Best Lakes To Have a Cabin/Home In Alexandria Area?

I’d like to get some IDO opinions on what lakes in the Alexandra area would be best to have a cabin/home on a lake. I’m starting to get to be of the age I can at least start thinking/dreaming, right? High on the list would be lake water quality and, of course, quality fishing. I love fishing Osakis but not sure the greenish water in mid summer and on would pass the rest of the family’s water quality test. I’d like to start visiting the area more and really would appreciate any and all opinions on this kind off vague question. Thanks!

Haven’t been up that way for a bit but we used to go all the time when I was younger. Have you been on Mary, miltona, lobster, minnewaska?

minnewaska would be nice and clear water. Mary always had luck fishing. Miltona can get windy.

Ive heard a lot of good things about Maple lake up that way

If I was looking to move up there, I’d want to be on Lake Ida. Miltona would be high on the list also. Mary would be another great choice.

First we need to know the budget. Then we can decide if it’s on or off the chain….
DT

I have little experience on any of the lakes in the area other than Osakis – a fish factory. But the water, meh. I’ve driven by many of them and we like the area. Close to a decent sized city, closer to pheasant range than the Brainerd area, closer to the N. Dakota where we have relatives, etc.

Price? Who knows. We’d have to sell our current house now to find a place we’d like to actually live in. Renting for a month or two in the summer could also be an option if buying didn’t work out. This is all 5+ years out so we’re in the brainstorming stage. Fun to think about but lots of time between now and then.

I know of one on Spitzer Lake,
Nice home and good size Pole Shed for storing toys and working on them.

Awesome Northern, Bass & Panfishing.

If interested, pm me and I’ll connect you with the owner.
He had it listed a few years ago and got no decent offer.

15 minutes to City of Battle Lake
35 to Alexandria
Thus easy drive to many other lakes.

Lobster Lake is nice. Almost all boat traffic is from people who have a place on the lake. The majority of people who launch are fishing muskies. The lake is split into 3 different sections which is nice to be able to get out of wind. The Muskie fishing is pretty darn good, but there are Walleyes. My dad got a 29.5″ while trolling for muskies, although 15″ is pretty typical. There are also a lot of opportunities to catch panfish in the bays and around islands. In the summer months the lake is mostly taken over by tubers from breakfast to supper but really calms down after those hours.

If you aren’t wanting to drop a ton of money avoid most places on the chain of lakes. Expensive now a days but a decent older one will pop up once in a while, the problem with the chain is so many people are out driving around all willy nilly with no care for others. Fishing is best after dinner time or before noon. There are a few resorts left on the chain and other surrounding lakes that you can try. Bergs resort will rent cabins seasonally for a decent price and you’re in the bay on Le homme dieu with the ability to get to other lakes. I’d say check on some resorts in the area and stay at a few to figure out which lake you like best.

realtreeap10 wrote:

the problem with the chain is so many people are out driving around all willy nilly with no care for others.

Is this really a weekend problem? If the premise on this thread is a retirement place, is this still critical?

My family is on the Gull chain in Brainerd. All the retired neighbors do their fishing during the week to avoid the crowds. Weekend boating is to go to dinner or sunset cocktail hour

Drove through the Alex lake area on Sunday for the first time, enjoying this thread. thanks.

Osakis…

Do you duck hunt? I do really well on a few of the big lakes in the area. You could jist leave from your dock and be back in time for breakfast. Not telling the internet which ones though…. I can pm you if you want.
DT

HA, I don’t duck hunt much any more because of pressure and access issues around here – and I grew up on North Dakota waterfowling. In the back of my mind though I knew the Alex/Fergus area can have some good duck hunting. I’d appreciate a PM.

Your dog looks a bit like my lab from the pic

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I live on lake Mary and my family and I really enjoy it. Tremendous duck hunting and fishing. Also, surprisingly there isn’t a ton of recreational traffic. If it does get busy it’s usually for a very short time. During the week traffic is quite low. The clarity is also very high. I heard the latest test was over 15′ clarity. It’s only 5 min from Alexandria yet quiet. Perfect lake for us. Have fun planning!

FYI you can just move here now and get a job here. I smile everyday going to work as I drive through the lake filled countryside. Tough place to live but someone has to do it!

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We do have traffic issues in both places though

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Joe Scegura wrote:

We do have traffic issues in both places though

that’s good I like it lol

“Tough place to live but someone has to do it”

You poor bass-turd Joe…