The ATV enthusiast can be assured of great trails and beautiful sights as they travel the area at Lake of the Woods. This activity has become a growing sport for young and old alike. Lake of the Woods has a new website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com. When you go to that site, click on Outdoor Adventures and find info on ATVs, Biking, Motorcycling and the like. Click on Maps and Trails and you will find Historic Trails, Scenic Drives, The Bog Drive and the Forest Management Drive. You’ll find a vast amount of information to make you trip to Lake of the Woods so enjoyable.

Off-highway vehicles can be driven on all state forest trails that are not designated as off limits for environmental or safety reasons. Lake of the Woods area literally has thousands of acres of prime ATV destinations, a variety of nice resorts and hotels and of course great places to eat and drink while on vacation.

Legislation effective August 1, 2005 allows a greater freedom for all-terrain vehicle riders choosing to ride in Minnesota state forests in our region. Off-highway vehicles can be driven on all state forest trails that are not designated as off limits for environmental or safety reasons.

Beltrami Island State Forest is just west of Baudette and spans an area of 66,903 acres. Pine Island State Forest is just east of Baudette and encompasses 878,040 acres. Northwest Angle State Forest in the north end of Lake of the Woods county has 144,412 acres to explore.

Many visitors come to experience the vast wilderness trails via ATV during the summer and fall months. Beltrami State Forest and the Bankton roads south of Williams and Roosevelt have hundreds of miles of trails, 238 to be exact; not to mention the great hunting that goes with it. Much of this trail system follows county roads, township roads, ditch banks and existing trails. Local people also know back roads that are accessible for travel even from the lake area.

Off highway vehicles can be driven on all state forest trails that are not designates as off limits for environmental or safety reasons. For more information and trail maps check out our ATV PAGE or the MN DNR website.

When looking at the Homesteader’s Trail, you’ll find remnants of a time past when pioneers were able to secure free land. At one time 0 fam4ilies lived along the present day Bankton Forest Road. They accessed the area on forest trails that followed sandy ridges. They also traveled by boat in the summer and on the ice in the winter.

The homesteaders’ livelihood was based on the resources of the area. They logged sawtimber and poles, worked in sawmills, trapped fur, and provided their own food by subsistence farming and hunting.

The community of Bankton had a post office, school, and a community hall. Most of the people that lived in the Bankton area relocated to other parts of Lake of the Woods county during the federal Resettlement Program of 1935.

The openings along the Bankton Forest Road are all vestiges of the farm fields left by the homesteaders. The location of the homesite is often marked with a willow tree or lilac bush planted by the settlers. Two cemeteries established by the homesteaders remain along the Bankton Forest Road. Records are a bit fuzzy, but at least 5 people are buried in each cemetery. The Hamilton Farm Cemetery is also referred to as the Germanson Cemetery in early township records. The Bankton Cemetery is called God’s Acre Cemetery in the obituary of one of the people buried there.

Informational signs along the Bankton Forest Road identify the two cemeteries and the location of a few of the homestead sites where evidence of buildings remain.

All of these trails and historic sites are beautiful to explore as you ride your ATV or bicycle. No mountains here, however, mountain bikes also use these trails as they tour these beautiful forest areas. So….come fishing to the Walleye Capital of the World and also bring your ATV or side by side to not only enjoy the pristine waters of Lake of the Woods but to also enjoy the lands surrounding the lake area. Choose your favorite resort and make reservations now among the 50+ resorts both on the south shore and also at the Northwest Angle.

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

For Lodging see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

Also see our FaceBook page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

We were on a mission.  The goal… Filming a TV show which will air on Larry Smith Outdoors showing viewers how awesome it is fishing on a Lake of the Woods charter boat.  I have to say, stepping aboard not having to think about weather, navigation, where to fish, where the fish were at yesterday and everything else involved in putting guests on fish is relaxing.  Literally, step aboard.  The rods, reels, bait, tackle and licensed charter captain were all included.  Here is how the day went.

First thing in the morning was breakfast.  Many of the resorts in the area offer meals, along with a nice bar.  We left the bar behind our given morning and simply enjoyed a delicious breakfast.

After making sure everyone had what they needed, in this case rain gear (just in case), sunglasses, cameras, and video gear, we boarded the charter boat and were off.

