This is the recipe my dad has been using for 25 years. It’s light and clean-tasting because there’s no sense in masking the naturally delicious flavor of such an awesome delicacy! No tartar sauce needed!
Ingredients
Ingredient Checklist
4 walleye fillets
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 pinch salt (Optional)
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups crushed saltine crackers
vegetable oil for frying
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Add 1 tsp baking soda for crispness
Directions
Instructions Checklist
Step 1
Check the fillets to ensure all bones and skin have been removed. Cut the fillets into manageable pieces, if necessary.
Step 2
Place the beaten eggs a bowl and set aside. Combine the flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in another bowl. Pour the cracker crumbs into a third bowl.
Step 3
Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Step 4
Dip the fillets into the flour mixture, then the eggs, and then the cracker crumbs and set fillets aside on a plate. Test the oil: it will crackle and pop when a cracker crumb is dropped into it. Carefully lower 2 fillets into the hot oil. Cook until browned, about 3 minutes per side, using tongs to turn the fillets. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat with remaining fillets. Serve with fresh lemon wedges.
On the South Shore… The focus along the south shore is now on watching the ice disappear from back bays, big pike moving into ditches and shallow bays to spawn, and, of course, the ice out on Big Traverse Bay. Ice across the big lake is black and deteriorating quickly. Bays are open or partially open, and with every warm day, the ice continues to retreat.
From now until the Minnesota Fishing Opener on May 10th, anglers are targeting northern pike in the bays and sturgeon in the Rainy River.
Ditches are running with spring meltwater, and shallow bays are opening up fast. This is the prime window for finding huge pike staging for the spawn—a rare spring fishing opportunity not available in most parts of Minnesota.
Spring pike can be caught in a variety of ways. Fishing with dead bait under a bobber, casting spoons, or trolling shallow-running crankbaits are all effective techniques. Target shallow bays along the south shore like Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay, and Zippel Bay for a chance at a true trophy.
The pike limit on the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods is three fish per day. All pike between 30 and 40 inches must be released, but anglers can keep one pike over 40 inches. Many anglers opt to take measurements and pictures before releasing their catch, then order a replica mount to preserve the memory.
On the Rainy River… Sturgeon fishing is in full swing—and the bite has been excellent. Anglers are catching good numbers of these prehistoric giants, and the Rainy River is one of the best places in North America to hook into one.
They are sturgeon throughout the entire river. Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the river has been holding good numbers of nice fish. Otherwise, most anglers are targeting holes up and down the river.
To stay on the bottom in the stronger current, most anglers are using 4 to 6-ounce no-roll sinkers combined with a traditional sturgeon rig. A typical setup includes an 18-inch leader with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook, baited with nightcrawlers or a combination of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners. Local bait shops and resorts are stocked with everything you’ll need for sturgeon success.
73.25 inch sturgeon
Sturgeon season is open through May 15th, with important dates to keep in mind:
Harvest Season (keep one sturgeon per calendar year, 45-50″ or over 75″): April 24 – May 7 and July 1 – September 30.
Catch and Release Season: May 8 – May 15 and October 1 – April 23.
Closed Season: May 16 – June 30.
If you plan to keep a sturgeon during the harvest season, remember you must purchase a $5 sturgeon tag ahead of time. Sturgeon are excellent smoked, and many anglers enjoy their rich flavor.
The Minnesota DNR estimates there are around 100,000 sturgeon over 40 inches long between Morson, Ontario, and the mouth of the Rainy River. The sturgeon population is strong—and getting even stronger.
Up at the Northwest Angle… Progress continues at the Northwest Angle with more open water showing up daily. Other than a few local airboats making mail and supply runs, ice travel is finished for the season.
The focus now is on open water preparations and the May 10th fishing opener. Resorts and guides at the Angle are already gearing up for the spring and summer fishing seasons.
Given the strong ice fishing season and healthy lake conditions, expectations are high for excellent open water fishing again this year.
Now is the time to plan your spring or summer trip! For fishing reports, resort info, and trip ideas, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.
Ollie’s Once in a Lifetime Catch: An Albino Sturgeon on the Rainy River
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Six-year-old Oliver “Ollie” Hackenmueller loves to fish. After a recent trip to the Rainy River with his family, Ollie made a memory he’ll never forget. During the outing, he caught his very first sturgeon—and it wasn’t just any sturgeon. It was a massive 60-inch albino sturgeon, white in color with pink eyes, fins, and barbels (the whiskers near its mouth). His dad, Joe Hackenmueller, said Ollie is now completely hooked on sturgeon fishing.
