The Canadian Border, which includes traveling across the border via water, is open.  Many who visit Minnesota’s NW Angle like to boat into the adjacent Ontario waters of Lake of the Woods, a long ways away from the nearest Canadian towns, in the middle of nowhere and loaded with some of the best fishing in North America.  With this being said, what happens when these fish on the Canadian side, basically haven’t seen a lure for two years?  I bet you can imagine!

The stories are coming in daily of how good the fishing is.  Between the fish not seeing lures, not being caught, and in the case of walleyes, not being harvested, fishing has been incredible.

Walleyes.  As an example, one report we received was from the day the border opened.  “A couple of older guys were like kids in a candy store.  They were actually giddy with excitement as walleye fishing was so good.  They went out just for a couple of hours and came back with a couple of limits and stories.  They were literally like kids with excitement,” explains Paul Colson, owner of Jake’s NW Angle Resort.

There are 14,552 islands in Lake of the Woods, with the majority of them on the Ontario side of the lake.  Between islands, sunken islands, saddles, bars, humps, shoreline points, neckdown areas, weed beds, bays….  do I need to go on?  This area is an absolute treat to see, let alone fish.

Muskies.  The reports from muskie anglers were equally as impressive.  In some cases, seeing 30 – 40 fish in a day!  Lots of nice fish caught and released.  Fishing for muskies only gets better as we get into the fall months and it should remain very good.

Pike.  They don’t always get much respect or attention, but if you want to have a fun day, do a “milk run” throughout the dozens of bays located throughout the NW Angle and adjacent Ontario areas of Lake of the Woods.  First off, quite certain you will catch a mixed bag of fish.

Second, pike will keep you busy and on your toes.  They are a fun fish for kids and novice anglers as they are very prevalent, grow big and are usually very cooperative to bit under just about any conditions.

Smallmouth Bass.  Again, a fish that really gets overshadowed by walleyes and muskies, but the lake with all of its structure, is a haven for big numbers of smallies.  Most will work shorelines.  The area is Canadian Shield, meaning there is rocks everywhere making this incredible smallmouth habitat.

Crappies.  Fall is a great time to fish crappies around the islands in this part of the lake.   They school up this time of the year and once you find them, they are fun and they are usually big.

The Minnesota side of the NW Angle was the only option to fish for Americans up to the NW Angle since March of 2020.  Forced to fish the Minnesota side of the lake, visitors and guides alike were happily surprised at the incredible fishing on the U.S. side of the Angle.  With that being said, it doesn’t offer as much water or variety of the adjacent Ontario portion of the lake and fishing has been excellent.

Now that the border is open, driving up to the Angle is once again a great option.  For those who fish, boating from Minnesota waters into Ontario waters is also again an option.  Let me ask you a question…  If I said to you were going to take one of the best freshwater fishing areas in the world loaded with fish and close it down for two years and we just opened in on Monday, how do you think fishing would be?

 

 

Learn more about the NW Angle

Lodging around Lake of the Woods

Info about Lake of the Woods

When you visit Lake of the Woods you are about as far north as you can get. Located north of the 48th parallel and away from urban light and air pollution, Minnesota’s True North offers up fishing and so much more. Next time you come to visit, check out these additional attractions in the area. Also check out Explore Minnesota’s website for more area attractions

1. Parks

Willie Walleye Park – Home to Willie Walleye, the most visited attraction on the Rainy, located on international drive overlooking Baudette Bay. The Walleye Capital of the World (TM)  mascot is stationed in a picturesque scene. The new International Bridge is also in sight at this location.

TimberMill park– Only one mile to the east of Baudette. This attraction offers something for everyone with 2 ball diamonds, picnic area, camping, walking track and public access to the Rainy River. Reservations can be made at Baudette’s City Office by calling 218-634-1850. Also at Timbermill is the new Veteran’s Memorial accenting all the armed service branches with names of those who served.

Zippel Bay State Park – Ten miles north of Williams MN. Trails, fishing, birding, camping, and more can be enjoyed in the state park. The large sandy beach is great for children collecting shells or driftwood. The lake is very shallow there so it’s great for wading and feels very safe.

Peace Park– Public boat access onto the Rainy River or you may wish to read the informational plaques located inside the park about the 1910 forest fire and Massacre Island. This is a great entrance for boats onto the Rainy River which divides the United States from Canada, providing the borderland landscape.

Lady Slipper Park– Small roadside stop filled with many of your favorite orchids. This attaction is located off of Hwy 11 at Williams, MN. There is an artesian well there that provides travelers the best water around.

Williams Community Park- A Village Park equipped with bathrooms, potable water, picnic shelter, new playground, pavilion with picnic tables and 10 campsites.

Clementson Rapids– Located only 8 miles away along Highway 11. Great spot for picnics or a fire. In the spring it is a local favorite for sucker fishing.

