Lake of the Woods is considered The Walleye Capital of the World. Much of the fishing takes place way out on the lake or throughout different areas of the Rainy River. With that being said, there are some convenient, and at times of the year, very good shore fishing opportunities.
In addition, with the joint efforts of the area Take a Kid Fishing Group alongside the Baudette Rotary Club, two new shore fishing piers or docks have been installed. On the east side of Baudette lies Timber Mill Park. This park is where the new Veteran’s Memorial is located along with a very nice boat ramp. There is now a brand new fishing pier near the boat ramp that gives great fishing access to the Rainy River.
The second new fishing pier is at Clementson Rapids, just 8 miles east of Baudette on HWY 11. This new pier allows anglers to fish Clementson Bay that leads into the Rainy River.
Here are some go to shore fishing spots in the area…
Zippel Bay State Park. This overlooked State Park is a gem located right on Zippel Bay. There is a harbor with a boat landing in the bay but the land of Zippel Bay extends around into the lake as well. Pike, bass, perch and occasionally walleyes are all possibilities.
Peace Park. Located in Baudette on Baudette Bay, this park and boat access is located on International Drive as you would be driving into Canada. This is an ideal spot for pike, some walleyes and smallmouth bass as well.
Willie Walleye Park. Located in Baudette Bay, this park has lots of shoreline to walk including a stationary dock and a floating dock to fish from. This is a good spot for pike, bass and at times, walleyes.
Timber Mill Park. With a brand new fishing pier that sticks out into the Rainy River, this shore fishing location adjacent to the boat ramp is ideal to target all Rainy River species.
Clementson Park. Located 8 miles east of Baudette on HWY 11 is the Rapid River that flows into the Rainy River. This is also where HWY 11 travels over the Clementson Rapids. Located on the NW side of the bridge is a small parking area and a brand new fishing pier located in Clementson Bay.
Vidas Landing. Located just 10 miles east of Baudette on HWY 11, the Vidas Landing is located right on the Rainy River. Often times, good structure like current breaks and holes can be reached casting from the shoreline.
Frontier Landing. Located 19 miles east of Baudette, the Frontier Public Access is a popular boat access during the spring and fall. It also is a good area to fish from the shores of the Rainy River. Again, the river boasts a multi-species offering including walleyes, sauger, pike, smallmouth bass, sturgeon and a variety of suckers.
Nelson Landing in Birchdale. Located 28 miles east of Baudette is Nelson Park. This area is located not far downstream from the Sault Rapids and has a lot of shoreline to walk and fish. This is also a very popular boat access in the spring and fall. There is good fishing during the summer months as well but many anglers target Lake of the Woods this time of year.
Franz Jevne State Park. Just east of Birchdale is a beautiful state park. This area boast not only some great shore fishing but also incredible beauty. There is a boat ramp here but is a smaller ramp. There is also a fair amount of current in this area with some rapids downstream so shore fishing is ideal.
Resorts. Resorts are of course, private property. However, one of the advantages of staying at a resort is being able to fish off of their docks. The docks stick a long ways out into the water and offer great opportunities.
Shore fishing is a great way to fish. In many cases, it is not only relaxing, it can be a very successful way to fish. Whether you target fishing from shore or you simply want to take some time and enjoy some relaxation, shore fishing abounds around Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and Baudette.
Escape to the beautiful northland at Lake of the Woods for great experiences in nature. Lake of the Woods is known for its beautiful waters and scenery and greenery all around. One of the most beautiful natural resources we have is the great variety of birds that show up in the summer months.
Each summer multiple varieties of birds appear. Some big, some small, but all a part of God’s beautiful creation. One bird that was once on the endangered species list is the bald eagle. This land must be a great feeding ground because bald eagles can be a daily siting now. These mammoth birds are seen in the forest areas and along the edge of the Rainy River as well as around the big lake. They are especially in abundance at the Northwest Angle.
In the forest, they might use their “eagle” eye to snatch small creatures scurrying across the ground but near the water, somehow they are the best fishermen around. They cruise the skies and all of a sudden dive down to catch their fish. Amazing. One never tires of seeing these incredible birds.
Another huge bird has shown up in these waters in the past few years. This is the handsome white pelican. There is a rapids located 6 miles east of Baudette and that is the first location where the giant birds congregate. They are there in abundance waiting for the fish to try to swim up the rapids or down to the river. What a sight. Later on, they move into other bays along the river and also out to the big basin of Lake of the Woods. They can actually cruise over 40 mph and fly high or skim the waters at a very low altitude. Again, a beautiful sight to behold.
