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| I have been contemplating where to bring my girlfriend and I in canada for a week this summer for her first musky and I would like to have a chance at a 50 inch plus fish as well. Heard wabigoon is good for all species and good pike and chance of hawg. Lotw i ve thought about but its huge water for her first canadian trip. Minaka on winnepeg river looks good.. how's population of skies in winnepeg river and wabigoon?? Thought about going back to century lodge eagle lake since I know area well but eagle muskies can be tough.. any ideas/opinions on where to go? |
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Posts: 270
Location: brooklyn park mn | Sorry guest is me. Forgot to login. |
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Posts: 8820
| Take her to Eagle for 6 days. Give her a double 10 to throw, and make sure she has her period. Hope for one 90 degree day, one day with torrential rains, several lost fish, and one day with 35 MPH winds. If she doesn't die, and you are still speaking to each other after 12 hours in the truck on the way home, keep her. |
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | Check out a fly in trip you will never be the same REALLY |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | LOTW is huge yes...but there's a ton of fish in there and a ton of spots. I've done the whole tour of Canada and I think it is the best chance for a numbers AND size potential for a drive in trip.
Wabigoon? Some guys on this site really like it there but I can't say it does much for me. The water is extremely murky, and I really hated driving that far to have 5,000 people in the town of Dryden right on the water. It's just a weird lake and doesn't feel right to me...Seen and caught some nice ski's in there in June and July. I had an August trip there one time after they drew the lake down and it was a nightmare. I will never go back unless for a day trip
Minaki is a nice place. It has some true giants in there, a healthy pike population. It doesn't fish as easy as LOTW by any means but I would go there instead of Wabigoon in a heartbeat.
Got a love/hate relationship with Eagle. Not a place to bring a novice to in my opinion unless you plan on being guided. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Narrows area of LOTW is where i would take a girl for her first trip ... lots of muskies, can stop and catch walleyes easily and it's got a one-of-a-kind scenery that will be protected if the winds blow. |
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Posts: 2056
| Well I've been in your shoes. You say you are trying to get her her first muskie and you want a 50. Well, you better make this first trip fun for HER, which might mean only fishing 6-8 hrs a day instead of 14, NOT fishing if the weather is 20mph wind and raining, be ready for potty breaks (will she poop on an island?). You might think about a much smaller lake than any mentioned so far, if you are on a 3-5000 acre lake running back to the cabin whenever for whatever is much more practical....What about N. Minn? If she gets tired of fishing after 3 days let her go shopping or look at antiques or go to a movie....My wife likes to fish but not 8 hrs a day for 7 straight days. Muskie fisherman have a different "drive" than most people who "like to fish"... Just some things to think about before booking a trip to LOTW in the middle of nowhere. |
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Posts: 270
Location: brooklyn park mn | This girl is a different cat. Has went 12 hours in rain with temp in 50s and was ok. Sorry for not clarifying it more. She haas made it clear she is going to canada this year lol. We've done cass lake guided for a day and she loved it so I think she will love some canada scenery to go with it.
So lotw and winnepeg river resorts options? Or anything else guys? Love the look of rowan if I can swing it. Great imput guys |
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Posts: 581
| Agree with Brian that LOTW probably fits your criteria the best--even though it is huge water, you can break it down and not feel overwhelmed. Winnipeg River/Minaki is probably not the best choice to get someone their first muskie, although it certainly is prime water with some awfully nice fish. But the overall density of muskies is better in the NW Angle portion of LOTW, and you definitely will have opportunities at a 50"+.
For resorts in the NW Angle, we've stayed at Angle Outpost, which is just fine. (Although I haven't been there since new ownership). You should also consider staying with Frank Walsh at Baystore Camp.
If you want to give it a go in Minaki, take a look at Bayview Lodge.
Edited by Matt DeVos 1/11/2013 4:26 PM
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | If I can help you out some how let me know.Its a totally different from any other drive to place great fishing for all species NO pressure and lots of big Muskys .check out our New web site lots of info there. Thanks for looking always calm waters to you Don
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Posts: 277
| Being a different cat myself, If you & your girl are into a wilderness experience, I'd highly recommend Nielsen's Fly In Lodge on Rowan. Pristine waters, lots of islands, tons of structure, & nice cabbage beds & very scenic. Hardest decision you'll have to make is where to fish as it all looks great! No long running time and great musky fishing right in sight of the lodge & everywhere. Rowan can be broken down into smaller areas thereby not giving the feeling of being overwhelming. Hazards are well marked.
