Tower

    older tower located 3 miles to the south of the original along Faunce Forest Road. It also marks the lost village of Faunce.  Faunce campground is located at this site which stands roughly 12 miles south of Williams on Co Rd 2.

  5. Norris Camp – is today’s headquarters of the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area. The history of Norris Camp began in 1933 with President Roosevelt’s CCC program and it became the impetus for creating Norris Camp. Today you can travel to Faunce Tower and Norris Camp view the beauty of the Beltrami Forest with native pines lining the drive. Bicycle enthusiasts would especially enjoy this ride.
  6. Painted Rock Island – is located on Lake of the Woods. Earliest Settlers and those passing through have left their mark on the north side of that Rock. These pictographs are extimated to be over 900 years old. This can be viewed from a boat in the channel between Painted Rock Island and Split Rock Island adjacent to the NW Angle just into Ontario.

 

Historical Sites at Lake of the Woods also includes Native history found on both sides of this international border. Come and enjoy the beauty of Lake of the Woods area by traveling through its rich history.

Click here to access the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click here for a list of lodging and ice fishing packages on Lake of the Woods.

Honey Fried Walleye

honey fried walleye

Ingredients

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 cup coarsely crushed saltines (about 22 crackers)
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 to 6 walleye fillets (about 1-1/2 pounds)
  • Canola oil
  • Additional honey

Directions

  • In a shallow bowl, beat egg and honey. In another bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, flour, salt and pepper. Dip fillets into egg mixture, then coat with crumb mixture.
  • In a large skillet, heat 1/4 in. of oil; fry fish over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side or until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork. Drizzle with honey.

Visit Lake of the Woods Tourism at the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo

Chicagoland Fishing show 2023

If you are close to the Chicago area, stop by Thursday – Sunday, January 26 – 29, 2023 and say hello to Joe Henry of Lake of the Woods Tourism at the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo.  In addition to answering questions, giving out specific information, and handing out the brand new Lake of the Woods Visitor’s Guides, Joe will be conducting two seminars titled, “Spot Hopping for Walleyes” and “Lake of the Woods 101”.

Thursday, January 26, 2023 @ 4 pm, Seminar Hall (2nd Floor).  Spot Hoppin’ for Walleyes

Saturday, January 28, 2023 @ Noon, Seminar Hall (2nd Floor).   Spot Hoppin’ for Walleyes

Sunday, January 29, 2023 @ 11:00 am, Seminar Hall (2nd Floor).   Lake of the Woods 101 (emphasis on walleyes)

Spot Hoppin’ for Walleyes is a strategy to maximize productivity on catching walleyes on lakes and rivers, clear water and stained water in all parts of the walleye world.  Discussing this strategy used by guides and tournament angler to quickly break apart the body of water and understanding in a short time where the walleyes are and what it will take to catch them.

In addition, this year’s Chicagoland Fishing Show will feature an informative Lake of the Woods 101 seminar featuring helpful info about the lake, Rainy River and NW Angle.  Seasonal patterns, techniques, seasons and limits will be discussed.  Some of the top techniques to catch walleyes along with the nuances to those presentations to really put more walleyes in the boat will be part of this presentation.

Joe Henry, walleye, Lake of the Woods Bouncer with crawler harness - Copy (640x424) Dan Stefanich, Logan, Kyle, walleye (640x426) map Charter Boats, Sportsmans Joe Henry, Lake of the Woods rapala rippin rap Lakemap, Lake of the Woods Lake of the Woods Tourism logo

The seminars are jam packed with videos, images and maps to give you the help you need in having a successful trip up to The Walleye Capital of the World or simply whacking more walleyes using a number of very effective methods.

Stop by our booth #723! 

If you plan on attending the show, stop by and enter the drawing for a free fishing trip and say hello!

We will be handing out our Lake of the Woods Tourism Visitor Guides at the show and answering any questions to help you better plan for a potential trip.

Lake of the Woods Tourism will be in booth #723 at the Schaumburg Convention Center.  We hope to see you at the 2023 Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo!

 

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In Depth Outdoors at the NW Angle Chasing Walleyes

Walleye caught on Lake of the Woods

Big pike in fish house, Lake of the Woods When In Depth Outdoors host James Holst hooks up with long time NW Angle guide, Eric Grundahl, good things are bound to happen.  On this episode, shot just recently during an arctic blast of cold temps, the two decided to hunker down in -15 degree weather.  Because of the cold, they weren’t going to be moving around a lot and picked a spot they thought they could sit on and catch fish.  Well, between the knowledge of the area and their understanding of catching walleyes, things turned out pretty good.

On this day, the pair were using minnow baits.  Initially, Holst was using a #4 Rapala Rippin Rap, a lure that brings a lot of noise.  Not only does it have vibration when you rip it, it has rattles in the lure that can be heard a long ways away.  Grundahl started out with a minnow bait without so much noise and also caught a good number of walleyes on the show. Walleye on Rapala Rippin Rap, Lake of the Woods

Holst is no stranger to Lake of the Woods and the NW Angle.  He has fished it often both in the open water and on the ice.

Later in the show, James Holst gets a surprise with a big pike hitting the lure.  Grundahl, who has handled thousands of pike in his fishing career, grabbed the big fish from the ice hole like a champ just as the lure falls out of the pike’s mouth.

Always an educational show, check out In Depth Outdoors fishing out of the NW Angle.  Who says walleyes are tough to catch in sub zero weather!

Check out the episode below…

YouTube video

 

Click here to find out more about the NW Angle.

Click here to access the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click here for a list of lodging and ice fishing packages on Lake of the Woods.

Fishing Report 1/20/2020

Pike Zipple Bay Resort

On the south end…  Ice conditions on LOW are excellent.  Resorts reporting 24-30″ of ice most places being fished.  Good numbers of walleyes and saugers being caught.  Lots of sorting through fish to get eaters and occasional trophy walleye.   Most anglers fishing 27′ – 36′ with some ice roads 10+ miles.  Resort houses continue to move constantly following the fish.  Both jigging line and deadstick with a live minnow producing based on mood of walleyes.  Gold, glow, pink and white good colors.  Electronics will increase results.  Adapt to the mood of fish.  Switch jigging cadence until they bite.  Watch for suspended walleyes.  Jigging spoons with rattles and vibrating lures having good results.

On the Rainy River…   The river is frozen over with some snowmobile traffic on marked trail.  Current has dropped some and river is starting to build ice.  Extra caution is always needed on the river.  Thin ice around the International Bridge in Baudette.  Work through resort if ice fishing the river as ice thickness varies.

Up at the NW Angle…  Great ice fishing continues with a healthy mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike and eelpout.  Resorts shifting houses to stay productive.  Snowmobile trails from south end to Angle groomed and in good shape.  Stay on trails as there are ice chunks on lake.  Fish houses on the ice through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14.  A complete list of lodging and ice fishing options available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging