Back by popular demand, The Old Days of Lake of the Woods Fishing…
Things have sure changed over the years when it comes to the old days fishing. Things have also changed when it comes to looking back at the old days of Lake of the Woods. It was for this reason Bret Amundson of Prairie Sportsman TV decided to produce a piece chatting with some of the resort owners with a lot of history under their belt from this body of water so near and dear to the hearts of many.
There were many great resort owners to choose from. For this episode, time was spent with Ed and Jack Arnesen of Arnesen’s Rocky Point, Steve Ballard of Ballard’s Resort and Mike Trueman, former owner of Border View Lodge.
The stories are interesting, almost like taking a mini history class. Ed Arnesen speaks of his grandfather walking to Rocky Point in about 1894 from the Red River Valley. “He wasn’t much for farming and had heard about the sturgeon fishing on Lake of the Woods. He homesteaded here in 1897 and started his own fishery,” explains Arnesen. “The sturgeon were used for their caviar. At one time, Lake of the Woods produced 2/3 of the world’s caviar.”
“In 1961, my parents moved up here from NW Iowa. I was five years old,” explains Steve Ballard of Ballard’s Resort. “They bought their first launch in 1962. It was a 23′ Chris Craft. When you were out there, you had no cell phones. If you broke down, you pretty much had to figure out how to get home. In the earlier years, there were no marine band radios, so you were on your own. If the weather changed, you ducked behind an island and rode it out. Now everyone is looking at their I phone telling everyone where the storm is,” explains Ballard.
“When we first moved here, we were very fortunate that for the most part, all resort owners got along very well just because of the way things were and the changes that were coming about, getting into the winter business. The 80’s was a lot of change,” explains Mike Trueman, previous owner of Border View Lodge. “I got into the ice fishing business the winter of ’85-’86. At that time, I know we got $25 per person. That was transportation out and back, the fish house, bait, your tackle. We supplied the poles and everything. I wanna say we got about $15 per night per head for the cabin, and it just grew. The winter business not only helped financially, but you didn’t have to hug and kiss your guides and summer employees in the fall and hope you got them back in the spring because now you could keep them employed,” explains Trueman.
The stories went on and on. For anyone into Lake of the Woods, into history, into the transformation of both open water and ice fishing, this is definitely a piece to peak your interest.
It is not always easy to get in front of a camera and talk about the past. I want to personally thank Ed and Jack Arnesen, Steve Ballard and Mike Trueman for taking the time to share about the way things used to be, how and when they started to change and the way you see things now. Precious history like this is invaluable. We hope you find this short ten minute segment of Prairie Sportsman TV as intriguing as we did.
The 7th Annual Ice Derby is set for Thursday, February 6th out of Wheeler’s Point Resort. There are some fun changes this year with the inclusion of a catch, photograph, release format. On Lake of the Woods, there is a slot limit. Any walleye caught between 19.5 inches and 28 inches has to be released immediately with anglers being able to keep one fish per day over 28 inches. With a normal “keep” ice derby in which fish are brought to weigh in, there could be a number of big walleyes caught over 28 inches and brought back for weigh in. That means that fish will never swim again.
With this year’s catch, photo, release format, anglers are allowed to photograph the walleye on of of Wheeler’s Point Resort’s official rulers and the image shared with the resort judges vs the actual fish. This will allow participants the chance to photograph and release trophy walleyes if they so choose to.
In addition, catch, photo, release allows walleyes that are in the protected slot to be photographed and counted for the contest. In a traditional “keep” tournament, anglers would be looking to catch walleyes up to 19.5 inches and hoping to get a trophy over 28 inches.
Anglers must be fishing Lake of the Woods, but the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay are off limits. Check out the rules sheet here for official rules of the derby.
Ice fishing is fun all by itself, let alone adding the excitement of an ice fishing tournament or “ice derby” to the mix. Everyone is welcome regardless of where you are staying. If you would like to find out more or register for this derby, contact Wheeler’s Point Resort at 218-634-2629,
Yes, Good News-there’s Great Ice on Lake of the Woods. This great expanse of water in the northland is the sight of near 30 inches of ice and supports many fish houses and wheelhouses.
Jerry Carlson of the St. Cloud Times recently wrote an article while interviewing Lake of the Woods Tourism Director, Joe Henry.
He wrote, “For much of the northern part of the state, the ice conditions have been a disaster this winter. Heavy snow, slush and thin ice have had a major impact on fishing.
