Often times, when people talk about a fly in fishing trip, the thoughts turn to summer and Canada.  There is now another great option that puts you in the heart of world class walleye fishing without having to cross the border.  Lake Country Air now does fly in trips to Minnesota’s Northwest Angle.

The fly in adventure is incredible. .  The Kodiak they fly can take up to 8 passengers.  This turbo prop plane is comfortable, equipped with leather seats and high end headphones with mics to communicate with others in the plane as well as the pilot.

Lake Country Air is based out of South St. Paul, MN and is where some groups board.  This is also convenient for those flying into MSP as the airport is a short shuttle ride or Uber away.  The fly in service also does a lot of flights across the lake from the Baudette International Airport and the Warroad International Airport as well.

Small groups can literally catch the plane from most airports in the five state area, flying right up to both the south end of the lake as well as the NW Angle.

Recently, I had the privilege of hooking up with Larry Smith with Larry Smith Outdoors and his crew to film an ice fishing show with the flying service Lake Country Air as part of the adventure.  We caught the plane in Baudette and took the 15 minute flight across the lake.  Seeing Lake of the Woods from the air is special.  It gives you a different perspective on the lake, islands, how resorts have their fish houses laid out, how the ice formed, etc. 

We weren’t nervous flying but I have to tell you, the pilot was top notch and really made the experience worry free.  We could tell from the way the plane was kept and the thoroughness of the pilot we were in very good hands.

When doing a fly in up to the NW Angle, the plane lands on a well plowed and groomed ice runway.  This serves all of the Angle resorts and was as smooth as a runway for both landing and taking off.  It was also pretty cool!

Upon landing in the late afternoon, the resort we were staying loaded us up in their bombardier and took us right out to the fish house.  In this case, the house was set up in fairly shallow water, about 17 feet, to target the morning / evening bite.

We had action as soon as we stepped into the fish house.  Using a combination of jigging and deadsticking a live minnow, there was action.  That night, we filled the bucket with the anticipation of a delicious fish fry of fresh walleyes that evening.

The ice guides clean the fish and either prepare them to either take home or to cook that evening.  As mentioned, we wanted fresh fish so the filets were delivered to the cook.

For those doing a fly in and staying at a resort without a bar or restaurant, preparing a meal of fresh fish in their cabin is certainly a tradition for many.  It also provides the opportunity to cook up the fish in a variety of ways.  There is nothing like a meal of fresh walleyes when staying up at Lake of the Woods.

Our fish fry with all of the trimmings accompanied with our favorite beverage was just what the Doctor ordered.  A really incredible day.

The next morning, we hit the ice early taking advantage of the morning bite and we were not disappointed.  In our case, the fish house being set up in shallower water was best right at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day.  Some fish houses are set up a bit deeper or in other locations taking advantage of the daytime bite.  In that case, anglers can pick away at fish all day long.  Both are fun.

During the day, we did some exploring of the Angle.  Using a small vehicle, we used the resort ice roads to look at other resorts, check out the Northernmost Point Marker, the small post office and explore Angle Inlet which is the mainland.  Some resorts are on the mainland, others are on islands. 

After running around, filming the sites around the Angle, I bet you can guess what we did towards evening?  You guessed it, we got into a fish house and took advantage of the evening bite.

It doesn’t always work out this way as it is fishing.  Even on Lake of the Woods, it is still fishing despite grand expectations.  I will say, because it is The Walleye Capital of the World, you always have the chance for something special to happen.  In this case it did.  I have to say it was probably one of the best ice fishing walleye bites I ever experienced.  The fish we caught were between 15 – 19 inches as a rule and we caught dozens.  We kept what we were allowed to keep and released the rest.  It was incredible.

That’s what Lake of the Woods can do.  Just like that, you have a 50 fish day, or catch a 30 inch walleye, or a big sturgeon, or a trophy pike.  As the saying goes, you never know what you will catch on LOW!

