Every year, Lake of the Woods becomes a place of healing, camaraderie, and honor as veterans gather for the annual Pay It Forward Veterans Event. This year, 90 veterans participated in the 11th annual event, and once again, the experience was filled with unforgettable moments and connections that went beyond fishing.  The event was captured in video by Midwest Outdoors TV and aired this past Veterans Day.

Since its inception in 2014, the Pay It Forward Veterans Event has aimed to honor, recognize, and celebrate all who have served. Organized by Lake of the Woods Tourism and Fishing For Life, this event offers two days of fishing on charter boats, meals, lodging at local resorts, and engaging speakers. While many might expect this event to cater solely to those who were injured in combat, Pay It Forward is dedicated to all veterans—whether they served overseas, stayed stateside, or supported the armed forces in any role.

This inclusive approach means that every veteran, regardless of their service experiences, has a chance to connect with others who understand the unique challenges and sacrifices of military life. Veterans often feel that events like these are reserved for those “more in need,” yet the true magic of Pay It Forward lies in how it uplifts all who attend, creating moments of healing, joy, and renewed purpose.

A highlight for many veterans is, of course, fishing on Lake of the Woods. For two days, veterans joined licensed charter captains on the lake, where they enjoyed outstanding fishing. Many veterans caught their limit of walleyes and saugers, with exciting catches of pike, bass, and perch adding to the experience. The thrill of pulling in trophy-sized walleyes over 28 inches added to the adventure, making the fishing a memory they won’t soon forget.

This three-night, two-day event with meals and accommodations is provided at no cost to veterans, thanks to generous donations from Lake of the Woods area resorts, guides, businesses, organizations, and individuals.

If you’d like to learn more about Pay It Forward, apply for the 2025 event, or make a donation to support this incredible cause, please visit the event website at www.PayItForwardLOW.org.  100% of the donations to this event go towards this event.

Media Contact:
Joe Henry
Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Tourism
Joe.Henry@LakeoftheWoodsMN.com
320-260-7727

Pay It Forward is an event under the 501(c)(3) organization, Walleye Master Charity Events | PO Box 42 | Baudette, MN 56623.

Pay It Forward Veterans Event

Info about Lake of the Woods

Lodging and Fishing on Lake of the Woods

WebCams have become very popular these days and that’s very true at Lake of the Woods. There are many ways to stay connected to this area through social media, our website LakeoftheWoodsMN.com, resort fishing reports, etc.  Sometimes we forget about webcams that resorts have put it place for you to see the condition of the lake whether it’s the boat docks, wind conditions or if the water has started to freeze over.  Webcams allow guests who can access the internet to see conditions in real time the conditions, weather, waves, boat activity, and just life up at Lake of the Woods based on where the camera is located.  There are many webcam options on Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and up at the NW Angle.

One newer feature at Lake of the Woods is the wave buoys that have been placed in the water. Of course, this is when the water is not frozen but anglers wishing to travel these waters now can have the availability to check out the wave conditions on the lake. There are three of these buoys placed on the lake. Of course, this is not a video, but none the less is very important information that can be accessed by going to the Lake of the Woods website.

Here’s some of the great web cams around the area:

Arnesen’s Rocky Point Webcam.

On the southwest portion of Big Traverse Bay is Arnesen’s Rocky Point.  This is a great area to watch a variety of boat and ice fishing traffic coming and going from the resort.  Arnesen’s looks out over Muskeg Bay on the southwest corner of Lake of the Woods.

Typically, there will be boat traffic from April into November and then based on Mother Nature, some ice traffic with the snowmobile trail and sometimes bombardiers if the river ice gets thick enough.  Other views include views of the docks and resort area.  The camera is preset to move to different positions.  This is also a fun camera to check out.

Not only is it fun checking out the conditions of the lake, the webcam gives a fun look at the outside activities at a popular sport fishing resort.

The busier times are normally in the morning just before and after sunrise when people are headed out fishing or around supper time when anglers are coming in off of the ice or via boat for a bite to eat in the Rock Harbor Lodge.

Border View Lodge Webcam. 

Overlooking the Rainy River, Border View’s cam is perfect to see charter and boat activity in the open water months.  If you are an early riser, check out how early fishing guides will be down getting boats, tackle, bait, lunches, etc ready to roll for a day of charter fishing on Lake of the Woods.  It is also fun to watch the variety of birds and wildlife on the webcam.