Catch of a lifetime almost didn't happen for Ollie
The catch almost didn’t happen. “We usually go youngest to oldest when deciding who gets the rod when there’s a bite,” explained Joe. “But this time, we made an exception.”
Ollie’s older brother, Gunnar, who is nine, had won a new sturgeon rod and reel last year at the North American Sturgeon Championship in Birchdale, Minnesota. He won first place in the youth division with a 49 5/8-inch sturgeon. So, when the first bite hit on Gunnar’s new rod, their parents, Joe and Alysa, let him take the fish. That sturgeon ended up being 24 inches long—not a monster by sturgeon standards.
Little did Ollie know that waiting his turn would lead to something unforgettable. “He was pretty upset at first,” Joe said. “But as parents, we were more than redeemed by what happened next.”
When the next bite came, Joe set the hook and handed the rod to Ollie. “I like to have the person with the fish go to the front of the boat,” Joe said. “If I had let go of that rod before handing it off or even during the fight, it may have flown into the river.”
As Ollie fought the fish, they caught their first glimpse. “I knew it was a big one, but I didn’t realize it was white until we got it in the net,” Joe said. “Once we saw it, Ollie and I both cheered. He screamed, ‘Holy moly! Look at that thing!’” They took lots of photos before quickly releasing the rare fish back into the water.
fishing is a family affair
The Hackenmueller family lives in International Falls, Minnesota, right on the Rat Root River. “Ever since that day, Ollie’s been fishing every afternoon after school,” Joe said. “He mostly catches suckers, but once in a while he’ll hook into a pike or a walleye, depending on the season.”
Fishing is a big part of the Hackenmueller family’s life. “We fish for everything. In the spring, it’s usually walleyes and sturgeon on the Rainy River. We’re lucky that all four of us enjoy it,” said Joe.
Since Ollie’s big catch, the story has gotten a lot of attention. “A bunch of people have messaged me after seeing the picture on the Lake of the Woods Tourism Facebook page,” Joe said. “Even people around town have been talking about it.”
Ollie’s 60-inch sturgeon even beats his mom’s personal best of 58 inches. Joe’s largest is 65 inches, but Ollie now holds the family record for the most unique catch.
Ollie was using a standard sturgeon setup with nightcrawlers. “We had a no-roll sinker, a 5/0 octopus hook, and about a 12 to 18-inch leader,” Joe said. “We use medium-heavy rods with 80 to 100-pound test line. We don’t mess around with these big fish.”
Joe has been fishing for sturgeon for 15 years. “A 60-inch fish used to be a big deal,” he said. “Now, it’s the 70-inchers that are considered rare. That day, we only had two bites. But once Ollie’s fish hit, it was mayhem. We’ll be talking about that sturgeon for the rest of our lives.”
Sturgeon... A comeback Story for the ages
Sturgeon in the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods is a comeback story for the ages. Two things happened that spurred the population and size of the fish to both grow.
First, after years of being commercially netted for their valuable roe (sturgeon fish eggs otherwise known as caviar) in the early 1900’s, netting was stopped.
Second, when there were “teeth” added to the Clean Water Act, the Rainy River has cleaned up greatly. This has enabled more successful spawning of these prehistoric fish.
The MN DNR estimates from Morson, ON down through the NW Angle, Big Traverse Bay into the Rainy River, there are nearly 100,000 sturgeon over 40 inches long. Some believe this is a very conservative estimate.
Anglers are allowed to fish for sturgeon through May 15th and then again on July 1st. The season is closed May 16 – June 30.
Here’s another trout recipe in case you hook one while fishing in the waters of Lake of the Woods.
Ingredients
4 lake trout fillets (about 8 ounces each)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bacon-flavored crackers, crushed
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Photo by Taste of Home
Pinch pepper
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canola oil
Lemon wedges and/or minced chives or parsley, optional
Directions
Rinse fish in cold water; pat dry. In a shallow bowl, combine the cheese, cracker crumbs, cornmeal, garlic salt and pepper. In another bowl, beat eggs and milk. Dip fish in the egg mixture, then gently roll in the crumb mixture.
In a large skillet, fry fish in oil for 3-4 minutes on each side or until it flakes easily with a fork. Garnish with lemon, chives and/or parsley if desired.