The next day after the morning bite again, we ate a nice breakfast at the lodge and flew back to Baudette.

For those who want a special fly in trip.  For those whose time is precious.  For those who aren’t able to drive to the Angle through Canada.  A fly in fishing trip to Minnesota’s NW Angle might be just what you need.

 

More info about the Lake of the Woods area

A list of lodging and ice fishing around Lake of the Woods

Ice anglers who hunt walleyes through the ice know the feeling.  Watching a promising thick line come through on your electronics, it holds for just a moment while you are poised, ready to set the hook to only watch it slowly fade away.  In spending many hours playing the game, there are certainly a few ways to “tease” walleyes and saugers into getting their teeth into your offering and ultimately ice more walleyes.

Overall, most anglers will utilize the “One-Two Punch”, meaning, using one jigging line and having the second line as a deadstick.  The strategy is effective as the jigging line will attract the attention of walleyes and saugers in the area, pulling them into the area you are fishing.  The active fish will hit your jigging lines.  The inactive fish may slide over and take the deadstick offering, which is normally a live minnow set under a bobber six inches off of the bottom.  This strategy all by itself will ice more walleyes.

Even with the one-two punch, there are nuances to catching more fish.  Here are a few tools to put into your walleye toolbelt!

Be Different.  It is easy to gravitate to your favorite lure that is your “go to”.  If you are fishing by yourself, maybe a smart start.  If you are ice fishing with others and they are using the same lure or presentation, start out using something different.  Being different will help you and your fellow anglers better understand what the walleyes want that day.  Typically, a certain lure, color, bait and presentation will emerge as a pattern and others can then mimic what is working.

Hard to Get.  Sometimes walleyes are just like humans, they want what is hard to get.  When that mark on your electronics is not responding to your normal jigging cadence, mix it up.  One of the most successful teases for a walleye is what seems to emulate an escaping baitfish.

Shake your lure while at the same time raising it up in the water column.  When the fish starts to respond and rise up with you, do not stop!  Keep it fleeing away, much like a minnow would do in trying to escape a predator.  The tendency is to stop the lure so the walleye can catch it.  Don’t do it!  This usually turns the walleye’s aggressiveness off.  Keep just ahead of the predator, mark my words, they will close the gap.

Often times, a walleye will chase your bait half way up the water column or more.  When they eat, they crush it pushing your bait up giving you slack.  Be ready for it and set the hook!

When raising the bait in the water column, use your reel vs lifting your rod with your arms.  If you have raised your arms up too high, you not only have nothing left to set the hook with, if you are fishing in a fish house with a lower roof, you will actually hit the roof of the fish house with the rod when you set the hook.  Using your reel to control the depth of your lure will keep your arms in the best hook setting position.

There are times when a walleye or sauger will chase you way up and slowly drift back down to the bottom.  Don’t get discouraged.  Go after them again.  Many times the walleye or sauger will respond numerous times before deciding to actually eat.

Good electronics for ice fishing helps tremendously in understanding how the fish are reacting.  Learning what each walleye wants and how they want it is invaluable.  I grew up using a Vexilar and wouldn’t give it up.  Electronics are an important part of icing walleyes and gives ice anglers a big advantage.

Be Aggressive.  There is a time to speed up and a time to slow down.  Getting erratic and aggressive with search lures, swimming baits, vibration baits and larger spoons can trigger the eyes to eat.  This might mean pounding the bottom, fast high lifts with uncontrolled drops, constant shaking and jigging higher up in the water column.  Much like a crankbait, going after the reaction strike can trick walleyes into hitting your lure when a normal presentation would not work.

Chill Out.  Of course, the opposite approach of targeting more neutral fish is to go more finesse.  That might mean smaller lures, tipping your lures with smaller pieces of bait, less action while jigging or even setting your jigging line on a bucket simply watching for the rod tip to bend ever so ever slightly.  Some very good ice anglers actually prefer watching their rod tip vs using a bobber as they feel it is easier to detect light biters.  A subtle tweak during a tough bite will ice more walleyes.

