Who wants to go to Canada? Apparently, nobody.

My favorite reasons for fishing the Canadian Side of LOTW:

1) Multi-species fishing spots are yards or bays away from each other
2) Chance for a trophy every cast
3) Not too much boat traffic – if there’s a boat on a spot, you fish a different spot (many times)
4) I often fish new techniques/methods/lures up there because of the quantity and quality of fish. If you get “tired” of trolling spinners, try a Jiggin Rap.
5) Fantastic fishing opportunities for my boys – helped get them hooked on fishing. My 14 yr old has caught numerous walleyes, northerns, smallies, perch and rock bass of our dock and neighbors docks – after a full day on the water. Same goes for resort docks.
6) We’re lucky – we’re only a 2.5 hour drive from Morson – same distance as to Mille Lacs for us.
7) No matter the wind, you can tuck behind islands and fish.
8) I learn something new about each specie I fish for each trip.

slawrenz wrote:

Number 1 attraction for me has been the chance to fish for fish I can’t catch here in Minnesota, big Specks (brookies), the fact that I can catch tons of walleyes and northerns is just a side benefit.

I hear you on the Speck fishing. I’ve managed three different trips for them over the past 5 years. If only one had European PTO….

I used to go as well. I haven’t been there in 10 years now. Costs, an aging population of anglers, the economy, the hassle, and other opportunities probably all have had an effect.

When I went license costs seemed to go up every year with reduced limits. Gas prices have risen. I would guess lodging costs have gone up as well. Someone above mentioned it costs $2400 for 3 guys for 5.5 days of fishing. That kind of money could pay for multiple trips closer to home or in other locations. The passport requirement has added a small hurdle as well.

The fisheries in NE. SD and Devils Lake are now as good as many places in Canada with less cost, hassle and maybe a little closer to home. You can even bring fish home. Slots have really rejuvenated some MN lakes. I think more people take time to go to winter destinations(like Cancun), that can burn up time and money.

I tried the drive-in’s and still ran into lakes-rivers that had competition and were not pristine. When I go I fly-in. The solitude, wildlife (where else you gonna see a herd of caribou) and the plain old simple fishing and catching lot’s of fish out of a small runabout with a 8 or 10 HP motor can’t be beat. It’s how we fished as kids. The catch em, clean em and eat em everyday straightway can’t be beat. BTW I never get sick of walleye. Plus monster pike and occasionally specked trout. If you do your homework the price of a great fly-in can be quite reasonable 1300 or 1400 for a week, everything included. With the Canadian dollar at 75 cents your dollar goes even further. Sure they try to make a buck: license, GSD, sportsman card but who doesn’t. I just wish I could afford the fly-in every year.
I love fishing the local lakes for pike, perch, musky’s, lake trout but it’s just not the same.

joc wrote:

The solitude, wildlife (where else you gonna see a herd of caribou) and the plain old simple fishing and catching lot’s of fish out of a small runabout with a 8 or 10 HP motor can’t be beat. It’s how we fished as kids….
I love fishing the local lakes for pike, perch, musky’s, lake trout but it’s just not the same.

BINGO.

where I go, for a week, the only sounds are an occasional float plane cruising over, with another load of lucky anglers and the loons. Ever wake up and hear loons talking at 2am on a remote lake ? That can’t be beat

More people take their vacations now by tacking on a few days to front of back of holiday weekends instead of taking a week or two straight off like used to be the normal. Look at how many resorts are bending the rules and no longer require a week-long stay anymore. They have had to change their policies to go with the times. People just can’t take off a big block of time anymore.

Also, speed limits used to be lower. So it took a long time just to get up to Leech or other good fishing waters. So as long as they were going to have to make a long drive, might as well tack on a few more hours and cross the border to the really good waters. Which was also no big deal since they had 2 weeks off.

Now, you can zip up to any number of good bodies of water and be home that night or the next day.

I think another reason I don’t go as often is that – if you really want the best walleye fishing, remote areas of Canada are simply better on average than in the states. BUT, if you prefer other species like smallmouth, muskie, etc… the fishing is as good – and sometimes better – down here. Closer, less hassle, and plenty of trophy-sized to chase…

Personally, I’d rather buy a couple clean Canadian walleye fillets at the store to eat, and spend my time down here in pursuit of fish that are more fun to catch…

FryDog62 wrote:

Personally, I’d rather buy a couple clean Canadian walleye fillets at the store to eat, and spend my time down here in pursuit of fish that are more fun to catch…

I might agree if I thought they were Canadian Walleye instead of Red Lake Walleye.

queenswake wrote:

More people take their vacations now by tacking on a few days to front of back of holiday weekends instead of taking a week or two straight off like used to be the normal. Look at how many resorts are bending the rules and no longer require a week-long stay anymore. They have had to change their policies to go with the times. People just can’t take off a big block of time anymore.

Also, speed limits used to be lower. So it took a long time just to get up to Leech or other good fishing waters. So as long as they were going to have to make a long drive, might as well tack on a few more hours and cross the border to the really good waters. Which was also no big deal since they had 2 weeks off.

Now, you can zip up to any number of good bodies of water and be home that night or the next day.

People are also spending more time and money on ice fishing destinations. Something has to give.

We now have the ability to get detailed weather forecasts for any location. It is easier to make a quick, maybe even just a day, trip to Leech Lake from the cities if you have confidence that the weather is going to be good. Our vehicles have gotten better and more comfortable as well.

disco bobber wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>queenswake wrote:</div>
More people take their vacations now by tacking on a few days to front of back of holiday weekends instead of taking a week or two straight off like used to be the normal. Look at how many resorts are bending the rules and no longer require a week-long stay anymore. They have had to change their policies to go with the times. People just can’t take off a big block of time anymore.

Also, speed limits used to be lower. So it took a long time just to get up to Leech or other good fishing waters. So as long as they were going to have to make a long drive, might as well tack on a few more hours and cross the border to the really good waters. Which was also no big deal since they had 2 weeks off.

Now, you can zip up to any number of good bodies of water and be home that night or the next day.

People are also spending more time and money on ice fishing destinations. Something has to give.

We now have the ability to get detailed weather forecasts for any location. It is easier to make a quick, maybe even just a day, trip to Leech Lake from the cities if you have confidence that the weather is going to be good. Our vehicles have gotten better and more comfortable as well.

And frankly, in many ways we’ve just gotten too lazy. “It takes too long, too much work, too much hassle, etc.” Heck, a lot of those things used to be part of the whole reason you even WENT to Canada-the adventure of it. Still is for me.

Well the trip is now over and it was epic to say the least. No time for a full update now, but stay tuned! When I get my pictures downloaded tonight, I’ll post the trip story

We tried a new lake this time. Let’s call it Noname Lake. To say we hit the walleye jackpot would be an understatement.

Who wants to go to Canada again? I do!

Grouse