Lake of the Woods in Minnesota bursts into color each summer as wildflowers bloom across the forests, ditches, and meadows. From early June through mid-July, the area becomes a haven for flower lovers, nature photographers, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
Wonderful Wildflowers are known to make their appearance at Lake of the Woods. The woods and the ditches come alive with vibrant colors and start dotting the landscape with their beautiful adornment. Various Gardening Clubs start using their expertise in beautifying the land and also want to educate others to the natural beauty that is provided by Mother Nature.
The plants of the wild flourish alone and unattended. The humus of the forest floor provides nutrition; the rains offer need water. They form buds, bloom, develop seeds, in their own way and in their own time. More than two million orchids blanket the Lake of the Woods area. The showy lady’s-slipper is one of 43 orchid species that grow in Minnesota. Many people consider it the most beautiful flower in the state.
🌸 The Star of the Show: Showy Lady’s Slipper
Minnesota’s state flower, the Showy Lady’s Slipper, is a rare and beautiful orchid. It has white petals with a pink “slipper” pouch and grows in wet, sunny areas like bogs and ditches. These flowers can live up to 100 years and take about 15 years to bloom. Because they are protected by law, it is illegal to pick or dig them up—but you can take as many photos as you like!
In 1990, the governor of Minnesota declared 81 miles of Highway 11 a Minnesota Wildflower Route, in honor of the hundreds of thousands of Showy Lady’s-Slippers growing within sight of the road. The state put up signs depicting the Showy Lady’s-Slipper to mark the route, and pledged to expand the highway only to the south, protecting the masses of Showy Lady’s-Slippers on the north side of the road. The local people and wildflower enthusiasts gather in June for the annual “Wildflower Route Celebration”.
The best place to see them is along the 81-mile Wildflower Route on Highway 11, especially near Williams, Minnesota. Each June, the town hosts the Wildflower Tour, starting at Lady Slipper Park. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided 4-mile walk, with over 100 types of wildflowers marked along the way. Garden club members are stationed throughout the route to answer questions and provide educational pamphlets. There’s even a scavenger hunt and snacks!
🌼 Other Wildflowers to Look For
While the Showy Lady’s Slipper is the main attraction, many other wildflowers bloom in the area:
Yellow Lady’s Slipper – A bright yellow orchid with
burgundy sepals.
Wild Rose – Pink blooms with a sweet scent.
Yarrow – Clusters of small white flowers.
Bracken Fern – Large, feathery green fronds.
Blue Flag Iris – Purple-blue flowers found in wetlands.
Marsh Marigold – Bright yellow flowers in wet areas.
Columbine – Red and yellow bell-shaped flowers.
Fireweed – Tall spikes of pink flowers that bloom after fires.
Pasqueflower – Lavender petals that bloom early in spring.
Western Prairie Fringed Orchid – A rare white orchid found in wet prairies. MN DNR
🌿 Plan Your Visit
The Wildflower Tour in Williams is a great way to explore the natural beauty of Lake of the Woods. The tour is self-guided, so you can go at your own pace. Remember to bring your camera, stay on marked paths, and never pick the flowers. For more information, contact Pat at 1-218-783-2091 or email troskey@wiktel.com.
On the South Shore… The focus along the south shore is watching the ice disappear from back bays, big pike sliding into the bays and ditches for the spawn and of course ice out on the main lake (Big Traverse Bay).
From now until the Minnesota Fishing Opener on May 10th, anglers will be targeting northern pike (and sturgeon on the Rainy River).
Ditches are running and shallow bays are starting to pop open. Now is the time when the big pike are moving in, staging for the upcoming spawn. This is a great spring fishing opportunity not available in most parts of the state.
Big Sturgeon
Various techniques for spring pike are effective. A dead bait under a bobber, casting spoons or trolling shallow crankbaits all can be effective. However you fish, shallow bays along the south shore such as Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are a prime spot to hook into a true trophy.
The pike limit on the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods is three fish per day. All pike between 30 and 40 inches must be released, but one pike over 40 inches can be kept. Many anglers choose to take measurements and photos, release their fish, and order a replica mount to remember the catch. All great options!
On the Rainy River… Now that walleye season is closed, sturgeon fishing is in full swing and the bite is very good. Anglers are catching solid numbers of these prehistoric giants. Some of the feeder creeks have opened up, increasing the current. That added flow has lowered visibility of the water a bit, but sturgeon primarily feed by scent, so fishing has not been affected.
Big Lake Sturgeon
Most anglers are using 4 to 6-ounce no roll sinkers with their sturgeon rigs to stay on the bottom in the heavier current. A typical sturgeon rig includes an 18-inch leader, a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook, and baited with nightcrawlers, or crawlers paired with frozen emerald shiners. Local bait shops and resorts are well-stocked with everything you’ll need.
