Fire up your smart phones for the opener Lake of the Woods Anglers, as there is a statewide virtual walleye tournament for the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener.  Using the popular fishing tournament app, FishDonkey, organizers from Ottertail County, the site of the 2021 MN Governor’s Fishing Opener event, will run the tournament.

The Governor’s Fishing Opener is in Otter Tail County this year after getting postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic.  Nobody is worrying about that, they are moving forward with some exciting plans.

Governor’s Fishing Opener Planning Committee Chair for Otter Tail County Erik Osberg says the #OnlyInMN Cup was something the group wanted to start last year.  “One of our desires with hosting the governor’s fishing opener is we wanted to try to create ways for the public to feel like they were participating in it too.”

For many years, the Governor’s Opener has been a media driven event to highlight tourism in Minnesota.  When fishing begins on May 15th, all anglers will have a chance at winning the #OnlyInMN Cup, along with prizes for catching the biggest walleye.

The competition is walleye-only and catch-and-release. Anyone fishing on Minnesota waters can take part.

The FishDonkey app is an easy to use app in which you take a picture of the fish, in this case walleye, on a commercial measuring ruler or bump board.  You also take a second image of the fish while holding it as a “hero” shot, so judges can see the side of the fish eliminating duplicate entries.  This virtual walleye tournament is based on the length of the fish.

Osberg says he hopes this becomes a yearly tradition.  “Our intent was to start this tradition. So then, as the Governor’s Fishing Opener moved around from community to community, there’d be a traveling trophy, like the Stanley Cup.”

There’s an adult competition and a kids competition in this virtual walleye tournament:

Adult competition:

First place: $1,000 gift card to Fleet Farm
Second place: $500 gift card to Fleet Farm
Third place: $500 gift card to anywhere in Otter Tail County
Fourth place: Fishing rod and hat from Gene’s Sport Shop in Perham
Fifth and sixth place: Life jackets from Onyx

Youth competition: 15 and Under

First place: $400 gift card to Blackfish
Second and third place: Life jackets, a fishing rod, and a shirt from Ben’s Bait Shop in Battle Lake

Lake of the Woods anglers, some of the largest walleyes in the state will be caught on The Walleye Capital of the World.  Let’s recognize Ottertail County for their efforts in putting on what we know will be a great Governor’s Opener.  Let’s also thank them for putting on this statewide contest by bringing home the gold in this virtual walleye tournament!  We wish our friends in Ottertail County the best for the event and certainly wish everyone a wonderful fishing opener on May 15th.

About the Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener

The Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. It was designed to improve Minnesota’s economy through the development and promotion of the state’s recreational opportunities, especially fishing. The first opener was a cooperative promotion between the state’s resort industry, media, and public officials. Today, the emphasis is even broader. It celebrates the kickoff of the summer tourism season. The special partnership continues today with a promotional focus on a host community as well as recreational opportunities statewide.

 

Download the FishDonkey App on your SmartPhone to fish the virtual walleye tournament

Explore Lake of the Woods MN

Find Lodging around Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and the NW Angle

Lake of the Woods resorts and hotels are open, prepared and looking forward to welcoming anglers for the 2021 MN Fishing Opener.

There are a few observations pointing to an epic MN Fishing Opener on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River on Saturday, May 15th.  First off, there were a lot of walleyes and a lot of big walleyes in the Rainy River this spring.  Second, with an earlier ice out and warmer temps, water temps should be warmer than normal.  Third, the walleyes will be post spawn and that means they should be hungry.

Some anglers will focus on the Rainy River.  Typically, there are still walleyes in the river.  We also know there are walleyes from sturgeon anglers who are catching them unintentionally.  The go to presentation will be jigging with a frozen shiner.  Some anglers will break the mold and slowly troll crankbaits.  Both methods should bring good numbers of walleyes into the boat.

Others will target the main basin.  Big schools of walleyes will be staged at various spots off of the south shore.  Some anglers will catch them shallow along Pine Island.  Others will be in front of Morris Point, Zippel Bay, Long Point and Rocky Point.  Wherever you like to fish out of, the fish should be there and have not seen a lure in some time.

