Walleye Quesadillas

We love quesadillas at this house and they are so easy to make. IF you have any walleye leftovers, consider using them for this quick and simple dish.  These walleye quesadillas boast a refreshing flavor special enough for guests. Serve with salsa on the side and sour cream to your taste. Photo by Taste of Home.

Ingredients

  • 4 teaspoons canola oil, divided

    walleye
    Photo by Taste of Home
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno pepper
  • Cooked leftover walleye, crumbled
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped tomato
  • 4 flour tortillas (6 inches)
  • 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

Directions

  1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add onion and jalapeno. Cook and stir until tender, 3-5 minutes. Add cooked walleye, cumin and pepper; Heat until all is warm. Add tomatoes.
  2. Add 1 teaspoon oil to the same skillet; add 1 tortilla. Top with half the cheese, half the walleye mixture and 1 tortilla. Cook over medium heat until lightly browned, 2-3 minutes on each side; remove. Repeat with remaining 1 teaspoon oil, tortillas, cheese and walleye mixture. Cut into wedges.

Fishing Report 5.28.2024

On the south end…   Good fishing this week with nice numbers of walleyes and saugers.

A jig and frozen emerald shiner again this week is the go to presentation for walleyes.  Rainbows and fatheads are also working and it is nice to see what the fish want each day.

Various areas across the south shore are holding fish.  Most walleyes and saugers are being caught in 17 – 24′ of water.  Anglers are anchoring up and vertical jigging.

A quarter ounce jig in gold, glow white, pink, orange, chartreuse, or a combo of these colors tipped with a minnow worked well again.  Pound the bottom, jig it up in the strike zone, hold.  Trying shaking the jig and lifting it off of the bottom.  Any kind of weight will be a fish hanging.  Set the hook!

A mixed bag while fishing walleyes include pike, jumbo perch and a few crappies. fishing

On the Rainy River…  Some nice walleyes caught  this week on the river in 10 – 15′ of water.  Typical spots such as holes, current breaks, weed edges and rocky areas all can hold fish.  There are 42 miles of navigable waters from the mouth of the river all the way to Birchdale.

Sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River is closed until the keep season starts up again July 1st.

The river holds good numbers of smallmouth bass for those interested in bronzebacks.  A lot of bass are caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers.

Up at the NW Angle…  A great week of fishing.  As typical with guests staying at the Angle, some fish MN waters, some slide over into Ontario waters.  Both areas are producing.

Points, neck down areas and bays with warming water have been holding walleyes.  With warming waters, fish are in transition and there are lots of fish.

The goto presentation is a jig and minnow.  Gold, glow white, pink and orange are good colors.

Lodging, fishing packages, small boat guide trips, charter trips and summer trips are available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.

Free Maps Available for Lake of the Woods

Maps are a great asset to any location when visiting an area. GPS is a great invention to have as a separate device or on your phone, however, this writer likes to study a map on a larger scale so that she can see the lay of the land or water and the routes she will be taking to get to those spots.

Here’s where Lake of the Woods Tourism low logo has done an excellent job in furnishing you, the researcher, with many maps of the area at the top of the nation. Whether you are looking to fish these pristine waters bordering the United State and Canada, or snowmobile over the beautiful forest areas, or flying over the frozen lake on snowmobile to the northernmost spot in the United States (the Northwest Angle) or simply finding a park to rest at and enjoy the scenery, the website has maps to help you navigate.

Simply go to www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com and move your curser to the Maps and Trails tab. Hover over that tab and it will list all of the maps and information that is list of maps on website available.

Have you ever read a Lake of the Woods fishing report and wondered where an island or reef being referred to was?  With 14,552 islands alone, Lake of the Woods Tourism has provided you with a Navionics interactive map. The lake map is all of Lake of the Woods, both U.S. and Canadian sides. It also shows depths, reefs, islands and more.

You can zoom out to get the lay of the land or zoom in to look for a “spot on a spot”.  This tool is one you can use at your desktop or on your mobile device anywhere you are connected to the internet to explore the many hot spots of The Walleye Capital of the World.

Lake maps are a great way to learn more about the body of water you intend to fish as well as navigation. With a lake the size of Lake of the Woods, using tools like this can add to a safer, easier and more successful adventure on the water. maps

Mobile app for your phone. Navionics Boating USA app for Android and Apple is $10. This app is very detailed and can be a nice tool to learn more about navigation, fishing spots and actually works as a backup device on the water.

You can also target the NE corner of Big Traverse Bay around the Knight and Bridges Islands area using that Navionics Lakemap.