Of course, one of the most abundance birds you’ll see in this lake area is the white sea gull. Yes, they love this body of water and also the farmer’s fields in the fall before they leave. They arrive here early spring and are great in numbers until fall starts to set in. You see them adorning the skies over the beautiful lake, hoping to snatch a minnow or snacks that accidentally drop from someone’s hand. In the fall you’ll see them sitting in flocks in fields gaining their energy to fly south.
One bird that is now protected is the piping plover. Piping Ploversare sandy grayish brown birds with white underparts and a
narrow, often broken collar. They have yellowish orange legs in all seasons. In the breeding season, they have an orange bill with a black tip, a black collar, and a black line on the forehead. You will find these birds on Pine Island, a small sand peninsula guarding Four Mile Bay. These birds scurry so fast that they look like they’re always in a race. A near relative of theirs is the killdeer which looks like them but larger in size. Their cry is the same.
From speaking about the smallest bird to telling of one of the largest is the sandhill crane. The sandhill crane, or “sandhill,” is among Minnesota’s largest bird species, standing about five feet tall and having a wingspread of nearly seven feet. Sandhills are birds of wet meadows and open landscapes. These birds are also in abundance in Lake of the Woods County.
When driving the roads, one will often see these birds standing in the fields in the distance. They are most always in pairs and often look like herons, but are even larger. Sandhills eat a variety of animals including frogs, small mammals, insects, and snakes, and also, small grains such as oats and wheat. They are found in most northern territories.
Some of the smallest but most beautiful birds are the finches that return to the northland in the early summer. The yellow finch is especially beautiful and they show up in flocks to feed and sing their songs. They are a small North American bird that is migratory, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canada–United States border to Mexico during the winter.
This article just touches the vast variety of bird life in this land. Join bird watchers from all over and explore all types of birds including pileated woodpeckers, owls of all kinds and smaller birds that share their beauty as well.
Lake of the Woods has so much to offer. Check out our website for more information at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
The NW Angle is open for business. The challenge is getting there. Since March of 2020, the U.S. / Canada border has been closed to non-essential travelers. Despite the border closure, there are guests enjoying the heck out of the wonders of the Angle and you can too!
Traveling to the NW Angle can be done a number of ways. Lake of the Woods is a big lake. Across the water from the south shore up to the NW Angle, it is a 35-40 mile trip depending upon where you depart. In the open water months, there are typically three ways to travel up. Some prefer driving up which includes a short stretch through Canada. Some actually fly up via float plane. And finally some prefer boating across the lake.
As long as the U.S. / Canada border is closed, flying up via float plane or boating across are the two options available. As most don’t have access to a float plane, boating across is the most realistic for many. Traveling to the NW Angle across Lake of the Woods can be a fun experience but it is vital to know your options and have a game plan that includes “safety first” as one of the criteria.
The first question it is good to ask is, “What are all of our options in traveling to the NW Angle during the border shutdown?” A first good step is to contact your favorite NW Angle resort. In some cases, they can pick your group up or help you arrange travel across. There are many options. Like anything, it’s safety first.
Lake of the Woods Passenger Service. One option is to use the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service. The passenger service boats people across the lake on a big, comfortable charter boat. Many who use a guide or rent a boat up at a NW Angle resort are taking advantage of this option this year anyway as to get their NW Angle vacation in.
Fly across the lake in a float plane! Since the border closure, a great new option has been created to travel to the Angle, Lake Country Air. This flying service has set up shop at Lake of the Woods to accommodate the need. What a great win-win. It is a great way to get up to the Angle in less than 20 minutes while having the chance to see the area via float plane.
Most will hook up with the flying service somewhere on the south end of Lake of the Woods and fly up. That could be the Baudette International Airport, at one of the resorts on the Rainy River or at the Warroad International Airport. Lots of options to head up to the Angle.
Lake Country Air also has longer range options from portions of Minnesota and neighboring states up to LOW as well.
Boat across using your own boat. Another option when boating across is to put your people and gear aboard a charter boat and follow behind the charter in your own boat. This not only can make the ride much more comfortable for passengers but also lightens the load of your own boat making it more seaworthy. It also helps that a big charter boat is handling the navigation and breaking down the waves for you across the lake.