Normal winter hotspots like Red, Winnie and Leech have all had issues. Travel has been limited to snowmobiles and ATVs in many locations. In some cases, there are plowed roads that are open to truck traffic and wheelhouses, but those are limited. If you are traveling to these lakes in the near future, call ahead for current conditions.
There’s Good News-Great Ice, a bright spot up north at Lake of the Woods. Most of the major snows have missed the area allowing them to develop over two feet of good ice.
This popular winter destination is home to over 50 resorts and outfitters that work Lake of the Woods in the winter. About a dozen of these resorts plow and maintain roads for those that wish to bring their own wheelhouse.
The walleye and sauger activity has been consistent. Henry did remind me that as of last year, the limits have changed. An angler can have a total of six fish in possession with no more than four of these walleyes. It used to be eight. There is tremendous wintertime fishing pressure on Lake of the Woods with more than two million angling hours put in last year. In an effort to protect the sauger population, they reduced the limit by two. The protected slot limit for walleyes is still 19.5 to 28 inches. Anglers can keep one walleye over 28. Fishing regulations on Lake of the Woods are different from the rest of the state. Houses are allowed on the ice through the end of March. The walleye season stays open through April 14th.
If traveling to Lake of the Woods, Henry highly recommends using sonar equipment as fish often come in suspended off of the bottom.”
This has been the opinion of outdoors columnist Jerry Carlson. Contact him at jerrycarlson@cloudnet.com.
Whether visiting to the north country in winter or summer, you’ll find a number of Historical Sites at Lake of the Woods. Let’s visit some of them now.
Lake of the Woods County Museum in Baudette is a bridge to the past. It has exhibits on geology, natural history, native cultures, the Great Forest Fire of 1910, commercial fishing in the past, logging, agriculture and pharamaceutical industries.
Cairn of Peace World Ploughing 2019
The new exhibit coming in the spring of 2020 will be the Cairn of Peace from the World Ploughing Competition which was held the fall of 2019 in Lake of the Woods County where 28 countries joined in from around the world. The museum is open seasonally or by appointment
The Baudette Depot – Once abandoned in the 1980s, is now completely renovated as of 2011. The Depot of 1923 is one of Baudette’s favorite connections to the Canadian Railway and start to the city of Baudette. The depot sits on land leased from CN (the Canadian National Railways) at the very end of Main Ave. Head in for a private tour or attend one of the many festivities and art shows this beautiful location holds.
Fort St. Charles – is the site of the original fortress and fur-trading post erected in 1732, by the French-Canadian voyageurs. The fort is on Magnusson’s Island and is open to the public. This island is accessible by boat during open water
months and snowmobile during the winter months. There is no charge to visit this site
Faunce Tower Lookout – is a 100 foot stairway tower erected by the Civilian Conservations Corps in 1935. It replace an
Faunce Tower
older tower located 3 miles to the south of the original along Faunce Forest Road. It also marks the lost village of Faunce. Faunce campground is located at this site which stands roughly 12 miles south of Williams on Co Rd 2.
Norris Camp – is today’s headquarters of the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area. The history of Norris Camp began in 1933 with President Roosevelt’s CCC program and it became the impetus for creating Norris Camp. Today you can travel to Faunce Tower and Norris Camp view the beauty of the Beltrami Forest with native pines lining the drive. Bicycle enthusiasts would especially enjoy this ride.
Painted Rock Island – is located on Lake of the Woods. Earliest Settlers and those passing through have left their mark on the north side of that Rock. These pictographs are extimated to be over 900 years old. This can be viewed from a boat in the channel between Painted Rock Island and Split Rock Island adjacent to the NW Angle just into Ontario.
Historical Sites at Lake of the Woods also includes Native history found on both sides of this international border. Come and enjoy the beauty of Lake of the Woods area by traveling through its rich history.
If you are close to the Chicago area, stop by Thursday – Sunday, January 26 – 29, 2023 and say hello to Joe Henry of Lake of the Woods Tourism at the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo. In addition to answering questions, giving out specific information, and handing out the brand new Lake of the Woods Visitor’s Guides, Joe will be conducting two seminars titled, “Spot Hopping for Walleyes” and “Lake of the Woods 101”.
