LOTW Resort

Last year, we took a group of 4 for a trip to LOTW and stayed at Sportsman’s Lodge before Christmas. We did not really have much to complain about. The cabin was so so (which was fine and what we expected), the food and bar were pretty solid. The fishing was decent, but not lights out. I’m not against going through them again, but am open to suggestions.

Here’s what we’re looking for:

-3 nights sleep, 2 days fishing

-decent on shore lodging for 4 guys

-no meal plan needed, but would like a bar nearby if possible

-standard transportation to and from shack with bait included

-Maybe a better bite? This is such a crap shoot I know, but we struggled to find any fish of size or substantial numbers. Each of the guys I was with caught 12-15 fish a day (with minimal ice fishing experience). I think I landed about 25 each day (just being more efficient than the new guys)

Does anyone want to share a recommendation? Pricing seems relatively similar between the few places I’ve looked at (Arnesens, Border View, Sportsman’s, etc).

Do you go and sit in one of there day houses and not move at all?
Lotw is a numbers lake but not always a size lake.
We catch a ton of big fish up there every winter but we also put on many miles searching and getting away from the crowds.

Sportsmans is a decent bar and they are all OK lodges. I wouldn’t say 1 is much better then the other at all. Find a private guide to put you on big fish and then stay in town at the motel, if you are not going to put in to much work then pay some one to do it for you. I can send you a few guides numbers up there but number 1 choice would be mr Jason groll

Ballards and border view are good places to go also right next to sportsman’s. We went to arnesons last year early ice and the bite was so/so also. They were very busy and kind of unorganized. Another option for you is to stay at the Americinn in baudette and and rent a shack from any resort or guide. It’s only about a 10 minute drive from sportsman’s lodge and worked good for us last year.

I’ve stayed at many.
Arnesons has best close structure fishing which at time can help but accomadations are okay to iffy. Nice bar and resturant.
Have stayed at Cyrus (just west of Sportsmans) and it’s also been good accomadations and also has bar and resturant.
Fishing can be really good to not so good all along the south shore.
Unless going portable, you get what you get.
Nevertheless… always fun up there.
Good luck with your choice and fishing quality.

That’s mostly all they catch and clean are 10-13 inch fish when ice fishing and I have seen smaller

I would check out Fred’s Bed’s. Nels is the guy who owns it and he goes out of morris point. I have been going out in his sleepers for about 6 years and he takes really good care of us. He has since built some cabins to stay in if your not interested in sleeper shacks. They sleep 6 max. Brand new and very nice. Here is his link. https://www.fredsbedslow.com/

Zipple Bay gets my vote. Nice cabins on shore, or sleepers on the ice if you’d like. Nice Bar/Restaurant on shore, or the famous Igloo Bar out on the lake! Lots of options to get away from the crowds if bringing a portable too.

Last time I was up over new years, we got our 2 man limit before 9am. Went to shore, cleaned them in the nice fish cleaning shack, then went out Pike fishing till afternoon. had a couple flags but no hookups. (Pike fishing is usually better towards March) Came back in & had the bar cook up our walleyes for dinner. Oh, so good!!

Almost every resort up there is good and many have what you are looking for, but I’m partial to Cyrus.
As far as fish size, it’d be a perfect world if the resorts and/or the other folks that rent ice houses were always on larger fish, but the schools of larger walleyes are constantly on the move and expecting larger fish isn’t always realistic. Like Bearcat89 says, finding and staying on larger fish usually means frequently moving to find them and stay on them.
Looking at your numbers though, even though your fish may have been small, 12 to 25 fish/person every day isn’t bad, especially considering the possession limit on Lake of the Woods.

Is it feasible at that time to run across the lake and get to Flag Island? That would be my vote if I was heading up there. We did a trip in January and the fishing was good with some decent size. They were also willing to move us around to get on fish. Bar/Restaurant was very good.

The weather was good enough that we drug along a K drill and moved around outside the house, too.

Never fished LOTW’s. Now that I’m retired it’s definitely on my bucket list.

Now is probably not the best time since you can’t drive there, but I’d be looking to go to the NW Angle. Pretty much agree with the other recommendations, and I’ve heard good things about River Bend too but haven’t been there.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Do you go and sit in one of there day houses and not move at all?
Lotw is a numbers lake but not always a size lake.
We catch a ton of big fish up there every winter but we also put on many miles searching and getting away from the crowds.

Sportsmans is a decent bar and they are all OK lodges. I wouldn’t say 1 is much better then the other at all. Find a private guide to put you on big fish and then stay in town at the motel, if you are not going to put in to much work then pay some one to do it for you. I can send you a few guides numbers up there but number 1 choice would be mr Jason groll

If I went with 4 guys who fished as often as I do, we would not just sit in day shacks and would book with a small guide who is chasing fish. However, if we tried to run and gun I’d be doing my share of babysitting/helping instead of fishing. We are looking for a take a few (or more) beers to the day shack and catch fish type outing. I assumed the bite was relatively similar at most places, but was just looking to see if anyone here had first-hand knowledge of resorts who have really worked hard to keep them on fish and move day houses.

I refuse to keep 10-12″ fish. We did ride out with a crew from the suburbs last year one morning. When we came back, they couldn’t stop talking about their limit within 2 hours. Their bucket didn’t have a fish over 13″. They were shocked when we told them we threw back everything under 14″.

I go on a trip similar to that with my old man a uncle and 2 other old timers. So I know what you mean. We did a run and gun the first time and I thought I was gonna make the trip for them but came to realize they just wanted some guy time away from the wives lol

I would suggest go before Christmas if you can and during the week. First ice and last ice is usually pretty good up there.

Stay at one of the Lodges have a good time. If you think it’s all about the numbers that’s only the half of it.
Yes we all like to catch fish and have a great trip, some times fishing is hot and sometimes it’s a struggle. But I would not give up any of them, time with friends and a Cold Beer in the Lodge Price Less. Just my 2 cents.