The sturgeon season is open through May 15th. Here are the upcoming dates to keep in mind:
Catch and Release Season: May 8 – May 15, and again October 1 – April 23.
Harvest Season: April 24 – May 7, and July 1 – September 30.
Closed Season: May 16 – June 30.
Up at the Northwest Angle… Progress is being made with more and more open water this week. Other than some local airboats, travel on the ice is pretty much done. The focus is on the upcoming open water season. Resorts and area guides are already preparing.
Based on the ice fishing season, expectations for fishing success naturally are high. Lake of the Woods is healthy.
Now’s the time to plan your spring or summer fishing trip! For fishing reports, resort info, and more, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.
Sportsman’s Lodge Sturgeon Tournament Benefits Take a Kid Fishing
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Fishing Guide and Promoter doing it for the kids
When Brian “Beef” Sathre isn’t teaching, coaching, or firefighting, he is most likely fishing. Beef also knows how to run a sturgeon tournament. A local fishing guide and promoter, Beef has a heart for getting kids involved in fishing. For the past 14 years, he has served as the tournament director and emcee for the Sportsman’s Lodge Annual Sturgeon Tournament. You might ask, “What does a sturgeon tournament have to do with kids?” In the case of this tournament, Sportsman’s Lodge, with the help of Beef, ensures that all proceeds go toward the Lake of the Woods chapter of Take a Kid Fishing.
At Sportsman's Lodge, The Entire Team has a role in this event
Sportsman’s Lodge has been the longtime host of this event. Their entire staff works tirelessly making sure this event goes off, as they say, “without a hitch.” And they do.
It is often said, it is the little things that make the big difference.
“Here at Sportsman’s Lodge we couldn’t be more proud of this event. We open up our facility at no charge. So much planning takes place behind the scenes from the front staff, to food service, to fishing guides and the entire staff working together as team.
The impacts this event makes on the entire Lake of the Woods community and certainly Take a Kid Fishing makes us so proud.” explain Jeff Andersen, General Manager, Sportsman’s lodge.
Beef Has A Long History with Take a Kid Fishing
Beef was actually active in the Take a Kid Fishing organization well before he moved to the Lake of the Woods area. Back in the day, when he was a college student at Bemidji State University, he served on the Take a Kid Fishing board of directors in Bemidji, MN. The seed was already planted.
About 14 years ago, then-owner of Sportsman’s Lodge, Gregg Hennum, asked Beef to emcee the Sportsman’s Lodge sturgeon tournament. Beef not only accepted the challenge—he had some ideas of his own. As time went on, with help from others, he took the lead and decided to build it up to what it is today.
Today, the tournament is as much a reunion for those who fish it year after year as it is a fishing tournament. “It’s one of those deals where you’re competing with everyone in the room, but there is so much more camaraderie than there is competitiveness. Competitors who come year after year become friends. You might not see one another for a year, but when that time comes, it’s like old home week,” explains Beef.
Why Take a Kid Fishing up at Lake of the Woods, don't all of the kids already fish?
“People would be surprised,” explains Beef. “Being a teacher, you hear the stories firsthand—’I wish I had the chance to go fishing.'”
The organization covers a large area, stretching from International Falls to the east and past Roseau to the west.
“It’s pretty cool. When kids reach their last year of eligibility for Take a Kid Fishing, which is based on age, they can write an essay that can actually qualify them for a Minnesota Lifetime Fishing License. This area gives away a few each year.”
About the Tournament
As you may have gathered, this event is about so much more than just the tournament.
That being said, the tournament can host up to 60 boats, with multiple anglers per boat. There is typically a waitlist of 10 to 15 boats.
The MN DNR sets boundaries, and tournament organizers actually place buoys at those boundary points.
One boundary is downstream from Sportsman’s Lodge, just into Four Mile Bay. The upstream boundary is located just a short distance upstream, within sight of the tournament headquarters.
When someone catches a sturgeon, one of three tournament boats will assist in getting length and girth measurements. The sturgeon category is the largest; however, there are also categories for kids, ladies, eelpout, and suckers.
This is an individual tournament, meaning there are no teams. Anglers are technically fishing against the others in their own boat.
Yes, some participants are competitive, but with sturgeon fishing, it’s all about soaking worms—and anyone can win!
Anglers arrive for a rules meeting and giveaways on Thursday evening. They fish the tournament on Friday and Saturday, followed by a prime rib dinner and awards banquet on Saturday night.