Lake of the Wood is divided into three separate locations. The Rainy River area encompasses all the resorts that are along the Rainy River which leads to the big lake. maps The South Shore area features resorts that are located right on the shores of the Big Traverse. The next area forms the chimney of the state of Minnesota. This is the area called the Northwest Angle and is the northernmost point of the contiguous United States.

Other features on the website feature ATV trails through the beautiful Beltrami Forest. Roads here wander through virgin forest areas where the first settlers to the area camp for homestead. Faunce Tower is in the midst of the forest and stands as a monument to past and future visitors.

Let’s not forget the availability of snowmobile maps also on the website. These maps feature the John Beckel Northern Connection trail, routes through the city of Baudette, and also trails that connect up with neighboring towns. You can click on these maps and run maps them off on your computer or you can also contact the snowmobile clubs to receive a physical copy of those maps. See:(20 +) Lake Of The Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club | Facebook or NORTHWEST ANGLE EDGE RIDERS :: Home (nwaedgeriders.org).

A map within the city of Baudette will show you parks and walking trails throughout the city to walk safely and enjoy the quiet of this small town area.

You might even decide to bring your pedal bike the see the sites in this north country. Our website also has a map for biking trails. maps

You can see that Lake of the Woods Tourism and many other organizations have worked together to provide you all the information that is needed for you to be prepared to come and have the most enjoyable vacation you can get. Be sure to plan your next visit to this beautiful North Country.

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

See our FaceBook site at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

All maps are located on the site at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com …clicking on Maps and Trails

 

 

 

Walleye Delight

Get ready to catch those walleyes. This combination of lemon juice, basil and other seasonings is fantastic. Maybe even try grilling them.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound walleye, pike, perch or trout fillets
  • 2 teaspoons butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

    Walleye
    Photo by Taste of Home
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1-3/4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

Directions

  • Coat an 18-in. square piece of heavy-duty foil with cooking spray Place fillets on foil. Spread with butter. Sprinkle with lemon juice, basil, lemon-pepper and garlic salt. Top with mushrooms.
  • Seal foil tightly. Grill, covered, over medium-hot heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Carefully remove foil to allow steam to escape.

 

Fishing Report 5.21.2024

On the south end…   A great week of fishing with walleyes and saugers caught in good numbers.

The go-to presentation, again, was a jig and frozen emerald shiner.  Emerald shiners are a staple in LOW and walleyes love them.  Other minnows worked also, but emerald shiners are a favorite of anglers for good reason.

The Lighthouse Gap area, Morris Point Gap and just in front of Pine Island held nice fish in 17 – 21′ of water.  Various schools of walleyes and saugers across the south shore.
A quarter ounce jig in gold, glow white, pink, orange, chartreuse, or a combo of these colors tipped with a minnow worked well again.
Some big pike and jumbo perch being caught by walleye anglers.

fishing
Big Pike
On the Rainy River…  Some nice walleyes were caught on the river this weekend, although most anglers normally head to the lake.  12 – 15′ of water is holding some nice fish.
Sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River is closed until the keep season starts up again July 1st.

Up at the NW Angle…  Some nice walleyes being caught along with a mixed bag.  12 – 25 feet of water.  Points, neck down areas and bays with warming water were holding good fish this week.
The go-to presentation was a jig and minnow as on the south shore.  A mixed bag as is common around the Angle.

Lodging, fishing packages, small boat guide trips, charter trips and summer trips are available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.

2024 Girls Gone Fishing Tournament at Lake of the Woods

May your hats be big…Your mint juleps fine…Hey all you ladies…
It’s fishing derby time!

The 11th Annual Girls Gone Fishing tournament will be held again this year at River Bend Resort on the weekend of June 1st. girls goneThe tournament is located on the Rainy River towards the northern end of Wheelers Point, MN. What started out as a lighthearted outing between just a hand full of women has turned into a two-day extravaganza. This year’s theme is the Kentucky Derby so get your costumes ready to enjoy fun and festivities.

“Participants are not only fishing in a tournament” Says tournament organizer and River Bend Resort owner Brandi Johnson. “These ladies take fun to extreme with costumes, decorated boats, and participate in quite a few other activities” Brandi continues “All in the name of women having fun inside of a little friendly competition that has grown to pay out fairly big prizes”.

girls goneAn idea of getting all the girls together for Girls Gone fishing fun and competition, has remained just that. However, over the past several years it has grown into the event not to miss. “River Bend’s Girls Gone Fishing” is not only a fishing tournament. It is a “Costume Contest”. It is a “Best Guide” competition. It is a “Best Decorated Boat” extravaganza!! It is the event of ALL events this side of the Mississippi and this far north of the lower 48!! girls gone 5

Some ladies fish on their own.  Most decide to allow their male counterparts to guide them.  It’s okay to let the guys in on some of the fun after all.

