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.

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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

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

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

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

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

 

General info about the Lake of the Woods Area

Lodging and Fishing 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For lodging: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging

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I guess having a choice is a good thing.  Take ice fishing on Lake of the Woods for example.  There are many choices when planning an ice fishing adventure on The Walleye Capital of the World.  Let’s break things down a bit in an effort to help you make the best decision for you.

WHAT PART OF THE LAKE OR RIVER SHOULD I FISH?

When planning ice fishing on Lake of the Woods, take into consideration there are three parts of Lake of the Woods.

1.Rainy River.  Yes, there will be walleyes in the river when we get ice this year, but we caution anglers about ice fishing the river unless you are with a resort or outfitter, so we are careful to say too much about it.  Locals fish it as do a few resorts / outfitters.  We encourage visitor and locals alike to communicate with resort owners, bait shops, etc. before traveling out.  Safety first, both on the river and lake.

2.  Big Traverse Bay.  This is the main basin of the lake and is targeted by resorts at the mouth of the Rainy River as well as on the south shore of the lake.  This is big ice that extends about 30 miles north / south by 25 miles east / west.  Resorts and outfitters offer a variety of day house and sleeper fish house rentals.  There are ice roads once the ice is thick enough that you can drive to your fish house on your own.  Resorts will transport you out both during the early ice season and when bombardiers and track rigs are being used by resorts and outfitters vs ice roads.

3.  NW Angle.  This is the northernmost point of the contiguous U.S. and is where the 14,552 islands begin.  To travel by land, one must travel through Canada and then back into the U.S. up at the Angle.  This means having the proper credentials to enter Canada, a passport, passport card or birth certificate and government issued ID.

The 40 mile drive through Canada is beautiful and part of the adventure to the Angle.

For those who want to avoid customs in traveling to the Angle, there is the option of taking the snowmobile trail across the lake or utilizing the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service which takes you up to your favorite resort via bombardier during the winter months.

In these scenarios, you are staying in MN the entire trip and do not need credentials to cross the border because you aren’t.

HOTEL, RESORT LODGE ROOM, CABIN, LOG CABIN, VILLA?  

With about 60 lodging facilities up at and around Lake of the Woods, there are options.  There is really something for every taste and every budget.  Check out our list of lodging options around the lake or check out our lodging availability request tool which sends your request to the lodging facilities in the geographic area in which you choose.

Deciding on what type of accommodations often depends upon what kind of group you have.  Some may want lodging a bit nicer and private.  A group of young guys, for example, may not be as particular and are just looking for a clean hotel or cabin to lay their head at night.  The point is, there are many nice options and doing a bit of research on the Lake of the Woods Tourism Lodging Page to what exists can pay dividends.

COOK MY OWN MEALS OR EAT OUT?  

Some groups do both.  Depending upon where you stay, you might have a restaurant and bar right at your resort.  If not, there are surely lots of options in very close proximity.

Lake of the Woods resorts and area restaurants have some incredible food options.  If part of the enjoyment of your trip is eating out and not having to cook, you have some wonderful food options.  Whether you appreciate a hand pressed cheeseburger and fries, a homemade pizza, authentic Italian night or a thick juicy steak with shrimp, there are options.

BRING YOUR OWN FISH HOUSE, RENT A DAY HOUSE OR RENT A SLEEPER FISH HOUSE?  

1. Bring your own fish house.  There are lots of options.  A number of resorts plow ice roads in which you can bring your own equipment after paying a road fee.

2.  Rent a fish house.  When planning ice fishing, some might consider to rent a fish house for the day. Some call these “day houses”, as you use them during daylight hours and come back to shore at night.

The house is all set up in an area where the guides believe the fish will be.  The holes are drilled and the heat on.  There are no worries with snow drifts, slush, cracks, mobility.  The work has been done for you and you spend your time fishing.

In some cases you drive your own vehicle to the door of your fish house and come and go as you please.  In other cases, the resort will transport you to the door of your house with no ice roads around.  In most cases, ice guides check on you throughout the day to make sure everything is going well.  At around sunset, they pick you and your fish up and transport you back to the resort just in time for happy hour.  Some will actually clean your fish as well.

3.  Sleeper Fish Houses.  There are some ice anglers when planning to ice fish really enjoy sleeping and cooking on the ice.  This is almost like ice “glamping”.   It isn’t quite ice camping as the thermostat is set at around 70, there are cooking facilities and some of the sleeper houses are very nice.

