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| My girlfriend has expressed the desire to accompany me to a week long Canadian fishing trip this summer. If I had my way I'd fish for muskie all week long, but I'm not sure she would be up for that. Don't get me wrong she likes fishing muskies, but she also likes to just catch fish.
A few places I've been looking at are Century Lodge on Eagle, LOTW, Vermillion, and Cedar to name a few. I'd like a place with a decent number of muskies along with pike to help keep her attention. The plans don't really matter to me, but would prefer housekeeping. We would also be bringing our own boat. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks. |
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Posts: 1036
| Anywhere on Cedar would be a good choice. I say that just because I fished Cedar a little bit. Good walleyes, good smallies, good pike and obviously musky.
I think you kind of nailed it. If you take her up there, get her catching fish...any fish. Throw in some muskie fishing too, but make sure that she has a good time catching fish. |
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | Please check out our site and take her on a truly canadian wilderness trip and you will have a fishing partner for ever check it out Thanks Don |
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Posts: 5
| Take a look at Big North Lodge just outside of Minaki, Ontario. I've been going for years and the fishing is great. Pat, Alex, and Zach run a very nice camp and it is super secluded with little pressure on their end of the lake. We usually fish for Northerns but are always moving Musky. We don't fish them, but you will see a lot of Walleye guys jigging the holes the closer you get to Minaki. One year we had about five bluebird days in a row and it was hot so we were throwing small V spinners and caught a ton of smallies. Check them out! www.bignorthlodge.com
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Posts: 31
| Look up Obabikon Island LOTW. This resort is an island north of morison and can't be beat for location. No long rides for plentiful walley, northerns, and a lot of muskie in same area. This island sits in front of the entrance of Obabikon Lake section of lake of the woods. In the week our group fished that area we could get all the northerns we wanted, didn't want to fish walley but that is what it's noted for and we boated two 49 1/2" muskie on Friday along with many 36"/42". You can start fishing as soon as you leave the dock. |
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| Thank you for the suggestions. When talking to her she said she'd like to go to a place that's kind of secluded...so that kind of eliminates Cedar from what I've heard. LOTW has my interest just from all the action I hear you can get from muskies, and the good walleye fishing too. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I would not eliminate Cedar on basis of seclusion. It is absolutely beautiful up that way, if you look at a map you are driving 30-40 miles north of Vermilion Bay with basically barely a house in site. LOTW is going to be busier then Cedar will be on most if not nearly all parts of the lake, the resorts on Cedar don't really get that busy for the most part ( I would personally much rather fish LOTW though)....And also absolutely cross Vermilion of your list, there will be an armada of boats and houses on the lake and you will be disappointed if you are looking to really feel like you are secluded.
Osbourne Bay would be a good choice for what you are looking for, there's not much traffic down there whatsoever.
Also check out Stork Bay Lodge which is 40 something miles west of Ear Falls on a gravel road, good Musky/walleye combo trip
Edited by Musky Brian 1/30/2012 1:16 PM
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| My recommendation would be to take her to a smaller lake than LOTW for her first experience. Its easy to get 10 miles+ away from camp on LOTW.....and you should take her back when she needs a break. Most women prefer not hanging their rears off the side of the boat, especially in 2-3 footers.
On a small lake its much easier to run back to the dock/cabin when they want a break, want more snacks, would rather just read a book, it starts to rain and they aren't having fun, its too cold....on and on, hey I've been there.....when you have a 50" fish 20 miles from camp that you think is gonna go at sunset and shes ready to go in at 5pm....there tends to be friction. |
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Posts: 8782
| Guest - 1/30/2012 12:49 PM
Thank you for the suggestions. When talking to her she said she'd like to go to a place that's kind of secluded...so that kind of eliminates Cedar from what I've heard. LOTW has my interest just from all the action I hear you can get from muskies, and the good walleye fishing too.