Rowan is clear water and the fishery is not heavily pressured. Further west you go the clearer the water. Rowan doesn't experience heavy algae blooms. So if your into seeing everything going down, you'll see them hit or following. Lots of fish can be converted at the boat. IMHO, she'd have a good chance of getting her first musky along with both of you having many opportunities at getting a trophy. Rowan also offers outstanding trout fishing, lg. & smallmouth bass, pike, & better walleye fishing can be found on some of the portage lakes. Forage base, cisco, whitefish, suckers, perch, etc. make for heavy summer fish. I'd recommend a guide upon arrival to get you started.
Don & Lynn Pursch of Neilsen's Fly In Lodge & staff, run a first class operation. Lodge, cabins, food, boats & equipment are all first rate. Attention to service and making for great experiences have kept us coming back for over 20yrs.
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | muskyjim123 - 1/11/2013 8:24 AM
This girl is a different cat. Has went 12 hours in rain with temp in 50s and was ok. Sorry for not clarifying it more. She haas made it clear she is going to canada this year lol. We've done cass lake guided for a day and she loved it so I think she will love some canada scenery to go with it.
So lotw and winnepeg river resorts options? Or anything else guys? Love the look of rowan if I can swing it. Great imput guys
Flag Island resort in the Angle is where I have been staying. The cabins are top notch, about as good as one can expect for a Canada trip and then some. They got a bar/ game room/ food always available too to keep one busy. The only thing is you would need to bring your own boat because there don't really rent good ones in that area at any places I know of....
Minaki- I stayed at Paradise Cove resort..very cheap and cabins are clean but it's pretty basic stuff. No one really on staff present, very basic boat rentals, very quiet place. Good choice for affordability but not a great choice if you are looking for a hands on experience from your lodge owner to help you... |
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Location: Hartford Wi | Come check out Cliff! Good all around Muskies and all other fish! Smaller lake and can fish in any wind. New cabins and motors |
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Posts: 38
| Another vote for LOTW. But I'd stay at the mouth of Sabaskong as opposed to the Angle. I really like Obabikon BayCamp for its location. You can head east into Sabaskong or west into Miles (which is way underfished for muskies IMO). And there is some decent water in O Bay itself. Although there is a ton of water at the Angle, the muskie pressure is much higher there than in this area. |
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Posts: 78
| I've fished both LOTW and Eagle Lake in the past 10 years and they both have their own perks and are both fantastic! You will catch more numbers on LOTW but you can see some real super tankers on Eagle. |
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Posts: 270
Location: brooklyn park mn | Decided to go with lotw out of tamarack lodge for the girlfriend and I. Now just have to decide for my second trip with dad to do lac suel, eagle or winnipeg river minaki area for a week? |
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Posts: 358
| I second Silvia - Neilsen's Fly-in Lodge on Rowan Lake.
Edited by Cody 1/27/2013 6:57 PM
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Posts: 67
| Cliff has an absolute ton of fish! Very easy to get a first few fish. Wabigoon was good. Got my wife two 45s and a 48.5 in a week at Bonny bay. We boated 4 over 48 that week. Crew at Bonny bay will also give you a free tour of spots. |
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Posts: 259
Location: Madison, WI | muskyjim123,
Of the places your considering, I have been to 3 of them. Here's how I would rank them.
1. Rowan Lake: Nielsen's Lodge. This is my absolute favorite place on earth. I've been there 6 times. You'll see some follows that will make your knees shake. Need to fish nights or overcast days for best chance at hookups, but the average size follower there is truly incredible.
2. LOTW: Big Narrows Resort Been there about 4 times. I think the ownership has changed since we last stayed there. I stopped into the lodge there this past summer to buy ice though, and it still looked like a nice place. Scenery is beautiful with good walleye and musky fishing as jonnysled mentioned.
3. Minaki: Probably not as scenic as Rowan or LOTW in my opinion (appears a bit too crowded near the railroad bride area), but it's home to some really big muskies. Been there 3 times. This past summer was a bit more difficult, due to not as many weedbeds as in past years. Been to Birch Island Lodge and Bayview. I think both would suit your purposes.... Birch Island is the more modern of the two though. Never been to Paradise Cove. The Paradise Cove Resorts are more crowded, and probably are the least expensive of the options at Minaki.
Hope that helps. Feel free to PM me if you want more info.
Good luck!
"Jackpot" John Schroeder
Edited by jackpotjohnny48 1/27/2013 10:31 PM
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| You shoul check out Tamarack Island Wilderness Lodge. |
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Posts: 4
| Lots of choices but in the end you have to decide according to your and her taste. |
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trip advise?