A number of resorts and outfitters offer sleeper fish houses for rent.  Usually set up with a couple of bunk beds, people enjoy fishing all day and even have the line in at night.  Not known as a night bite lake, anglers will pull eelpout and an occasional walleye from the depths at night.

Imagine waking up early in the morning in a warm, cozy fish house, having a hot cup of coffee watching your electronics as the bottom starts to come to life.

Others enjoy the spectacle mother nature can put on.  Not only is this icescape beautiful during the day, the night sky is normally lit up with so many stars, brighter than you have ever seen.  Milky ways.  The brilliance of the night sky is awe inspiring partly because of how far north you are and partly because of no light pollution.  The scenery can be spectacular. Ice fishing up at Lake of the Woods is a tradition for many.

Check out a “Bar on the Ice”

That’s not a typo!  There are two options to have a cold one out on the frozen ice of Lake of the Woods.  One option is the Igloo Bar out of Zippel Bay Resort.  This Igloo is actually in two pieces, and is hauled out on the ice when the ice is about 15 inches thick.  It is placed, typically, about 3 miles out on the frozen lake.

The Igloo is 1,000 square feet, has two big screen TV’s, instant cash machine, almost full bar and a limited food menu.  Oh, and one other thing, you can actually fish inside the bar.  That’s right, for a small fee, you can watch tv, have your favorite beverage and ice fish.  Each year, many pike over 40 inches and some nice walleyes are caught inside the bar.

The second ice bar is the Angry Walleye.  Accessed through Cyrus Resort, this bar is a short drive out and offers a beautiful setting with most of your favorite beverages and homemade pizzas available.  Many come from land, while others stop in to check on the bite during the day or when they are driving off at the end of the day.

Whether you are a hard core angler and running around the lake looking for big fish or you are a beginner and maybe have never tried ice fishing before, one thing this area offers is choices for planning ice fishing!

Click Here for planning ice fishing or to Access Lake of the Woods lodging options.

Click Here for the Lodging Availability Finder.

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

Work opportunities are abundant at Lake of the Woods.  People visit Lake of the Woods County and Baudette 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.

Did you know the winter is the busiest season up at Lake of the Woods?  Yes, with the world class ice fishing, consistent ice conditions, daytime bite, millions of walleyes and saugers, and a great resort community who cater to anglers, this area is a dream getaway for many. There is an abundance of lodging facilities available which offer a rustic cabin or four-bedroom villas. Bars and lounges are available at many facilities and also some of the greatest dining there is to be found anywhere.

So…work is always available at the lodges, on the ice as workers, opening the houses for the anglers, bar attendants, wait staff and housekeepers. Of course, there’s always maintenance and snow movers during the winter season and lawn care in the summer. All of this clientele is absolutely necessary for our resorts to run smoothly and offer our guests the best time of their lives.

Therefore, we need you to come to Lake of the Woods and consider it as a work opportunity.  Have you ever thought about working in an area you love to play at?  This variety of opportunity is very possible and many have taken the step to work where they play.  Imagine fishing, hunting and simply living in an area people travel across the country to get to!

The City of Baudette’s webpage, as well as the Lake of the Woods Tourism webpage, has a link to a site called Get Hooked for Life. Here you will find great videos of young people returning to the area to work and raise families and also great work opportunities. Everything from county employees, nurses, doctors, hospital employees, cooks and teachers are always needed.

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.  LakeWood Health features a clinic, hospital and long term care facilities housed all under one roof.  Lake of the Woods School, a K-12 facility, is one of the finest educational systems in the state with very high ratings on education.

Besides ice fishing there are many cross country ski trails, a state park, the school snowshoeing and cross country ski trails, an arena for curling teams to come and compete and the most recent Lake of the Woods International Arena. This arena is one of the finest ice facilities in the state with state of the art “everything”. This is the home to youth hockey teaching many kids to skate and compete and also is the home of the high school hockey team, the “Bears”.

Technology.  Technology infrastructure is key in today’s world.  It also creates a number of business opportunities.  The area has access to high speed broadband opening doors educationally, as well as for business and personal growth.

The Lake of the Woods at Baudette is the county seat. Whether looking to raise a family, grow your company or just looking for a change in scenery, for many, Lake of the Woods offers a better way of life. All licenses, taxes and other information is available right in town.

As the winter months are coming soon, many of the resorts are looking for part and full-time help. 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! Other places to look include resort websites or even calling resorts to ask for work opportunities.  Right now there are openings and various area employers would love to meet with you.

If you have any questions about possible employment, contact the county, city or before notated websites for great information. People are ready to help you come to work and/or play at Lake of the Woods

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 our lodging page.

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