Don’t be afraid to slide up into shallow water as many years, that can be the ticket.  Also don’t be afraid to slowly troll crankbaits.  This is a great way to find fish and on some days, despite the cold water, actually out fishes the anglers using jigs.

As far as presentations for the 2021 MN fishing opener, most will be using a jig and a minnow or frozen emerald shiner.  Some go to colors are gold, glow, pink, orange and chartreuse, or a combination of them.  When hooking your minnow, if you are missing fish, try putting the hook of your jig through the mouth and out the gill of the minnow.  Then slide the minnow all the way up to the jig head and place the point of the hook half way back on the minnow.  With the stained waters of the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods, walleyes don’t seem to mind.  Some make it simple and use a stinger hook.

The NW Angle is also poised for a great opener.  Ice fishing up there this year was excellent.  The fish are there and for those who want to get an early start by fishing the northernmost point of the contiguous U.S., it will be good fishing.  Target shoreline structure such as points, neck down areas between islands and transition areas along shore.  There are good numbers of fish, an angler simply has to hit a few spots to see what the pattern is.

With the border still being closed, anglers have a number of options to get up to the Angle.

1.  Boat across the lake.  This requires a big boat, a good weather day and an experienced boat driver.  This is big water and not worth taking any risks.
2. Lake of the Woods Passenger Service.  This is a shuttle service using charter boats across Lake of the Woods.  These charters are big and operated by a licensed charter captain.  They will drop you at any NW Angle resort you would like.  They leave the south end from Sportsman’s Lodge located on the Rainy River north of Baudette, MN.
3. Lake Country Air.  Flying service both from the south end of LOW and other destinations in MN are available this year.  The flight across the lake is about 10 minutes!

For some, the MN Fishing Opener is tradition.  For some, it’s a holiday.  Whatever it means to you, the “opener” is a celebration of fishing for everyone who appreciates fishing in MN.  The season on Lake of the Woods is an extended season, so we only had to be not fishing walleyes since April 14th.

For some anglers, pike will enter the conversation.  Up at Lake of the Woods, the pike season is open all year long and the limits stay the same.  You can keep three pike per day, must release everything between 30 – 40 inches and may keep one fish over 40″.  The possession limit is three, the same as the daily limit.

Lake of the Woods is managed as a trophy pike fishery by the MN DNR.  This was quite evident many big pike over 40 inches have already been boated this spring.  A 40″ pike is considered a trophy in most circles. 

Sturgeon are going strong.  The season is on through May 15th.  The season then closes until July 1st.  On July 1, it opens again through September 30 and is the “keep” season meaning you are allowed to harvest one for the calendar year from 45-50″ or over 75″.  Remember to purchase a sturgeon tag prior to going sturgeon fishing if your intent is to keep one.

The 2021 MN Fishing opener is almost upon us.  There is lodging available if you still want to experience an opener tradition on Lake of the Woods.  Good luck to all anglers wherever you might fish.  Take in a deep breath, relax and enjoy, walleye season is almost upon us!

 

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The 24th Annual Zippel Bay Resort Ice Out Pike Tournament will take place May 1-2, 2021.  The ice is gone and there have already been reports of big pike in the bay.  This year is setting up to have a lot of action.

Pike season on Lake of the Woods never ends.  As we are border water with Canada, our pike season is continuous or another way of saying it is it goes all year long.  This gives anglers a fantastic opportunity in April and early May to take advantage of monster pike who are somewhere along in their spawning ritual.  And in Lake of the Woods, there are a lot of big pike!

Pike anglers pull nice pike out of various bays on the lake all spring and Zippel Bay is definitely a go to spot.  Sometimes mother nature can throw some cold curve balls in the spring month but that’s what makes this stretch of water so special.  Zippel Bay is quite secluded from the main lake, making it easier to hide from cold winds, and anglers will not require the larger boats like on the main lake.  The tournament still has spots available and all are welcome.

Some anglers have had success with dead bait on the bottom or just off of the bottom with a quick strike rig.  There will be others in the tournament who prefer trolling shallow diving crankbaits or casting spoons.  Whatever your flavor, the pike will be ready.

Zippel Bay has a lot of spots to fish pike but no big water, meaning, most small boats will do just fine in the bay.  That opens things up and levels the playing field for those pike tournament anglers with 14 – 16′ boats.

