There's more than 14,500 islands on Lake of the Woods and most of them start in our area. All this sheltered water means that wind is seldom a problem. Even though there's a lot of area to choose from, it isn't necessary to go far. Some real nice walleyes are taken throughout the summer at the weed beds at the mouth of our harbor, just minutes from your cabin. The difference between spring, summer and fall fishing is in the methods used and changing from bays to reef fishing and back.

Walleyes have traditionally been our main game fish. The Minnesota DNR creel census figures show that Lake of the Woods is the most productive walleye lake in Minnesota per fishing hour. Walleyes are considered to be one of the finest tasting of all fresh-water fish. The favorite habitats of these fish are around reefs, rocky points, and in shallow bays. Walleyes are generally found near the bottom, whether the water is four feet deep or 30 feet. Bring a depth finder to pinpoint underwater reefs. One of the most productive methods to catch walleyes is by jigging. We mostly use a plain lead head jig ranging in weight from 1/16 to 3/8 ounces. By using ultra-light equipment you can be more sensitive to the action and land a fish that otherwise might get away. Walleyes mostly run from one to eight pounds and sometimes bigger, the average being about a pound and a half, or 16 inches in length.

At any time of the year, your chance to see eagles, bear, deer…a great variety of wildlife…as you fish or cruise the lake, is just excellent. After living here for generations, we can honestly say that being here is like stepping back in time to a place rarely found anymore…a place where the silence is so absolute that if you listen, you can hear the wing beats of the birds flying over and the lap of wavelets against the rocks,.. and nothing else.

Plan to have some shore lunches on an island. There are so many islands here that if you'd choose a different one for shore lunching every day all summer, it would take you 199 years before you'd have to start over. Listening to the cries of the hungry seagulls as they wait for a hand-out as you clean your catch on a rocky point, smelling the aroma of fresh-caught fish, fried potatoes and onions sizzling in frying pans over an open fire while sitting in the shade sipping something cold- it doesn't get better than this!