There are many ways to stay connected to Lake of the Woods. Social media, LakeoftheWoodsMN.com, resort fishing reports, etc. Another great way that sometimes gets forgotten about are webcams around the lake. Webcams allow guests who can access the internet to see conditions in real time the conditions, weather, waves, boat activity, etc where the camera is located. There are many webcam options on Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and up at the NW Angle.
Flag Island Webcam. Let’s begin at the northernmost point of the contiguous United States, the NW Angle. A really cool webcam that can actually be controlled by those who are watching it at the time. Viewers can choose from a variety of pre-set locations which gives the viewer a great view of the area. This camera is very high up and can see over the trees gaining nice views all around Flag Island.
Flag Island Dock Cam. There is also a webcam located on the dock which gives a totally different perspective.
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.
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.
Morris Point Lakeview Lodge Webcam. On the south shore of the lake, Morris Point offers a webcam providing a nice look at the vast waters or ice of Big Traverse Bay. This is an interesting perspective not only for weather and waves, but also to watch traffic come and go on the lake. Perfect when you want to be there but have to settle to checking in from your computer.
Border View Lodge Webcam. Overlooking the Rainy River right next to the Wheeler’s Point public access is the Border View camera. Their webcam gives a great view of the Rainy River looking both north towards Four Mile Bay and south up river. It also shows Canada which is located half way across the Rainy River. A great view to check out the activity on the river.
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.
These cameras 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.
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.
Winter has come to the northland. Temperatures have stayed consistently at freezing temps and it is evidenced by ice forming on Baudette Bay at Baudette, MN and the Rainy River. Parks are the location of extra fun as Lake of the Woods looks forward to the winter season
inviting hundreds of people to come and enjoy experiences that only can be marked by cold, ice, snow and fun. Lake of the Woods houses hundreds of ice houses each winter marking the lake with ice roads the size of highways. While your family comes to enjoy that great activity, also consider the other possibilities for family fun.
Willie Walleye Park
The Baudette Bay has formed ice from shore to shore and it looks like a huge ice skating event waiting to happen. Caution is always advised at this time of the year for traveling on the ice but one can always look forward to the family fun this area brings.
Baudette proper has three great parks available. You might think of only using parks in the summer months, but that is not the case at Lake of the Woods. Willie Walleye Park on Baudette Bay is the home of the famous icon that resides there named Willie Walleye. He oversees this park and is the most popular walleye of the area to be photographed by visitors.
This park is where the July 4th fireworks are fired off over the Baudette Bay and hundreds of people visit during that season to enjoy the hillside and the view the event. Did you know that on December 5th this year that there will also be fireworks over the Baudette Bay? Yes, the annual Frost Fest features a parade, a tree lighting, Santa and fireworks to cap off the evening.
Willie Walleye was updated a few years ago and also oversees another great time as the snow falls on this beautiful area. This park provides one of the best sliding hills of the whole area. You’d have to travel nearly 50 miles to find a better hill. Numbers of parents and children alike find pleasure as early as Thanksgiving when the hill is snow covered. Visitors from many countries have experienced this winter wonderland.
This park is often a stopping place for snowmobilers who are traveling the Rainy River or the Bay. The park is right across the street from a StationStore where they can get a warm beverage or a snack. Often this park is also a starting point for special snowmobile rides happening in the area. A great sight to see the many machines parked there.
Peace Park is located right before the US/Canada border crossing. The boat landing there offers access to the Baudette Bay by snowmobile and also vehicles who plan to bring their portable ice houses onto the Bay for day fishing. Many anglers enjoy fishing the Rainy from there when the ice is thick enough.
East of the city on Highway 11 is Timbermill Park. This is a great summer location for visitors as they camp or just stop
to use the great playground there. One of the greatest features of the park is the beautiful walking trail. Did you know that our city keeps that trail cleared all winter long for anyone who cares to travel that path can do so safely.
Another great park that is out of town near the resorts is Zippel Bay State Park. What a winter wonderland this area is with its pines and white birch lining the roads in the park. This park is the site of many great cross country skiing trails and “friends of the park” host quite a few skiing events throughout the winter season. Come fishing, bring the sleds, and bring the cross country skis for the best of winter adventure.