One great option some Girls Gone Fishing take advantage of is to hire a guide or a charter boat and fish two or even three teams of 2 ladies per boat.  Talk about fun!  Everything is provided, rods, reels, tackle, licensed charter captain, etc.  And these guides know where the fish are!

Guys are allowed to guide, but cannot fish.  They can certainly help take fish off of the hook and bait hooks, which makes it nice for some of the ladies who don’t fish girls gone all that often.

To sign up for the 2024 tournament, simply fill out this online application or print it off and send it in.

Lake of the Woods is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™ and is one of the healthiest fisheries around. Check out the MN DNR website to find out about limits and licenses. This time of year the waters of the big lake are so fresh and that makes eating those walleyes extra special. Bring your catch to the kitchen staff and they will cook up a fine meal to be remembered as one of your best feasts ever.

Tournament Date: June 1st – Rules Meeting: May 31st at 7:00 PM

$250 Per Team: Entry fee includes meal, door prize tickets, and tournament shirt.

Prizes throughout the weekend include: best dressed Kentucky Derby team, best-decorated boat, best-dressed guide, top guide, horse race winners, and more. girls gone 3

Registration can be picked up at River Bend Resort, The Walleye Inn, or filled out and sent electronically, or downloaded and mailed in with your entry fee.

Here’s a look at the schedule for the upcoming weekend.

Friday, May 31st

5-7pm:   Registration

7-7:15pm:   Welcome/Rules Meeting

7:15-8pm:   Horse Racing Games (River Side)

8pm-Midnight:   Music & Bonfire

 

Saturday, June 1st

8-8:55am:   Boat Inspections River Bend Docks

8:55am:   National Anthem

9am:   Boats Released & Girls Gone Fishing Tournament Begins!

4pm:   Boats Must Be At (or in sight of) River Bend Docks

4-5pm:   Weigh-Ins

5pm:   Group Picture in Tourney Shirts (Hill Side in Front of Cabin 4)

5:15-6pm:   Break to Change Into Costume (Kentucky Derby Theme)

6-8pm:   Fish Fry (Bring your ticket to the bar to get it stamped)

7:30pm:   Awards & Raffle

8:30-1am:   Band

Be sure to check out the Lake of the Woods website at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

For additional lodging click on the Lodging tab.

See our FaceBook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

Also see RiverBend’s FaceBook page at: www.facebook.com/riverbendresortlow

 

Walleye Bake

An avid walleye eating family from Michigan sent in this recipe to Taste of Home. Will be greatly used at Lake of the Woods also.

 

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup chopped onion

    walleye
    Photo by Taste of Home
  • 3/4 cup chopped green pepper
  • 3/4 cup chopped celery
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium V8 juice
  • 1 pound walleye fillets

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, bring the first eight ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.
  2. Place fish in a greased 13×9-in. baking dish. Pour vegetable mixture over the fish. Cover and bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 137 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 82mg cholesterol, 314mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 vegetable.

 

Fishing Report 5.14.2024

On the south end…   This year’s MN Fishing Opener weekend was not only great weather wise, the walleyes and saugers were caught in good numbers.  A main fish gut hauler working with a number of resorts commented it was one of the most productive opening weekends he has seen based on the amount of fish guts collected after the weekend.

The goto presentation was a jig and frozen emerald shiner.  Emerald shiners are a staple in LOW and walleyes love them.  Other minnows worked also, but emerald shiners are a favorite of anglers for good reason.

Four Mile Bay held good walleyes in 12 – 18′.  Not a surprise as the walleye bite on the river during the spring season was good and as of late, sturgeon anglers have been reporting catching walleyes on sturgeon rigs.
The Lighthouse Gap area, Morris Point Gap and just in front of Pine Island held nice fish in 12 – 15′.  Across the south shore, 18 – 22′ was holding good numbers as well.  As you can see, there are lots of fish around.  fishing
A quarter ounce jig in gold, glow white, pink, orange, chartreuse, or a combo of these colors tipped with a minnow worked well.
As a reminder, the limit of walleyes and saugers is a combined limit of six fish, up to four of the six can be walleyes.  All walleyes between 19.5 – 28.0 inches must be released.  One fish over 28.0 inches can be kept.  The possession limit in MN is one daily limit of fish.

On the Rainy River…  Some nice walleyes were caught on the river this weekend, although most anglers hit the lake.  10 – 15′ of water was the norm.

Sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River has been excellent.  The catch and release season continues through May 15th and then closes until the keep season starts up again July 1st.

Up at the NW Angle…  Some nice walleyes were caught in 18 – 25 feet of water, a little deeper than anticipated.  Points were good as were areas with structure.  The morning and evening bite was best.
As water continues to warm, go to spots for walleyes will be neck down areas, shoreline breaks, points and bays.
The goto presentation was a jig and minnow.