Don’t forget what some call the “boat parade” each morning during the traditional fishing season starting with the MN Fishing Opener in May and extending through October.  There are a number of resorts along the Rainy River and each day, right around 8am, the charter boats will make their way out of the river, through Four Mile Bay and out on to Lake of the Woods.  The goal is to put their customers on schools of walleyes, making memories and making sure there will be a fish fry of fresh walleyes and saugers if so desired.

During ice out and ice in, this is a great vantage point to see what ice conditions are on this stretch of the Rainy River.

Dale’s on Lake of the Woods Webcam. 

Located on the bottom of their website’s homepage is Dale’s on Lake of the Woods web cam.  This webcam gives a great view of the lake just to the east of twin rocks and to the west of Long Point overlooking Big Traverse Bay.

With sleeper fish house rentals, beautiful camping facilities, ice access for customers of theirs and a boat ramp, there is lots to see as this camera overlooks the access on the shores of Lake of the Woods.

Whether it’s ice transportation, boats, checking out the snow falling or the wave action on the main lake, this camera poses a beautiful view.

Morris Point Lakeview Lodge.

Located on the south shore of Big Traverse Bay, which is the big basin of Lake of the Woods, is Morris Point Lakeview Lodge.  This is a great camera to get views of the big water.  Whether it is a beautiful sunny and calm day or Mother Nature whips up something special to make the water churn, this is a fun camera to watch.

Check out ice anglers accessing the ice road in the winter.  During the open water months, watch anglers work the shoreline or perhaps check out the activity during one of their Saturday evening fish frys.

NW Angle Edge Riders Webcam at Young’s Bay Resort.

If you have ever been to the NW Angle, you may have been through the ice access or harbor at Young’s Bay Resort.  It is a hub of activity and where the main ice road heads out to island resorts and in some cases, where local resorts access the lake.

In addition, during the open water season, this is the main harbor to boat out to the resorts, cabins and other attractions throughout the NW Angle islands and even Ontario islands on the western side of Lake of the Woods.

This camera focuses on the boat ramp, harbor, ice access and even picks up some of the northernmost point buoy and Jerry’s Bar and Restaurant.

Hwy 72 webcam south of Baudette, MN in Dawson Township.

A main travel route for travelers coming to Lake of the Woods, highway 72 runs north and south where it meets Hwy 11 just to the east of Baudette.  This camera provides a view of weather conditions and is in an area with beautiful scenery to watch the various colors of the foliage change throughout the year.

Hwy 11 webcam near Roosevelt, MN.

Located in Lake of the Woods County, this webcam gives an idea of weather conditions and provides a good view of highway 11 which runs east and west across the south end of Lake of the Woods and is a main travel route.

This camera also picks up the railroad tracks which are active with trains heading across the south end of Lake of the Woods.

Webcams are also great to view the variety of bird activity throughout the year.  There is a great migration both in the spring and fall that is exceptional, as well as a resident population of birds unique to this northern Minnesota area.

Weather events are also very interesting to viewers.  Being nice and cozy while checking into the various weather events in the area is something of interest to many.  From the beautiful sunrises and sunsets to storms moving through the area, they are all part of life and interesting at the same time.

It is also interesting to see the various perspectives from the Rainy River, big open waters of Big Traverse Bay and the islands area of the NW Angle.

There are many great ways to keep in touch with Lake of the Woods.  Another option you may just want to add to your routine are webcams.  What a fun way to keep in touch in real time with The Walleye Capital of the World.

 

 

Click Here for a list of lodging options around Lake of the Woods.

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

Minnesota is a hunting paradise thanks to millions of acres of public hunting land. But finding a great place to hunt is often as challenging as the actual hunting.

Minnesota hunters are fortunate that the search is not nearly as difficult as it is in many states, where public land is rare. The most commonly hunted public lands in Minnesota are state wildlife management areas (WMAs), state forests, national forests and federal waterfowl production areas (WPAs). Be sure to check the Minnesota DNR website for complete details on seasons and licensing.

Lake of the Woods County, a hunting haven, offers thousands of acres of public hunting lands in addition to the waters of the Rainy River, Big Traverse Bay on the South Shore and the Northwest Angle. Ample hunting opportunities of all kinds exist including field hunting, jump shooting, and hunting over decoys, river, sloughs, big water, islands and more.  Here are some examples of the species you will find in this area.

GROUSE: Lake of the Woods County offers thousands of acres of hunting land with three species of grouse, the ruffed, spruce and sharp tailed. Dirt roads, walking trails and ATV trails cross thousands of acres at Beltrami Island State Forest, Lake of the Woods Forest and Pine Island.