If Zippel Bay Resort is filled up as far as the lodging goes for the pike tournament, but there are many resorts available in the vicinity less than 10 miles away.  Click Here for a list of Lake of the Woods Resorts.

MN DNR info from a 2013 fisheries lake survey verifies the presence of a healthy trophy pike fishery.   Lake of the Woods is managed for a high-quality northern pike population, with a significant component of “trophy” northern pike over 40 inches long. To monitor the size structure of the northern pike population, it is sampled every 5 years using trap nets at known spawning sites. The northern pike population continues to be one of high quality, with 19% of the adult population at least 35 inches long, and 5% of the adults 40 inches long, or longer.

During the spawning season, pike head to shallow bays, ditches and streams to find the right conditions to lay and fertilize eggs.  There are many areas around the lake and on the Rainy River pike spawn, and one of them is Zippel Bay.

Zippel Bay Resort has their annual pike tournament right around the last weekend of April.  This year’s tournament will take place May 1-2.  The tourney is made up of two person teams and is a two day tournament based on weight.

This is a fun pike tournament with locals and visitors alike coming together to target big toothy.  Most teams troll and cast crankbaits.  Others use dead bait under a bobber in 1 – 8 feet of water.  Most years, dozens and sometimes hundreds of pike are weighed in and many more caught in the slot (30-40 inches) that were not weighed in but immediately released.

The northern pike regs on Lake of the Woods are as follows:

Lake Of The Woods and Rainy River to dam at international Falls
Northern Pike	Continuous	3, all northern pike from 30-40″ must be immediately released. Only 1 northern pike over 40″

Anglers are already getting their boats ready for this year’s pike tournament.  If you want to have a blast, check out the pike tournament at Zippel Bay Resort or just go fish pike on your own.  You truly have an opportunity to catch a pike of a lifetime.

 

Click Here to view the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click Here to view lodging on and around Lake of the Woods  and the Rainy River.

Okay Lake of the Woods anglers, you have something to shoot for this year.  Do you have everything ready in the even you land a MN catch and release state record fish?  We know they are swimming in our waters as they have been caught in many cases and not recorded.  This year, make sure you are ready and understand what is needed to register a catch and release state record fish.

Sturgeon, northern pike and muskies which all live in the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods, have the possibility of the MN DNR catch and release record program.  This program gives anglers who catch a true monster fish the opportunity to get recognized without keeping the fish.

An angler fishing on the Rainy River caught the catch and release state northern pike record which held for many years but has since been beat.  Matthew Swanson of Woodbury, at one time, claimed the record with a 45 1/4 inch northern pike caught on the Rainy River.  There are two pike tied for the state catch and release record currently at 46.25 inches.

Swanson was on an annual Rainy River pike fishing trip with his dad and brother. Swanson reported that after three days of fishing, he had not landed any large pike, but his dad and brother had caught several over 30 inches. His father fishes spring pike with streamer flies on 30-pound test wire line. Using his dad’s setup, Swanson took a few casts and the water around his fly exploded – he had hooked a big pike.

After a brief fight and some careful netting, Swanson had caught the 45 1/4 inch northern pike.  They handled the large pike carefully to get a couple pictures and a length measurement before releasing the fish.

“Because this was to date my first and only pike on a fly, it was a very memorable experience,” Swanson said.

Cool spring and fall temperatures make for excellent catch-and-release conditions.

Pike season on Lake of the Woods is open all year long.  Ice fishing for huge pike will soon be happening with big results.  As the ice starts to move out, bays come into play.  Back bays of the Rainy River, 4 Mile Bay, Bostic Creek, Zippel Bay and shoreline areas with ditches along Muskeg Bay near the Rocky Point areas can be big pike magnets.

The past sturgeon  catch and release record was from the Rainy River.  The specs on these record fish are 73″ long x 30 inches around.  Jack Burke was the record holding angler.

That catch and release record sturgeon has been beat by an angler fishing on the St. Croix River with a sturgeon measuring 78″ x 29.5″.

Before you head out on the water, take a peek at what you need to do to register a potential record fish.  One thing is for sure, have a measuring tape, a camera and another person to take pics and verify your catch.

