There are a variety of “go to” techniques for icing Lake of the Woods walleyes.  One of the techniques which is a must have for a variety of reason is jigging a lipless crankbait.

The waters of Lake of the Woods are stained, meaning, the natural plant matter produce tannins which give the water a light coffee color.  This color of water actually makes it so walleyes and saugers will bite well during the day vs gin clear water lakes where low light fishing is typically more conducive.

With the stained water, walleyes still use their eyesight, but depend much more on their inner ear along with their lateral line which detect vibrations in the water.  Most of the time, walleyes will sense their prey through vibration before they actually see them in stained water.

Sound carries more than 7x better in water than it does in air and walleyes are very adept at sensing sound and vibration.

Lipless crankbaits should be considered for two important reasons.

1.  They flat out catch a lot of walleyes and saugers
2. Even if the fish doesn’t hit the bait, the bait is noisy and a natural attractor to even neutral mood fish, pulling more close which might then fall for the deadstick with a live minnow

This video provides some good ideas on using lipless crankbaits to up your catch of walleyes and saugers through the ice.

Ice fishing on Lake of the Woods continues through March.  Fish houses can be on the ice through March 31st, walleyes and saugers are open through April 14th and the pike season never closes.

Just about every fish will hit an aggressive lure like a lipless crankbait, pick a few up and add them to your walleye arsenal.

 

More info about Lake of the Woods

Lodging and Fish House Rentals on Lake of the Woods

Saugers  create great adventure!!! When headed up to Lake of the Woods, many anglers focus is on the fish that has made LOW famous, the walleye.  On days when going after those walleyes is a test in great patience, saugers play a big part in what makes Lake of the Woods such an enjoyable fishing destination.

The sauger, sometimes called the “sand pike,” is a relative of the walleye. This fish is often mistaken for a walleye. You can tell the difference by looking at the dorsal (top) fin. This fish has dark backs, brassy sides, dark spots, and a pale belly. They have a forked tail with a pale streak on the bottom edge. Some sauger have a black spot on their body near where pectoral fin attaches. MN DNR

Although walleyes receive most of the attention, saugers play an important role in the overall fishing success during the ice fishing season on Lake of the Woods.  These fish are so fun to catch and swim the waters of Lake of the Woods in abundance.  More often than not, when you come for that epic walleye trip, saugers will be happy to pay you a visit!

And taste?  Yes, walleye is a special taste treat but let me tell you that the taste of this fish is also very special. Most people can’t really tell the fish apart when cooked. Usually smaller filets cook very fast and when pan fried, the meat turns very white. Add some tartar sauce to your plate and your  feast fits your palate very well.

Here’s ten good reason to enjoy the saugers that fight for your attention.

1.  Consistent action.  In between schools of walleyes or if the walleyes are not biting well that day, saugers normally bite well and keep the activity level high.  There have been many days ice fishing that saugers have saved the day and certainly preserved the evening fish fry.  If the walleyes aren’t dialed in that particular day for whatever reason, having these fish whacking the lures and dead sticks really adds to the enjoyment.
2.  High population and good sized.  Sauger numbers at Lake of the Woods fluctuate year to year.  One thing we know, right now, there is an extremely high population of saugers in the system and many of them big.  When I say big for sauger, I am talking up to 17 or 18 inches.   This creates a perfect scenario for a lot of action, that exciting red line appearing on your electronics and that heart-pounding “tap” at the end of your ice rod.
3. Living Quarters.  Saugers will coexist with walleyes.  It is common to come in with a bucket of walleyes and saugers mixed.  As a rule, though, saugers tend to prefer a bit deeper water than walleyes.  In addition, they normally hug the bottom vs walleyes that will utilize more of the water column, often suspending while targeting tulibees and other baitfish.
4. Great for kids.  Depending upon the day, walleye fishing can take some patience.  Saugers are typically more cooperative and help to bring consistent action to a fish house.  Kids want and need action and saugers will typically keep electronics lit up and bobbers bouncing.
5. Saugers are unique.  Many waterways throughout the Midwest do not have saugers.  Saugers traditionally live in waterways associated with a river system and do well in stained water.  Thus, most anglers do not have the opportunity to catch saugers on a regular basis.  Looking at the sauger vs the walleye, there are differences.  Saugers do not have the white tip on the bottom of the tail, they have splotches on their skin, are browner, do not have a dark area at the base of their dorsal fin and have spots on their dorsal fin.
6. Delicious.  The firm white meat of a sauger is very much sought after.  Some locals will tell you they like the sauger better than even the walleye, as they believe the meat is a bit sweeter.  Regardless of opinion, one thing is for sure, they taste good.
7. Liberal daily limits.  There is a strong population of saugers in LOW.  In the winter months, anglers are allowed a combined total of six walleyes and saugers per day.  Of these six, up to four can be walleyes.  With these limits, it lends itself well to filling a bucket of fish for an evening fish fry and bringing a few fish home.
8. Saugers bite all winter.  In some lakes when the oxygen levels decrease in February, fishing really shuts off.  Lake of the Woods keeps on trucking in February.  It is big water and luckily, there are so many saugers in the system some fish seem to cooperate every day making for a successful outing.  March can be incredible fishing for both walleyes and saugers as it is the month fish are putting on the feedbag for the upcoming spawn and catching fish can literally be nonstop.
9. Season open into April!  For the avid ice angler who cannot fathom the end of ice fishing, no worries.   Lake of the Woods season for walleyes and saugers is open until April 14^th.  Ice houses can remain on the lake until March 31st.  Depending upon the year, we are often still ice fishing and catching walleyes and saugers through the ice until the end of March.
10. Fun to catch!  Sauger fishing is much like walleye fishing.  The fish are typically hugging the bottom of the lake and they are normally a bit deeper.  Jigging your favorite lure with a minnow head in one hole and having a dead stick down the second with a live minnow suspended 6 inches from the bottom will usually do the trick.  Much like walleyes, every day is different.  One day they will be chasing down your jigging lure with wild abandon.  On other days, the jigging line will attract them, but if in more of a neutral mood, they may prefer a wiggling minnow on a plain hook or small ice jig.