Grouse hunters must wear at least one visible article of clothing above the waist that is blaze orange or pink. This could be a hat, jacket or hunting vest. Remember to stay abreast when walking with other hunters in the woods so you remain visible and behind the line of fire.  Ruffed and Spruce grouse season is now open running until January 1, 2025. The Ruffed & spruce grouse combined limit is 5.

HUNTING HAVEN FOR DEER:  Soon, Lake of the Woods will declare its “National Orange Season”. This is affectionately labeled as everyone wears orange during the season for the beautiful Whitetail deer. With so much public land, deer hunting opportunities abound. Both archery and rifle seasons are permitted in this part of Minnesota. Locals joke that there are probably more deer in Lake of the Woods County than people. Trophy bucks are shot each and every year in the area.

Your deer license and site tag comes as a two-part form. The upper half is the site tag for tagging the deer in the field. The lower half is the deer license and registration slip. Hunters must do the following:

• Detach the site tag from the deer license/registration slip.
• Before moving the deer, the hunter whose name is on the license validates the tag by using a knife or similar sharp object to cut out the notches indicating the month, date and time of day the deer was killed (AM/PM).

Hunting season is unique at Lake of the Woods because avid sportsmen can don blaze orange for whatever hunt they want and then they can get in their boats and hunt for that trophy fish. Big Traverse sees walleye, perch and northern moving towards the bays and the river area when the waters start to dip in temperature.

Shiner Minnows travel up the Rainy River and do their spawning and the walleyes that are hungry all the time, chase them up-river.  The bite is still on and anglers can launch their boats easily up-river at Vidas Landing, Frontier Landing and Birchdale Park.

All are dressed for the cooler temperatures found during hunting season and cooler waters underneath their boats. Catch and Release is practiced during this time of year which protects the great fishery of Lake of the Woods. Fish for that trophy walleye but don’t be surprised if you happen to snag a sturgeon. What a fight they give the anglers, but once again it’s catch and release.

So, get out your orange duds and make sure you have your poles in good condition and come hunting at Lake of the Woods for the time of your life!!!

For more information and lodging opportunities, visit our website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

For lodging see: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

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

 

Are you seeking an employment change?  Maybe you are an adventure seeker?  Work up at Lake of the Woods!  Many resorts, hotels and others are Now Hiring.  Did you know most people regret not taking enough chances in life and simply settling?  Are you someone who has visited Lake of the Woods and thought, “I could live here?”  This is a great time to consider Lake of the Woods.

Lake of the Woods isn’t just a great place to fish, hunt and enjoy the great outdoors, it’s an excellent place to find good employment and do business. Not only is there a steady flow of visitors, there is a thriving local economy that boasts an educated workforce, world-class technology and an abundance of resources for those interested in opening, relocating or expanding a business. This area is a dream getaway.  Lake of the Woods employment opportunities abound.

People visit Lake of the Woods County for the stunning international waters and the breathtaking scenery of Northern Minnesota. Lake of the Woods offers four seasons of world-class fishing, a hunter’s paradise and a vast array of outdoor recreation.  Winter is one of the busiest seasons at Lake of the Woods.  The world class ice fishing, consistent ice conditions, daytime bite, millions of walleyes and saugers, and great resort community cater to anglers from many regions.

Many couples have found success working amongst the resorts as there are a number of important jobs available.  This is hospitality at its finest.  Imagine the possibilities, ice guide, front desk, housekeeping, cook, servers, marketing and business managers, and bartenders.  Lots of opportunities right now across the lake as resorts have openings and are staffing up.

Do you have a favorite resort?  If so, give them a call and inquire directly about openings.  Opportunities await across the lake (and river).

Employment Opportunities!  Have you ever thought about working in an area you love to vacation?  There are a variety of opportunities and many have taken the step to work where they play and area businesses are hiring.  Imagine fishing, hunting and simply living in an area people travel across the country to get to!

Right now, area resorts are looking for valued employees for a variety of positions.  Whether it is an ice guide, working the front desk, cleaning rooms, food service, various hospitality positions, outside maintenance, marketing and the list goes on.

A listing of local resorts can be found on the Lake of the Woods Tourism lodging page.  Resorts are hiring on their resort websites, some on Facebook, and some positions may not be listed at all but there is still a need.

It is sometimes good if you are looking for work, to simply pick up the phone, call and inquire about open positions.  It has been said about 80% of potential open positions are not advertised for.  As a candidate for employment, this is also a good technique that also shows your willingness to work.