 

Length and Girth Measurements of the fish:

a. The length of the fish must be measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail with the tail squeezed (not using the contours of the fish).
b. The girth of the fish must be measured around the thickest portion of the body, desirable, but not mandatory.

It is good to know what measurements and images are needed to properly register your potential state record fish.  You are going to need a witness, measuring tape and camera.  After that, a simply entry form filled out and signed and you are on your way.

If you are looking for the official MN DNR form to register a catch and release fish, click here.  To view the current catch and release records for MN, click here. 

Catch and release state records are also kept for muskies and flathead catfish.  Lake of the Woods has a legitimate shot at breaking these records, but only if you are prepared!

 

 

Click Here to view a list of Lake of the Woods lodging.

Click Here to view Lake of the Woods Tourism

It didn’t take long for the ice to go out.  Once things started happening on the Rainy River, they happened fast. 

After the Birchdale access was cleared of ice, within days, Frontier and Vidas were cleared.  Now, the entire river is open and the access at Timber Mill Park in Baudette is clear as is the Wheeler’s Point access at the mouth of the river.  It is nice to have five ramps open as it takes the pressure off of just one landing and it also allows anglers to dock at closer the the area of the river they prefer to fish.

Fishing has started out on fire.  The water had good clarity and walleyes are present in good numbers.  Then some cold weather rolled in changing water temps in the river from 40 degrees down to around 34 degrees.  On top of that, spring river anglers know to watch for the Big Fork and Little Fork Rivers to bust loose and send debris and dirty water into the Rainy River.

This year, anglers didn’t know how much it would affect the Rainy as water levels are very low.  Well, it did affect the Rainy but after a number of days now, the water is clearing up.  In addition, the warmer weather is warming water temps to around 40 degrees or higher which is optimal for walleye fishing.  Reports in the past day have been excellent.  The thought is the last week of the season could be most epic.

The go to presentation has been a 3/8 – 1/2 ounce jig (gold, orange or pink) along with your favorite minnow or plastic.  Some anglers have been anchoring up on key river spots such as holes, current seams or humps and letting the walleyes swim to them.  Others have been using their electric trolling motor to slowly work their way upstream and then do a controlled drift with the help of their motor back downstream.

Each day is different, some walleyes want the presentation vertical whereas some days they prefer it horizontal.

Some anglers actually do very well pulling crankbaits this time of year.  If you are trolling in shallower water, often times pulling into the current allows you to get action on your crank while moving slower which is typically most conducive to cold water walleyes.  Others will use a three way rig or bottom bouncer and a shallow diving crankbait to fish various depths of the river.

One of the great things about spring fishing on the river is anglers can use a 12′ boat or a 30′ boat.  The river is small enough water that even on a windy day, waves don’t whip up too bad.

The walleye season from Four Mile Bay (located at the mouth of the Rainy River) and up the Rainy River on the MN side lasts through April 14th.  From March 1 – April 14, this is a catch and release season only for walleyes and saugers.  Have your camera ready as many anglers come for the chance for a giant.

It is hard to mention the Rainy River without mentioning sturgeon.  Dinosaurs are certainly being caught, some by anglers targeting them and others by unsuspecting walleye anglers.  Our website has some good information about sturgeon fishing if you are new to it.  There are a lot of sturgeon in the Rainy River and to feel the power this fish with prehistoric history is special.

Lodging can be found just east of Baudette on the river (Royal Dutchman) into Baudette, north of Baudette along the river and on the south shore of the lake.  There is a wide variety of places to stay depending upon where you want to fish and whether you want a full service resort or prefer a hotel room.

The season is finishing up very strong, don’t miss out!

Click here to return to the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

Click here to view Lake of the Woods lodging options.

It is no secret there have been some big walleyes living in the Rainy River this spring.  Unseasonably warm temperatures combined with less ice this year has created open water up and down the Rainy River.  Boat ramps are opened up and anglers are reporting good fishing.  If you think you have the walleyes “dialed in” on the river, perhaps this Emo Walleye Classic virtual fishing contest is for you.

Organizers in Emo, Ontario have created a virtual walleye tournament on the Rainy River.  Normally, this tournament would be towards the end of May and would be a traditional tournament with teams taking off from Emo, fishing the Canadian side of the Rainy River only, traditional weigh-ins with live fish and even a top 10 boat parade.  These are not normal times.