The charter boat captain, in this case, knew of some nice eater walleyes that had been up north.  It’s a bit of a boat ride, but on a charter, good conversation, checking out the great scenery and in today’s world, checking your phone were all activities as we headed north across the lake.  Our destination was the edge of a rock pile north of Garden Island.

The technique, which is popular all summer into fall, is pulling crawler harnesses.  The rig was a two ounce bottom bouncer with a two hook harness loaded with a juicy night crawler with the tail pinched off just behind the back hook.  The blade was a #3 Indiana style in gold with a bit of red in it.  It was deadly!

For a bit, Larry tried using a spinner (which is a harness or snelled spinner with one, two or three hooks combined with a weight to get it down towards the bottom) with a frozen emerald shiner for a while, and that caught a couple of nice walleyes.  It seemed crawlers were catching the majority of fish.  Crawlers are also what the larger walleyes came on.

Right away we started getting bit.  A lot of small fish, some perch and some nice keeper walleyes mixed in.  We caught numerous walleyes with a few perch and saugers.  After some time, it seemed the bite tapered off a bit.  The captain, after talking to other charter captains on his cell phone (they don’t like using the Marine Band radio if possible for secrecy), decided to hit spot #2, a bit further north.

This spot held some really nice walleyes.  Just like spot #1, there were a few other charter boats working the same area as the walleyes were in good numbers and nice sized.  We continued to fill the cooler with our limits along with a couple of bonus jumbo perch.  With a few limits of walleyes and just a few saugers to still get, we decided to go big fish hunting.  For this, we headed to spot #3, down on the big basin called Big Traverse Bay.

This area held a combo of mud and rocks.  The captain made the comment about the nice fish he saw on his sonar, hoping they would cooperate.  Cooperate they did, with numerous big walleyes being boated.

It was a day never to be forgotten.  Fishing with Larry Smith on a charter boat.  Quickly catching three limits of walleyes, then shifting over to big fish and scoring big.  That is how this time of the year can be up at Lake of the Woods.

If you haven’t given a charter boat a try, I encourage it.  It is easy, enjoyable and has a high level of fishing success.  It is great for newbies to fishing or experienced anglers looking for a break or something different.  No worries on a charter, simply sit back, relax and catch walleyes!

Info about Lake of the Woods

Charter Boats and Guided Fishing on Lake of the Woods

Lodging on Lake of the Woods

Canoe or Kayak Lake of the Woods to enjoy the great landscape and pristine waters of this northland. These vessels are used for another great sport over the years to get an “up close and personal” view of waters traveled. Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, as well as its tributaries, are no exception. These waters were first explored using long boats and canoes and history hasn’t changed its adventure. Today’s voyageurs young and old find great enjoyment and good exercise traveling back into places that motorboats can’t go.

The historic Rainy River is the original “Voyageur’s Highway,” which linked the entire Great Lakes area with the northern waterways of Canada. Lake of the Woods hosted early trading posts in the 1700’s and is still the living legacy for this era. Getting out on the water is a great way to experience all of the history and nature Lake of the Woods has to offer.

For Shorter Routes: Explore Baudette Bay right in the heart of Baudette. You can start from Peace Park or Timber Mill Park for a relaxing paddle around the bay.

Zippel Bay offers a lot of good wildlife viewing due to its marshy environment right on Lake of the Woods. The best access for Zippel Bay is at Zippel Bay State Park.

Silver Creek – This short jaunt, about a mile up and down the creek, is suitable for enjoying the birds, flowers, and wildlife. To access Silver Creek, go east of the Hwy. 11 – 72 junction for 3.6 miles, turn south 0.4 miles, and then turn east for 0.3 miles. Put in at an old bridge crossing. Paddle in the early spring, and you’ll likely see a lot of waterfowl. Water levels may get low in late summer, so inquire locally.

Winter Road River – Turn north on Hwy 172, then west on Cty. Rd 88/4th ST. NW. Put in 2.5 miles west of Hwy 172 at the bridge. This is about a 3 mile trip with lots of opportunities to view wildlife and waterfowl, especially in the spring. Take out at the public water access at Hwy 172.

