Ice Vacation spot: Lake of the Woods – Unique Article launched 2014, revised January 2022

First Take This One Query Quiz: Lake of the Woods is well-known for:

a ) Large walleyes b ) Quick motion from a mixture of saugers and walleyes c ) Nice daytime chew all winter lengthy d ) The entire above

You in all probability guessed it, however the reply positively is “d) The entire above.” And in reality, these solutions symbolize just a few of the the reason why Lake of the Woods stands out as one of many world’s most famous ice-fishing locations.

Straddling the U.S. and Canada border, with the U.S. portion in Minnesota, this huge lake freezes pretty early and stays that method for a very long time, and the walleye ice season stays open longer than on different Minnesota lakes. This legendary lake serves up excellent motion and provides an opportunity at high quality measurement fish as properly.

Lake of the Woods Particular Fishing Laws: This lake has particular fishing laws that differ from statewide or border water laws for these species recognized under and take priority. Laws listed under are at the moment in place. Go to the MN DNR Fishing Laws Web page for hyperlinks to approaching laws for particular lakes.

Northern Pike: All from 30-40″ should be instantly launched. Possession restrict three, just one over 40″. Lake of the Woods (excluding 4-Mile Bay and Wet River)

Trending: Seasonal Fishing l Ballard’s Resort l Lake of the Woods

Walleye and Sauger: March 1 – April 14 and Might 15, 2021 – April 14, 2022: Possession restrict six (no more than 4 will be walleye; just one walleye over 28″; walleye 19 1/2″ to twenty-eight” should be instantly launched). 4-Mile Bay (Southeast bay of Lake of the Woods) together with the Wet River from the mouth upstream to the dam in Worldwide Falls, Baudette and Winter Street Rivers (Lake of the Woods and Koochiching counties), and Warroad River (Roseau County).

Walleye and Sauger: March 1 – April 14, every year: catch and launch. Might 15, 2021- February 27, 2022: Possession restrict six (no more than 4 will be walleye; just one walleye over 28″; walleye 19 1/2″ to twenty-eight” should be instantly launched).

Resorts dot the shoreline on the south, Minnesota facet of Lake of the Woods, and the gateway city of Baudette is a particular fishing neighborhood. In truth, it’s generally referred to as the Walleye Capital of the World. From a sensible standpoint that signifies that the whole lot you may want for fishing – from bait to provides to fishing reviews to rental ice homes – is available. Making a superb factor even higher is that regardless of Lake of the Woods’ super measurement, a lot of one of the best fishing may be very helpful to the areas the place the lake is most accessible, and good fishing areas are typically simple to search out.

“The resort business makes it simple for an angler who might not ice-fish fairly as usually to get on the market and luxuriate in success in an ice home that has been positioned in a productive space,” mentioned Nick Painovich, photograph proper, who operates Zippel Bay Resort alongside together with his spouse Deanna and a big service employees.

Zippel Bay maintains a plowed highway from the resort to the lake’s basin, the place they’ve an intensive village of ice homes close to the outlet of Zippel Bay. The resort’s whole highway system is flagged and even marked with road indicators, and stays sufficiently properly maintained so that you can drive out to an ice home in a 2-wheel-drive car.

After all, alternatives aren’t restricted to resort visitors fishing from rental homes. Intensive productive flats are accessible to anglers pulling moveable shelters with snowmobiles, and Lake of the Woods is massively well-liked with ice anglers preferring to select their spots and drill their very own holes and stay extra cell with their strategy.

Discovering Fish

Painovich famous that by the primary a part of the season, a lot of one of the best fishing happens pretty near the shore. Early and late within the day throughout the first a part of the season, he suggests concentrating on water within the 12- to 16-foot vary. Via the center of the day, one of the best motion is normally within the 20- to 22-foot vary. In truth, the resort provides shallow/deep packages that permit visitors to separate time between two places and focus their efforts in these areas which can be almost definitely to supply at totally different instances of the day.

Trending: Lake of The Woods—Kenora, Ontario

“For the typical man who may not need to transfer round throughout the day, the 18- to 22-foot vary is sweet,” Painovich mentioned.

Shallow, deep or in between, most fishing is over broad flats with a backside that consists of sand or rubble, and the fish faculties are inclined to roam, not essentially holding on outlined breaks or rockpiles.

Blended catches of walleyes and saugers predominate by the primary a part of the season, with the largest walleyes and the easiest walleye chew usually occurring shallow round first and final mild.

Via the center of winter the fish transfer deeper, and one of the best mid-day catches will happen in 30 toes or extra of water. About 80 % of the fish caught out deep will likely be saugers, in line with Painovich. The walleyes nonetheless will feed shallower early and late – simply not fairly as shallow.

Late within the ice season, the walleyes and saugers sometimes start transferring shallower once more, and the pike chew usually will get actually good. Massive pike staging to maneuver into Zippel Bay to spawn start working their method up flats throughout March and supply glorious alternatives, particularly for anglers fishing with tip-ups.

Finest Baits

As a result of the water in Lake of the Woods is pretty darkish, baits that make noise are inclined to work properly. Painovich pointed towards a Lindy Rattl’N Flyer Spoon, Darter and the brand new 360 Jig as glorious selections.

Trending: Add Some Noise for Lake of the Woods Walleyes

NOTE: Each the Darter and 360 jig talked about by Panovich in 2014 have since been discontinued. As of late, lures just like the Lindy Glow Spoon, Glow Streak and Rattl’n Quiver Spoon could be glorious selections. Standard colours are glow-pink, glow-red, firetiger and glow-blue.

Panovich beneficial a two-rod technique in 2014 too, with an aggressive, noisy bait on one line and one thing small, quiet and pure – like a reside minnow rigged on a 2nd dead-stick rod, utilizing a float to droop the providing. That recommendation nonetheless holds, the agressive baits name fish in, the delicate baits set off strikes from impartial minded fish.

“Even after they gained’t hit these noisy baits, it helps deliver them shut to research they usually’ll find yourself taking the opposite bait,” Painovich mentioned.

When it comes to reside bait, he recommends utilizing emerald shiners when they’re accessible, and pointed towards fathead minnows as a superb second selection. Zippel Bay additionally sells frozen minnows for tipping spoons or jigs so as to add scent and taste.

The most important measurement Darter works properly for anglers who decide to focus on pike with a rod in hand, nonetheless many Lake of the Woods fishermen do the majority of their focused pike fishing with tip-ups.

Igloo, Too

When you do fish Lake of the Woods this winter, depart time to cease by the Zippel Bay Igloo. Situated simply exterior the Zippel Bay among the many resort’s ice home village, the Igloo is an on-the-water snack bar and watering gap that provides the whole lot from satellite tv for pc TV to rental ice holes beneath tables, so you’ll be able to proceed to fish whilst you eat a snack and watch a ballgame.

Wish to Go? To be taught extra about Lake of the Woods ice fishing alternatives and to plan your winter journey, go to www.zippelbay.com or give them a name at 800-222-2537.