As boaters across Minnesota prepare to hit the water, they need to keep in mind tips for being safe on cold water as well as their responsibility for staying close to home and practicing socially distancing under Gov. Tim Walz’s “Stay at Home” executive order.

“As Minnesotans, we have a natural urge to get outside this time of year – and for many of us, that’s especially true this spring,” said Rodmen Smith, DNR Enforcement Division director. “We constantly remind people about ways they can stay safe while they’re on the water. In light of COVID-19, we also ask this year that you take additional steps to protect yourself, your family, and the people around you.”

Cold-water safety
No matter when the ice went out, there’s one common theme: The water this time of year is dangerously cold. Falls into the water can quickly turn tragic. With water temperatures not much above freezing, a fall in likely will trigger cold-water shock. Numbness will set in quickly, and swimming or calling for help will be difficult. You’ll probably gasp uncontrollably and draw water into your lungs. Even strong swimmers may drown within minutes.

“The best way to prevent that from happening is to wear a life jacket – actually wear it, not just have it along,” said Lisa Dugan, DNR Enforcement recreation safety outreach coordinator. “It’s the easiest and most effective way to prevent an unfortunate situation from turning into a tragedy.”

The cold-water season isn’t the time to boat alone, either. This year, people should head out only with members of their immediate household and let others on shore know where they’re going and when they plan to return. Keep the floor of the boat free of clutter to avoid tripping and falling into the water, and ensure the boat has safety equipment such as life jackets, communication and noise-making devices, and a first-aid kit.

Boating during COVID-19
When hitting the water, know the DNR’s COVID-19 outdoor recreation guidelines and practice the following to protect yourselves and others:

• Maintain social distance of at least 6 feet. This includes places such as fuel stations and community docks, and means no beaching or tying up to other boats.
• Boat only with people in your immediate household.
• Boat close to home. Travel to and from the access site without making other stops.
• When fueling, wash your hands as you would when fueling a car. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Do not touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• When launching and loading your boat, give people ahead of you plenty of time and space to finish launching or loading before you approach.
• Keep in mind water-access site conditions may be different than in previous years. DNR-managed accesses are open, but spring maintenance is not completed.
• If you have been diagnosed with, or are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (including fever, cough, or difficulty breathing), stay home. This self-isolation period should extend for at least seven days after the illness begins and include 72 hours of being fever-free without using fever-reducing medications and resolution of other symptoms.
• Know what’s open. To see what DNR-managed sites are available, see the DNR’s COVID-19 website or call the DNR information center at 651-296-6157 or 888 646-6367.

This time of year, it is good for even the most experienced boater and angler to think about being safe with ice cold water conditions.  Add COVID – 19 and safe takes on even more meaning.

 

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Click here to find lodging in Lake of the Woods County

Fargo, N.D., April 13, 2020—A new original television production from Prairie Public travels to the curious bump on Minnesota’s northern border. “The Northwest Angle: Minnesota’s Best Kept Secret” premieres on Thursday, April 30, at 8:30 p.m. CT. The documentary can also be viewed after the television premiere on the PBS Video app and on Prairie Public’s YouTube channel.

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 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.

“The Northwest Angle: Minnesota’s Best Kept Secret” 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.

 

Learn more about Minnesota’s NW Angle

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Anglers are looking ahead to the time of the year again when the MN Tournament Trail (MTT) comes up to Lake of the Woods.  The very well run walleye tournament is held out of Border View Lodge which is well positioned right next to the Wheeler’s Point public access at the mouth of the Rainy River.  The tournament is a 2 person team format and is open to the public.  With the health of the fishery and strong numbers of big fish, this will be a fun one!

The dates of the MN Tournament Trail on LOW are July 10 and July 11.  Each day is it’s own tournament and actually have different formats.  On Friday, July 10th, the format of the tournament is PRT, standing for Photo Release Tournament.  This is a fun format.  Basically, each team will receive an official MTT measuring stick and SD card the morning of the tournament upon boat inspection.  Because this is a release tournament, every walleye, even though it might be within the slot of 19.5″ – 28″ which have to be released on Lake of the Woods, they can take a couple of pictures of it, release it and it counts for points.  So rather than fishing for walleyes just under that 19.5″, anglers are fishing for the largest fish in the lake, even if they are in the slot.