I took my girlfriend up to Andy Myers Lodge for her first muskie trip. She had been muskie fishing once prior to that. Wondered if we'd get up there and she'd freak about the cabins, wondering if she could or would even want to cast for muskies all day, wondering of she'd get bored, too hot, too sunburned, too frustrated, cold wet, injured, you name it...
The first day was tough. Backlashes, didn't see many fish, 10 foot casts... Then she gets the monthlies. Yep, we're %^$*ed. Figured it was going to be the longest week of my life, and our last trip to Canada. Well, Monday morning, after lots of swearing and yelling and tantrums, she stuck a 45" on a topraider. Zero to muskie in one cast.
Since then, she has caught pike, walleyes, perch, flatheads, LM bass, SM bass, several other muskies up to 44". She's got all her own gear, a Justencase box full of baits, MI membership... The best advice I can give you is just be patient with her. Make sure she knows ahead of time that you'll be 20 miles from camp in every kind of weather. Get her outfitted, and get her some good rain gear, comfortable shoes, etc. Learn to deal with a box of girly stuff and rolls of TP on the boat. Try your best not to get angry when you've made your third island stop and it's not even 1:00. Try not to get discouraged at the occasional meltdown over missed fish. Try not to get angry at lost fishing time, backlashes, having her cast right at the spot you were just about to hit... Most of all, remind her from time to time that she's out there doing something that's not easy, and that she's doing great. It's all worth it when you can net the biggest fish she has ever seen, and watch her release it. And when she says "hehehe. My hands smell like MUSKIES!!" try not to be jealous! 
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | I would go #1 Rowan or #2 LOTW.
First, you can't be Rowan for it's beauty, seclusion, trophy potential & action. I've been there 3 times and it's amazing. Not to forget the topwater bite is great. Those fish are so dumb there! But it's a fly-in, so you can't bring your own boat. Recommend Nielsen's. Don's a good guy.
LOTW, I've been to a few resorts, but didn't really care for any of them. The lake will offer you every species with some great action. tough to beat. The lake is so big pressure really isn't an issue unless you stick super close to camp. I wouldn't recommend whitefish bay area as blue bird days will mess your catch rate considerably.
Cedar is super pressured (6 resorts and 6500acres). Don't go there, not worth it. Better lakes closer.
Vermillion is a zoo... nuff said. |
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| essoxaddict gets post of the year for that one. bravo.
Bodhisattva
Would you take me by the hand |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hi Everyone,
My wife and I make an annual trip to Lake of the woods, and have been doing so for the past 8 years now. For action, location, and muskies, I would recommend Sabaskong Bay lodge. The cabins are decent, good location on Cedar Island, and has easy access to many different areas that can keep you out of the wind.
Steve
Edited by VMS 1/31/2012 9:36 PM
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Posts: 87
Location: Minnesota Metro | Ooops well I guess I could have logged in. Lots of good suggestions here. I'd kind of like to stay away from the gin clear water, I've fished it several times and been humbled by it before when weather was bad. That being said I know the smallies would keep her more than occupied since they're like rats in that clear water.
At least we wouldn't have to worry about "Aunt Flo" because she no longer has those parts due to having cancer so they were removed...and she's barely in her 30's. Good consideration though. I also like the idea of the boy scout shovel thing.
Century Lodge really looks good to me, but it's also a little on the pricey side. I have never fished Eagle but I'm not sure if I'd want to take her there for the first time since it's a trophy lake and not a numbers lake. She does love to fish though so maybe it wouldn't be so bad, but that's why LOTW also looks so appealing. Hell she even went into the water to fetch a hung up jig when crappie fishing from bank a few months back.
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | Looks like she's a keeper
From the sounds of everything, go to LOTW. Doug Johnson stated in another thread (can't remember which) the most action & multi species is the angle. I'd start my search there.
I would also go to the all canada show with her and check out all the booths. She can have some input on where you go. Just tell her LOTW resorts only.
http://allcanadashow.com/
http://www.lakeofthewoodsresorts.com/
Edited by dtaijo174 1/31/2012 9:58 AM
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Posts: 87
Location: Minnesota Metro | Just out of curiousity, is there a place on the US side of LOTW that's worth checking out? |
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| Baystore
Sportsman's Oak Island
Maybe Sunset Lodge is up and running agian in 2012?