 

2. Pools

Indoor– Lake of the Woods has 3 indoor pool locations including, The AmericInn, Lake of the Woods School, and Sportsman’s Lodge. Owners of these facilities are happy to welcome you whether you choose to stay there or just come in to swim with your family. They do charge a minimal fee for day use.

Outdoor– Outdoor pool locations include Zippel Bay Resort, Cyrus Resort, Ballard’s Resort, and Lake of the Woods Campground.

 

3. Beaches

Miles and miles of sandy shoreline line our beautiful lake. Beaches can be found at Arnesen’s Rocky Point Resort, Long Point, Morris Point, Zippel Bay State Park, Garden Island State Park, Pine Island, and Angle Outpost.

 

4. Other Attractions

Golf Course– Oak Harbor Golf Course located 9 miles north of Baudette. This beautiful 18 holes, par 72 course offers 2 very different 9’s. One 9 is much more heavily wooded and the back 9 is more open more like a links course. The 19^th bar and grill is also a great place to stop for dinner and your favorite beverage.

 

Please visit the Lake of the Woods Tourism website for more information and all your lodging needs. www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

 

The 30th Annual 2021 North American Sturgeon Championship is all set for Saturday, August 21st and is open to the public.  Summer on the Rainy River is known to most for walleyes, bass and pike.  One of the fish gaining popularity and for good reason is the lake sturgeon.  The population is growing and the average size of the population is getting larger each year.  These fish are fun to catch, big and ancestry goes back to the prehistoric ages.  That brings us to this enjoyable event based just east of Baudette in Birchdale, MN.

The Rainy River is loaded with sturgeon, so why not have a tournament for them right?!  The fishery is extremely strong right now and the average length of Lake Sturgeon continues to grow along with the population.  It is only fitting that the home of the 30th Annual Sturgeon Championship takes place is in Birchdale, MN just 27 miles east of Baudette on Hwy 11.  This event is open to the public and all are welcome.  The tournament is Saturday, August 21, 2021.  Noon -2:00 pm is the Youth Contest.  3:00 pm – 7:00 pm is the main contest open to all ages.

The youth sturgeon championship is free of charge and youth are encouraged to take part.  As the youth poster mentions, “A small one is the biggest fish you ever caught”.

If you have never fished sturgeon, most anglers use a sturgeon rig with a no roll sinker and a few nightcrawlers loaded on a hook. Anchor upstream or in a deep hole in the river and still fish with your offering on the bottom.  It is a good idea to use heavy rods, reels and line as sturgeon can reach 100 lbs.   Click Here for a video to show you how.

It is also a good idea to have a big net or some way of landing a sturgeon that does not cause harm to the fish or yourself.  When you handle a sturgeon or any big fish, do not grab the eyes or gills.  It is best to grab just in front of the hard tail and support their underbelly keeping the fish horizontal, not vertical.  Holding a big fish vertically can actually cause internal tearing of organs due to the sheer size.

If you plan on attending, there is lodging along the river and in Baudette.  Here is a list of lodging on the Rainy River and Baudette area.

For more details on the Birchdale Sturgeon Championship, see info below.  Good luck!

 

This fundraiser for the Birchdale Community Building
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Mike Hanson at (218)-244-6886

Event takes place at the Nelson Park public landing 1 mile north of highway 11.
North American YOUTH Sturgeon Championship
ENTRY FEE: FREE
Saturday, August 21st, 2021. From 12:00pm – 2:00pm OPEN TO ALL YOUTH AGE 17 AND UNDER. Longest Measured Fish will Receive Trophy and Grand Prize Sturgeon Championship Prizes Awarded by Drawings.

30th ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN STURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, August 21, 2021. From 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Longest Fish: 50% Payback
Entry Fee: Adults $20, 17 & Under $10

JUDGING BY LENGTH ONLY
(Verification Judge Boats on Water)
All Judges Decisions are Final.

PLEASE OBEY ALL MINNESOTA BOATING AND ANGLING REGULATIONS.
CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY!
BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS OR INJURY

 

Click Here to return to the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click Here for a list of Lake of the Woods Lodging.

It’s sometimes funny how the world works.  One day you are on a fishing trip to Lake of the Woods and happen to see a posting on a board at a resort that says “Business for Sale”.  The next thing you know, you are owners of a well known and respected tackle company that caters to fishing Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River which of course is Tom’s Tackle.

Todd and Sharon May purchased the company November 27, 2020 just in time for a robust ice fishing season.  From the Fargo area, the couple has been coming to Lake of the Woods for years fishing.  “Lake of the Woods always had the best fishing.  Numbers of fish and size of fish can’t be beat.  We just love the area,” explains Todd May.