Quality healthcare and education.  People stay in Lake of the Woods County because of the community. We take pride in our outstanding healthcare and nationally-recognized education with Lake of the Woods Schools ranking very high in Minnesota schools. There are positive things happening all around, such as the Lake of the Woods International Arena, a great international bridge to Canada, new owners of Lake of the Woods Foods, Caribou Coffee, and a sweet distillery on Main Street.

As the winter months approach, many of the resorts are looking for good people to take advantage of excellent Lake of the Woods employment opportunities. Again, winter fishing on LOW is known to be some of the best in the world. Look no further than Here for many of the employment vacancies!

Right now there are openings and various area employers would love to meet with you. Visit www.gethookedforlife.com for more valuable information and also www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com.  Another good option is to look at the Lake of the Woods Tourism Lodging page.  Many of the resorts and hotels are hiring for a variety of positions, email them or give them a call.

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

 

 

Ladies!—Are you planning your Ice Fishing Trip yet? Don’t just send the guys out on that lifetime adventure of fishing the waters of Lake of the Woods. Plan your trip now for the Ladies adventure through one of 50+ resorts to choose from at this fine destination.

Yes, anglers come in all genders, ages, shapes and sizes to Lake of the Woods. This renown fishery is located at the top of Minnesota at Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods is the largest freshwater lake next to the great lakes showcasing 317,000 acres in Minnesota. It is international as it shares its waters with both the United States and Canada. Lake of the Woods has 65,000 miles of shoreline and 14,552 islands.

Lake of the Woods is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™. These waters are famous for their fishing, hunting, wildlife and recreational opportunities. Open water fishing remains the favorite for most people, however, hard water (ice fishing) has become a main event of the winter season featuring thousands of fish houses and wheelhouses taking up residence on the frozen waters. It’s a sight to behold as you approach the landscape of an actual fishing village.

So…ladies….why not gather your friends and have yourself a great vacation being a lady angler. There are women’s fishing groups that have been formed such as WAM, WI WOMEN’S FISH so it’s no longer a novelty for ladies to enjoy this fine sport. One of our local resorts here hosts a Girls Gone Fishing group each year. The event draws from many localities and be sure to know that the ladies have a great time fishing and also gathering for other activities.

As a matter of fact, many anglers bring their young girls with them as they teach them the skills of fishing for walleye and other species of fish on both open and hard water. Young ladies feel the thrill of catching their first small or trophy fish and it gets imbedded in their memories as one of the greatest experiences ever. Remember, this doesn’t have to be a once in a lifetime experience. Why not make it an annual event or better yet summer and winter season experiences.

Bachelorette parties are becoming more and more popular during the winter season.  Whether ladies are staying in nice sleeper fish houses or ice fishing during the day in a day house and actually staying in a hotel or cabins on shore, there are lots of memories made.

There is not a lack of fun things to do in the area.  In addition to ice fishing, shopping, cute coffee shops and a wide variety of bars and taverns, some with live music.

Don’t forget about the two bars located out on the frozen Lake of the Woods.  The Igloo Bar is out of Zippel Bay Resort and the Angry Walleye is out of Cyrus Resort.

Now ladies…. Ice fishing these days has taken on a new look. Most outfitters are seeing that ladies are taking to the sport more and more so they have equipped their ice “shacks” to accommodate whatever a lady needs.

1. Bathrooms on the Ice.  Most ladies want the availability of a bathroom. Check √! Fish houses now have restrooms available.  Some are built right into the “shack”, others have porta-potties on the ice near your fish house.  The point is, there are some nice options.  Check ahead with your resort or outfitter to see what your options are.
2. Cooking Facilities.  Many women want some cooking facilities. Check √! Most houses have either a full size or apartment size range that runs on propane complete with over and even some cook ware. No need for refrigerators out there but the house usually has ample supply of paper towels and toilet paper.
3. A nice clean environment.  Most ladies want cleanliness…even while fishing. Check √! Our outfitters have been very careful to maintain a clean environment to come into. All houses have been sanitized after each use and any refuse disposed of.  Normally when you arrive to your heated fish house, things have been spruced up for your arrival.
4. Keep me Warm!  Ladies want to know they’ll be warm. Check √! Each shack is heated by propane furnaces and the heat is turned on so the fish house is warm upon your arrival.  You control the thermostat during your stay and whether you are in a sleeper fish house, hotel room or cabin, you can keep the temp as warm as you would like.
5. Safe Ice.  For anyone who hasn’t ice fished much, man or woman, people need to know the ice is safe.  Check √! Our guides are incredible at keeping their guests safe. They stake and groom ice roads and trails from the formation of ice.  Each and every day, they do ice checks prior to visitors traveling out.  Depending upon the resort or outfitter, you either drive out to your fish house on a plowed and marked ice road, or, the resort will transport you to your fish house.  Safety is #1.