Deadsticking.  As much fun as it is jigging up a nice walleye, it is also fun being productive and catching as many fish as possible.  This is why most ice anglers targeting walleyes will have down a deadstick, or a bobber line in addition to the jigging line.

Some walleyes and saugers simply prefer a lively minnow vs a lure.  Some might be in a neutral mood and in other cases, it might just be their preference based on what they are eating, the pressure system, clouds or sun, how deep they are, etc., etc.  The bottom line is we don’t always know why something works, but it just does so we keep using it.

Consider these techniques to ice more walleyes.

Raise it up!  Similar to how walleyes will chase a lure up in the water column, I have friends who swear by keeping their deadstick offering, which is usually a hook or walleye ice jig with a live minnow, a few feet off of the bottom vs 6 inches to a foot off as would be the norm.  The thought again is, walleyes are used to feeding up when eating baitfish and this represents what they are used to doing.  Many times I have set my rod down momentarily on a bucket or chair and watched a walleye slowly rise way up and take the offering.  Keeping your deadstick offering high can ice more walleyes when the norm is not.

Dead bait.  It is one thing using dead bait such as frozen emerald shiners on Lake of the Woods when jigging.  It is another when deadsticking.  Walleyes never cease to amaze me.  Recently, I had a friend do something I had not seen before and put on a walleye and sauger clinic.  He purposefully chose the dead minnow from the minnow bucket for his deadstick line vs the live.

Most anglers use a live minnow on the deadstick.  In this case, as the other holes weren’t setting the world on fire, he thought he would try it.  Keeping his offering in the strike zone 6-18 inches off of the bottom, it was the hottest hole in the house.  Who would have guessed!

Walleye fishing can be challenging.  Learning how to tease walleyes into a bite vs watching that mark on your electronics slowly disappear can really change the day for the better.  The subtle art of “teasing” is often the missing element that will allow you to ice more walleyes.

 

More information on everything Lake of the Woods

List of LOW resorts, hotels, outfitters and ice fishing accommodations

What a great time of the year. Holidays are celebrated, families come and go, food preparation is all done with and yet, now is one of the greatest times to experience Lake of the Woods. Now it’s time for ice fishing!

You see, at this writing we are experiencing negative temperatures. Now the average person might groan and whine a bit, but at Lake of the Woods the most common comment is, “We are making ice!”

People from many states flock to this area to try their hand at fishing through “hard water” or ice fishing. The lake is an incredible village of hundreds if not a couple thousand fish houses. One state represented in my family is Illinois. Yes, Chicago showed up for Christmas and as tradition has it, it’s time to go ice fishing. They hooked up with one of our local fish house proprietors and off they went for a 7:30 a.m. call to fish.

The area just got blanketed with about 10 inches of fresh snow the last two days so roads had to be plowed early in the morning and fish houses needed to have thermostats turned up and fish holes re-opened from an overnight freeze. The guides at Lake of the Woods are a very diligent sort and hats are off to those who get up in the wee hours of the morning to do those duties. Overnight guests in sleeper fish houses had to be plowed out this morning also. What a task! But nothing can stop a fisherman from fishing.

Lake of the Woods is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™.  It is a world renowned fishery and according to statistics from the MN DNR at Lake of the Woods, our fishery is more than healthy even though many pounds of fish are harvested each year. Lake of the Woods is the largest fresh water lake next to the Great Lakes in the US. It supports many species of fish and keeps the excitement brimming as anglers drop their lines in.

This group of novice fisher-people approached their fish house guided by the outfitter. Out on the ice they went, through a bay area and then up over land and onto the “big lake”.  The road was plowed but the driver was very skilled at that morning light to navigate through turns and twists that have been hewn out on the lake.