There are some guides up at the Angle who are planning on picking up guests on the south end, weather depending which makes traveling to the NW Angle that much easier. Communicate with your resort for all of the options.
Considerations if boating across on your own. Traveling across on your own can be a very viable option or a “not so good” of option depending upon a number of things. Here are a few considerations.
Is your boat seaworthy enough to cross 35 miles of big water?
How reliable is your motor?
How experienced is the captain?
Do you have flexibility in your schedule if weather is not good?
How seaworthy are your passengers on the boat?
Do you have reliable electronics and do you know how to use them?
is your bilge pump working?
Safety Equipment and considerations.
Is everyone wearing an approved personal flotation device (PFD)
Have you checked all necessary safety equipment? (Fire extinguisher, throw cushion, marine band radio, cell phone with portable battery charger, flares, whistle, etc)
Do you navigation lights work? Do you have a spotlight or bright flashlight?
Have you contacted the resort or people at your final destination and communicated your travel plans?
Have you mapped out your route?
Where are you going to put in and depart from?
Have you lightened up your load for the boat to be safe?
Is your gear in waterproof bags or containers?
Do you have Navionics on your phone as a backup for navigation?
Have you checked the weather forecast?
Where can I launch and park my truck and trailer? There are a number of resorts will allow you to park your truck and trailer at their resort if you are boating up to a NW Angle resort for a nominal fee. It is a good idea to contact these resorts and communicate your plans to make sure you know where to launch your boat and where they would like you to park your vehicle.
South Shore Parking Options…
–Arnesen’s Rocky Point. Located on the SW corner of the lake, Arnesen’s has a new harbor, a boat ramp and plenty of land for parking your rig.
-Long Point Resort. Located on a point way out into the lake, Long Point Resort is very accommodating, has plenty of room to park and a nice harbor to launch your boat.
-Springsteel Resort. Located just north of Warroad, if you are coming from the west, this is a great option to launch and park when headed to the Angle.
-Sportsman’s Lodge. Located at the mouth of the Rainy River, Sportsman’s is where the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service departs from and a frequent pick up and drop off point for the flying service. This is also a great spot to park when boating across on your own.
–Wigwam Resort. Located on Wheeler’s Point, Wigwam is a couple of blocks away from the Wheeler’s Point public access.
The NW Angle is a very special place. This year for many, the normal way to travel up is going to be different. Once there, the few extra hurdles will be well worth it. With that being said, if you are using the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service or Lake Country Air, no worries, just step aboard. If you are boating up on your own, there are few more details to consider for a safe and enjoyable trip. We all have to error on safety first. If you have any questions on traveling across the lake, we encourage you to contact your favorite resort or you can certainly contact us at Lake of the Woods Tourism as well. Have fun, enjoy the adventure, be safe.
Beautiful Blueberries are making their show at Lake of the Woods. They are ripening fast and are in abundance as reported to this writer recently. Mid to late July through August, the berries will be at their peak. Lake of the Woods is known for its vast amount of this natural berry that is not only beautiful but delicious beyond measure.
Where do I find these beautiful blueberries? Well, we’ll have to list quite a few areas. A park area along Hwy 11 between Baudette and Warroad is actually named Blueberry Hill. People camp there and also pick these beautiful berries. Another area is south or Baudette in the Beltrami Forest Area also known by the Faunce Tower area. This natural habitat is known or its beautiful pines and roads through what once was the pioneer area of Lake of the Woods County. Homesteaders there must have really enjoyed the abundance of food found throughout that land and harvested many many berries.
People come from far and wide to harvest these natural blueberries. They arrive with buckets for the harvest and leave with those buckets full. If you’re one of these visitors, be sure to also bring mosquito spray and dress to keep those insects off of you. There’s another species that also enjoys these berries and that is the black bear. It’s wise to keep on the lookout for these creatures as they enjoy the harvest as well.
A one-gallon ice cream pail with a handle works well to hold the fruit. You can set it on the ground and drop berries into it as you pick, and unlike a plastic bag, it won’t snag on sticks and thorns as you walk. Hiking boots are great for rough or steep areas. Lighter footwear is fine for easy hikes, but don’t be tempted to wear sandals, which don’t offer enough foot protection. Long-sleeved shirts and pants are recommended to avoid scratches, scrapes, and mosquitoes; I also carry insect repellent and drinking water, particularly in warm weather.