Basically, when a MN Tournament Trail team catches a walleye, they have to take two images.  One image will be the walleye on the registered ruler.  Of course, check official rules, but one angler will place the walleye on the bump board (ruler) with it’s head to the left and belly of the fish facing the angler holding the fish.  Hands of the angler need to be away from the head and tail to show the fish is touching and where the tail measures.  The angler with the camera takes one picture of the walleye on the official ruler and a second “hero” shot, a picture of the fish being held to the camera.  This second shot shows the markings of a walleye ensuring the same fish cannot be used twice.

It is important for anglers to double check images for clarity, shadows and any other faux pas before releasing the fish back.  Once anglers handle and take picture of a couple of walleyes, it’s easy.  It also really feels good to get credit for a nice walleye just under 28″, being able to release fish healthy back into the lake and not have to pay attention to fish in the livewell.

The video below gives a nice idea on how the PRT works.  The MTT implemented this format in 2015 initially on Mille Lacs Lake as it was catch and release only.  The PRT is now being used on Lake of the Woods for the one day tournament this year, July 5th.  It has been utilized on LOW in past years with success.

The second one day tournament on July 11th goes back to the traditional tournament where fish are kept and will have to be under 19.5″ with one walleye over 28″ per angler.

Some anglers prefer the new PRT.  Others prefer tradition.  Whatever way you prefer it, both are fun tournaments during a time walleyes can really be caught in many different areas of the lake using a wide variety of techniques.

Tournaments offer anglers the opportunity to competitively fish for walleyes.  There are a variety of teams that fish including friends, couples, and father/son and so on.  If you haven’t tried a tournament, the MTT is a nice way to dip your big toe in the water.  It is quite reasonable to enter, $220 per team per tournament day.

Fishing a tournament forces anglers to think while on the water.  Changing weather conditions, fish that moved, fishing over fish that are not biting.  All of these scenarios require making decisions.  It is a south wind, should we set up outside the Lighthouse Gap and see if fish are loading up this morning?  It is a strong north wind, should we travel all the way to Garden Island or fish our fish closer to home base?  The wind died, do we still try our shallow spots or focus on deeper spots?

If you are interested in fishing Lake of the Woods in a tournament, this is a great one.  There are a number of lodging options available in the area.  Mike Holt is the tournament director and between he and his wife Renee run a great tournament.  To find out more about fishing the MTT or to register, go to www.mntournamenttrail.com or call 320-679-2825.

 

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

To find a guide, charter boat or lodging, check out our lodging page.

I have to admit, my initial thoughts of Lake of the Woods are walleyes, not a history museum. I have to admit, each and every time I have the chance to visit, I am entertained and educated.  The museum is set up with a variety of displays showing what it was like in the past.  There is a rich history around Lake of the Woods and the different settings within the museum do a wonderful job of showing how life used to be in these parts.  The Lake of the Woods Historical Society is located in east Baudette across from the Lake of the Woods County offices. (www.LakeoftheWoodsHistoricalSociety.com)

The LOW Historical Society opens each year in Mid May and is open to the public. Inside you will find fascinating items from past generations. The experience for this non history connoisseur was delightful and I will be back.

For the outdoors minded person, everything from old fishing rods, tackle, motors, and big mounted fish. There is lots of history of the Lake of the Woods fishery. Pictures of monster sturgeon over 150 lbs. The mount of the walleye the Willie Walleye statue is modeled after. Pictures of fishermen in small boats pulling in massive nets from the days gone by. History of harvesting liver oil from eelpout that was many times more effective than normal oil. Very interesting.

The logging industry was and is a big part of the area. A variety of saws, tools and sharpeners are displayed. Old time two person hand saws and chain saws that used to rip through massive trees in the area makes one think about the size of the trees our ancestors harvested.  It doesn’t seem like it was an easy life compared to modern times.

Lake of the Woods County was known for it’s logging industry during the early 1900’s. In 1910, a big forest fire decimated much of the area and took over 30 lives. Similar to other forest fires, the disaster took place over dry, harvested land which was vulnerable to fires.