Take a Kid Fishing
Take a Kid Fishing is a nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing youth to the joy and experience of fishing, especially those who may not otherwise have the opportunity.
“It is so great to see so many come together for the purpose of benefitting the kids,” explains Deb Anderson of Linder’s Hideaway Cabins and volunteer for Take a Kid Fishing. “The Sturgeon Fishing tournament at Sportsman’s Lodge really helps kids involved with Take a Kid Fishing from a large area. We get 9 – 14 year old kids from all over the state and beyond. Some kids are up visiting grandma and grandpa or another relative and it’s great. The event is just wonderful.”
The Lake of the Woods chapter of Take a Kid Fishing focuses on giving kids a day they’ll never forget by pairing them with experienced anglers and volunteers for a guided fishing adventure on Lake of the Woods based out of Sportsman’s Lodge.
This event includes a day of fishing out on the big lake followed by a picnic, prizes, and plenty of smiles. The goal is not only to teach kids how to fish, but also to encourage a love for the outdoors, promote conservation, and create lasting memories with positive mentors.
The Lake of the Woods community has embraced the program, with generous support from local resorts, guides, businesses, and volunteers who come together to make this event possible each year.
Fresh Water Trout are abundant in the northern part of Lake of the Woods, however, very often anglers are surprised when a trout shows up on the south side of the lake also even though they’re fishing for walleye. Then they get another taste treat!
Ingredients
4 bacon strips
2 dressed trout (1 pound each)
4 lemon slices
1 small onion, halved and sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Photo by Taste of Home
CARROTS:
4 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1/8 teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
1 tablespoon butter
Lemon wedges
Directions
Cook bacon until partially cooked but not crisp; drain. Place each trout on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 20×18 in.). Place lemon and onion in the trout cavities; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap trout with bacon. Fold foil around trout and seal tightly.
Place carrots on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 20×18 in.); sprinkle with salt and pepper. Dot with butter. Fold foil around carrots and seal tightly.
Grill carrots, covered, over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add trout packets to grill; cook 20-25 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork and carrots are tender. Serve with lemon wedges.
On the South Shore… For the vast majority of anglers, ice fishing is over for the year, and what a great year it was. You may hear of a few hardcore ice guides still gaining access in places targeting pike, but overall, we will now start watching for open holes appearing in the ice, the Rainy River making its presence known outside the Lighthouse Gap and satellite images from clear days showing progress up until the MN Fishing Opener.
The spring walleye season is complete as of April 14th. As far as the lake goes, the focus now is pike up until the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 10th.
Ditches are running and soon bays will pop open enabling anglers to target huge pike while they head to spawning areas. Pike fishing is year round on Lake of the Woods and can be excellent during the spring in back bays.
Some anglers will use dead bait much like they do on a tip up. Others will cast spoons or troll crankbaits. Pike fishing in the back secluded bays along the south shore of Lake of the Woods offers a unique fishing opportunity you don’t need a big boat for and it can produce trophy sized pike.
The limit of pike on the Minnesota side of Lake of the Woods is a daily limit of 3, with all pike 30 – 40 inches having to be released. An angler is allowed one trophy pike over 40 inches per day. Some anglers choose to get measurements, take some pictures, release the fish and get a graphite mount. All good options.
On the Rainy River… The spring walleye season is in the books! Overall, big numbers of walleyes caught and released on the Rainy River (along with some absolute giants). Thank you to all who traveled up, had patience with some long lines, helped out others and shared in this spring tradition of catching walleyes (and sturgeon).
A sincere thank you to all who help this spring tradition happen behind the scenes. Koochiching County did a great job clearing ice from the boat ramps on the river as soon as possible. Many agencies work together to make this tradition safe, respectful and enjoyable. Again, thank you.
The Wheeler’s Point boat ramp at the mouth of the Rainy River located 12 miles north of Baudette is open. Thank you to a number of resort owners combined with some visitors in boats working together to drill holes, make waves, and coax the last remaining stubborn ice away from the ramp. It is teamwork like this that makes the resort / fishing community in these parts special.
Initial reports for sturgeon are excellent.
Good numbers being caught and released. Anchored up in a hole or on the slope of a hole with a no roll sinker and sturgeon rig is the ticket. A sturgeon rig is about an 18 inch leader with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers and emerald shiners. Local resorts and bait shops have all the equipment you need.
