

MTT. Minnesota Tournament Trail
NWT. National Walleye Tour
AIM. Angler’s Insight Marketing
Chili Bowl, Border View Lodge
Arnesen’s, Summer Tournament
River Bend Resort, Ladies tournament
Zippel Bay Resort, Northern Pike Tournament
AND MORE!
What a great time of the year. Holidays are celebrated, families come and go, food preparation is all done with and yet, now is one of the greatest times to experience Lake of the Woods. Now it’s time for ice fishing!
People from many states flock to this area to try their hand at fishing through “hard water” or ice fishing. The lake is an incredible village of hundreds if not a couple thousand fish houses. One state represented in my family is Illinois. Yes, Chicago showed up for Christmas and as tradition has it, it’s time to go ice fishing. They hooked up with one of our local fish house proprietors and off they went for a 7:30 a.m. call to fish.
Lake of the Woods is known as the Walleye Capital of the World™. It is a world renowned fishery and according to statistics from the MN DNR at Lake of the Woods, our fishery is more than healthy even though many pounds of fish are harvested each year. Lake of the Woods is the largest fresh water lake next to the Great Lakes in the US. It supports many species of fish and keeps the excitement brimming as anglers drop their lines in.
This group of novice fisher-people approached their fish house guided by the outfitter.
This was a day trip so the group was able to have a larger fish house equipped with a gas range and yes, even a bathroom! Yes!! (Ladies take note of that!!) As the group approached the fish houses they were able to see an incredible sunrise, complete with sun dogs around the sun, because, of course, this was the coldest day of the year so far. They also saw ATVs, Snowmobiles, Wheelhouses and all kinds of equipment that makes up the population of the ice village.
The guide supplies ice fishing rods if needed and all the bait the parties will need for the day. He also lets you know what the limits are so they stay legal and assures them that he will be back to check on them from time to time throughout the day. I will interject here that it is very important to be in obedience to that guide as to where to travel on the lake. These ice workers are professionals and know how to travel the lake and where the safest place is to travel the hard water.
The lines are dropped in. Each person is allowed to fish two lines. Usually one is left laying on the ice with a bobber or just with a hook and this is called a dead stick. The technique is to bait your lure with a minnow and let it drop until you feel bottom Then with an up and down motion, you start to “jig” and wait for a tug on the line. “Set the hook” with a great upward motion and pull in whatever was at the end of the line.
The catch was on!! Excitement?!?!? Yes, this group traveled over 800 miles for family, Christmas and now an exciting day on the ice. Everyone caught fish and that night a walleye/sauger meal was enjoyed by all.
Let me invite you to come to Lake of the Woods to have the same great experience this group had. I promise you that you will have stories to tell for years to come. The lake is beautiful when frozen and the city of houses that are out there is amazing. Please applaud the ones who make this sport accessible to all peoples whether experienced or not.
For more information on lodging or ice fishing contact our website at: www.lakeofthewoodmn.com/lodging.
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com/ice-fishing
Lake of the Woods
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