Thursday, January 26, 2023 @ 4 pm, Seminar Hall (2nd Floor). Spot Hoppin’ for Walleyes
Saturday, January 28, 2023 @ Noon, Seminar Hall (2nd Floor). Spot Hoppin’ for Walleyes
Sunday, January 29, 2023 @ 11:00 am, Seminar Hall (2nd Floor). Lake of the Woods 101 (emphasis on walleyes)
Spot Hoppin’ for Walleyes is a strategy to maximize productivity on catching walleyes on lakes and rivers, clear water and stained water in all parts of the walleye world. Discussing this strategy used by guides and tournament angler to quickly break apart the body of water and understanding in a short time where the walleyes are and what it will take to catch them.
In addition, this year’s Chicagoland Fishing Show will feature an informative Lake of the Woods 101 seminar featuring helpful info about the lake, Rainy River and NW Angle. Seasonal patterns, techniques, seasons and limits will be discussed. Some of the top techniques to catch walleyes along with the nuances to those presentations to really put more walleyes in the boat will be part of this presentation.
The seminars are jam packed with videos, images and maps to give you the help you need in having a successful trip up to The Walleye Capital of the World or simply whacking more walleyes using a number of very effective methods.
Stop by our booth #723!
If you plan on attending the show, stop by and enter the drawing for a free fishing trip and say hello!
Lake of the Woods Tourism will be in booth #723 at the Schaumburg Convention Center. We hope to see you at the 2023 Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo!
When In Depth Outdoors host James Holst hooks up with long time NW Angle guide, Eric Grundahl, good things are bound to happen. On this episode, shot just recently during an arctic blast of cold temps, the two decided to hunker down in -15 degree weather. Because of the cold, they weren’t going to be moving around a lot and picked a spot they thought they could sit on and catch fish. Well, between the knowledge of the area and their understanding of catching walleyes, things turned out pretty good.
On this day, the pair were using minnow baits. Initially, Holst was using a #4 Rapala Rippin Rap, a lure that brings a lot of noise. Not only does it have vibration when you rip it, it has rattles in the lure that can be heard a long ways away. Grundahl started out with a minnow bait without so much noise and also caught a good number of walleyes on the show.
Holst is no stranger to Lake of the Woods and the NW Angle. He has fished it often both in the open water and on the ice.
Later in the show, James Holst gets a surprise with a big pike hitting the lure. Grundahl, who has handled thousands of pike in his fishing career, grabbed the big fish from the ice hole like a champ just as the lure falls out of the pike’s mouth.
Always an educational show, check out In Depth Outdoors fishing out of the NW Angle. Who says walleyes are tough to catch in sub zero weather!
As many Midwesterners who enjoy ice fishing are in the heart of the ice fishing season, it is good to look ahead at a month of ice fishing that many don’t really consider when it comes to targeting walleyes and pike, March! You see, in most of the great state of Minnesota, March ice fishing is somewhat limited. Fish houses cannot be left overnight on the ice after February 28th, the walleye season and pike season closes and ice fishing for those targeting predators appears to be
over.
March on Lake of the Woods, however, is very different. Fish houses are allowed overnight through March 31st. The walleye and sauger season continues on through April 14th and the pike season is open continuously. Being farther north, the ice typically is good and thick throughout the month, and even if some melting is taking place, ice fishing is happening in areas of the lake less affected by runoff, flow of water and current. On Lake of the Woods, ice fishing for March walleyes and pike is the norm and allows an extra month of excellent fishing.
Some resorts actually extend the life of the ice by blanketing ice approaches to the land access with saw dust or hay. For those of you with more history under your belt than others, this is much in the same way ice was kept for ice boxes.
What a great time of the year. The sun is out longer, the fish are active and in some cases staging for the spawn and some days anglers actually need to wear sunscreen. Other days seem more like winter with snow and cold. It’s March w
alleyes and pike on Lake of the Woods and it’s tradition.
This is an interesting place. One one end of Lake of the Woods, people are catching walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, world class pike and mo
nster eelpout through the ice. Fish have the feedbag on gaining energy for the upcoming spawn.
On the other end of the spectrum towards mid or late March, the Rainy River is open and people are fishing in boats. This is the time of the year that big numbers of walleyes from Lake of the Woods slide up the Rainy River on their annual spawning run. This is also the time of year an angler can catch a walleye of a lifetime, not to mention big numbers of fish.
Most anglers will be using jigs and minnows for walleyes. More popular are jigs and plastics. The brighter colors of chartreuse, orange, pink and white are all popular colors depending upon many factors, the color of the water being one.