Sturgeon fishing is open through May 15th. Here are the specific seasons for sturgeon fishing…
-Catch and Release Season: May 8th – May 15th and October 1 – April 23rd. -Harvest Season: April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – September 30. -Closed Season: May 16th – June 30th.
Up at the Northwest Angle… With many areas of open water showing up along with some heaves and cracks, travel on the ice up at the Angle is pretty much finished up. You may see a local in an airboat which can traverse over both ice and open water delivering mail to the Oak Island post office or bringing supplies to a resort, but the watch for open water is on.
For now, folks will be fishing pike and sturgeon and paying attention to aerial images of open water and ice out on the lake until the MN Fishing Opener on May 10th. Time to make plans! For more information on spring and summer fishing, visit LakeoftheWoodsMN.com.
Jen Pudenz and Adventuress Magazine Shine Light on Women in the Outdoors on Prairie Sportsman TV
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The world of hunting and fishing has long been filled with stories of adventure, passion, and tradition. For a long time, most of those stories focused on men. But that is changing fast, and one woman helping to lead the way is Jen Pudenz, editor and founder of Adventuress Magazine—the only all-female hunting and fishing magazine in the country.
Jen recently visited the Northwest Angle on Lake of the Woods, Minnesota’s northernmost point, where she joined host Bret Amundson to film a segment for Prairie Sportsman TV. Together, they ice fished for walleyes and saugers, sharing laughs, swapping stories, and showing viewers that the outdoors is for everyone.
Jen Pudenz is a true adventuress. She grew up hunting and fishing with her family and has made it her life’s mission to encourage more women to step into the outdoors. Through Adventuress Magazine, she shares real-life stories from women across the country, showcases expert tips and gear reviews, and helps break down barriers that sometimes keep women from getting involved.
“Women have always been part of the outdoors,” Jen says. “But for too long, we haven’t seen ourselves represented in magazines, on TV, or in the industry. That’s what Adventuress is all about—giving women a voice and a place in this world we all love.”
Her trip to Lake of the Woods was a special one. The NW Angle is known for its world-class ice fishing, incredible scenery, and friendly community. Jen and Bret spent their time fishing in heated fish houses, riding across miles of ice in bombardiers, and chasing the thrill of a bending rod and a heavy fish on the line.
Lake of the Woods is a favorite destination for anglers of all skill levels. During the winter months, fish houses are spread across the ice, with many targeting walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and even the occasional northern pike or eelpout. Jen caught on quickly, jigging with spoons and using deadsticks to tempt the fish below. With help from local guides, she experienced the full adventure—great fishing, good friends, stunning sunsets, delicious NW Angle meals and the peaceful beauty of the frozen North.
More Women Are Getting Outdoors
Jen’s work reflects a growing trend in both the fishing and hunting industries—more women are getting involved. According to the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), 2023 saw over 19.8 million female fishing participants in the U.S.—the highest number ever recorded. Women now make up about 37% of all anglers.
In the world of hunting, the trend is similar. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that the number of female hunters has grown steadily over the past 15 years. Women now make up more than 10% of hunters nationwide, and those numbers continue to rise.
Why the increase? Many women say they enjoy the challenge, the peace of being in nature, and the opportunity to harvest their own food. Social media, online communities, and leaders like Jen are also helping to make the outdoors more welcoming and accessible.
Various women’s programs offer support, education, and community for women new to hunting and fishing. And as more women take on leadership roles in the outdoor industry—whether on magazine covers, in television shows, or guiding trips—more doors are opening.
Making the Outdoors More Inclusive
Jen believes the future is bright for women in the outdoors, but also knows there is still work to be done. “It’s not just about having pink camo or women’s sizes anymore,” she explains. “It’s about respect, knowledge, and equal opportunities. Whether you’re on a bass boat, in a deer stand, or out on a frozen lake, women belong.”
Through Adventuress Magazine, she is creating a space where women can learn, share, and be inspired. Whether it’s a mom introducing her kids to fishing or a teen trying bowhunting for the first time, their stories matter—and Jen is making sure they’re told.
Her time on Lake of the Woods was just another step in a bigger mission. Sharing that experience with a TV audience through Prairie Sportsman helps spread the message even further: the outdoors is for everyone. If you love nature, adventure, and the thrill of the catch, you have a place here—no matter who you are.
To learn more about Jen and Adventuress Magazine, visit www.adventuressmagazine.com.
And to plan your own ice fishing adventure on Lake of the Woods, visit www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com. Whether you’re new to fishing or a seasoned angler, there’s a spot on the ice—and a fish on the line—waiting for you.