Ladies, do you want to rough it out when ice fishing on Lake of the Woods. Most of our resorts also have sleeper fish houses available. They are larger houses and can often sleep up to eight people. Bunk beds are built in and ready for the bedding that you bring with you.

Some ladies would like to return to a lodge and dine there eating their catch of the day. Fish Fry! Spend the day on the ice fishing and then take your catch in for a great meal of fish? Yes, our resorts do a wonderful job as guides bring your catch in, clean them and then deliver them to the kitchen and prepare an incredible meal using your fine catch of the day. Evening entertainment is available often.

There are a nice variety of lodging and fish houses.  Shop our resorts and their amenities at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging and check out all their facilities as well as what kind of ice houses they have.

Are you ready ladies??? Check out availability now at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging-availability-request and call your friends and make your plans. Show the gentlemen that ladies are also experts at the sport of fishing.

Full service ice fishing makes ice fishing possible for the young, old, disabled, and just about everyone.  What a great way to enjoy a Minnesota winter than catching walleyes, saugers, perch, eelpout, pike and a variety of other fish with friends and loved ones.  Many think of ice fishing as sitting outside on a bucket.  Not at Lake of the Woods.  The resorts like to take great care of guests and make their ice fishing adventure easy and enjoyable.  From heated resort to heated fish house with the holes drilled and set up on top of the fish.  This is ice fishing Lake of the Woods style.

Resorts and outfitters across the lake offer full service ice fishing.  In some cases, the resort or outfitter will transport you out to your fish house.  In other cases, when the ice is thick enough, you can drive yourself out on plowed and well maintained ice roads.  There are plenty of options.

Ice fishing in the winter is done in primarily two areas, on Big Traverse Bay and up at the NW Angle in the northern part of Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods.

Big Traverse Bay is the large part of the lake that extends about 30 miles north and south by about 25 miles east and west.  This is big ice!  The small businesses that provide ice fishing services do a great job of tracking down and staying on walleyes and saugers.  In some cases, you may be close to shore, in other cases, you may be miles off of shore.  The goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience with the intent of getting you on good fish of course.

The NW Angle also provides some great ice fishing.  The Angle is the area that if you drive there, you actually have to drive 40 miles through Canada before entering back into MN up at the Angle.  The other option is to take the bombardier service across the lake which keeps you in Minnesota.  This is called the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service.

People often wonder why ice fishing is so popular at Lake of the Woods.  One reason it is full service ice fishing and really takes the work out of it.  In addition, millions of walleyes and saugers doesn’t hurt.  The behind the scenes infrastructure make ice fishing easy for just about anyone regardless of ability.  With this being said, ice fishing is warm, simple and easy.  The thermostat is set at around 70 degrees.  Most only have to be in the cold a few steps into ice transportation and a few steps into the heated fish house.  As the saying goes, there are two things you need to think about when you participate in full service ice fishing, “what should I wear and what should I eat”.  Everything else is taken care of for you.

Families, couples, business groups and long time friends take advantage of these fish houses out on the ice.  In between bobbers going down, good conversation, good food and even good drink is part of the atmosphere in a fish house.  For some it’s the fishing.  For others, it’s the social aspects.  Either way, it is a great way to spend a beautiful winter day.

Sometimes it helps to actually see how it works rather than read about it.  There are many ways resorts transport you out on the ice to their fish houses.  Some even let you drive your own vehicles on their maintained ice roads.  Here is one example just to give you an idea.  The video below gives you a nice idea about Full Service Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods.  If you would like to check out more info, a list of resorts and sleeper fish houses or even check out their websites to check on dates, pricing, etc., check out the Lake of the Woods Tourism Lodging Page. 

 

Click Here to Access Lake of the Woods lodging options.

Click Here to return to the Lake of the Woods Tourism website

It is that time of the year.  Each fall, the Rainy River experiences a right of nature, a tradition of sorts for outdoors minded anglers who don’t mind fall fishing in chilly fall temperatures for the chance at a walleye of a lifetime.  The emerald shiners run up the Rainy River.