The walleye season on Lake of the Woods continues through April 14th. The regulations on the Rainy River for March through April 14th is different than the lake as the walleye season is catch and release only. As most anglers aren’t here for the fillets, the chance at a monster walleye, big numbers of walleyes and a chance to splash your boat for the first time this year is all what draws anglers the end of March and through April 14th.
Limits on Lake of the Woods remain consistent with a combined limit of 6 walleyes and saugers, with up to 4 of the 6 being walleyes. Any walleye between 19.5″ – 28.0″ must be returned to the water immediately, with anglers being able to keep one fish over 28″.
Limits on pike are three with a protected slot limit of 30″ – 40″ having to be returned to the water immediately. Anglers are allowed one pike over 40″.
If you decide you want to get in some bonus March ice fishing, here is a list of resorts and outfitters from the south end of the lake up to the NW Angle.
Whatever you decide, fishing for predators in March and April on Lake of the Woods is in full gear and as a trophy fishery for both walleyes and pike, might be worth a trip!
Thousands of ice anglers flock to Lake of the Woods every hard water season. As anglers make their way to the Walleye Capital, there are a variety of expectations that make for a successful trip. In many cases, catching fish and having a fish fry are somewhere on the list. Saugers are often a part of this equation.
Comedian Rodney Dangerfield coined the phrase, “I don’t get no respect.” One of the fish that doesn’t get respect, yet day in and day out keeps anglers busy and fills buckets is the sauger. This smaller cousin to the walleye is sometimes taken for granted.
When headed up to Lake of the Woods, many anglers’ focus is on the fish that has made LOW famous, the walleye. On days when going after those walleyes is a test in great patience, saugers play a big part in what makes Lake of the Woods such an enjoyable fishing destination. Here are ten good reasons to love saugers.
Consistent action. In between schools of walleyes or if the walleyes are not biting well that day, saugers normally bite well and keep the activity level high. There have been many days ice fishing that saugers have saved the day and certainly preserved the evening fish fry. If the walleyes aren’t dialed in that particular day for whatever reason, having saugers whacking the lures and dead sticks really adds to the enjoyment.
High population and good sized. Sauger numbers at Lake of the Woods fluctuate year to year. One thing we know, right now, there is an extremely high population of saugers in the system and many of them big. When I say big for sauger, I am talking up to 17 or 18 inches. This creates a perfect scenario for a lot of action, that exciting red line appearing on your electronics and that heart-pounding “tap” at the end of your ice rod.
Living Quarters. Saugers will coexist with walleyes. It is common to come in with a bucket of walleyes and saugers mixed. As a rule, though, saugers tend to prefer a bit deeper water than walleyes. In addition, they normally hug the bottom vs walleyes that will utilize more of the water column, often suspending while targeting tulibees and other baitfish.
Great for kids. Depending upon the day, walleye fishing can take some patience. Saugers are typically more cooperative and help to bring consistent action to a fish house. Kids want and need action and saugers will typically keep electronics lit up and bobbers bouncing.
Saugers are unique. Many waterways throughout the Midwest do not have saugers. Saugers traditionally live in waterways associated with a river system and do well in stained water. Thus, most anglers do not have the opportunity to catch saugers on a regular basis. Looking at the sauger vs the walleye, there are differences. Saugers do not have the white tip on the bottom of the tail, they have splotches on their skin, are browner, do not have a dark area at the base of their dorsal fin and have spots on their dorsal fin.
Delicious. The firm white meat of a sauger is very much sought after. Some locals will tell you they like the sauger better than even the walleye, as they believe the meat is a bit sweeter. Regardless of opinion, one thing is for sure, they taste good.
Liberal daily limits. There is a strong population of saugers in LOW. In the winter months, anglers are allowed a combined total of six walleyes and saugers per day. Of these six, up to four can be walleyes. With these limits, it lends itself well to filling a bucket of fish for an evening fish fry and bringing a few fish home.
Saugers bite all winter. In some lakes when the oxygen levels decrease in February, fishing really shuts off. Lake of the Woods keeps on trucking in February. It is big water and luckily, there are so many saugers in the system some fish seem to cooperate every day making for a successful outing. March can be incredible fishing for both walleyes and saugers as it is the month fish are putting on the feedbag for the upcoming spawn and catching fish can literally be nonstop.
