Lake of the woods

I’m planning a trip up to Minnesota to do some walleye fishing in late February or early March and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on lodging and guide service? I’ve talked with several around boudette near the rainy river area. Also I use tuned up commander and power precision rods for walleye in my area for big walleye that range on average from 6 to 12 lbs and bigger is not out of the normal. Is the commander a bit heavy or good. I could always use an excuse to give the wife to grab a new rod!

Ballards, border view and sportsman’s are 3 good resorts that are right next to each other on the rainy river. I would call and make reservations soon, I was at ballards 2 weeks ago and they were full for lodging so we stayed at American inn in Baudette and fished through ballards in there shacks. Staying in Baudette in the hotel was actually nice having a pool and hot tub at night and was only a 10 minute drive to the resort in the morning.

Thanks for the information!

Be prepared to catch 10+ dink saugers to every 1 decent fish on lotw in the winter time. And by decent I mean 15+ inches. The basin bite just tend to be alot of tiny fish with the chance of a few nicer fish. I’d guess this year ive got 200+ fish under 13″, one low 20s and one nice 28.5″. Fishing with a Commander may be a little underwhelming for 98% of the fish you catch. I use a regular precision but I’d say the biggest thing would be to run some sort of braid as the main line, because you’ll be fishing 30’+ and good hooksets can be difficult without it.

If you go in later March as the lake is melting, you can target bigger fish a little easier. Sometimes it’s a bust, timing as always is key. I’ve been going up on, or near, St. Patty’s weekend for 20+ years and the low light bite usually produces some bigger fish.

Chad Denehy wrote:

Is the commander a bit heavy or good. I could always use an excuse to give the wife to grab a new rod!

Sorry honey, up at LOTW they use a lot of 1/8oz baits. The Commander is awesome but just too stiff

Yeah, she won’t buy it but it does have truth. For working spoons you might want a little more flexible rod.

Have you heard anything about the northwest angle? I heard the fish are better quality but you never know. Either way thanks for the info. 1/8 spoons are something I use very little if at all unless going after panfish on Lake Ontario. What kind of jigs do you like up there? I’ve got lots of stuff from 1/4 to 3/4oz

This a recent episode from up there during a super cold stretch. They discuss a lot of your questions. If you search past seasons they usually do an episode a year up there, different times of year and different conditions.