This was a day trip so the group was able to have a larger fish house equipped with a gas range and yes, even a bathroom! Yes!! (Ladies take note of that!!) As the group approached the fish houses they were able to see an incredible sunrise, complete with sun dogs around the sun, because, of course, this was the coldest day of the year so far. They also saw ATVs, Snowmobiles, Wheelhouses and all kinds of equipment that makes up the population of the ice village.

The guide supplies ice fishing rods if needed and all the bait the parties will need for the day. He also lets you know what the limits are so they stay legal and assures them that he will be back to check on them from time to time throughout the day. I will interject here that it is very important to be in obedience to that guide as to where to travel on the lake. These ice workers are professionals and know how to travel the lake and where the safest place is to travel the hard water.

The lines are dropped in. Each person is allowed to fish two lines. Usually one is left laying on the ice with a bobber or just with a hook and this is called a dead stick. The technique is to bait your lure with a minnow and let it drop until you feel bottom Then with an up and down motion,  you start to “jig” and wait for a tug on the line. “Set the hook” with a great upward motion and pull in whatever was at the end of the line.

The catch was on!! Excitement?!?!?  Yes, this group traveled over 800 miles for family, Christmas and now an exciting day on the ice. Everyone caught fish and that night a walleye/sauger meal was enjoyed by all.

Let me invite you to come to Lake of the Woods to have the same great experience this group had. I promise you that you will have stories to tell for years to come. The lake is beautiful when frozen and the city of houses that are out there is amazing. Please applaud the ones who make this sport accessible to all peoples whether experienced or not.

For more information on lodging or ice fishing contact our website at: www.lakeofthewoodmn.com/lodging.

www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/ice-fishing

 

The anticipated opening of a Warroad COVID Rapid Testing Facility is now open in Warroad.  Quick Results, LLC offers will now be able to offer a cheaper molecular test, an NAAT test using the Abbott ID Now system.  Results in 15-20 minutes; this test typically works for international travel but as every country is different, it is a good idea to review your travel requirements before scheduling.  This testing does work to enter Canada.

Rapid COVID Tests in Warroad.  The contact info for the new Warroad location is:

COVID Quick Results, LLC, 501 Lake Street NE, Warroad, MN

To make an appointment, the easiest way is to use their online appointment scheduler at http://www.covidquickresults.com/.   Tests can be set up 7 days a week.  Questions can be answered by their main office at 320-250-4035.

The business was created out of need.  It was noticed there were not enough rapid testing options.  For some, it was work related, others travel related, others simply wanted an easy way to test before traveling or going to relatives homes.

My name is Jessica Treptau.  I’m an RN and Public Health Nurse, wife, and mother of three little girls, living in this crazy COVID world of masks and quarantines.

In the fall of 2020, the Minnesota Department of Health had laid out a detailed decision tree for school districts to follow.  It clearly indicates that if one child in a family has any cold-like symptoms, all children in that family must quarantine for 14 days.  The healthy children may return to school only if the sick child can prove to be negative for COVID-19.  With the only local options for testing taking several days to get results, our children would end up being out of school all week.  As most know, if one child gets a cold, it doesn’t take long before the next one gets it.  Needless to say, all three of my children were out of school for over three weeks when school started due to minor colds.

After scouring the internet to find Rapid COVID-19 Testing options, I found a place to go but had to drive over an hour away to get there.  Wishing there were options closer, I was bound and determined to figure out whatever needed to be done to get something more convenient for myself, my family and my fellow community members with nowhere to go.  Thankfully, I had plenty of built up PTO from my Full-Time job as a Clinical Care Team Supervisor to be able to take some time off to get developed, organized, up and running. 

I obtained all of my orders and certifications needed to provide these types of tests to those who need it.  From starting out as a “side gig”, I now have 5+ locations, Becker, Bemidji, St. Cloud, International Falls, Brainerd and soon, Warroad, MN.

From the beginning of November 2020 to November 2021, we have successfully completed over 25,000 tests.  