Wabanica Creek – Put in right behind Wabanica Lutheran Church, located east of Hwy 172. This is a short, 2-3 mile trip up and back the Wabanica Creek. The creek forks, so you have a couple of routes to explore.

For Longer Routes: The Rapid River Canoe Route covers approximately 50 miles of one of the Rainy River’s major tributaries – the Rapid River. The sections designated as the Rapid River Canoe and Kayak Route cover 33 river miles with a few small riffles and Class I rapids. Beginning at the trailhead and paddling to the trail end takes 8 to 12 hours under optimal water levels. The narrow, winding waterway is perfect for short canoes and smaller recreational kayaks.

2-day trip down the Rainy River – Imagine what it was like to travel the water highways like the voyageurs. Put in at the public access just east of Pelland Junction, where Hwy 11 and Hwy 71 come together. Follow the waterway downstream 31 miles to Franz Jevne State Park. Camp overnight and paddle 28 miles to Baudette the next day or linger awhile longer to enjoy the hiking offered at the park. Wind can be a factor on the Rainy River, particularly if it is from a northerly through westerly direction.

Kayaks and canoes can be rented locally from Zippel Bay Resort and Zippel Bay State Park has canoe rental as well.

The Northwest Angle, Zippel Bay State Park, other tributaries of the Rainy River, and the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, are all other wonderful areas for a serene canoeing getaway.

There is also a River Runners Canoe and Kayak Club based in Baudette. Be sure to ask about their group activities when planning your next adventure!

There’s a new kayak out there that is catching on fast. This is called the Hobie Kayak and is very unique in its build. We’ve included a video here to watch about the kayak being used at Lake of the Woods. It can be paddled and even peddled to move it. What an interesting adventure. It holds one person, but also holds fishing poles, coolers and the like for that great fishing adventure on Lake of the Woods.

For more information on lodging at Lake of the Woods see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging.

Our facebook page is at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

Lake of the Woods in Minnesota is renowned for its fantastic ice fishing opportunities.  Resorts and outfitters do the work to make your ice fishing adventure more enjoyable.  Ice guides are constantly checking ice conditions, plowing, grooming trails, moving fish houses to schools of walleyes so you can step inside a heated fish house and just fish!  Here are the top five reasons why you should consider this destination for your next ice fishing adventure:

1. Abundant Walleye and Sauger Populations

One of the primary draws to Lake of the Woods for ice fishing enthusiasts is the abundance of walleyes and saugers.  These species are not only plentiful but also provide a thrilling fishing experience. Walleyes are the most targeted species, known for their abundance in Lake of the Woods as well as they are delicious table fare.  Saugers, the walleye’s cousin, are also found in good numbers and are equally delicious. The opportunity to catch both of these fish in abundance makes Lake of the Woods a top ice fishing destination.

2. Heated and Sleeper Fish Houses

Resorts and outfitters in the area go above and beyond to ensure a comfortable and productive fishing experience. Heated fish houses and sleeper fish houses are strategically moved over schools of walleyes, with holes pre-drilled, the houses banked, and the heat turned on. This setup means you can step inside, take off your jacket, and start fishing in comfort. The convenience and warmth of these facilities make it easy for both novice and experienced anglers to enjoy a successful day on the ice.

3. Stunning Winter Scenery

The winter scenery of Lake of the Woods is nothing short of breathtaking. Imagine vast expanses of ice, snow-covered pine trees, and spectacular sunsets that paint the sky with vibrant hues. The pristine beauty of the area, combined with the crisp, fresh air, creates a serene and picturesque environment that enhances the overall ice fishing experience. Whether you’re on the ice or relaxing at a resort, the natural beauty of Lake of the Woods in winter is a sight to behold.

4. Comprehensive Resort Services and Amenities

Local resorts around Lake of the Woods offer a wide range of modern accommodations and amenities to ensure a comfortable stay. Many resorts feature on-site restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, providing delicious meals and warm beverages to keep you energized. Additionally, these resorts supply all the necessary bait, tackle, and equipment, making it convenient to plan your trip. The combination of high-quality accommodations and comprehensive services means you can focus on enjoying your fishing experience without worrying about logistics.