The historical society has a number of old time displays including an old bar from a tavern in the area and a nickelodeon that you can actually still deposit 5 cents into and be entertained.

The next time you come up to Lake of the Woods, plan on taking some time and checking out the Lake of the Woods Historical Society across from the county building in east Baudette, you will not be disappointed.

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

To find a resort, guide, fish house, or charter boat, check out our lodging page.

It has been a good winter for ice anglers fishing Lake of the Woods.  There are still a couple of weeks left of some of the best ice fishing of the year.  On top of that, the annual spring fishing traditions on the Rainy River for optimistic spring walleye and sturgeon anglers are within a couple of weeks.  Mother Nature offers a bounty of opportunities year round in these parts.  And then COVID – 19.  Each lodging facility is handling this season and these times differently.  Many Lake of the Woods businesses are adapting to the times. 

The local lodging community is taking the COVID – 19 situation very seriously, both for their guests and employees.  Some resorts were on the verge of shutting down for the spring season as the winter was winding down and they did just that.  Some would have stayed open for another couple of weeks but decided to pull the plug a bit early under the circumstances.  Others decided to take all legal and necessary precautions and adapt by continuing to offer services allowing guests to come up ice fishing and soon enough, spring Rainy River fishing.

There are many adaptations lodging facilities have implemented.  Some include expanded and more thorough cleaning regimes within rooms, cabins, fish houses, and lobbies of resorts.

Some resorts are working with customers over the phone and online as much as possible reducing person to person contact as much as possible.  Some examples include emailing and talking on the phone vs in person regarding details of the trip, where fish houses are, where their room or cabin is located, etc.

Some resorts are still offering meals and meal plans with delivery and take out.  Some 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.

Some resorts are dropping off breakfast, minnows and a fish house map at the cabin door each morning.

Some folks are choosing to bring their own fish house and utilize the ice roads still open on Lake of the Woods.

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 which resorts are still open and will be open for the spring fishing season, check out their Facebook pages or give them a call.

Lake of the Woods resort and lodging owners and outfitters 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!

 

Click Here for the Lake of the Woods Tourism website

Click Here for a list of Lake of the Woods Lodging

These are unprecedented times.  The COVID – 19 situation has our regular lives, events and for many, anxiety levels in a place we are not used to.  There are, and will be challenges for many of us in the days ahead, but not challenges we cannot overcome.  As the saying goes, without our health, what do we have?  With that being said, it is especially important to keep an eye on our mind, body and spirit during these times.  With adhering to the recommendations of the CDC and other medical experts for our safety and the safety of others, there are a number of outdoor activities that can help us as outdoors mined people through this chapter of life.  Get outdoors for cheap psychology. 

Social distancing is a phrase widely used in preventing the spread of COVID – 19.  In essence, it refers to staying at least six feet away from others.  Getting into the outdoors adheres to these requests but also allows our minds and bodies to experience fresh air, the healing qualities of nature and often times, providing food for our families (a phrase I often use with my wife when I express that I am headed out fishing).

I had the opportunity to clear my head recently by heading out to do some ice fishing.  I was alone in my travels, but had proper safety gear such as a float suit, ice picks, ice cleats, etc. to ensure safety.  Upon arriving, it appeared some other folks had the same idea.

While I picked away at some average sized fish, I could feel the stresses of life lift away.  I know for myself and many, getting outdoors is good for the soul.  It makes me a better man, both personally and professionally.

In these times, I found myself paying closer attention to the sounds of nature.  Canada geese, cranes, swans, robins and cardinals were active in the area creating a wonderful backdrop for a few hour adventure.

Something about getting some exercise and breathing in the fresh air just makes me feel better and sleep better.

These times are an opportunity to be thankful and reflect on the many riches we take for granted.  Living in America.  Our loved ones.  Our economic status wherever we are in life.  Our pets.  The opportunities.  The medical expertise.  The government’s resources to help people through this crisis.  No matter where we are in life, we could have it worse.  This is a good time to be thankful.

It isn’t everywhere one can have access to lakes, forests, prairies, walking and biking trails as part of living where we live.

It isn’t everywhere we can breathe fresh air.  Have confidence in the quality of food we purchase.  Know that our water is safe.

These are unprecedented times.  These are also times for many of us who value spending time outside amongst nature can have great benefits to our overall health and well-being.  As long as you can do so in a safe manner, make a point to spending some time outdoors.  As many will agree, it is cheap psychology.

 

Click Here for the Lake of the Woods Tourism website

Click Here for a list of Lake of the Woods Lodging

Lake of the Woods is the biggest fresh water lake next to the Great Lakes in the United States and is located at the top of Minnesota and borders Canada. The lake itself is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™.  Besides the beauty of the area, Baudette, MN, in Lake of the Woods County, is an excellent place to live and raise your family. When you Choose to Reside at Lake of the Woods, you will find many great assets. Baudette is the county seat and the Government Center here and offices are ready to provide services in all branches of needs whether passports, driver’s licenses or registrations of all sorts.

Lake of the Woods School has a population of about 500 students K-12. The facility itself is state of the art with three gyms, a 400 seat auditorium, a food court and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The school has been known for many years as being at the top of the list of excellent education in the state of Minnesota. You can be assured of a good education for your children as you Choose to Reside in Baudette.

The downtown area features a grocery store, pharmacy, two hardware stores, VFW, American Legion, a clothing/souvenir store, three banks, a museum, a hospital, clinic and extended care facility as well as consignment shops and dining facilities.  Two great

hardware stores and two great auto parts stores provide a person with all the necessities one might need to repair anything. Our furniture store is one of the largest in this northern area and has an incredible variety of things to choose from and is very beautifully decorated to enhance your shopping.  A huge asset to the area is the ANI Pharmaceutical Company employed over 100 people and hiring constantly. Lake of the Woods is also the home of 50+ resorts who offer a variety of lodging options and most resorts also have dining available while enjoying the great views of Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

If you Choose to Reside at Lake of the Woods you will find many realtors to help you choose your forever home in the city or the country.  One of our new assets the Maple Gate Apartment building which is just over 1 year old. It contains 1-2 and 3 bedroom options. The local Housing Authority also oversees 20 low income housing units. There are also 5 other apartment rentals in town as well. Employment is available in the area in local businesses, resorts and also manufacturing entities in neighboring towns.

This northern country is known for its winter sports and Baudette is the home of three ice arenas, one being the new International Ice Arena built in 2019, and one arena used as a Curling Facility.

Choose to Reside at Lake of the Woods and Get Hooked on Life, living near pristine forests and waters and providing your family with a safe and nurturing environment.

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

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Pike Season on Lake of the Woods gives anglers something to shoot for every season of the year.  As the winter season starts coming to an end in this border region, anglers hit to the bays and start using tip-ups to catch fast fighting fish called the Northern Pike. The mixture calls for the tip-up, a lawn chair, a bucket for your catch, sunshine, sunglasses and and enthusiasm for the catch.

Lake of the Woods is known as a trophy pike lake with many, many big pike over 40 inches caught each year.  Right now as the ice is going out and the pike are beginning to stage for the spawn is a popular time for anglers to catch pike in their pre-spawn areas as the not only get congregated, but the feed bag is on.

Pike season on Lake of the Woods is open all year long.  As mentioned, right now during the pre-spawn, ice fishing for huge pike is happening with good results.  As the ice starts to move out, bays come into play.  Back bays of the Rainy River, 4 Mile Bay, Bostic Creek, Zippel Bay and shoreline areas with ditches along Muskeg Bay near the Rocky Point areas can be big pike magnets. One of the local resorts offers an Ice-Out Northern Pike Tournament where people from all around team up to catch these great fighters. Now Lake of the Woods is known for its walleye and there are anglers who don’t want to save the northerns, however, this writer knows first hand how great those cold water northerns can taste in that fry pan. Check out one of our recent blogs at www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com for tips from Target Walleye on using tip-ups for the catch.

