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Posts: 166
| Been going to Lake Pokegama(Itasca) all my life(59 yrs) for family vacations. A couple of years ago, our ability to use a cousin's cabin has been tough to get into, not very many open dates in prime season. Not much for resorts on Pokie and/or rentals.
I go to LOW a week or two a year with friends or son and son-in-law. 80 % for muskies. Son and son-in-law trying to talk the women into going there, probably not happening. For some reason they don't think Nestor Falls or Oak Island offer much for "shopping opportunities" or restaurant options? Huh, hard to figure?
Would like to go to a lake where we would fish 40/60, muskies/walleyes........and actually catch some. Also want a resort with sand beach and water trampolines, etc for kids. Went to Cass Lake Lodge 2 years ago, caught walleyes, fished muskies some, no luck. We did not fish a ton, fairly happy with the walleye fishing. Kids loved the beach at our resort and the beaches at a couple of islands. We were not wild about the long stairs to get down to the beach though. Women and girls would go to Walker or Bemidji for their stuff.
Good chance we would go there again. Just looking for other options. I am leaning Leech Lake. I have fished for muskies there many times, would probably hire a guide to get us on the right track for walleyes. Walker is of course closer if we stay on the south side of Leech. Open to other lakes also. Thanks. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Spring Bay resort, Lake Vermilion... Cook End/West End...
Shopping in Ely,... and everything else except water Trampoline...
Very good Walleye, Pike, Bass, Crappie, Pan fishing... Oh, Muskies !
Fortune Bay Casino is worth checking out and it's a only a 1/2 hr.-40 min. scenic ride by water from Spring Bay.
Steve and Joe @ S.B. are Great people do deal with.
Guaranteed a really good experience for the entire Family. |
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Posts: 32786
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Top H2O - 2/9/2019 10:45 AM
Spring Bay resort, Lake Vermilion... Cook End/West End...
Shopping in Ely,... and everything else except water Trampoline...
Very good Walleye, Pike, Bass, Crappie, Pan fishing... Oh, Muskies !
Fortune Bay Casino is worth checking out and it's a only a 1/2 hr.-40 min. scenic ride by water from Spring Bay.
Steve and Joe @ S.B. are Great people do deal with.
Guaranteed a really good experience for the entire Family.
This. |
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Posts: 166
| Thanks for the reccommendation. I have been in that area alot snowmobiling. Brother and family have stayed on Vermillion some. They have caught a very very few, but big, muskies fishing with Josh B. Overall, though, real tough for (them) catching muskies, even with Josh. That aint't a deal killer for me though, would fish more for walleyes and others on this trip. Beautiful lake. Looks like a terrific resort, might be the one my brother stayed at? Probably deal killer is the hour(?) drive to the shopping "mecca" of Ely  Again, thanks. Will look into that option. |
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Posts: 516
Location: WI | Great blue heron lodge on Vermilion. Gorgeous 7 bedroom cabin rental on a quiet bay of the lake. Lots of stuff for the kids. |
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Posts: 53
| Check out Balsam Beach Resort on Plantag by Bemidji. They have a great beach with some of the best water toys. And being close to Bemidji there are more choices for going out to eat, etc. Its a good walleye lake with lots of fish. Big muskies, you will see quite a few but they are educated. For a family trip and what you are asking for it checks the boxes. Good luck searching, that's half the fun. |
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Posts: 93
| This is the place you're looking for...
https://www.mantraplodge.com
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Posts: 187
Location: West Metro, MN | As just posted above, we did 5 days at Mantrap Lodge with the kids and loved it. No walleyes to speak of, but good panfish/bass. Close to Itasca state park too which is worth a day trip if you haven’t been before. Super clear water so you will definitely get action from followers, but will do much better at low light getting one to commit. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Just leave the women home with a credit card, you’ll both enjoy the trip better. |
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Posts: 1667
| If driving a hour is to much when in Northern Minnesota might as well take them to the Mall of America. You can give them the Gold Card and you can go to Tonka. |
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Posts: 129
| I’ll give a second vote for Balsam Beach Resort. Stayed there many times. Really nice place. |
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Posts: 2275
Location: Chisholm, MN | Leech is cool but when they’re off, they’re off. I think Cass is your best option. Leech is a close second. Vermilion doesn’t have much for beaches and you seem to know the gig with muskies there. Cass also has the chain of other lakes to try. Bemidji and plant are more algae type lakes and maybe a few less muskies. |
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