5. A Complete Ice Fishing Experience

Ice fishing on Lake of the Woods is not just about catching fish—it’s about the entire experience. From the thrill of the catch to the camaraderie of fishing with friends and family, every moment is memorable. The well-maintained facilities, expert guidance from local outfitters, and the chance to fish in one of the most beautiful winter landscapes make this destination stand out. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a beginner, the unique and immersive experience of ice fishing on Lake of the Woods is something you’ll cherish forever.

Plan Your Ice Fishing Adventure

With its abundant fish populations, comfortable fishing accommodations, stunning scenery, and excellent resort services, Lake of the Woods offers an unparalleled ice fishing experience. Plan your trip today and discover why this destination is a favorite among ice fishing enthusiasts. From the thrill of landing a big walleye to the serene beauty of the winter landscape, your adventure at Lake of the Woods will be one to remember.

More info on Lake of the Woods

Lodging and Ice Fishing packages around Lake of the Woods

Beautiful and Delicious Blueberries are making their show at Lake of the Woods. They are ripening fast and are in abundance as reported to this writer recently.  Within two weeks of this writing, the berries will be at their peak. Lake of the Woods is known for its vast amount of this natural berry that is not only beautiful but delicious beyond measure.

Where do I find these beautiful blueberries? Well, we’ll have to list quite a few areas. A park along Hwy 11 between Baudette and Warroad is actually named Blueberry Hill. People camp there and also pick these beautiful berries. Another area is south or Baudette in the Beltrami Forest Area also known by the Faunce Tower area. This natural habitat is known or its beautiful pines and roads through what once was the pioneer area of Lake of the Woods County. Homesteaders there must have really enjoyed the abundance of food found throughout that land and harvested many many berries. See bountiful-blueberries-now-at-lake-of-the-woods -area

People come from far and wide to harvest these natural blueberries. They arrive with buckets for the harvest and leave with those buckets full. If you’re one of these visitors, be sure to also bring mosquito spray and dress to keep those insects off of you. There’s another species that also enjoys these berries and that is the black bear. It’s wise to keep on the lookout for these creatures as they enjoy the harvest as well.

A one-gallon ice cream pail with a handle works well to hold the fruit. You can set it on the ground and drop berries into it as you pick, and unlike a plastic bag, it won’t snag on sticks and thorns as you walk. Hiking boots are great for rough or steep areas. Lighter footwear is fine for easy hikes, but don’t be tempted to wear sandals, which don’t offer enough foot protection. Long-sleeved shirts and pants are recommended to avoid scratches, scrapes, and mosquitoes; I also carry insect repellent and drinking water, particularly in warm weather.

Blueberry shrubs are 1 to 2½ feet tall and often grow in colonies. Leaves are shaped like an elongated football, typically 1 to 1½ inches long; they grow alternately on greenish-brown branches. Common lowbush blueberries have smooth leaves with fine teeth along the edges, while leaves of velvet-leaf blueberries are hairy and toothless. Fruits of both grow in clusters from branch tips. Underripe berries are green, becoming pinkish before ripening to deep blue with a whitish bloom; ripe berries look just like supermarket blueberries but are smaller—typically ¼ to 1/3 inch across. A key ID feature is the short five-pointed crown that is present on the top.

Ripe berries detach easily from the bush. Although you can use opened fingers to comb through a cluster of blueberries, you’ll get less debris if you pluck individual fruits. Velvet-leaf blueberries are tarter than common lowbush blueberries, which are also called sweet lowbush blueberries. Both can be used like domestic blueberries, but because they’re so small they pack together more closely—so you can use a smaller measure of wild blueberries in muffins or similar recipes. Wild blueberries make outstanding jam and pie.

Another area to explore for these beautiful blueberries is Zippel Bay State Park. This beautiful park has been kept to its natural beauty and as you travel the paths, you can find bushes and bushes of berries to enjoy picking from. While you’re there, enjoy the vast sandy beach and beautiful waters of Lake of the Woods where you can walk out in shallow water for many yards.

Be sure to add this Blueberry adventure to your list of great things to do while visiting Lake of the Woods. Send dad out fishing and let the ladies bring in the bountiful berries for a great eating treat.

For more information contact: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com and click on the lodging page for great places to stay. Come soon!

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