Veteran’s Day. It’s a federal holiday observed annually on November 11th honoring military veterans. It’s also a way to say “Thank You” to all veterans. Another way to say thank you is the Pay It Forward event up at Lake of the Woods.
It started out as an idea to “give back” to those who have given and still give so much. The name we chose for the Lake of the Woods Area veteran’s event was “Pay It Forward”. We thought it was appropriate for many reasons. Every year for six years, around 60 men and women converge on Lake of the Woods for a 3 night, 2 day all expenses paid fishing trip.
We purposely make sure there is a nice mix within the group. In all, veterans come from a variety of states with most ending up being from MN. People of all types, male and female, various branches of the military, some had to take part in conflicts, some did not. Some have physical and mental ailments, some do not. All come together, rubbing elbows with other vets, or family as some might call it. Veterans spending time with other veterans, this is a main ingredient that makes the Pay It Forward weekend so special.
There are so many touching stories. Some are happy stories. Some are not so happy. Like many discuss, for many, even though back home, the “battle” is still real, maybe just in a different form. This event allows veterans to forget about challenges, at least for a few days. Hand picked participants help with a variety if issues effecting our veterans. How to peruse the VA medical system? Where can I go for a job? What does a veteran’s service officer do and how can I reach one? Are their support groups? How can I receive help for my specific struggles?
Roughly 20 veterans commit suicide every day. That number is too high. A number of caring veterans, people, volunteers and folks working with organizations who help veterans are part of the Pay It Forward weekend. There are a number of key ingredients that come together to make a good recipe. Everyone of those ingredients are important and in this case, it is no different. Statistics like this are good to know in respecting Veteran’s Day.
This short segment from Midwest Outdoors TV gives a nice idea of the program, Pay It Forward.
Every year since the outset of this great event, Fishing For Life has been a key partner. They are a group based out of the Twin Cities but reaching out to folks throughout the region helping tremendously with bringing these deserving people together, identifying issues and providing solutions, creating veterans events that are key to fostering support and so much more.
Each year, very special people who happen to be veterans came to Lake of the Woods and made the event memorable. We honor and give thanks to all veterans. Veteran’s Day is another opportunity to remember and to say “thank you”.
The 2021 Pay It Forward event will be August 30 – September 2, 2021. If you would like to know more, are interested in your company being a sponsor or if you are a veteran or know of a veteran who may be interested, check out www.payitforwardlow.org or our Pay it Forward page or email Joe Henry at joe.henry@lakeofthewoodsmn.com.
As this week we celebrated Veteran’s Day, it is only appropriate to celebrate all who have served or currently serve in defending what we have in the great United States of America.
Lake of the Woods in Northern Minnesota offers an abundance of different species of fish to catch. Anglers have plenty of choices as to what kind of fish they wish to target, but as the Walleye Capital of the World, most are after that golden predator. As a diverse fishery, often anglers may catch a species or two they were not planning for. When ice fishing up at The Walleye Capital of the World and you set the hook on what seemingly feels at first like a trophy walleye, don’t be surprised if what appears in your fish hole is a big burbot!
The burbot or eelpout as some call them are loved by some and disliked by others. Some hope they catch a few and can’t wait to eat the firm white flesh many call “poor man’s lobster”. Others cut their line to avoid having to touch the fish. One thing is for sure, Lake of the Wood is a top eelpout fishery, whether you like them or not! With the numbers of pout and size of pout, is Lake of the Woods also the “Eelpout Capital of the World”?
The eelpout or burbot’s scientific name is Lota Lota, which is French for “codfish.” The burbot is the only species of cod that lives entirely in fresh water. Its appearance has been described as “eel-like” or “a cross between an eel and a cod.” It sports one barbel on its chin as well as a barbel-like, tubular extension near each nostril. Burbot inhabit deep, cold lakes in Minnesota but are rarely spotted in the summer months due to their deep water habits and relative inactivity in the warm months.
Burbot spawn while there is still ice covering lakes. They can grow up to 30 inches long and on average weigh 2 pounds but can weigh up to 19 pounds (the current MN record caught on Lake of the Woods). Burbot can live as long as 15-20 years and are known to wrap their tail around an anglers arm when being unhooked. Burbot are opportunistic hunters and are considered the garbage gut of the lake. They will essentially eat anything they can fit in their mouth.