Blueberry shrubsare 1 to 2½ feet tall and often grow in colonies. Leaves are shaped like an elongated football, typically 1 to 1½ inches long; they grow alternately on greenish-brown branches. Common lowbush blueberries have smooth leaves with fine teeth along the edges, while leaves of velvet-leaf blueberries are hairy and
toothless. Fruits of both grow in clusters from branch tips. Under-ripe berries are green, becoming pinkish before ripening to deep blue with a whitish bloom; ripe berries look just like supermarket blueberries but are smaller—typically ¼ to 1/3 inch across. A key ID feature is the short five-pointed crown that is present on the top.
Ripe berries detach easily from the bush. Although you can use opened fingers to comb through a cluster of blueberries, you’ll get less debris if you pluck individual fruits. Velvet-leaf blueberries are tarter than common lowbush blueberries, which are also called sweet lowbush blueberries. Both can be used like domestic blueberries, but because they’re so small they pack together more closely—so you can use a smaller measure of wild blueberries in muffins or similar recipes. Wild blueberries make outstanding jam and pie.
Another area to explore for these beautiful blueberries is Zippel State Park.
This beautiful park has been kept to its natural beauty and as you travel the paths, you can find bushes and bushes of berries to enjoy picking from. While you’re there, enjoy the vast sandy beach and beautiful waters of Lake of the Woods where you can walk out in shallow water for many yards.
Be sure to add this Blueberry adventure to your list of great things to do while visiting Lake of the Woods. Send dad out fishing and let the ladies bring in the bountiful berries for a great eating treat.
For more information contact: www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com and click on the lodging page for great places to stay. Come soon, the blueberries will be waiting!
Larry Smith has a slogan, “It’s a great day to be alive.” Smith is an accomplished angler with a strong following who has an outdoor TV show called Larry Smith Outdoors. This week he traveled to Lake of the Woods to fish and do some filming with Lake of the Woods Tourism Executive Director, Joe Henry, and the day of fishing was memorable.
Smith is a go-getter to say the least. In addition to filming a TV show 52 weeks per year, he also has a farm and makes sure he has time for his family. In discussing his work ethic, he mentions, “This is all myself and my siblings have ever known. My parents were this way and it was all I have ever known. I get antsy when I sit around too long.”
Henry and Smith got our fishing one day this week and one day is all it took. The goal was to film an entertaining TV show as well as give viewers an idea of the Lake of the Woods area.
Smith runs a Warrior boat with a 300 HP Mercury outboard motor. The morning as a bit cloudy with the forecast showing partly cloudy skies as the day progressed. The lake had some left over rollers from a couple of windy days previously so running wasn’t super fast but definitely doable. With that in mind, the pair headed north out of the Rainy River on to Lake of the Woods.
The game plan was to pull spinners and crawlers. With the water temps in the mid 60’s, this is a great way to cover water with a presentation walleyes find hard to resist.
They started out on some mud flats. There were some fish around but they weren’t overly aggressive. A few saugers were put into the livewell for that evening’s fish fry. With some fish showing up on the electronics but not an overabundance of success, the pair decided to do a milk run.
The phrase milk run comes from when back in the day they had milk men who delivered milk to houses. Each day, the milk man had a set number of scheduled stops. That same concept applies to a fishing milk run where anglers will pick a number of potentially good spots to fish. Anglers will approach and fish a spot quickly, determining whether to stay as there are good fish or move on to the next spot.
It is sometimes hard to leave fish but as the two weren’t lighting up the walleyes, and literally hundreds of spots on Lake of the Woods to fish, the two decided to go for it.
The first stop was an underwater point. Setting up the boat upwind as to go with the wind when trolling, water was quickly covered and it is always easier to troll with the wind vs against it. One nice walleye and a couple of other hits on the first pass. That was worth another pass.
Driving around the spot as not to spook the fish, the two made their way upwind with the big motor to save time and set up for a second trolling pass. This time, nothing. It was time to move on.
The second spot was also an underwater point. One charter boat was drifting it in shallower water. We decided to make a deeper pass. With the charter boat nearby, it gave us the chance to see if they were catching fish on their shallow drift. Almost another boat fishing for us. As we didn’t see a lot of action on their end, and we didn’t have any bites, we moved on.
The next spot was a small area that came out of 15′ of water and topped out at 6′. We pulled one nice walleye in 8′ of water but after a few more circles in that area and not seeing activity, decided to move on.
