Autumn in Lake of the Woods

Autumn in Lake of the Woods is officially here. Leaves have been turning and falling and temps are starting to drop in the evenings. autumn

Most everyone who visits Lake of the Woods comments on two things, the beauty of the area and also the quietness that they experience in this Northwoods. While sitting on your deck at your cabin you’ll hear the sound of leaves falling, ducks flying and vocalizing and geese honking as they set their formations to head south. Lake of the Woods and the Northwest Angle are home to 50+ resorts who are always ready to give you a great experience in this north country.

Lake of the Woods is an interesting area. It is largely known as the Walleye Capital of the World with it’s first-class fishery. Features of the lake are it’s abundance of varieties of fish with walleye being the number one catch that anglers go for. Walleyes on fish cleaning table Rapala Lithium Cordless Knife 3 Fish are always moving but it’s interesting to note that autumn leads the fish from deeper and cooler waters to more shallow waters closer to the south side of the lake. Of course, they’re always hungry and the shiner minnows head up river to spawn and the hungry walleyes follow. So….autumn brings another aspect of fall river fishing to the area.

Autumn
Aerial View of the Rainy River

Another interesting thing is watching the big river. The Rainy River, which divides the United States and Canada, has a fast-flowing current all summer. Then when autumn arrives, you can start to see the current slow considerably.  As one watches this happen, you know that soon and very soon that current will stop all together and you’ll sure to see a skim of ice forming. That’s when you know autumn is past and the winter season is upon us.

Birding is another aspect of Lake of the Woods. Sand Hill Cranes enjoy this land but they are also noticing the cooler temps of autumn and are getting ready to migrate to the south. Seagulls are sitting around, waiting for their tickets to fly south and will leave us as do the fabulous white pelicans. One giant bird that we are happy to say never leaves is the Great Bald Eagle. Bald Eagle on ground 150x150 1 You’ll find them high in the trees, or on roadsides picking up some road-kill, or flying  the waters and waiting for the next fish they can dive in and get. They often take advantage of left-overs of fish cleaning when available also.

It’s not unusual to find hundreds of geese sitting in fields that have been harvested. Yes, harvest is also in full swing with wild rice fields being harvested, wheat being harvested and sunflowers bowing their heads to be ready to be combined.

With the onset of autumn, when the tamaracs are golden against the green pines, and the aspens are brilliant, hunters look to visit this north country.  Geese draw hunters and many types of ducks draw hunters.  Bears have been in abundance this year and the hunt has been good. All varieties of grouse autumn occupy the back roads and forest areas where hunters love to travel. Yes, travel through the forest areas is a favorite pass-time for bikers or ATV advocates. The scenery is serene and beautiful and the quietness is captivating.

Autumn also brings the excitement of hunting white tail deer. Of course the Minnesota Dept of Natural Resources has all the information one needs for licensing and dates of each season. Whether you are a bow hunter or a rifle hunter, plan now for that great trip to the northland to “bag” that trophy buck or doe. Don’t forget that orange Is the most important color this fall season, not just because it’s on the trees but that color is the biggest safety factor when exploring the great outdoors. hunter in tree stand

School is in session and fall sports have begun.  Community members always seem to find time to clean out their garages and do garage sales and button everything up for the upcoming winter season.

Awww….this autumn season seems way too short sometimes for those last warm evenings on the deck or sitting around a campfire with friends. Don’t miss this season to enjoy the land and the quietness that autumn brings.

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

For lodging: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

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Duck Breast with Apricot Chutney

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups orange juice
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 packages (6 ounces each) dried apricots, chopped
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh gingerroot
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • duck: duck
  • 12 duck breast halves with skin (5 ounces each)
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • orange sauce:
  • 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup Marsala wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons grated orange zest
  • 3 tablespoons cold butter
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil

Directions

  1. For chutney, in a saucepan, combine orange juice and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Add the apricots, cherries, raisins, ginger, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper and cloves. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cook until apricots are tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; stir in lemon juice. Let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours.
  2. Season both sides of duck with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, saute duck, skin side down, in oil until skin is browned; turn and cook for 1 minute. Set aside 1 tablespoon drippings.
  3. Place duck on a greased rack in a shallow roasting pan. Bake at 350° until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium, a thermometer should read 165°; well-done, 180°), 30-35 minutes.
  4. For orange sauce, saute garlic in reserved drippings for 1 minute. Add wine; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until reduced by half. In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, orange juice, broth and orange zest until blended. Stir into wine mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add butter and basil; whisk until smooth. Remove skin from duck if desired before slicing. Serve with orange sauce and chutney.

 

Fishing Report 10.1.2024

On the South End… Walleye and sauger fishing is very good with good numbers of fish being caught.  If you want to catch some numbers, the bite is on.  Anglers are finding fish ranging from 24 to 31 feet across the south shore of Lake of the Woods.

Jigging with frozen, or live emerald shiners is the ticket.  Locate fish on your sonar, anchor up and give it 30 minutes.  If not to your liking, relocate different fish and repeat.  Normally things will work out nicely over the course of the day.
Areas from right in front of the Lighthouse Gap where the Rainy River enters Lake of the Woods west to the Morris Point area, Zippel Bay area to Long Point are all producing.  There aren’t fish everywhere but there are various schools spread out across the entire south shore of the basin.
Successful jig colors in the stained waters of LOW are gold, glow white, glow red, chartreuse, orange, and pink.  Gold combined with any one of these colors is often a good choice.
Drifting spinners / crawlers or trolling crankbaits is still working for anglers as well.
Some really nice perch and an occasional pike are being caught mixed in with the walleyes and saugers.
For the anglers targeting smallmouth bass, there is a good bite on both the lake and Rainy River.
On the Rainy River… The river continues to produce some nice walleyes.  There are definitely some schools of shiners up and down the river and consequently, some nice walleyes in the river too.  Not the heavy run yet, but respectable for sure.

fishing
66 inch Sturgeon on Rainy River

Sturgeon fishing continues to pick up as water temps cool.  The sturgeon is catch and release from October 1st into the month of April, 2025 when you can keep one again.

The river is relatively small and a great option for small boats.  With a variety of boat ramps from the mouth of the river all the way to up the river to Birchdale, there are many options.

Up at the NW Angle… Walleye fishing remains strong on both sides of the border. Walleyes are using a variety of areas from mud flats to various areas with structure and neck down areas with some current.

It’s fall, which means a mixed bag of fish is common in these parts.  Walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, crappies, pike, smallmouth bass and muskies are all being caught.

As water temps cool and the days get shorter, the bite will get even better!

For more information on fishing packages, fall fishing and ice fishing, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.