Oak Island Resort
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | Here's a link to the NW Angle Chamber web site. It lists all the resorts on the Minnesota side. Some are fancy, some are not so, but all are nice. All are located on the Minnesota side of the Angle. Some are located in the islands, and some are drive to. Gas will be cheaper on the US side than on the Canadian side.
You will run into some minor customs requirements.
http://www.lakeofthewoodsresorts.com/resorts.html
Doug Johnson |
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Posts: 8782
| allboutlocal - 2/1/2012 8:56 PM
Take her to the Peter inn, at the corner of zipper and fly...... ;)
That'll take care of ten minutes out of the day, maybe 20 if you're young. Wha are you going to do for the rest of the time? |
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Posts: 87
Location: Minnesota Metro | dougj - 2/1/2012 3:35 PM
Here's a link to the NW Angle Chamber web site. It lists all the resorts on the Minnesota side. Some are fancy, some are not so, but all are nice. All are located on the Minnesota side of the Angle. Some are located in the islands, and some are drive to. Gas will be cheaper on the US side than on the Canadian side.
You will run into some minor customs requirements.
http://www.lakeofthewoodsresorts.com/resorts.html
Doug Johnson
Thank you for the excellent link. I had no idea there were that many options on the US side of LOTW. Is the muskie fishing as good on the US side than on the Canadian side? |
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Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | Wow.I.didn't realize there was that many options on the US side either!
Not to hijack the thread, but I made a poor choice in 2009 and was the recipient of a DUI. NO more LOTW for.me til 2015. So I thought...
Any one else have this issue and still fish the US water? If so do you take the boat across the big part of the lake? Is there good fishing in US water? Any advice is appreciated! |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | There's a few fish on the US side in the islands of the NW Angle, I catch about one Minnesota fish a year, but have had two 50" fish over the years. Probably not enough to keep you interested a whole week.
There are very few muskies in the big open part of the LOTWs, never could figure out why.
Doug Johnson |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Don't quote on me on the legalities of this, but I would tend to think if you boated across the big water to one of the US camps in the angle you could proceed with the normal calling in to Canada daily to fish Canadian waters. They don't ask any questions about your history at that point, just want your name, boat number and DOB....
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Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | Hmm interesting. I'd love to get back up there, and I'm willing to run across the big part to do it. Just don't want to end up kicked out for life or in Canadian prison! Lol |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | I'm not real sure how this works, but had client this past year who had two DWI's in one year around 25 years ago, usually two DWI's are considered inadmissible to Canada. He said he was a slow learner and hasn't had a drink in years. He had no problem getting through Sprague Customs, but when he called in on the phone line with his name and age the Canadian Customs agent some how knew (computers are great) that he had a problem.
He spent a half hour on the phone and finely convinced the Canadians that he was a proper citizen and they let him enter.
You never know for sure what will happen, it's better to be safe than sorry. Exactally how they would enforce this is unknown to me.
Doug Johnson
Edited by dougj 2/2/2012 6:49 PM
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Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | According to the Canadian consulate website, one dui is admissible after 5 yrs, 2 , after 10 years. 3 or more forget about it. Who really knows. I made it through customs no questions asked 3 times after I got it. Then last winter it popped up and I was sent packing..
Funny thing is mine was reduce ed to careless driving since I had a clean record and my blood alcohol content wad only. 09...
Bottom line boys and girls, don't drink and drive!
Edited by bdog 2/2/2012 7:35 PM
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Posts: 8782
| They don't take lightly to assault charges or weapons violations, either. |
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| Check out Tamarack Island Wilderness Lodge. Short 45 minute drive from the border. 20 minutes by boat to the island camp. Camp is housekeeping, most customers bring own boats. And there are 2 cabins designed for 2 people.
Good luck! |
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