The next spot was deeper mud with a couple of rock humps nearby. We set up in the deep and popped a double header of nice walleyes. A good sign, an icon was added to the GPS and the trolling pass continued with shallower structure approaching. The decision had to be made, spin around and fish that spot again or spend a few more minutes and slide into the shallower water just to see. The decision to let it slide was a good one.
Once into about 8′ of water, Smith’s rod bent over hard, a nice walleye. Then Henry followed suit. The two ended up catching a handful of nice walleyes, some eaters, some slot fish between that 19.5 – 28 inch mark that must be returned.
With good success in the shallower water and knowing shallow fish are there for one reason, to eat, the two fired up the big motor, driving away from the structure to get upwind and set up again but this time, only for the shallow portion of the trolling pass. The second pass was equally successful. Many very nice walleyes were boated and the fish were aggressive.
After catching a number of walleyes, the duo made the decision to go look for a big walleye. The spot was deep mud around a small rock reef. The boat was set up again off of the structure as often times, big walleyes might be positioned in the mud adjacent to structure. Fishing in about 32′ of water, a two ounce or heavier bottom bouncer was effective to keep the presentation on the bottom yet still maintaining that ever important 45 degree angle which is effective when pulling spinners.
As they approached the structure but still over the mud, Henry set the hook on a big fish. In his words, “When you set the hook on a big walleye, it almost feels like a rock. It’s like you keep your line tight and just hope that the ‘rock’ starts coming with the boat and eventually gives you a head shake.” This is exactly what happened and Henry knew right away it was a big fish.
Smith mentioned when he heard it was a big fish, he was thinking 25 or 26 inches. After a hard fight, the fish showed itself from underneath the boat. “I couldn’t believe how big it was,” exclaimed Smith. “That fish is a giant!”
After it showed itself, it took a couple of good runs, not giving up easily. Henry coaxed the fish carefully to the boat and Smith scooped it up with the net. This was a fish of a lifetime, 31 inch walleye.
The two made a few excited comments for the show, took a quick couple of pics and got the monster walleye back into the water. After a hard battle, it took just a bit of care in the water for the big walleye to catch her breath and get her wits about her. When releasing a big fish, hold it in the water as if the fish is swimming. Don’t pull it back and forth as this can actually drown a fish. Rather, hold it upright and gently move the fish back and forth sideways until the fish tells you it is ready. In this case, the big girl gave a few good kicks and swam down into the depths.
The show will air in a week and a half .
After a good day of fishing, Smith took care of the boat while Henry took care of fileting the walleyes. A feast of fresh walleyes was enjoyed by to two along with Thomas the videographer who captured the entire day on video.
It was a day on the water to remember. Two like minded anglers sharing the boat together on a quest for walleyes on Lake of the Woods. It was about sharing ideas, sharing philosophies and never forgetting, “It’s a great day to be alive.”
The summer sturgeon season is on the horizon. The “keep” season for these monsters runs from July 1st through September 30. One per calendar year is allowed and the length must be 45 – 50″ inclusive or over 75″. Anglers must have a sturgeon tag if you wish to keep a sturgeon. Oct 1 – April 23, 2021 is the catch and release season. If you have never sturgeon fished before you may be asking yourself, “How can I give it a try?”
Sturgeon get much of their attention in the spring but summer is a very productive time to catch sturgeon. Each year Birchdale, located east of Baudette on the Rainy River, holds an International Sturgeon Tournament and the number of sturgeon boated within site of the Nelson Park access is impressive. These fish are feeding up and down the Rainy
Where do I start? One option is to get a guide from a local resort. This is an easy way to use heavy duty sturgeon gear you might not own, be introduced to the right set ups with sturgeon rigs and of course, have the opportunity to fish some of the best sturgeon hot spots on the river.
If you are going to use your own boat and tackle, some ideas. Use strong rods, reels and line. Muskie gear or your strongest freshwater gear is a good choice. These fish fight hard and on walleye gear, the fight often times can last an hour. Heavier gear will allow you to pull in the fish quicker, which puts less stress on the sturgeon and ultimately is better for releasing.
Basically, a no roll sinker combined with a sturgeon rig will get the job done on the tackle end. A sturgeon rig is an 18″ snell with a 5/0 circle hook loaded with a combo of nightcrawlers and frozen emerald shiners. Some anglers also like to put rotten chicken or pork down as well. In short anything that emits a strong smell works great. Fish this set up on the bottom much like you would fishing for carp or catfish.
Where to fish for sturgeon.