Lake of the Woods not only has a strong population of eelpout, they grow big in these parts. In fact, the majority of the Minnesota state record eelpout have been caught in Lake of the Woods.
Feb. 3, 1980: 14 pounds, 1 ounce, Deer Lake in Itasca County, Leonard Lundeen of Duluth.
March 7, 1982: 14 pounds, 1 ounce, Lake of the Woods, Norman Flagstad of Roseau, Minn.
Jan. 22, 1983: 17 pounds, 8 ounces, Trout Lake in St. Louis County, Allen Lindgren of Virginia, Minn.
March 30, 1998: 18.3 pounds, Lake of the Woods, Robert Wilmes of Nisswa, Minn.
Feb. 17, 2001: 19 pounds, 3 ounces, Lake of the Woods, John Galles of St Paul.
Feb. 24, 2012: 19 pounds, 8 ounces, Lake of the Woods, Aaron Guthrie of Bemidji.
Dec. 19, 2016: 19 pounds, 11 ounces, Lake of the Woods, Brent Getzler of Roosevelt, Minn.
Do all of these record burbot make a case for Lake of the Woods as The Eelpout Capital of the World?
Delicious Fish! Eelpout or burbot are freshwater cod and have earned a long-overdue respect not only for their strong fight, but their taste. Despite their size, eelpout don’t provide a very big filet. The meat comes from both the backstraps and both sections of meat just in front of the tail of the fish.
Back in the day, burbot didn’t have a very good reputation. In fact, many ice anglers would through them out on the ice for eagles and ravens to scavenge up. Over the years, things have changed and the word is out burbot are delicious.
Cooking Burbot. There are many ways to cook “poor man’s lobster”. Some will cube the meat and boil it in Seven Up, Mountain Dew or simply salt water and dip it in melted butter. As burbot is really cod, the meat is firm and it has a nice taste. Others will broil or fry it which is good but doesn’t provide that unique taste and texture as boiling does.
Most burbot are caught by walleye anglers. Many a burbot have spoiled the big walleye fantasy of ice anglers. Don’t be suprised when the fish will actually come topside tail first once in the ice hole. They can really twist and turn, but can’t really wrap around your arm as some describe.
Typically late afternoon into the dark are the best times to target burbot. Your best lures will be rattle type baits with glow colors tipped with a minnow. Burbot can barely see and sense their prey rather than see it. Set your lure anywhere on bottom to 2-3 feet above bottom.
Anglers have come to understand the good eating these fish provide. If you want a great fight through the ice and a great meal after, get hooked up with an eelpout and tell your friends you had a “bout with a pout”! Come up and catch some pout on The Eelpout Capital of the World!?
Have you traveled many roads in your lifetime. Yes, most of us have. I was traveling down a road yesterday and was amazed at the ease of travel and the beauty to be seen all around. Whether coming from the north, south, east or west, there are just the right roads to travel to get to Lake of the Woods.
Roads lead to Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is the largest fresh water lake next to the Great Lakes. I still believe it’s a well-kept secret. Located at the very top of the United States and bordering the great country of Canada this pristine lake and beautiful land area can be reached from many directions.
Highway 11 is the main highway at the very top of the state that reaches from Ranier, MN on Rainy Lake and follows the Rainy River that makes the border between the countries of the US and Canada which flows into Lake of the Woods. Waters there travel from east to west and then north into the lake.
Hwy 11 continues west to the very border of North Dakota. Explore Minnesota puts out a great Minnesota highway map each year with updated roads for folks to travel. Contact them for a free copy. The main road going north to the border
and reaching Hwy 11, Baudette and Lake of the Woods is Highway 71/72. At Blackduck, MN the road number changes from 71 to 72 north. When traveling this road you will be going through the towns of Kellhier and Waskish on Upper Red Lake. After that you will be traveling through the largest bog area of the contiguous United States. The history here is astounding and trees and swamp land and wild life are precious sights instead of billboards. Smile.
To give you a travel perspective, Lake of the Woods is 211 miles from Duluth, MN 232 miles from Fargo, ND, 308 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul, 476 miles from Sioux Falls SD, 550 miles from Des Moines, IA, 608 miles from Milwaukee, WI, 656 miles from Omaha, NE, and 680 miles from Chicago, IL. As you can see it takes many miles of roads to reach this awesome destination.