Lodging, fishing packages, small boat guide trips, charter trips and summer trips are available at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.

New 2024 Walleye Fishing Regs for Ontario Side of Lake of the Woods

2024 Ontario walleye regulations, fishing regulations

Lake of the Woods sunset, islands, sceneryHaving a world class body of water that is shared between the U.S. and Canada (Ontario and Manitoba) isn’t so bad.  In fact, it provides anglers and visitors a lot of options and additional fishing opportunities.  There are naturally differences in rules and regs, fish limits, length limits and even some understanding of border crossing.  It isn’t difficult, but necessary to understand.  Whether you are sliding across the border on the Rainy River, along the east side of Big Traverse Bay or up at the NW Angle, Ontario changed some regs when it comes to fishing and it is important to be in the know.

The 2024 walleye opener in Minnesota is Saturday, May 11th.  The 2024 walleye opener in Ontario Zone 5 (Lake of the Woods) is the 3rd Saturday in May, or this year, May 18th.

New Walleye Size Limit Changes, Ontario Zone 5, Lake of the Woods

New 2024 walleye regulations Ontario side of Lake of the Woods Non-Canadian residents have two options for fishing licenses in Ontario, a sport fishing license or conservation fishing license.  In a nutshell, the sport fishing license costs a bit more, but allows a non-Canadian angler a larger possession limit of fish.

For non-Canadian anglers, the sport fishing license allows a daily catch and retain limit of 2 walleyes.  All walleyes between 43-70cm (16.9 inches – 27.6 inches) must be released.  Not more than 1 walleye greater than 70cm (27.6 inches).   The possession limit is 4 walleyes, none between 43-70cm, and not more than 1 greater than 70cm.

For non-Canadian anglers with a conservation fishing license, the daily catch and retain limit is 2 walleyes, none greater than 43cm (16.9 inches).  The possession limit is 2 fish, none greater than 43cm.

Boating from the U.S. into Canadian Waters

Boating from the U.S. into Canada and back into the U.S. has never been easier.  Basically, when you boat into Canada, as long as you don’t touch land, anchor, moor, or exchange good or services, you can boat into Canada from the U.S. without calling in to clear Canadian Customs.

The same is true upon your return journey to U.S. waters, there is no need to check in with U.S. Customs as long as you didn’t touch land, anchor, moor or exchange goods or services.  Easy!

Traveling via Ice from the U.S. into Canada

CBP Roam App 2024 It is important to note, when Lake of the Woods freezes over, ice has different rules vs open water.  Ice is considered land, hence, when you go travel via ice from the U.S. into Canada, it is first necessary to clear Canadian Customs.  Up at the NW Angle, this means calling the 888-CAN-PASS phone number, answering a few questions, and writing down your check in number.

The same is then true on your return trip into the U.S., you must clear U.S. Customs.  Most NW Angle resorts now have an iPad in which you can clear customs if you are ice fishing out of the Angle.

The other option is using the CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) ROAM App which is available on both Google Play and Apple Store.  This app allows a U.S. resident to clear U.S. Customs in remote areas, such as the NW Angle.

Other Things to Consider when Traveling via water from the U.S. into Canada

Sliding over the border from the U.S. into Canadian waters offers some great fishing opportunities.  There are additional rules to consider.  It is your responsibility to be dialed in with the rules and regulations.  Also know, for the sake of this article, we are discussing the walleye rule changes for the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods.

-If you are fishing, make sure everyone fishing has a non-Canadian Ontario fishing license.  Each province has their own fishing license.

-When looking at rules and regulations, the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods is Zone 5 in the Ontario Fishing Regulations

-No alcohol allowed

map -No bait can be transported from the U.S. into Canada.  This means alive, dead, frozen or in any other form.  If an angler really wants live bait, they can purchase it while in Canada.  Once that bait is brought back into the U.S., it cannot be transported into Canada again

-There is a small part of Lake of the Woods in Manitoba as well called Buffalo Bay.  It is located adjacent to the NW corner of Big Traverse Bay.  A great piece of Lake of the Woods, but small in comparison to the U.S. portion, and even larger Ontario portion.  Different fishing regs apply as each province is different.  In Manitoba, one difference hooks have to be barbless.  There are others, read up on regs if fishing Buffalo Bay.

Many visitors to Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods will slide over and fish Ontario.  It provides a plethora of world class fishing opportunities.  There are differences in regs, licensing and general rules one must know, however.  For many, especially staying at a NW Angle resort, sliding into the abyss of 14,552 islands is just what the doctor ordered!

 

Info about the NW Angle

NW Angle Lodging

General info about Lake of the Woods