Hearing from our patients on how these rapid tests are changing their daily lives is the most rewarding part of what we do.   So many are able to return to work or school quickly and companies are able to find the healthy staff that they need to continue to run. 

The initial cost of a Rapid COVID Test that meets Canada specifications is $125 per test.  Results will be available in about 30 minutes or less.

Quick Results, LLC is an independently owned laboratory with offices conveniently located in Becker, MN, Brainerd, MN, St. Cloud, MN, Bemidji, MN, International Falls, MN and now Warroad, MN  (border crossing to Lake of the Woods fishing).

All locations offer RT-PCR tests with results in 30-45 minutes, a NAAT test using the Abbott ID Now system,  as well as Rapid COVID-19 Antigen tests for current infections and Rapid COVID-19 Antibody Tests to detect past infections, both with results in as little as 20 minutes.  All locations also offer a rapid Antigen test that looks for COVID-19 and Influenza A & B in one test; results in 20-30 minutes.

The Becker location is excited to be able to support the upcoming Flu/RSV season by offering a 4 plex combination test that uses the PCR to test for COVID-19, Influenza A & B, and RSV all in one test.  Results still in 30-45 minutes!

All test results are emailed to you with an itemized receipt for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.  Please contact your insurance company to inquire about the reimbursement process. 

What is needed to Drive through Canada to the Angle.  We are grateful land travel through the 4o miles of Canada up to Minnesota’s Northwest Angle is now possible.  There are some criteria travelers must have in order before traveling however.  First, a traveler must download the ArriveCan App.  Second, a traveler must be vaccinated and upload their vaccination card into the app.  Finally, a traveler must have a PCR or molecular COVID test showing a negative test result within the past 72 hours of taking the test.

Lots of Options for COVID Tests to drive through Canada.  Thankfully, there are options available as long as you know where to find them.  Here are a few…

Quick Results, LLC in Warroad.  Open 7 days per week by appointment, quick and relatively inexpensive at $125 (with the chance insurance may reimburse) vs many rapid COVID tests accepted by Canada.  This is a new private testing company that was created out of need.  It has grown to six different locations throughout Minnesota including Warroad, Bemidji, Becker, Brainerd, St. Cloud and International Falls.  If you are near or traveling through one of these locations, this could work out great.

PCR COVID Test in 30 minutes, Thrifty White, Baudette, MN.   How convenient.  For $100 (which you can turn your receipt into insurance for a possible reimbursement), you can have a result in 25 minutes.  This testing option provides a PCR test result which satisfies the Canadian qualification for entering the country.

Thrifty White is open for testing Monday – Friday from 9am – 4pm.

With test results less than 30 minutes for a COVID PCR test that works to travel through Canada, this is an easy solution.  The tests are $159 but you will receive an itemized receipt that most are turning into their insurance companies for reimbursement.  The testing facilities are open 7 days a week.

Amazon.  Yep, this isn’t a typo.  Amazon offers COVID test that meets the requirements for Canada.  This is a PCR test that you order through Amazon to your home.  It is a nasal test with no supervision, such as a Zoom call, necessary.  Includes prepaid UPS next-day shipping to lab at no additional cost. Drop off your sample at UPS within 24 hours from collection. Receive results within 24 hours of your sample arriving at the lab.

MN Department of Health (or your own State) Walk In Testing.  Some states, such as Minnesota, has many walk in testing options available.  Both residents and non residents are allowed to use walk in testing locations.  You will be asked for your insurance info and but if insurance does not cover it, there is still no cost to you.  These are normally a saliva test and results are received 24 – 48 hours after you take the test.  This can make things a bit tight with a 72 hour window but certainly doable.

MN Department of Health (or your own state) No Cost Test at Home Program.  Minnesota and various other states offer no cost COVID test at home options.  Basically, you order a COVID test kit and do a Zoom call with someone who oversees your saliva testing process.  Results are emailed typically in 48 hours or less.  The brand name of this test is Vault and there is a question when signing up that asks if you are using this test for travel.  If you reply yes, the cost is $119.  If you reply no, the test is at no cost.