If you decide to travel by air, there are three commercial flights that come within traveling distance to the area. 70 miles from Baudette to the east is International Falls International Airport which has daily flights to and from MSP using Delta airlines. Rental car companies are available there such as Avis, Ford and GM. Their phone is 218-283-4461 or their website is: www.internationalfallsairport.com. Then take the road to the east to Lake of the Woods.
Bemidji Regional Airport is located 102 miles from Baudette. This airport has daily flights to and from MSP using Delta Airlines also. Again, Rental car companies are anxious to get you on the road north using companies from Enterprise, Alamo, National, Hertz and Economy. Their number is 218-444-2438 and their website is: www.bemidjiairport.org.
Grand Forks International Airport is located in Grand Forks, ND which is 178 miles from Baudette and has flights with Delta Airlines and Allegiant Airlines. To get on the road, Avis, Hertz, National and Enterprise companies are available. There’s more information at 701-795-6981 or www.gfairport.com.
A great tool these days to find the best and fastest roads or routes to Baudette/Lake of the Woods is a GPS or Google Maps. What a great way to travel when someone is telling you ahead of time where to turn and what turn to take on what road.
Ice roads coming soon
Speaking of roads, very soon, Mother Nature is changing the waters of Lake of the Woods to a frozen wonderland. Our resort owners are already preparing to build their famous ice roads across the frozen waters. Ice roads are available to snowmobile, bombardiers, and other methods of travel to make other localities on the lake available during the winter months. Ice sometimes reaches over 3 feet thick so roads are extremely safe to travel north to the Island area or north and west to the Northwest Angle. What an exciting way to travel.
Make your plans now to travel any road you desire to get to the beautiful destination of Lake of the Woods. See www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com for more information and lodging availability.
As area resorts and hotels prepare for ice fishing, it is good to reflect. It has been a year like no other. The pandemic kicking in this past March raised havoc on America which has never lived through a pandemic before. Up at Lake of the Woods, it all started out by cutting short ice fishing mid March. It then rolled into spring fishing and then with restrictions on charter boats, most of May. Businesses shut down for a time, were under a myriad of restrictions and had to learn how to run differently in order to protect both employees and guests.
With an entire spring, summer and fall of learning and implementing procedures different than ever done before, it is safe to say things are in order. Lodging facilities up at Lake of the Woods are now preparing to welcome winter guests and are ready for ice fishing.
People of all types enjoy ice fishing. For some, it is about catching walleyes. For others, it is much more of a social affair, with good food and good company. More and more families are hitting the ice together. Regardless of what kind of group you come up with, social distancing and taking precautions around Lake of the Woods and enjoying the traditions of ice fishing in a safe manner is very doable.
Lake of the Woods County is one of the lower populated counties in the state with a population around 4,000. There are literally more deer than there are people. With that being said, there is so much land and in the winter, frozen lake to get away from it all. One still has to take precautions, but the wide open natural landscape while ice fishing gives anglers a chance to social distance to their heart’s content.
Safety measures area businesses are implementing come in many forms. In some cases, where you check in and check in procedures themselves have changed. Some guests feel the most comfortable to check in online.
Cleaning protocols throughout the lodges, cabins, guest rooms, kitchens, bars, boats, ice transportation and fish houses have changed. Like many things in life, there is a lot happening behind the scenes that nobody will ever see, but greatly benefits guests.
Adhering to the MN Department of Health regulations, resorts, hotels, guides and areas businesses up at Lake of the Woods have had the spring, summer and fall to get in place protocols and are ready to welcome guests this winter. The practice of using masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing are in place. There are also limits on how many people can be in restaurants at a time, how many can be seated together at a table and how many can sit at a bar in a group. This is certainly different that what anyone is used to, but very doable.
For some who want to avoid contact with others, there has been much more communication over the phone and online. Some examples include details of the trip, where fish houses are on the ice, where their room or cabin is located, having the door unlocked and your key(s) waiting for you inside your unit.
Resorts are still offering meals and meal plans, some with the option of delivery and take out. Many resorts have placed menus within cabins and customers can place orders with either delivery to the door of their room or cabin or having one person of the groups pick up the meals.
