Need some ideas for an Ice Excursion!

So the wife spilled the beans last night… I’ll officially be an ‘old man’ in early February (hitting the 50 year mark ) and my wife is treating me to a long weekend of ice fishing with my sons and my brother-in-law. We’re looking at Feb 3rd through the 7th.

The next step is to find a place where we can stay in a sleeper shack for a night or two over the weekend. There will be five of us in the group. I’d love to go to Lake of the Woods but we’ll eat up too much time driving. Any suggestions for Mille Lacs, maybe Hayward area, etc??

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Check with Chris Granrud. Chris

Tanner Wilds guides in the Hayward area. Look in the Reports forum, he’ll have the pulse in that area.

The Red Door Resort in the Mille Lacs forum. They know pretty much everything that’s going on above and under the ice on the Big Pond.

Since you are driveing it really limits where you can go. Mille Lacs was a trip I made this spring and stayed at Hunter Point Resort. Jason Bongers and George Nitti are first class hosts. The houses were off of the lake by the time we made our trip but the cabin we stayed in was great. We were able to get one right by the resort office and was within walking distance for meals. And the fishing advice we received paid off with big dividends.

I checked my map and Mille Lacs is about 650 miles from Kalamazoo. If you were to make the trip to Rainy to fish with Chris like Kooty said you are looking at about 780 miles to International Falls. I am sure either trip would be a memorable event you and kids will remember for years to come.

There are also several other choices in between I myself would love to fish. Upper Red Lake, Leach, the list goes on…

Since you’re in Kalamazoo I’d suggest heading up to LBDN. I don’t know about sleeper shack rentals, but you can get a cabin on the bay for pretty cheap. By then there will be more than enough ice to drive right out to where you want to fish.

I would think LOTWs might be worth the extra drive time. Resorts like Wigwam drive you out on the ice to your shack. A slow day of fishing on LOTWs most of the time far exceeds other lakes for numbers. At the end of the day the resort picks you back up and you get to sleep in a nice warm cabin with running water, a kitchen and cable TV. Getting to catch all the fish I want and staying in comfort at night is very nice for older people. Your not geting any younger.

What about Green Bay?

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…. Your not geting any younger.

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Thanks Mike On top of turning 50 soon, I’m having a partial knee-replacement next wednesday…

Jake’s Resort on the NW Angle. Small, family owned resort and low key up on the Angle. Not like the circus that can take place on the south end of the lake. One of my favorite ice fishing trips.

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What about Green Bay?

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Check out Dale Strochein, Bret Alexander up in Door Co on Green Bay. Dale has a first class operation at Sand Bay Resort, if you tell him you are a fisherman, always a small discount and both can provide great ice fishing for walleyes and whitefish!!!

Mark

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I would think LOTWs might be worth the extra drive time. Resorts like Wigwam drive you out on the ice to your shack. A slow day of fishing on LOTWs most of the time far exceeds other lakes for numbers. At the end of the day the resort picks you back up and you get to sleep in a nice warm cabin with running water, a kitchen and cable TV. Getting to catch all the fish I want and staying in comfort at night is very nice for older people. Your not geting any younger.

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What Mike said…and they will clean and cook your fish for you for an unbelievable price.

And your not getting any younger you know. (is there and echo in here?)

BTW…I know this spot on the St Croix near a train bridge….

Lake of the Woods would get my first vote for that time of year, but I also think Mille Lacs is going to be good this winter. Hunter’s Point has nice rentals. I would also recommend trying to put together a guide trip with Tony Roach and his crew while you are there. I know I’ll be there that weekend, if you need any info.

No sleeper shacks at Green bay but the Sand Bay Resort is REALLY nice

And a legit shot at a 10 lb + walleye aint too shabby either

Hey, have no idea where you should go but just wanted to say hi to a fellow Michigander. Or is it Michiganian? What ever. Good luck on your trip though.