No Additional COVID Test Needed Driving back through Canada on your return trip.  There are no medical facilities up at the NW Angle.  In addition, testing options are limited and take time due to shipping from this remote location.  Consequently, additional 72 hour COVID test protocol is not required by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on your return trip.  They accept the initial COVID test used to initially access Canada on your trip.

There is no doubt there are a few hoops to jump through to make it up to the NW Angle including getting a COVID test.  The reports we are receiving back from anglers is the fish are biting and well worth the hoops.  There are many others enjoying the hunting, colors and specialness of the Angle that are also telling us they will be back soon!

 

General info about Lake of the Woods

Lodging and Fishing up at the NW Angle

Info about the NW Angle

Lake of the Woods is such an exciting place to live. The lake itself is international as it spans two countries, the United States and Canada. The Rainy River flows from the East at Rainy Lake into Lake of the Woods which forms this incredible border.

People ask this writer all the time, “Where is it you live again?” and “What border do you live on?” and “What exactly do you do up there all the time?” At the very middle of the continent of North America is a border that separates Canada and United States. That’s the border we are talking about. Yes, I can actually see the border from my house in the center of Baudette, MN.

I count it a privilege to live on this border for the simple reason that it is first of all very unique, it presents challenges of being quite an isolated area, but the genuine-ness of hearts and the pioneer spirit still remains.

People in this locality are far from the “stay at home” types. Everyone is on the go with either their businesses or getting out into nature using all kinds of sports. This area is especially known for its excellent fishery. Walleyes are in abundance as well as other species such as: smallmouth bass, black crappies, sauger, northern pike, muskie, sturgeon, lake trout, eelpout, and yellow perch. The walleye population made this area known as the Walleye Capital of the World™.

The resort area is divided into three geographical sections. First is the Rainy River where all the resorts along that river are located. The second is the resorts that make up the section called the South Shore area. The most interesting area to be noted is the Northwest Angle which is a parcel of land that makes up the “chimney” of Minnesota. Here’s what’s so interesting….one must cross the border into Manitoba, Canada and then re-enter the United States by crossing the border at Angle Inlet, the small town on the Northwest Angle.  This locality is the northernmost spot in the contiguous United States.

This particular location has greatly suffered since March of 2020 as the Covid pandemic hit. Canadian and US borders were closed to travel so this created quite a hardship for those people isolated in that area. The Angle hosts 7 resorts and the two islands of Flag and Oak host 8 more resorts. Because the people on this border are so ingenious, the winter of 2020-21 saw an incredible effort of many individuals with time and monies to form an ice road so that people could still visit the area while staying in the US.

 

This writer moved to the area in 1983 and soon after that winter fishing began making its entrance. Before that period of time open water fishing was the draw. Today the same holds true, however, hard water fishing has become so popular on the lake that you can actually call it another village on the lake. A few thousand fish houses owned by local resorts dot the horizon on the big lake. There are also individual fish houses, portable fish houses, and wheel houses that enjoy the sport whenever possible. What an incredible feature of this border area!!

 

Jobs in this border area are in abundance with 50+ resorts that are always looking for loyal workers. They employ office workers, restaurant workers, ice workers, housekeeping workers, maintenance people and bar/ lounge wait people to serve their clients. Hospitality is an incredible industry on this border.

The city of Baudette has put out a website called Get Hooked for Life that lists features of the area as well as an elongated list of employment opportunities. Lake of the Woods County is the county seat with a well-equipped Government Center able to assist you with all of your legal county needs.  Lake of the Woods School is the one and only school in the county but it continually ranks as one of the highest in the state of Minnesota for educational excellence.

LakeWood Health Center is located in Baudette which houses a clinic, an acute care unit, a well equipped emergency room and a Care Center. This border area is very fortunate to have such a great facility in our locality. Once again, jobs are in abundance here also.