Season open into April! For the avid ice angler who cannot fathom the end of ice fishing, no worries. Lake of the Woods season for walleyes and saugers is open until April 14th. Ice houses can remain on the lake until March 31st. Depending upon the year, we are often still ice fishing and catching walleyes and saugers through the ice until the end of March.
Fun to catch! Sauger fishing is much like walleye fishing. The fish are typically hugging the bottom of the lake and they are normally a bit deeper. Jigging your favorite lure with a minnow head in one hole and having a dead stick down the second with a live minnow suspended 6 inches from the bottom will usually do the trick. Much like walleyes, every day is different. One day they will be chasing down your jigging lure with wild abandon. On other days, the jigging line will attract them, but if in more of a neutral mood, they may prefer a wiggling minnow on a plain hook or small ice jig.
Although walleyes receive most of the attention, saugers play an important role in the overall fishing success during the ice fishing season on Lake of the Woods. Saugers are fun to catch and swim the waters of Lake of the Woods in abundance. More often than not, when you come for that epic walleye trip, saugers will be happy to pay you a visit!
When looking for a vacation experience, travel to the area of Minnesota to where the largest fresh water lake next to the Great Lakes in the contiguous United States is. It is the northern-most spot in the United States. We also have the privilege of being located on the border of Canada and the United States with a border crossing right in town. That town we’re mentioning is Baudette, MN. It’s one of the finest destinations you could ever visit, but how do you get to Lake of the Woods?
Most people travel to this area by automobile with good roads and scenery that is beautiful. As you travel north in the state of Minnesota, you will be crossing a large portion of land that is the biggest bog area in
the contiguous United States also. There you will not find billboards galore, but instead you will find great natural forest areas with giant pines and cedars and fields of peat moss.
Let’s look at distances to get to Lake of the Woods. We are 126 miles from Winnipeg, MN, Canada; 211 miles from Duluth, MN; 232 miles from Fargo, ND; 308 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN; 476 miles from Sioux Falls, SD; 608 miles from Milwaukee, WI; and 680 miles from Chicago, IL. Driving these distances are great adventures but also take time. When traveling to the Northwest Angle, be sure to have proper documentation such as
passport, passport card or enhanced driver’s license.
We are fortunate in this area to have access to Commercial airports in close proximity of Baudette. International Falls Airport is 70 miles East of Baudette and has daily flights to and from MSP using Delta airlines. Rental car companies are available there. For more info call 218.283.4461 or at www.internationalfallsairport.com. Bemidji is 102 miles south of
Photo by Iwan Shimko on Unsplash
Baudette and also has daily flights to and from MSP using Delta Airlines at Bemidji Regional Airport. For more info here call 218.444.2638 or www.bemidjiairport.org. Rental cars available. Grand Forks International Airport is 178 miles to the west of Baudette and also has flights using Delta and Allegiant Airlines. Information can be obtained at 701.795.6981 or at www.glkairport.com.
Before you arrive, be sure you have obtained lodging using our webpage at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/lodging. Make your travel plans now to explore this great area.
Snowmobile trails are in excellent shape throughout Lake of the Woods. The area boasts hundreds of miles of groomed and staked trails. Some of the most beautiful
scenery available awaits sledders with very little snowmobile traffic. Trails extend both through the forests as well as over the lake up to the NW Angle.
The lake trail connecting the south shore to the NW Angle is a groomed and staked trail. It not only provides snowmobilers a beautiful ride of about 42 mi
les north but access to some very good ice fishing spots not fished by anglers on the south shore of the lake.
The land trails both on the south end of the lake as well as up at the Angle are second to none. Most comment about the good shape the trails are in, lack of snowmobile traffic and beautiful scenery.
Snowmobile maps are available at Lake of the Woods Tourism in Baudette and other resorts and area businesses. Maps are also available online.
The Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club out of Baudette grooms trails on the south end of Lake of the Woods where the famous Northern Connection Trail travels through the forests along Highway 11 and south. This includes travel through the city of Baudette. The club is actively grooming and marking hundreds of miles of trails through forested areas and on Lake of the Woods.
There is additional info about snowmobiling the Lake of the Woods area on the Lake of the Woods Tourism website. Stop in to Lake of the Woods Tourism to obtain both snowmobile maps before you ride, a visitor guide and info about the area. Need a list of lodging around Lake of the Woods, we can assist with that as well. Have fun and be safe by checking with locals resorts for ice conditions before you go.
Baudette’s favorite connections to the Canadian Railway and start to the city of 