When it comes to owning and running a new company, let alone, a tackle company, there has been a lot of learning.  “You never really know what you are getting into until you are into it,” explains May who throughout a good part of his life was in construction management.  “Each week we are better understanding the business and all of the nuances that go along with it,” he explains.

Todd oversees the manufacturing process while his wife Sharon does much of the painting, the distribution and sales from their Baudette, MN location.  Sharon’s background was in international trade or import / export.

Tom’s Tackle, being a local company, provides very specialized service to the tackle shops, stores and resorts whom they serve.  Sharon has a regular route, keeping shelves stocked for customers with the most popular items for the time of the year.  “Customers often tell me to manage the tackle so they don’t have to worry about it.  We swing by on a regular basis or as needed to make sure there is a strong inventory of jigs, spinners and miscellaneous items this time of year,” explains Sharon.

Tom’s Tackle distributes tackle from Greenbush to the west to International Falls to the east and south as far as Blackduck.  Customers can also purchase tackle on their website, www.tomstackleinc.com.

The tackle industry is competitive.  In today’s world, having a small tackle manufacturing company certainly is not the norm.  Tom’s Tackle has focused on a niche of designing and producing fishing tackle geared for Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and the north country.  If you are an angler who fishes the area, you have probably used and appreciate the tackle, regardless of knowing who produced it.

The little things often make the big difference in fishing.  When you chat with anglers who have spent time in these parts, many of them realize and have learned to save at least a portion of their tackle budget until they get up to Lake of the Woods as there are lures,  jigs and other fishing tackle here you just can’t find in other parts of the state.  Shapes, sizes, colors and styles that absolutely are proven to catch fish on LOW but are effective on other bodies of water as well.

If you notice, the colors are geared towards stained water like Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and other waters in the north country.  Some of the lures have rattles that can be effective calling in walleyes.  Walleyes have a lateral line that senses vibrations and often times will assist them in finding prey in the dark waters.  Other lures they design and produce simply have the right size, color or action to them that make them effective in catching fish.  Some common names you may have heard of are pink charmer, stop sign, rock n roll jig and jig o bit.

Lake of the Woods County isn’t just a great place to fish, hunt and enjoy the great outdoors, it’s an excellent place to find good employment and do business. Not only is there a steady flow of visitors, there is a thriving local economy that boasts an educated workforce, world-class technology and an abundance of resources for those interested in opening, relocating or expanding a business. This area is a dream getaway.  Lake of the Woods has abounding employment opportunities.

People visit Lake of the Woods County and Baudette for the stunning international waters and the breathtaking scenery of Northern Minnesota. Lake of the Woods offers four seasons of world-class fishing, a hunter’s paradise and a vast array of outdoor recreation.  Winter is actually the busiest season at Lake of the Woods.

The world class ice fishing, consistent ice conditions, daytime bite, millions of walleyes and saugers, and great resort community cater to anglers from many regions. Lake of the Woods features three distinct resort areas which are the Rainy River area, the South Shore area, and of course, the Northwest Angle.

Employment Opportunities!  Have you ever thought about working in an area you love to vacation?  There are a variety of opportunities and many have taken the step to work where they play.  Imagine fishing, hunting and simply living in an area people travel across the country to get to! Local businesses are looking or committed employees all around. Both the town of Baudette and the resort area are crying for help and offering competitive wages.

A NI is a pharmaceutical company in town who is hiring at all times and offering great packages of benefits including insurance and 401Ks. Resort owners have also up their wage packages and have begun offering other benefits as well to both full time and seasonal workers.

Some of the jobs offered are front desk help, housekeeping, table waiting, hostessing, and bartending. Dock persons are needed as well as Charter Boat Guides.

Quality healthcare and education.  People stay in Lake of the Woods County because of the community. We take pride in our outstanding healthcare and nationally-recognized education with Lake of the Woods Schools ranking very high in Minnesota schools. LakeWood Health Center serves the community with excellent healthcare featuring a clinic, hospital and long term Care Center. There are positive things happening in town, such as the new Lake of the Woods International Arena that is now open and will be the host of the 2022 State Bantam AA Tournament in March.

The City of Baudette is the county seat.  Whether looking to raise a family, grow your company or just looking for a change in scenery, for many, Lake of the Woods offers a better way of life. There are many realtors in town to help you purchase a home and also five apartment complexes to rent a spot.

As the winter months get closer many of the resorts will be looking for good people to take advantage of excellent Lake of the Woods employment opportunities. Again, winter fishing on LOW is known to be some of the best in the world. Look no further than Here for many of the employment vacancies!

Right now there are openings and various area employers would love to meet with you. Visit www.gethookedforlife.com for more valuable information and also www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com.  Another good option is to look at the Lake of the Woods Tourism Lodging page.  Many of the resorts and hotels are hiring for a variety of positions, email them or give them a call.

Click here for the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click here to view Lake of the Woods Lodging options.