 

To learn more about Lake of the Woods, check out the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

To find a guide, charter boat or lodging, check out our lodging page.

Lake of the Woods Face Book page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

What an Awesome Area we live in for Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing. So much to do when visiting Lake of the Woods! The obvious, fishing, hunting and snowmobiling. The less obvious but equally as enjoyable are cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Whether you’re a pro or just getting started, Lake of the Woods has miles of breathtakingly beautiful trails that wind through scenic areas of vast stands of pine, spruce and birch trees. Some slopping hills and curved routes are simple yet joyful enough for any new or seasoned skier.

Cross-Country Skiing and snowshoeing have long been known to be one of the most healthy and beneficial sports.  It can be enjoyed by people of all ages and fitness levels and can be purely recreational or highly aggressive and competitive.  But what makes it the ultimate form of exercise is the fact that it is a total body workout and the ultimate calorie burner.

Lake of the Woods School has seen the value in these sports and have carved out and maintained trails through the forest area around the school. Both cross country skis and snowshoes are available at the school. Here’s some more info: *Trails are open to everyone. *Parking is available in the main school parking lot and also in the plowed area at the trailhead on the west side of the road. “*Snowshoeing is allowed but please stay to the side of the two-track ski path. *Trails are maintained by school forest volunteers with their own personal equipment (and gas). We appreciate them!”

Snowshoers don’t need trails, but just snow. This is fast becoming a favorite sport for both young and old….and it doesn’t take a lot of exceptional skill to be able to try it out. There are also a number of wilderness areas to explore around Lake of the Woods.  For starters, think about Zippel Bay State Park, Beltrami Island State Forest and Pine Island State Forest.

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing is an extremely accessible sport and is very economical as well. Zippel Bay State Park has 12 miles of groomed trails that are maintained during the winter months. The trails wind through scenic areas of vast stands of pine, spruce and birch trees. Some slopping hills and curved routes are simple yet joyful enough for any skier new or seasoned.

On each full moon from the months of January-March, Friends of Zippel Bay host a free night of Moonlight Ski. Glowing luminaries mark the trails and skiers and snowshoers come after dusk to ski by moonlight and enjoy the pure beauty of the outdoors. Hot chocolate and refreshments are available in the warming lodge before or after your venture. Free rental equipment is available for anyone to use!

A wonderful free area to cross-country ski or snowshoe on is our beautiful Baudette Bay. First, be aware of first ice and make sure of safety. Then put on the skis or snowshoes and follow the Bay to the south under the bridge and go all the way back to enjoy the view. You can put in at Peace Park to park your vehicle and then try going out to the north towards the big Rainy River.

Cross-country ski areas:

Baudette  Franz Jevne State Park  

5.6km  218-783-6252 (P, B) Groomed trails, unique rock outcrop near Rainy River. Secluded and peaceful.
MN ski pass required.