As last year’s tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic, organizers wanted to do something to keep the tradition alive even during these not so normal times.  It sounds like they have done it, with some tweaks of course.

-The tournament is a two day tournament, taking place Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11 from 8am – 4pm Central.

-This year’s tournament is a virtual tournament.  The tournament will rely on technology in the form of the well known fishing tournament smart phone app, Fish Donkey. 

-Being this tournament is virtual, anglers from both sides of the border can take part.

-Anglers can be on the water and at their spot before the start of each day which is 8am.

-Anglers will have to submit a video at 8am showing their livewell and different parts of their boat, which ultimately takes the place of a boat inspection for a normal in person tournament.

-Anglers will take a picture holding the fish with the left side of the fish showing.

-The second image will be their fish on a measuring board with the fishes mouth closed and touching the “bump” on the bump board which is the measuring board.  The tail can be swung back and forth with the picture taken showing the maximum length of the fish.

-Finally, a video should be taken showing the fish being removed from the measuring device or “bump board” and successfully released back into the water.

For official rules, check out the rules in the Fish Donkey App.  The app is free to download and an angler can read up on the rules and other details of the tournament before entering.  When in the Fish Donkey App, search for Emo Walleye Classic Can & American.  All information as well as how to register and pay for the tournament will also be there.

This tournament is organized and run by the non-profit called the Emo Walleye Classic Committee.

The purpose of this tournament is normally to get like minded folks coming together for a fun event as well as stimulating the local business community of Emo, Ontario with anglers in town, etc.

Proceeds from this tournament are put into the winnings for successful anglers.  This year’s top prize is $10,000 CDN.

Virtual tournaments are becoming more and more popular.  In this case, the virtual aspect overcomes many hurdles.  With a closed border, it allows both Canadian and U.S. anglers to enter.  It prevents groups of people which during the pandemic is a good thing.  Teams of two will be in their own boats out amongst nature.

Thinking outside the box and conducting a virtual tournament allows a local fishing tournament heading into it’s 20th year to continue the tradition for all of the right reasons.  We wish our friends across the river in Emo all of the best with the tournament.  If you decide to fish the tournament, have fun, good luck and make some memories!

 

Learn more about the Rainy River

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Area lodging info

With their backs against the wall and facing another season with little to no revenue, NW Angle businesses came together with a common purpose.  Technically, they are competitors to one another.  So much more, however, they needed each other for their businesses to survive.  The main route for guests to travel to the NW Angle is 40 miles through Canada.  With the U.S. / Canada border closed due to the pandemic, resorts were cut off from their customers.  The only other way to reach the Angle was to stay in U.S. territory and come across the lake.  It seemed far fetched to many, but left with few options, the group organized, invested and planned an ice road.

The NW Angle Guest Ice Road was a success and it stood for many things.  The entrepreneurial spirit of a small business owner.  The creativity of a solution when faced with a difficult, seemingly insurmountable challenge.  Teamwork amongst competing resorts.  But perhaps the one thing it stood for the most was hope.

Bret Amundson, host of Prairie Sportsman TV had the opportunity to travel the NW Angle Guest Ice Road up to the NW Angle and discuss what the road meant to people.  Perspectives of resort owners, cabin owners, customers and even one of the people who plowed the ice road all winter.  This piece is as much about the human spirit as it is the ice road.  Enjoy.

 

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Learn more about the NW Angle

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Lodging around Lake of the Woods

It is tough to predict each year how long the spring fishing season will be and when there will be open water on the Rainy River.  After all, only Mother Nature really knows when the river will open up.  Anglers who enjoy the spring tradition of fishing the Rainy River received good news this week as there are currently four boat ramps open!  Nelson Park at Birchdale opened first, followed by Frontier, the Vidas landing and Timbermill Park in Baudette.  The next on the list to open is Wheeler’s Point at the mouth of the Rainy River and that could happen any day!

The spring walleye season on the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay runs from March 1st through April 14th.  This is a catch and release season only.

As every year, it started with some brave (some would say crazy) anglers pushing their boats over shoreline ice only to find the open flowing waters of the Rainy River.  We don’t recommend or encourage this, but it does happen.