Although these prehistoric fish do roam the vast waters of Lake of the Woods and are often caught by unsuspecting walleye anglers, the best stretch of water to fish for sturgeon is at the mouth of the Rainy River called Four Mile Bay all the way up river to the falls near Birchdale. This is about a 40 mile stretch of ideal sturgeon habitat. Anglers typically choose areas to anchor just upstream from a deep hole in the river. The idea is when the sturgeon decides to eat, it swims upstream from the deep hole to shallower water to feed.
Equipment to have ready.
-Use tackle that is suitable for landing a fish that weighs 100 pounds, or more
-Camera
-Large landing net
-Gloves, especially for handling small sturgeon that have razor-sharp projections (scutes)
-Pliers to remove hooks from fish. Sturgeon are almost always hooked in the mouth.
-Device to accurately measure the length of a long fish. We see fish over 80 inches long.
-A wet towel to place over the fish’s head when measuring. This helps calm the fish.
-Device, such as a seamstress tape, to measure maximum girth for weight estimation
-A pen or pencil and a pad of paper to record numbers from tagged fish that you catch
The first time fishing these monster fish is always the most intimidating. Most anglers have some success their first couple of times out. Over time, knowledge and confidence grows leading to even more sturgeon success.
Local bait shops and resorts are a great resource to get you started. Bait shops also have the necessary bait and tackle to catch a sturgeon.
Summertime is a great season at Lake of the Woods! If you travel here or live here, you will always be able to fill your calendar with great events to keep yourself entertained. Lake of the Woods has a renowned fishery with walleyes being the premier fish. They are in abundance even though anglers from all over come to enjoy these pristine waters.
Events have been happening already this summer. The Farmer’s Market is scheduled for each Saturday morning from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. with folks displaying all sorts of wares. Willie Walleye is an annual summer event in June and featured a great walleye supper for visitors. The Baudette-Lake of the Woods Chamber of Commerce, the Women of Today and the Lake of the Woods Fair Board are always busy making sure there is an event for everyone to attend.
The Williams Garden Club just featured a successful Wildflower Route on June 19th and Take a Kid Fishing is just finishing up today, June 23rd.
The greatest event is yet to come!!! July 4th in this northland is a holiday everyone looks forward to. Because of the great summer weather, many classes hold their high school reunions during this time. They usually hop on floats and travel the parade route to greet and wave to people they have known for years but now get to see again.
Since July 4th is on a Sunday this year, Saturday, July 3rd will also be a day of celebration. The Lake of the Woods Museum will be open that day from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. At noon there will be a
at Baudette’s Timbermill Park located on the East edge of town. At 5 p.m. food vendors will be set up on the main drag featuring a great variety of choices. At 5:30 the Women of Today will be hosting a Walleye Fish Fry at the Moose Lodge.
A favorite event for all ages will be the annual Street Dance for all ages. The music will start at 8 p.m. on the North end of Main Ave. Music is provided by Switch.
On July 4th , the day will start off with a breakfast put on by the ladies at the VFW from 8:00-10:30 a.m. A firecracker 5K Walk/Run will be at 8:30 with registration open at 7 a.m. at the Baudette Depot where the race starts. Speaking of the Depot, that day they will be hosting a Pie and Ice Cream Social from 11:30-1:00 p.m.
Kids activities will happen on Willie Walleye Hill with face painting and caricatures, Gaga Ball, Water Wars and Sand and Bubbles all day. An important featured event will be Trish and the Toonies from 11:45-3:30 p.m. at the old Reed Realty Building on International Drive. A great show for all ages.
A Kiddie Parade happens at 1:30 and the Main Parade event will start at 2:00 p.m. Bingo is from 3-5 p.m. at the American Legion, Root Beer Floats, sponsored by the LOW Brewery, happens at 3:30 on Main Ave, Randy Bunker, a hypnotist will perform at 5 p.m. and a Bobber Race will be at 6 p.m. on Baudette Bay.
The most spectacular event of the weekend will be Northern Minnesota’s Fireworks Display starting at 10:15 p.m. These are displayed over Willie Walleye Park with seating all over the hill. It’s totally amazing and well worth your visit to Lake of the Woods.
Now don’t leave town, because the Lake of the Woods County Fair is next on the agenda for a great event. The 98th County Fair will be the very next week starting on Wed., July 14th. The Fair event features live music, food stands, 4-H judging,
a Midway, Horse Shows, and both Oval Races and a Demolition Derby. Local residents enter their wares from food, to canning, to artwork, or showing off their beautiful plants and blossoms. There is a horse barn and small animals featured and judging. The local fair board works all year long to provide a memorable event for all Lake of the County residents to enjoy as well as many visitors to the area.