Williams  Zippel Bay State Park

17.6km  218-783-6252 (P, B) 14.4km groomed trail ranging from beginner to intermediate near Lake of the Woods. Catch glimpses of timber wolves and deer. MN ski pass required. Zippel Bay State Park is available at the following address: 3684 54th Ave NW, Williams, MN 56686

Or call ahead at 218-783-6252

All cross-country skiing on ski trails in State Parks or Forests, or on State or Grant-in-Aid Trails, for aged 16 and above, must have a Minnesota Ski Pass. You must sign your ski pass and carry it with you when skiing. Your ski pass fee helps support Minnesota’s cross-country ski trail system.

If you are 16 or older, you must have a Great Minnesota Ski Pass to go cross-country skiing on groomed trails in Minnesota state parks or state forests, or on state or grant-in-aid trails. Sign your Ski Pass and be sure to carry it with you every time you go skiing. (If you prefer, take a photo of both sides of your pass and carry it on your phone.)

Pass fees

• Daily: $10
• One-year: $25 (Effective July 1 to June 30)
• Three-year: $70 (Effective July 1 to June 30 for three years, including the purchasing season.)
• Duplicate passes: $2.50

Buy a Ski Pass:

Online: You’ll need a driver’s license or state ID, the last four digits of your social security number (for additional online authentication), and a credit card.

• Additional 3% convenience fee.
• You’ll get a PDF of your license right away. Print and sign it, and carry it with you — this is your final pass, you will not receive anything additional in the mail.

By phone: Call 1-888-MN-LICENSE (1-888-665-4236).

• You’ll need a driver’s license or state ID, and a credit card.
• Additional 3% convenience fee.
• Your Ski Pass will arrive in the mail in about two weeks. You can still hit the ski trails right away, though — the selling agent will give you a purchase confirmation number. Write it down and carry it with you until your pass arrives. If you are stopped, the enforcement officer can verify your Ski Pass purchase using that number.

In person: At the front desk in most Minnesota state parks. (Nobody in the office? Buy your pass from the kiosk!)

At any of the 1750 locations around the state that sell DNR permits and licenses. Find one »

• You can use cash or a credit card.
• You’ll need a driver’s license or state ID.s

At a self-registration kiosk in any Minnesota state park.

• Kiosks only sell daily passes, not one- or three-year passes.
• You can put cash in the drop box or use a credit card.

Don’t want to carry a paper pass? Sign it and take a clear photo of both the front and back sides, and just carry it in your phone! 

To go back to the Main page Click Here

Our lodging page can be found Here

Check out our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

 

Sushi anyone?  Most visitors to Lake of the Woods are looking forward to a delicious meal of fresh walleyes and sauger.  There is another choice for visitors in the area and it’s sushi!

Grace Sushi opened up late in 2022 on Main Avenue, in between the popular department store, Ronning’s and the Lake of the Woods Distilling Company.

Patrons will be treated to a variety of very high quality sushi and other ethnic offerings.  Some might order their sushi as take out, while others may decide to sit down and enjoy their chosen delicacy.

For those choosing to enjoy their sushi while enjoying their favorite beverage at the Lake of the Woods Distilling Company, there is actually an opening through the wall from the bar to the sushi restaurant for the convenience of customers at the distillery.  Your favorite beverage and fresh sushi, for many, a match made in heaven!

The sushi chef is Za, who is originally from Burma.  He has more than five years of experience making sushi and other accompanying menu items.  Impressive were his skills, delicious was his sushi.

I asked Za the meaning behind the name, Grace Sushi.  He said it was about faith and specifically, God give me grace.

A fresh fish fry of walleyes and saugers, perhaps with an appetizer of eelpout mixed in might be in your thoughts when coming up to Lake of the Woods.  Grace Sushi gives all of us yet one more consideration.

 

Info about Lake of the Woods

Info on lodging and fish house rentals

 

Remember going golfing in the summer and beverage cart comes around to satisfy your thirst? Well, ice fishing on Lake of the Woods also has the availability of beverages offered ON the ice to quench your thirst either before, after or during your ice fishing experience.

