Book your Ice Fishing Trip NOW!! It’s not too early! Requests are coming in and resorts are already taking reservations for that once in a lifetime ice fishing trip to Lake of the Woods. Did I say, “once”? No, many anglers frequent the waters/ice of Lake of the Woods many times during the winter months. Why? Because this Walleye Capital of the World™ is a first-class fishery and continues to be so. Permanent fish houses, sleeper fish houses, and day wheel houses make up an entire village with plowed roads and sectioned off areas that are continually being groomed by experienced ice staff.

Summer fishing is great as anglers of all ages enjoy the shimmering waters of Lake of the Woods. Soon, however, those shimmering waters start cooling down and currents slow and before you know it, you’ll see a skim of ice forming on the bays, the big lake and the river. Then, Winter is on!!!

Yes, winter is right around the corner. The standard joke in northern MN is that we have two seasons. Winter is coming and Winter is here. Resort owners are already prepping their ice houses with fresh paint and accessories and moving them closer to the road so that they’re ready for launching as soon as the ice is on. When the ice first forms on the lake, resort owners and guides are out there immediately measuring the depth of the ice.

The process of forming roads over this big water is amazing. It is no small task to forge those roads so that ice depth goes deeper and can allow travel to Four Mile Bay, or over Pine Island to Big Traverse, or around Morris Point onto the big water. Hats off to those who have to move with great wisdom so that anglers can enjoy a great experience on the ice.

Outfitters want to keep all the visitors to the area safe and won’t allow anyone on the ice until it’s safe. The MN DNR has a great page showing guidelines for safe ice travel and it needs to be adhered to by all.

Lake of the Woods features three distinctive areas. The Northwest Angle is an extremely beautiful area featuring the northernmost point marked with a buoy. This area builds roads across the lake to the other beautiful islands of Oak and Flag. Both islands run full-time resorts winter and summer. What a great way to experience this winter wonderland. The Northwest Angle, where our 14,552 islands begin, is the is the home of excellent ice fishing. The diversity of fish is unbelievable in this area of the lake.

The Rainy River features resorts that travel their ice houses up the road and then onto the lake when the ice will hold them. Check out what each resort has to offer by going to www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging. Yes, the Lake of the Woods website is brand new and full of great information with even a virtual vacation guide to view there.

South Shore Resorts often forge their own roads and it’s amazing what seems to be four-lane highways on the lake. Then, of course, streets are mapped out so that anglers know right where to travel. It’s not too early to book your ice fishing (hard water) trip. Planning your next ice fishing trip should be a breeze. Picture waking up in the morning, getting some grub, then hoping into a heated snow bomber which brings you to your fish house which is already heated. Then proceed to catch fish all day long. It doesn’t get any better than that. Book now!

When clicking on the Lodging Tab, please notice that there is a white icon there that says “ice fishing”. By clicking that icon, you go directly to resorts that feature their ice fishing opportunities. Visit our Lodging Availability Request on that page and fill out the form and get your reservation made early. By the time Christmas rolls around, people of often hard pressed to be able to get a reservation.

Search out our Hot Deals Page on the Lake of the Woods website. Here you can check current or future promotions for our resorts and lodges. We update the hot deals page often and will post new deals as they show up. There are deals for everyone. Deals for lodging only or for a fishing and lodging package, will be featured for you to explore.

It’s time!! Winter is beautiful and Exciting especially when you come to Lake of the Woods ice fishing.

Check out our website at: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging or click on the ice fishing tab for all your ice fishing information.

See our Face Book page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn

John Bergsma with Fisherman’s Digest is at it again.  Put in their own words…  Experience some of the best walleye fishing in the world on Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, as John and the team head to Adrian’s Resort for an epic fall fishing trip! Watch as we land trophy walleyes and saugers, share expert fishing tips, and take in the stunning surroundings.  Fishing out of Adrian’s Resort on this adventure on a charter boat, they did exactly that.

Charter boat fishing for many is just what the doctor ordered.  Simply step aboard and most everything is provided.  The charter captain will even clean your fish at the end of the day.

Fall is an incredible time to catch walleyes jigging over the side of the boat while anchored up.  It is some of the most enjoyable fishing around.  Enjoy!

To learn more about fishing Lake of the Woods or perhaps stepping aboard of one of our many resort charter boats, check out our website at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com

General info about the Lake of the Woods Area

Lodging and Fishing 

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

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. 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.

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. 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 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.

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

See our Face Book page at: www.facebook.com/lakeofthewoodsmn