Walleye in the Hole
Some resorts are dropping off breakfast, minnows and a fish house map at the cabin door each morning. Again, an effort to limit exposure as much as possible for those who would prefer not to come into the lodge.
Some anglers choose to bring their own fish house and utilize the ice roads on Lake of the Woods. Whether it is a wheelhouse or a collapsible fish house, there are options for anglers who are do it yourselfers as well.
These are unprecedented times for all and guidelines put out by various branches of our government and CDC need to be adhered to. Fishing and enjoying the outdoors can be a way to take care of ones mind and spirit and for some is very important. It can also be done in very small groups with limited interaction with others. Adapting has and will continue to take place to ensure safety.
The best way to understand what each lodging facility has done regarding COVID-19 for the ice fishing season is to check out their website, Facebook page or give them a call.
Lake of the Woods businesses in the hospitality industry are some of the most resourceful and caring people in the industry. It is no surprise these hard working folks are finding a way and adapting to the times.
The forecast for ice fishing this winter is very positive. The population of walleyes and saugers is good and we expect a great ice fishing season. Based on your level of comfort and how you prefer to handle precautions with COVID-19, we feel there is an option for just about everyone. We welcome you to Lake of the Woods. Come up, get away from it all and experience The Walleye Capital of the World!
This is the time of year conversations often make their way to ice fishing Lake of the Woods. Planning an ice fishing trip provides anglers variables including when is the best time to go? What is the right location? What lodging best fits our group? Should we eat at the resort, cook our own meals or both? Does a sleeper fish house sound like fun? There
are definitely choices.
Different areas to stay. Whether you stay in the small northern MN town of Baudette, along the Rainy River, the south shore of the lake or up at the NW Angle, there are great ice fishing opportunities to be had.
Baudette, MN is located right on the Rainy River and a great place to stay, shop and dine. This small town of about 1,200 is the largest town in Lake of the Woods County and has most everything you might need while traveling and ice fishing. A newly renovated grocery store, Caribou Coffee, small coffee shops with homemade pastries, restaurants, bars, hardware, auto parts, gifts from the area, bait and fishing gear, it’s all in Baudette!
The resorts and outfitters on the Rainy River and south shore are targeting the big open expanses of Big Traverse Bay. This is big ice, almost the size of a great lake about 25 miles by 25 miles. The ice guides working the ice do a great job of maintaining ice roads, trails, moving fish houses to where the fish are, and ultimately ensuring you a nice experience.
Another great option is ice fishing up at the Northwest Angle. The Angle is the northernmost point of the contiguous U.S. and is where the 14,552 islands of the lake begin. There are islands, reefs and lots and lots of walleyes.
Lodging Options. Lake of the Woods offers beautiful lodging opportunities. Some are located on the water, some in the woods and others conveniently located amongst the action. Cabins, lodge room, hotels and condos are all available. Most have modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi, cable / satellite TV, etc.
The more adventurous might enjoy staying out on the ice in a sleeper fish house. Sleepers are set up with beds, cooking stove, a warm heater and a variety of other conveniences. Imagine waking up and starting to fish right from your bed!
Delicious northern MN cooking! Good food and drink is an important part of a getaway for many. Many resorts offer delicious meal plans and menu options for both eat in and take out. Others have cooking facilities in the cabins for those who like to cook on their own. Some guests do a little of both.
Having a traditional Lake of the Woods fish fry is a must! Whether you have your resort cook up your fresh catch or order walleye off of their menu, get ready to enjoy one of the premier eating fish in the world. Walleye has a very mild flavor with delicious white flakes of meat. Most enjoy it fried but there are many ways to prepare it such as broiled, grilled, blackened and more.
Stop In for a Cold One! There are plenty of cute northwoods bars located around the area, most at resorts. Slide in, warm up and enjoy your favorite beverage while taking in the natural beauty of the area.
Maybe you want to check out the famous Igloo Bar located on the ice. Located a few miles out on the lake from Zippel Bay, this 1,00o square foot bar has a bar, partial hot food menu, two big screen TV’s and you can actually fish inside the bar! Holes all set up with a rattle reel can be rented for a small fee. Can you imagine the excitement when someone catches a fish!