As you can see, Lake of the Woods has a great many things to offer. Make your plans now to visit, find a beautiful resort to stay at and enjoy the people, the beautiful scenery and life in general!!
For more information see our website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging.
Lake of the Woods Tourism Testifies at U.S. Senate Hearing
It’s not every day a destination marketing organization such as Lake of the Woods Tourism gets the honor to speak about tourism and outdoor recreation before the U.S. Senate. The topics are important throughout throughout the many cities and counties and for the businesses and residents of Minnesota.
On Tuesday, Lake of the Woods Tourism’s Executive Director, Joe Henry, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Tourism, Trade and Export Promotion Subcommittee. The hearing was titled “The State of Outdoor Tourism, Recreation and Ecotourism,” and, Lake of the Woods Tourism was asked to testify about tourism and outdoor recreation throughout Minnesota.
The hearing took place both in person for some and virtually via WebEx for others. Minnesota Senator Klobuchar as well as Henry participated virtually. Klobuchar was actually chairing another committee meeting happening at the same time and was doing a great job of multitasking, stepping into this hearing in an eloquent yet strong manner.
Klobuchar has been a strong supporter of Minnesota as well as the Lake of the Woods area for a number of years.
Henry had the chance provide both written and spoken testimony as well as answer some questions during the hearing, touching on a number of points affecting tourism, hospitality and outdoor recreation throughout Minnesota.
Points brought up and discussed throughout the testimony:
The ongoing support of Senator Klobuchar strongly behind tourism and hospitality in the great state of Minnesota is greatly appreciated.
Legislation introduced by Senators Klobuchar and Smith of MN called The Remote Recreational Small Business Interruption Program Act would provide forgivable loans to small businesses in exclaves of the contiguous United States near the Canadian border.
NW Angle Resorts, businesses, cabin owners and guests have been “cut off” from driving to the Angle since March, 2020.
Lake of the Woods Tourism has been working on a two phased approach regarding the Angle. First, to open the 40 miles of road through Canada. Second, to secure a forgivable loan program for businesses negatively affected by the pandemic and related border closure.
Labor, or lack thereof, is still a threat to businesses across Minnesota. It is affecting many aspects of business, and certainly the tourism and hospitality industries, in a negative manner.
Short term housing is an issue throughout much of Minnesota. That combined with affordable housing in some markets are big barriers to a healthy workforce.
Daycare is also an issue affecting employers and workers. In some cases, it isn’t available. In cases with larger companies with multiple shifts, there is only daycare offered during the day.
Broadband continues to be an issue in areas. Reliable and fast broadband levels the playing field with employment, strengthens the workforce and is vital to students taking classes from home.
The Outdoor Recreation Task Force was a joint effort created between Explore Minnesota Tourism and the Minnesota DNR. Recommendations from the task force included…
Developing an office of Outdoor Recreation for the State of MN. There are 13 others in the U.S. currently
Increase participation to advance equity, diversity and inclusivity
Unite Minnesota’s outdoor recreation community
Unify communications amongst Minnesota’s diverse outdoor recreation sector
Brand USA is a successful public – private partnership formed under the bipartisan Travel Promotion Act of 2009, charged with promoting the U.S. as a destination to global travelers. As this is an important part of Explore Minnesota’s international promotional campaign, re-authorizing funding by congress is highly desired.
For more information on the senate hearing, including a link to the video recording, click here. For a transcript of Henry’s senate testimony, as prepared, click here.
Media Contact:
Joe Henry
Executive Director, Lake of the Woods Tourism
Joe.Henry@LakeoftheWoodsMN.com
320-260-7727
The historic Rainy River is the original “Voyageur’s Highway,” which linked the entire Great Lakes area with the northern waterways of Canada. Lake of the Woods hosted early trading posts in the 1700’s and is still the living legacy for this era. Getting out on the water is a great way to experience all of the history and nature Lake of the Woods has to offer.
Here are a few suggestions:
Short Paddles
Explore Baudette Bay right in the heart of Baudette. You can start from Peace Park or Timber Mill Park for a relaxing paddle around the bay.
Zippel Bay offers a lot of good wildlife viewing due to its marshy environment right on Lake of the Woods. The best access for Zippel Bay is at Zippel Bay State Park.