We really don’t know why they swim up river but some believe they are in search of food.  Others believe it is to toughen up for the upcoming winter.  While we are not certain on why the emeralds enter the river, we do know why the walleyes enter the river, to eat one of their favorite forage, the emerald shiners.  This natural pattern triggers that itch for many anglers leading to great memories and the Rainy River tradition.

On a recent year’s outing, Greg Jones of Midwest Outdoors and myself had the opportunity to do some fall fishing on the Rainy River.  If you got on the fish, you would catch them.  If you could not find the fish as they are moving around, sometimes pulling cranks is a good strategy to put walleyes in the boat.

We did both and had to be flexible.  Trolling a relatively shallow flat against the current, we caught some nice fish.  We then jigged and caught a few more including a huge 30″ walleye with a big girth and not on purpose, a sturgeon that went over 60 inches.

This given day on the Rainy River really reminded me why anglers love fall fishing and the Rainy River tradition.  Check out this episode of Midwest Outdoors from the Rainy River.

Fishing the Rainy River.  The first thing to say is don’t sit all day in the same spot if you are not catching fish.  Move around and try and find fish.  Try up river, down river, deeper, shallower, different techniques.  Ask around, find out what the trends are.  This will lead to more success.

The thought is as the water cools into the low and mid 40’s and the larger emerald shiners will begin to run as will the larger walleyes. 

Some years, bait dealers have some live shiners for fall fishing, other years, just frozen.  These sleep deprived entrepreneurs work very hard and are often out all night in search of shiners.  Anglers love nothing more than having fresh live shiners to tip their jig with.  Most don’t realize the efforts bait dealers go through to actually catch them this time of year, checking nets and key shiner areas often three or more times throughout the night.

Typically, good numbers of walleyes with some big walleyes show up in the river.  This is what sustains the tradition.  Will the run continue all fall or stop and start up again?  Only Mother Nature knows, but anglers realize, there are normally shiners and walleyes in the river each and every fall.

Into October and then pushing into November, the days will get shorter and the water colder, things will start to shift.  Normally bigger fish will continue showing up for anglers more hard core for fall fishing and big fall walleyes.

Big walleyes during deer hunting.  It is common to hear about huge walleyes being caught during the weeks most are sitting in tree stands looking for venison or horns.  It is definitely a tough choice as the deer hunting season is short.

Most anglers are targeting walleyes jigging.  Typically a 3/8 or 1/2 ounce jig will give you control in the current of the Rainy River.  If water is really rolling, don’t be afraid to go to a 3/4 or even ounce.  It is important to maintain control and feel the jig occasionally bounce off of the bottom.  The walleyes don’t mind a larger jig.

Colors vary but you can’t go too wrong with colors like gold, orange, glow, pink, white, peacock or combinations of such.  Area resorts and bait shops have a good selection of heavier jigs in the good Lake of the Woods colors.  The local tackle company, Tom’s Tackle, has a wide selection of jigs that just work on these waters.

Stinger hooks.  I am a big believer in stinger hooks this time of year.  Hook a stinger up to the hook of your jig.  This 2″ line attached to a small treble hook can be the difference between a so-so day and a great day.  Hook the small treble just in front of the tail of the shiner.  It amazes me how big of fish can be taken on the small treble.

While fall fishing, work holes, current breaks or even flats.  Anchor up in a spot and wait for walleyes to move through or slowly motor up current and down current with a controlled drift.  Change colors of jigs until you find out which color is preferred that day.

One method of fishing on the Rainy River one shouldn’t overlook is trolling crankbaits.  This fall trip from a few years ago was a perfect example.  Although I stuck a big 30″ walleye on a jig and emerald shiner, we actually caught more walleyes trolling that given day.  In our case, on that day, we targeted 9′ of water and caught keepers and a 20″ and 26″ throwback.  We did hear of a couple of big fish taken trolling as well.

Leadcore line or a 3 way rig with a shallow diving crankbait will allow you to troll the deeper holes in addition to the shallow stretches.  When fishing the shallow water, we simply long lined Rapala Shad Raps and Wally Divers.

If you aren’t an avid deer hunter or perhaps get your deer early, you may want to consider a trip to the river.  Dress warm, be safe and make some memories that only can be made late fall.

 

To learn more about Lake of the Woods, check out the Lake of the Woods Tourism website.

To find a guide, charter boat or lodging, check out the Lake of the Woods Tourism lodging page.

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