Full Service Ice Fishing. When planning on ice fishing Lake of the Woods, you have the best of all the worlds. LOW resorts are known for there full-service ice fishing. By full-service we mean a delicious breakfast followed by anglers loading into heated resort ice transportation or simply driving their own vehicle on the resort ice road out to preheated fish houses.
Enjoy a nice day in a cozy fish house with your group catching fish and having a good time. At the end of the day, the ice guides will pick you and your bucket of fish up and chauffeur you back to the resort just in time for happy hour. Once arriving back on land, the guides will clean your fish while you get cleaned up or go enjoy your favorite beverage. In some cases, the resort will even cook up your fresh catch!
Full service ice fishing Lake of the Woods opens up this enjoyable and very social winter sport or activity up to just about everyone. Families, girls trip, bachelor / bachelorette parties, company outings, multi-generational trips. This list goes on. It is fun to see the variety of people from all over the U.S. and in some cases, the world, enjoying The Walleye Capital of the World.
Fish on your Own. Anglers with collapsible or wheeled fish houses can gain access to ice roads by paying an ice road access fee. Resorts and outfitters with ice roads do an exceptional job of maintaining roads for safety. Coming in for dinner each night is a breeze and gives you a nice break from being on the ice. Many appreciate the chance to compare notes with other anglers. It’s part of the adventure.
With over 60 lodging facilities around the lake, ice fishing Lake of the Woods is all about choices. Certain times during the winter months can be difficult to find lodging, but not impossible. Calling around to different resorts is one option. Another great option is using the Lodging Availability Finder. Simply enter contact info, dates, what part of the lake you prefer to stay and any details or preference and hit the submit button. Your request is automatically dispatched to the resorts, hotels and sleeper fish house businesses in the area you requested.
There are so many different options when it comes to ice fishing Lake of the Woods. Asking questions and doing some research will definitely help you find exactly the winter getaway you want no matter what you are looking for.
Seems like we are always in a season of anticipation and preparation. It’s no different at Lake of the Woods. This north country is always busy preparing for the great upcoming events or seasons. Are you planning a trip to Lake of the Woods? Here’s where I would start. We have a great website, as you probably know, found at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com. There you will find great information from lodging, to fishing regulations to blogs. If you like to receive mail and catalogs, please let us know by emailing us at info@lakeofthewoodsmn.com and we will send you a physical copy of our great Visitors Guide. You can also see a digital version on the website.
Maps? Anyone love maps besides me? I am an avid map reader myself and my preparations for a trip always include studying my map. Lake of the Woods Tourism has maps. Explore Minnesota furnishes Tourism with current Minnesota State maps. Available upon request. Do your preparations include snowmobiling? As we speak, Lake of the Woods Drifters Club is already preparing the trails for the upcoming season. The Club puts out a great snowmobile map snowmobile map for Lake of the Woods County featuring the great Northern Connection trail. The Club hires a gentleman to take charge of preparing the trails and grooming the trails all season.
The Northwest Angle Snowmobile Club is called the Edge Riders and they produce a great map that features land trails and also trails all across Lake of the Woods. This map is extremely beneficial as it features depth of the lake so anglers that visit can also use this as a guide for open water fishing.
An excellent edition to your map collection. You may also view these maps online as they are available on our website at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/maps through Navionics.
Are your preparations being made for deer hunting this weekend? Yes, deer stands have been prepped, hunters have orange blaze clothing ready to go, their guns are sighted in, ammunition is bought and those preparations are leading to Lake of the Woods. MN DNR has put out the
regulations and licenses and they are available at many locations in the area. Bring your ATV and contact us for an ATV map of the great Beltrami Forest Area. The beauty of the virgin pines throughout the forest make a great trip for sightseeing when you need a break from the deer stand.
Preparations are also being made by all of the resort community. As you know they had to make many preparations early in the season during this Covid time. Many businesses added on to their restaurant/lounges to accommodate visitors and their dining needs. Masks were bought, sanitizers were bought and cabins and lodge rooms were prepared by intense methods of sanitation. Currently the resort community is preparing for the upcoming ice fishing season. You might not think about this but owners are now preparing the fish houses by painted and upgrading their houses for travel onto the lake. Resort owners even provide fishing tackle to the houses, so they need to be prepared also.