Silver Creek – This short jaunt, about a mile up and down the creek, is suitable for enjoying the birds, flowers, and wildlife. To access Silver Creek, go east of the Hwy. 11 – 72 junction for 3.6 miles, turn south 0.4 miles, and then turn east for 0.3 miles. Put in at an old bridge crossing. Paddle in the early spring, and you’ll likely see a lot of waterfowl. Water levels may get low in late summer, so inquire locally.
Winter Road River – Turn north on Hwy 172, then west on Cty. Rd 88/4th ST. NW. Put in 2.5 miles west of Hwy 172 at the bridge. This is about a 3 mile trip with lots of opportunities to view wildlife and waterfowl, especially in the spring. Take out at the public water access at Hwy 172.
Wabanica Creek – Put in right behind Wabanica Lutheran Church, located east of Hwy 172. This is a short, 2-3 mile trip up and back the Wabanica Creek. The creek forks, so you have a couple of routes to explore.
Longer Paddles
The Rapid River Canoe Route covers approximately 50 miles of one of the Rainy River’s major tributaries – the Rapid River. The sections designated as the Rapid River Canoe and Kayak Route cover 33 river miles with a few small riffles and Class I rapids. Be
ginning at the trailhead and paddling to the trail end takes 8 to 12 hours under optimal water levels. The narrow, winding waterway is perfect for short canoes and smaller recreational kayaks.
2-day trip down the Rainy River – Imagine what it was like to travel the water highways like the voyageurs. Put in at the public access just east of Pelland Junction, where Hwy 11 and Hwy 71 come together. Follow the waterway downstream 31 miles to Franz Jevne State Park. Camp overnight and paddle 28 miles to Baudette the next day, or linger awhile longer to enjoy the hi
king offered at the park. Wind can be a factor on the Rainy River, particularly if it is from a northerly through westerly direction.
Kayaks and canoes can be rented locally from Zippel Bay Resort and Zippel Bay State Park has canoe rental as well.
The Northwest Angle, Zippel Bay State Park, other tributaries of the Rainy River, and the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, are all other wonderful areas for a serene canoeing getaway.
There is also a River Runners Canoe and Kayak Club based in Baudette. Be sure to ask about their group activities when planning your next adventure!
There’s a new kayak out there that is catching on fast. This is called the Hobie Kayak and is very unique in its build. We’ve included a video here to watch about the kayak being used at Lake of the Woods. It can be paddled and even peddled to move it. What an interesting adventure. It holds one person, but also holds fishing poles, coolers and the like for that great fishing adventure on Lake of the Woods.https://www.hobie.com/hobie-outdoor-adventures/#
A original television production from Prairie Public just won a Silver Telly Award for it’s wonderful story about Minnesota’s NW Angle. “The Northwest Angle: Minnesota’s Best Kept Secret” was produced by Barb Gravel and edited by Ann Hall Anderson with videographers Andy Garske and Kelly Johnson. A big congratulations to Barb, Ann, Andy and Kelly for their tireless work and attention to detail with this very well done piece. The documentary has been released on YouTube and can be viewed below.
The origins of the region — the most northerly point of the contiguous United States — can be traced back to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 that ended the American Revolutionary War. Known as “The Angle” by locals, the area can only be accessed by crossing Lake of the Woods or driving across two international borders.
Prairie Public’s Telly Award winning documentary features some of the people who live and work in The Angle, including Linda LaMie, who teaches at the K-6 Angle Inlet School — the last one-room schoolhouse in Minnesota. Bus driver Dale Westover takes the older students to school in Warroad, MN — more than an hour each way to and from school and across four border crossings.
Joe Laurin, creator of the Lake of the Woods Explorer app discusses the Angle from his view. With 14,552 islands, there is a lot to explore and still areas most have never seen.
The Telly Award winning documentary explores its rich history, beautiful views and the popular outdoor opportunities and resorts that support the region’s economy. Joe Henry, executive director of Lake of the Woods Tourism, discusses the huge interest in tourism in the Northwest Angle, and resort owners Brian Sage and Lisa and Jason Goulet talk about the business of hosting guests in this quiet northern niche.
Prairie Public Broadcasting, headquartered in Fargo, is a non-profit member station of PBS and NPR that provides public television services throughout North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, southern Manitoba, and parts of Montana and South Dakota; public radio service to North Dakota; and educational and technological services to communities and individuals across its coverage area.