Have you ever heard of the Angry Walleye Ice Bar?  The novelty of a bar out on Lake of the Woods is something that gets the attention of many.  Having a resort and ice road leads to the availability everyone looks for. Owners of these facilities asked themselves, “why don’t we have a bar on the ice for our ice road?” The Angry Walleye Bar is located about a half mile off of the south shore on Lake of the Woods! https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=698553141624920

The Angry Walleye is a 16×29 foot bar with electric lights and big screen TV Beverages at the bar includes most choices of toddies a person could desire, six flavors of barley pop and of course, pop and water as well.  It also features  homemade pizzas, a hit on a cold night inside a festive bar out on the ice of Lake of the Woods. At night that thing lit up like a Christmas Tree so you can’t miss it.

The bar is big enough it had to be pulled out by a large groomer with tracks.  Although the bar is capable of ice fishing, to start out, they don’t have any ice fishing taking place in the bar.  Folks don’t seem to mind.  There’s a good rush of ice anglers who have been out fishing for the day and want to swing in before they drive off the ice for a drink and some fresh homemade pizza.

The Angry Walleye is open Monday – Friday from 2pm – 10pm.  On weekends, the bar is open Noon – 10pm. The Angry Walleye is located just off shore in the Bostic Bay area, which is about three miles west of the Rainy River and Wheeler’s Point area.  As a reference,  the Igloo Bar and Angry Walleye are about five miles apart on the ice as the crow flies.

Ferguson mentioned the big screen TV is certainly a hit.  They broadcast everything from different sporting events to the outdoors, and sometimes even some good music videos depending upon what is on and what kind of crowd is in the bar.

Having a bar on the ice is certainly a novelty and allows guests one more way to enjoy this unique ice fishing mecca up at Lake of the Woods.  It is almost like a celebration of ice fishing.  Imagine the conversations taking place after fishing all day.  How did you guys do fishing, where ya from or any big ones are certainly all pertinent conversation starters in the Angry Walleye or any tavern around the lake. Owners had to get a number of permits, have it inspected, etc, but now it is open and folks are really enjoying beverages on the ice.

Another destination to enjoy a beverage is The Igloo Bar, a destination to add to your ice fishing itinerary. Winter is a happy and busy time up at Lake of the Woods.  The area is buzzing with activity.  In these parts, winter is celebrated and welcomed.  Ice fishing is an absolute culture in Northern Minnesota.  Anglers from all ability levels and all walks of life come up to partake in some of the best ice fishing in the world at Lake of the Woods.

With that being said, some like to go hardcore fishing and others fish but also enjoy some of the other fun experiences the Lake of the Woods area  has to offer.  For instance, there are a variety of resorts in the area all with their own culture.  Many have bars and restaurants and all have their specialties.

One bar, in particular, has earned quite a reputation.  You see, this bar looks like an igloo.  It is located not on mainland but out on frozen Lake of the Woods.  It is loaded with big screen TV’s, electric lights, running water, a bar, limited hot food menu, and heated porta-potties that look like little igloos. It’s unlike anything else on the lake. This year the bar is located in its usual position out on the lake on Zippel Bay Reef.

Decked out with satellite TV, propane heat, running hot water and hoodie-clad bartenders, the arc-roofed bar also serves soup, sandwiches and pizza. The bottled beer, shots and mixed drinks flow for six nights a week until the ice softens in late March. That’s when tractors haul it back to shore in two pieces.

Couples have been married there and snowmobilers drive miles to use the heated outhouses. And for a few dollars an hour, you can lift up a section of the tavern’s insulated floor and jig for walleyes from your bar stool.

“If you are looking for something different, this is different.”  “It gets a little crazy in here when someone catches a big one,” offered the owner of the Igloo and then beverage flow all around to celebrate.

The Igloo is licensed as a mobile food court, fish house and caterer, the Igloo requires electricity (supplied by a gas generator) to heat food and pressurize hot and cold water. All waste water gets hauled to shore in holding tanks and poured into the resort’s own disposal system. Each morning and evening workers haul out huge generators on wheels that send power to the big Igloo and also the heated lavatories

The owners had many hoops to jump with the MN DNR because this was never done before. It has passed the tests and has proven to be a “hot spot” for anglers to frequent during their trip to Lake of the Woods since 2017.

There is an ice road well marked, plowed and maintained coming from Zippel Bay Resort if you are coming via truck or car.  If by snowmobile, a “spur” of the trail goes right to the bar from the Zippel Bay State Park trail as well as the trail on the lake.

The Igloo Bar just moved out onto the lake this past week and already  numbers of anglers and just visitors to the area are asking about the bar. What a great idea! What a great addition to the many great facilities around Lake of the Woods.

For more information on ice fishing contact our website at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/ice-fishing

And for lodging see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging