Ice fishing at Lake of the Woods is easy, it is warm and you don’t need any experience.ย ย Resorts and outfitters do the work so you can relax and have fun.
Ask most people what ice fishing looks like and theyโll describe someone sitting on a bucket in the wind, staring at a hole. Thatโs not how it works here.ย
At Lake of the Woods, full service ice fishing does the hard parts for you. You donโt need your own gear. You donโt need to know how to read the ice or find fish. You donโt even need to be all that tough about the cold. If you can walk a few steps from a truck to a door, you can ice fish here.
Thatโs why youโll see kids, grandparents, folks with limited mobility, and first-timers out on the ice right alongside the regulars.
How Full Service Ice Fishing Works
Your day starts in a warm resort and ends in a warm fish house. In between, someone else handles the details.
The resort or outfitter picks the spot, sets up the fish house, and drills the holes. They move houses around through the season to stay on the fish, so youโre dropping a line where walleyes and saugers are actually biting. Inside, the heater keeps things around 70 degrees. Most people take off their jackets once they settle in.
Getting out there is easy too. Some resorts drive you out in heated ice transportation. Later in the season, when the ice is thick enough, many let you drive your own vehicle on plowed and maintained ice roads.
No rod? No problem. Most resorts can set you up with what you need, including bait. Just ask when you book.
Thereโs an old saying around here. With full service ice fishing, you only have two things to think about: what to wear and what to eat. The rest is taken care of.
Where the Fishing Happens
Most winter fishing happens in two areas.
Big Traverse Bay is the big open part of the lake. It stretches about 30 miles north to south and 25 miles east to west. Thatโs a lot of ice. Some days the fish are close to shore. Other days the resorts set up miles out. Either way, their job is to keep you safe and put you on good fish.
The Northwest Angle is the other option. Itโs the northernmost point in the lower 48. If you drive there, youโll pass through about 40 miles of Canada before coming back into Minnesota. You can also skip the border crossing by riding across the lake with the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service.
Why It Works for Just About Everyone
It comes down to two things. First, the lake holds millions of walleyes and saugers, plus perch, pike, eelpout and more. Second, thereโs a whole network of small businesses behind the scenes that make the trip simple. They plow the roads, tend the houses, and keep tabs on where the fish are.
That means you donโt have to be an expert. You just have to show up.
More Than Just Fishing
Families, couples, work groups and old friends all spend days out here. Between bites, thereโs a lot of talking, snacking, and laughing. Some folks come for the fish. Others come for the time together. Most leave with a little of both.
Itโs a pretty good way to spend a Minnesota winter day.
Plan Your Trip
Ready to try it? You can browse resorts, day houses and sleeper fish houses on the Lake of the Woods Tourism Lodging Page. Each listing links to the resortโs own site, where you can check dates and pricing.
Click Here to Access Lake of the Woods lodging options.
Click Here to return to the Lake of the Woods Tourism website
Plan Your Ice Fishing Adventure
Warm fish houses, friendly faces, and world-class walleye fishingโLake of the Woods makes winter easy and unforgettable.