Farming and logging are still high operating careers along the border. There is also ANI Pharmaceuticals which is a big employer in the area.  Marvin Windows is 36 miles to the west of Baudette and employed over 6,500 people along the border. Further to the west is Polaris Industries where snowmobile, ATVs and motorcycles are manufactured.

Speaking of snowmobiles, Lake of the Woods has an incredible system of well groomed and maintained trails as well as trails that have been marked and staked across the lake. Summer kayaking and canoeing are big also and hunting is a draw for many sportsmen from all areas in a 5 state area.

Service organizations, churches, and local businesses all make up the population of Lake of the Woods. As you can see…..the Border area is an amazing place to live. Come visit us or come and stay!

For more information and lodging see: https://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

Good News! We have snow at Lake of the Woods!! The winter season has finally come in in full force and with it has come a very important element. Ice is of utmost importance for anglers of all ages that come to Lake of the Woods, to the Walleye Capital of the World, however, the next most important element here is snow!

At this writing there are about 8 inches of snow on the ground. It’s very interesting as the seasons change to watch the traffic through this area. We go from vehicles pulling boats for their open water experience to vehicles with trailers hauling sometimes multiple snow machines.

This area is very fortunate to have two dealers offering two very famous brands of snow machines. These machines are not only durable but are set up with some of the most impressive features for pleasurable riding. Polaris Industries is located in Roseau, a neighboring community, where snowmobiles are produced and shipped all over the country. Artic Cat is also produced and distributed in a nearby town and dealerships are available in Baudette.

We are also fortunate to have two great snowmobile clubs who not only ride for fun, but work very hard at maintaining trails and bridges before the season starts and grooming many many miles of trails throughout the season.

Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club is located in Lake of the Woods County. They are a very active club and have their own website at www.lakeofthewoodsdrifters.org and FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsdrifters. You can also contact them at lakeofthewoodsdrifters@gmail.com. Each of those sites will provide you with great current information about the trails and great photos that the club has taken. The Northern Connection Trail is very famous as it was carved out of the forest area going east and south of Baudette.

Lake of the Woods Drifters is a non profit community organization that welcomes members at any time. They also own and maintain shelters throughout the trails to warm up or stop to have lunch and fellowship on the ride. The Club produces a great snow map which is available through the club or through requesting one from Lake of the Woods Tourism. There are over 273 miles of groomed trails to offer adventure through this winter wonderland.

Edge Riders Snow Trail Groomer

Further north in Lake of the Woods County at the northernmost part of the United States you will find the home of the Northwest Angle Edge Rider Snowmobile Club. Their website is: www.nwaedgeriders.org. There you will find information about the club, about snow conditions, trail conditions, club events, and even places to stay at Angle Inlet. Their FaceBook page is  www.facebook.com/NorthwestAngleEdgeRiders.

This snow club proudly proclaims they groom over 172 miles of trail during the season. As of this writing,  they state that they are “chomping at the bit” to get out onto the frozen waters of Lake of the Woods and travel many many miles over the frozen waters. This Snow Club stakes trails and produces a great snow map of trails throughout the lake, up to Oak and Flag Island and even into the Canadian part of the lake. The map even features depths of the lake which even open water anglers find very helpful. You may contact them for a free map or also contact Lake of the Woods Tourism for one.

This club also hosts a great event during the winter season. Every year they host an Annual Northwest Angle Edge Riders Snowmobile Rally from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Flag Island. Food, fun, and door prizes will be available.

Now you ask, have the snow trails been groomed yet? Sorry, the answer to this date is no, but it is coming very very soon. Winter took awhile coming but it is most assuredly here!!! So….let is snow, let it snow, let it snow. Feel free to check each club’s website or call Lake of the Woods Tourism for more information.

For more information see our website at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/snowmobiling.

For lodging information see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging.

You can also download the official Snowmobile Regulations at the MN DNR Website.

Click Here for an interactive snowmobile map from the MN DNR