Preparation of Ice Houses
That brings us to preparation for the season of ice fishing. No one but the operators themselves know the amount of work it takes to build an ice road. Machinery has to be in tip top condition before taking on the huge endeavor. It’s that preparation time that is so important for making those ice roads like highways on the lake to be completely safe for the visitors that come each year to this marvelous fishery.
Other preparations are also being made behind the scenes. Organizations in Baudette are making preparations for the annual Frost Fest to be held on December 5th. They are busy bees trying to make this celebration very enjoyable for those attending. The season is very different this year and even the Women of Today went to extreme measures provide children with a safe Halloween experience.
Street departments will soon be working in preparation for the Christmas Season as they string lights and decorations. Churches are already preparing for services around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Preparation is always ongoing in whatever subject you care to speak about. Again, please seek out the information prepared on the Lake of the Woods website and/or order your maps for you upcoming visit. And thanks for your preparations to visit this great northland at Lake of the Woods.
The tackle industry is competitive. In today’s world, having a small tackle manufacturing company certainly is not the norm. With that being said, there is a company just north of Baudette off of Hwy 172 that has focused on a niche of designing fishing tackle for Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River. Tom’s Tackle manufacturers, distributes and sells a variety of tackle that is geared to the stained waters of the watershed and certainly Lake of the Woods walleyes.
When you chat with anglers who have spent time in these parts, many of them realize and have learned to save at least a portion of their tackle budget until they get up to Lake of the Woods as there are lures, jigs and other fishing tackle here you just can’t find in other parts of the state. Shapes, sizes, colors and styles that absolutely are proven to catch fish on LOW but are effective on other bodies of water as well.
If you notice, the colors are geared towards stained water like Lake of the Woods, the Rainy River and other waters in the north country. Some of the lures have rattles that can be effective calling in walleyes. Walleyes have a lateral line that senses vibrations and often times will assist them in finding prey in the dark waters. Other lures simply have the right size, color or action to them. Some common names you may have heard of are pink charmer, stop sign, rock n roll jig and jig o bit.
Tom’s Tackle, Inc is a family owned business that designs and produces their own unique brand of lures and fishing accessories. The original company started in 1959 and has been passed down as a family business throughout the years. Owner operator Dave Wiersma along with his parents Dean and Shirley Wiersma have been producing Tom’s Tackle’s unique line of tackle for the last 15 years.
Dean is the man behind it all and is truly the highlight of Tom’s Tackle. Dean’s dream has become a reality, and with his ability to think outside the box and his never quit attitude, his dream has allowed this fishing tackle company to go from producing jigs in a garage to a 1,232 square foot shop that is now pushing capacity. Dean heads up the lead room and with his spin cast machines, has built Tom’s Tackle to what it is today.
Most mornings Dean can be heard saying, “Ya know, I couldn’t sleep last night and I thought about this or I thought about that”. From those thoughts, an idea is born bringing the team together to debate it, develop it and put his idea into action. Dean spins everything from jigs to bottom bouncers to sinkers. Basically, anything with lead, Dean can spin it. They even make their own molds so they can cover every step in the process from the initial idea to the finished product. It is exciting when they can get out on the lake and test one of their own ideas allowing them to tweak and modify a lure to certain specifications before it ever hits the marketplace.
Dave and Shirley head up the sales and distribution of the tackle for the company. They have grown this company by loading up a trailer and hitting the road three times a week for the last 15 years. The people in Northern Minnesota are all too familiar with the Tom’s Tackle truck and trailer as it pulls into bait and tackle stores, resorts, and local gas stations. They have literally built their wholesale business one customer at a time and always welcome new customers as they continue to expand.
In 2013 they added the snow plow line to their manufacturing business. Their plows come in three standard sizes and can also be customized to fit your needs. These plows are in many cases some of the tough plows you will see on Lake of the Woods ice pushing massive amounts of snow to open up ice roads. You can read more on the plows under the category Lake of the Woods Brand Snow Plows.
The owners and staff at Tom’s Tackle, Inc feel that their personal relationships with their customers are invaluable to the business and they are committed to continue to provide service that is second to none. Tom’s Tackle, Inc is and will always be a family owned business in an ever changing business world that is committed to personal relationships. This is the formula that has built the company and is the true foundation for their current and future success.
How did Tom’s Tackle, Inc gets its name?