During challenging times, it is nice to have a psychological outlet. Congrats on a beautiful pike. March is a month pike are putting the feedbag on for the upcoming spawn. They congregate adjacent to spawning areas. The pi ke season on LOW does not close. Angler Ty Sjodin fished Lake of the Woods just days ago and caught this incredible Northern. He said “What A Tank!!…today I landed what may be the biggest pike I’ve ever caught!! In a time of C-19, social distancing and quarantine, I recommend taking a break and get up to Lake of the Woods and hook into a fish of a lifetime!!”

Click Here to Access Lake of the Woods lodging options.

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

 

March in MN is the end of ice fishing for much of the state, especially when it comes to walleyes and pike.  The season closes at the end of February and fish houses have to be off the ice early in March.  The rules are different for Lake of the Woods as it is border water with Canada and benefits from extended seasons.  Fish houses can remain overnight on the ice through March 31 and the walleye season remains open through April 14.  That means March walleyes!

This extra month of March to enjoy ice fishing can provide some of the best ice fishing of the year.  The days are longer, sun is stronger and the fish have the feedbag on for the upcoming spawn.  It is fun to see flocks of geese making their way back up north to their nesting areas and seagulls starting to return and land on the ice around fish houses.

Having a few extra weeks of good ice fishing on the front end of the season and an extra month on the back end is one reason Lake of the Woods is a premier ice fishing destination.  This special body of water provides some of the best ice fishing of the year for many guests including March walleyes.

Check out ten reasons Lake of the Woods is such a good ice fishing destination…

1.  Long ice fishing season.  Resort ice fishing houses typically get on the ice in early December and remain out through the month of March.

2.  Fish houses are allowed to be left overnight on the ice through March 31st on LOW as it is border water with Canada.

3.  The walleye / sauger season is open through April 14th.

4.  There are literally millions of walleyes and saugers

5.  The water in LOW is stained, meaning the walleyes bite during the day

6.  There are strong numbers of trophy walleyes in LOW

7.  Pike season never ends

8.  LOW is home to a big number of trophy pike over 40″ long

9.  The resort community creates an infrastructure for ice fishing that allows for everyone to fish in comfort

10.  In addition to walleyes and saugers, anglers will catch pike, jumbo perch, tulibees, eelpout, crappies and sturgeon through the ice

As a way to highlight March walleyes through the ice, Greg Jones of Midwest Outdoors TV and myself (Joe Henry) of Lake of the Woods Tourism recently had the chance to get out and do some fishing from one of the many resorts offering fish houses.  The chance to catch nice walleyes and saugers from the comfort of a 70 degree fish house that is placed in good fishing areas, the holes are drilled and cleaned and all we had to do is step inside and fish.

The fishing was good like it normally is.  We picked away at the walleyes and saugers throughout the day.  It was a fun day with steady action and a variety fish caught, even a crayfish!  That’s right, I actually caught a crayfish while Greg Jones at the same moment hooked into a nice sauger.  Coincidence, I say not.

 

Ice fishing takes place on Lake of the Woods based on Mother Nature, but the month of March is that bonus month that is just special.  Longer days, hungry fish and the last chance to hit the ice until next December!  To explore resorts, hotels, sleeper fish houses and full service ice fishing around the lake, check out our lodging page at www.LakeoftheWoodsMN.com/Lodging.

 

Click Here to Access Lake of the Woods lodging options.

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

Being a northern MN destination, often times, like this year, great snowmobiling goes on through the month of March.  For many, ending in February is just too soon for an already short season.  Lake of the Woods is rich with hundreds of miles of trails and two snowmobile clubs who do an excellent job at grooming and keeping the trails up.  Maybe you will decide to sled the south shore, hitting the many forests, igloo bar on the ice or jump from resort to resort.  Perhaps you are looking to explore the 42 mile trail across the lake up to the NW Angle.  The Angle also has a wonderful trail system through some of the most beautiful county around along with a number of resorts, restaurants and bars.