Not too much longer after the first few boats were spotted on the river, the first boat ramp was open to boats on trailers.  Nelson Park in Birchdale opened up this past week followed by Frontier then Vidas.  Since then, anglers have been out targeting big walleyes in the Rainy River.

With three boat ramps open, as you can imagine, anglers are taking advantage of the open water on the Rainy River.  Initial reports by walleye anglers are good.  The discussion is it will only get better as waters warm.

Most anglers this time of year are jigging.  Traditionally, a jig and minnow is the go to method.  Live minnows such as a fat head, chub or small sucker minnow is the choice of some.  Others swear by using frozen emerald shiners, which is a staple food source of walleyes on Lake of the Woods and in the Rainy River.

Some anglers break out their plastics this time of year.  A jig tipped with a plastic can be just what the walleyes ordered.  With the wide variety of plastics on the market, anglers can play around with size, shape, texture, scent and color.  There is nothing like the feeling of seeing a big walleye emerge from the depths with a jig and colorful plastic in it’s mouth.

Another overlooked technique that puts a lot of big walleyes in the boat is trolling crankbaits.  Yes, the water is cold.  However, slowly pulling a shad rap or your favorite crank against the current can be the ticket.  By pulling against the current, you can go slower which can be important in this ice cold water.  With water flowing against your crank, you still get great action without the speed.

Big walleyes are being boated.  Images across social media show why anglers come to the Rainy River this time of year.  The chance to catch dozens of nice walleyes.  The chance at a fish of a lifetime.  The opportunity to still be fishing walleyes.  The opportunity to fish open water which for many is the first time in 2021.  There are many reasons anglers flock to the Rainy River this time of year.

Another reason anglers come up to the Rainy River in the spring is sturgeon.  There is a growing group of anglers who actually leave the walleye anglers alone and focus on the dinosaurs.  Lake sturgeon have made a wonderful comeback on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River.  With no more commercial netting on Lake of the Woods and the insertion of the clean water act which cleaned up the Rainy River, the sturgeon’s main spawning grounds, the population of sturgeon and the size of sturgeon have exploded.

Sturgeon fishing is very relaxing.  Typically, anglers will find a deep hole in the river and anchor up.  Using heavier tackle, the go to bait is a sturgeon rig combined with nightcrawlers and in some cases, even frozen shiners on a big circle hook.  This rig is fished on the bottom as sturgeon typically are bottom feeders.  When you hook into one, you will know it!

Spring sturgeon fishing has been excellent with big numbers of sturgeon being caught. Sturgeon catch and release season through 4/23/21. Keep season 4/24/21 – 5/7/21, (45-50″, or over 75″) Catch and release 5/8/21 – 5/15/21.  The sturgeon closes 5/16/21 – 6/30/21.

A lot of big sturgeon have already been caught this spring on the Rainy River this past week.  Some caught by sturgeon anglers, others by unsuspecting walleye anglers using live bait.  

Spring is a wonderful time of the year.  It’s also a wonderful opportunity to fish on the Rainy River.  With various boat ramps and a good stretch of the Rainy River opened up, traffic at access points gets dispersed which is nice vs having only one access open.  The upcoming week’s weather forecast is beautiful and some anglers will take advantage of this short but very special season.  Now is the time!

 

Info about the Rainy River

Info on Sturgeon Fishing

Lake of the Woods Lodging and Fishing Guides

General info about Lake of the Woods

Some people believe there are no coincidences, but rather, things are meant to be.  Regardless of your beliefs, this particular day on a charter boat on the big water of Lake of the Woods turned out to be special.  My intent was to jump on a charter boat with the purpose of getting some good photography of walleye fishing, maybe make a video and certainly, to feel that familiar weight of a nice walleye myself.  It seems good things typically happen on a charter, and let me tell you, this day was no different. 

Lake of the Woods is one of the few lakes you can jump on a 27 – 30 foot charter boat and fish walleyes.  A Coast Guard licensed charter captain takes away all of the worry regarding navigation, lunch, bait, tackle, getting on the fish and even the fish cleaning after the trip.