It was originally started in 1959 by a Baudette resident, Tom Nichol. After just two years, Tom and his wife moved to Alaska. They sold the business to Adolph Marhula and along with his two sons, operated the business until 1969. Adolph then sold the business to Henry Sindelir who kept it going until 1998 when Dean and Shirley took it over. Along with their son, Dave, they have continued to expand the business, all the time retaining its original name of Tom’s Tackle.
The next time you make your way to the Lake of the Woods area, keep your eyes open for some cool looking tackle in local bait shops and at resorts that was custom made with LOW walleyes in mind.
If you follow Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River and October fishing, you have probably heard this is a very interesting fall! There has been a very good run of big shiners up the Rainy River. That is a good thing, right? Well it is, but if there is so much bait, that also makes it more difficult to catch walleyes who literally have a buffet under their noses all day and night long.
The Rainy River is way down and the flow is slow. Normally, more water running in the fall is thought to be a key ingredient to a hot river bite. The thought is the walleyes in the lake can sense the river water and it pulls them in for the shiners. When it’s all said and done, everyone has thoughts but only Mother Nature really knows.
What we can share for certain is what has been happening. Earlier in October, the reports on the river were very mixed, we believe because of all of the bait. Some caught great, others struggled. This past week, we have heard some excellent reports from the river. What has changed? Again, time to check in with Mother Nature!
We can say that October fishing, around Halloween, there has traditionally been a good bite on the river. Unless something changes, things are shaping up nicely to follow suit. Some good reports east of Baudette as well. Move around until you find them.
There has been some very good October fishing reports from the lake all along. Areas in front of the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point Gap and Zippel Bay are putting out some very nice walleyes. In some cases, there might be some sorting that takes place, but overall, some good fishing.
The majority of the walleyes being caught these days is jig fishing with a jig and minnow. There are a number of nuances when it
comes to jigs and minnows and each angler has their favorites. It is good to have a number of tools in your jigging tool belt when it comes to jigging
. One thing is for sure, October is a month to get your jigging fix.
Color. Lake of the Woods is stained water. Consequently, there are some go to colors that work quite consistently. Gold is one color that absolutely shines and is a staple color in anglers fishing this system. As many long time LOW anglers will tell you, use any color on LOW as long as it’s gold. In some cases, the gold is combined with other colors such as glow red, glow, pink or orange.
Other strong colors when jig fishing are pink, orange, chartreuse and glow. Glow is an interesting choice in colors as it really shows up nicely in stained water. The other caveat is the different colors of glow that are available now. Glow red, glow pink, etc. Glow is also a nice complimentary color that is added to other colors.
There are also jigs now that have many different edges, almost like a disco ball. These jigs reflect light differently and some anglers swear by them.
Shape and noise. Some jigs have different shapes. Most are round but there are other shapes that can be attractive to walleyes. In current, thinner molded jigs can cut the current allowing a different action and allow a lighter jig to be used.
Some jigs have extra noise attractants on them. In some cases it’s a rattle, in other cases a propeller or spinner. It is amazing how, in some cases, a little bit of noise can make such a difference.
Hooking the minnow. Most anglers who jig simply hook the minnow through the lips when jig fishing. This technique is effective unless the walleyes are short biting. Many of the charters on LOW have their customers hook the frozen shiners through the mid body. Basically, place the hook of the jig through the mouth and out of the gill of the shiner, push it all the way up to the lead head and then hook the minnow through the mid section. In the stained water, the walleyes are less finicky about the presentation and this allows for a better percentage of successful hooksets.
Add a Stinger Hook. Stinger hooks can make the difference between a great day of jig fishing and just an OK day of jig fishing. A stinger hook is a small treble hook on a short piece of fishing line attached to your jig. The purpose of the stinger is to get a hook in the tail area of your minnow if the walleyes are short biting and you are missing bites. It has amazed me over the years first off how delicate a nice walleye can bite. Secondly, how such a small stinger hook can stick a bit walleye and keep it buttoned up to the net.
October fishing and using a jig can be an easy way to fish, certainly effective and relaxing. At the same time, there are ways to get this technique to be more productive. Thinking about the nuances and understanding how to use them can up the ante on your walleye jigging performance.
Safety measures area businesses are implementing come in many forms. In some cases, where you check in and check in procedures themselves have changed. Some guests feel the most comfortable to check in online.