A couple of years back, I had the privilege of sledding both the south shore and trekking across Lake of the Woods up to the Angle.  It was one of those trips that was easy yet unforgettable.  Here is that memory…

I have talked about it for years.  Actually taking a snowmobile trip on Lake of the Woods and having ice fishing as second fiddle.  This kind of behavior isn’t in my nature as I love catching walleyes and saugers through the ice.  On this trip, however, it was planned months ago and there was no turning back.  The plan:  To snowmobile the south end of the lake and then sled up to the NW Angle and experience the trails in that neck of the woods.  We had one day of ice fishing planned to avoid any kind of “shakes” or “teary eyes” for some of us.

I was joined by the host of Prairie Sportsman, Bret Amundson and our good friend and avid outdoorsman Jamie Dietman.  On day one, we arrived at Sportsman’s Lodge on the Rainy River.  It could have been any resort on the river or south shore but Sportsman’s also has Sportsman’s Oak Island up at the NW Angle and Gregg Hennum, owner of the resort also grooms the trails on the river and across the lake to the Angle, thus on this trip, it made good sense.

We started out hooking up with the groomer of the land trails for the Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club, Todd Barnes.  Todd knows the woods and trails like the back of his hand and is a wonderful host.  Todd met us at Sportsman’s and we took our Polaris sleds right on to the frozen Rainy River.  The trail is nicely groomed and staked all the way from the mouth of the river where we started to Baudette.

The ride was late in the afternoon and about 2/3 of the locals fish houses on the river were occupied, telling us there was a decent evening bite on the river.  We found out later in the trip there indeed was.

We snowmobiled around the international bridge that goes from Baudette to Canada and into Baudette Bay near the famous Willie Walleye statue and then continued up Baudette Bay under the Hwy 11 bridge on to the land trails.  There were well groomed, smooth and well marked.  A beautiful sunset led us into the woods. 

We made our way through the woods over to Zippel Bay State Park and had a brief stop at the Igloo Bar on the ice.  Always a festive time.  We then continued with a short drive back to Sportsman’s to hit the hay until our morning trek north to the Angle.

After a good breakfast, we fired up the sleds and made our way north.  A beautiful 42 mile ride on an unseasonably warm January day.  We stopped along the way to fly the drone and get footage of the enormity of the lake, fish houses and everything Big Traverse Bay is made up of.  Very impressive footage.

As we made our way over Garden Island that marks the start of the NW Angle, we stopped and checked out the shelter on the east end of the island.  This shelter is used for boaters or snowmobilers in the event of inclement weather.  Our next stop, Sportsman’s Oak Island.

We dropped our pull behind sled with our clothes and fishing gear at the resort and snowmobiled over to Sunset Lodge for a quick lunch.  The next stop, checking out the Northern Most Point of the Contiguous United States buoy at Young’s Bay Resort.  After a few pics, we were off to the only one room school in the state of MN, Angle Inlet School.  There we met the President of the NW Angle Edge Rider’s Snowmobile Club, Richard Allen McKeever.

Richard Allen led us on a great adventure up to the end of the actual inlet of the NW Angle and into the wooded trails.  The scenery was breathtaking with a layer of fresh snow blanketing the pines.  Trails were smooth, marked well and we literally did not see another sled in an afternoon of snowmobiling.

On our way back to Sportsman’s where we were staying, we stopped off at Flag Island Resort for a quick soda and hello.  After our adventure for the day, we were tired and hungry.  We headed back to Sportsman’s, enjoyed dinner and hit the hay.

The last full day of our trip was ice fishing.  We were treated to a bomber ride out to a heated fish house.  Even though the day was below zero, the fish didn’t disappoint as we caught walleyes, saugers, a jumbo perch and an eelpout.  Plenty of fish for our evening fish fry, which was delicious. 

The next day was travel day.  We packed up and snowmobiled back south to our initial starting point.  We took extra care on the ride home as the temp was -25 degrees.  The Polaris sleds were most excellent and got us home safely.  We had four of us and took necessary precautions to make sure everyone was safe, warm, etc.  These temps are nothing to mess around with.

Snowmobiling on and around Lake of the Woods.  Hundreds of miles of groomed staked trails.  Two snowmobile clubs passionate about the trails.  Scenery that will knock your socks off.  Very few riders.  If you enjoy snowmobiling, you may want to add this one to your list!

 

Click Here to Access Lake of the Woods lodging options.

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