Most captains have a license that allows them to guide up to 6 customers at a time, which makes this type of boat ideal for the size of the crew.  With a cuddy cabin below, a small restroom if needed and big enough to handle the big water this lake is known for are all nice benefits.

If you don’t have a crew of six on a charter boat, which many don’t, most of the resorts will work with you to combine groups so you only pay your fair share.  Whether you are by yourself or in a small group, jumping on a charter boat is certainly doable.  Fishing with people you don’t know can end up being a nice bonus as I was about to find out.

I was on board with four other people.  One couple, John and Sonja and a father son team of Tom and Brent.   We had never fished together, but we were all excited to hit the water for a great day of fishing The Walleye Capital of the World on a charter boat.

Once to our destination, we anchored up and started jigging with jigs and frozen shiners.  The emerald shiner is a main forage for Lake of the Woods walleyes.  In addition, they provide a nice flash and a lot of scent.  Walleyes love them.  It didn’t take long and we started to catch a combination of walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch, with an occasional pike thrown in for good measure.

Initially, Sonja had the hot stick.  Sonja is a fun person with a good sense of humor and she enjoys good conversation.  I think she would be the first to tell you, between her and her husband John, she is definitely the chattier of the two.

We had some fun with her very unique, yet effective method of jigging.  You need to have an apple in one hand and your fishing rod in the other.  While holding a conversation with the rest of the boat and eating an apple, she would lift her jig way off the bottom, and then drop it erratically back down to the bottom.  This was not pre planned or by design, but on this day, the walleyes wanted it!  She was on fire and taught us all a lesson for the first part of the trip.

John held his own though and throughout the day, caught up nicely, just without the flare of his wife.  He did it old school, without an apple or the conversation or the patent lift and drop technique of his wife.

Enjoying the camaraderie of good people on a charter boat is a gratifying experience.  It really adds to the overall experience of catching walleyes, relaxing on the water, breathing in the fresh northern air, and making the trip mean that much more.

The other two anglers on the boat were the father/son duo of Tom and Brent.  Wanting to spend some quality time together, they thought a fishing vacation would be spot on.  The thought was to spend some quality father/son time together while staying at a nice resort, eating some good food and doing some fishing on the big pond.  And fishing they did.

Side by side reeling in walleyes, listening to the water lap against the side of the charter boat, soaking in the sun, talking about old times while hanging out with a loved one is a nice gig.  It was evident, these guys were enjoying every moment.  Both Tom and Brent are good anglers and caught good numbers of walleyes and saugers.  Although Brent enjoyed the day, he really wanted a bit more.  He had always heard about the trophy walleyes in this lake and wanted to catch a monster.

As the day went on, we all caught good fish and a lot of them, slowly filling the icy cooler for the evening fish fry.  As time slipped away into the afternoon, we were sitting just fine as far as numbers of fish.  Our captain decided to make a move to an area that was holding some larger fish.  We pulled into the spot, he dropped the anchor and we began to fish.  After about 15 minutes, we started hooking up with some nice walleyes.  Although we caught fish up to 25 inches, we never did get that true trophy Brent was hoping for.

Brent would be the first one to tell you, not catching a trophy walleye this day really wasn’t the end of the world.  We had a great day in so many ways.  It was a day of incredible day of fishing, new friendships and great memories to never be forgotten.  Was it that Brent knew something about the rest of the trip we didn’t?  I don’t think so, but trophy walleye luck for Brent was about to change.

My four new friends enjoyed a second day of fishing without me as I had to depart.  And wouldn’t you know it, later the next day I received a message.  He did it!  Brent caught the fish of his dreams, a 31 inch monster walleye with his Dad by his side.  As some might say, this was simply the icing on the cake to a fishing trip for the books.

This day on a charter was special.  I was very touched to have shared the father/son experience of Brent and his Dad fishing together.  I couldn’t believe it when Brent reached out to let me know he caught his monster.  Unbelievable.

I was also touched meeting a couple spending quality time together on the water.  When I am in a booth or giving a seminar at a sports show in the twin cities area, I look forward to seeing John and Sonja as they always make sure they come by and say hello and sometimes even hook up for dinner.

The four have fished together many times since.  Special things can happen on a charter boat on the middle of Lake of the Woods.  They certainly did on this trip

 

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