There area in northern Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods is, well, let’s call it special. Special, that is, if you appreciate a variety of wildlife, thousands of islands, a relaxed way of life, and of course, world class fishing. If you have been there, there is a good chance that you are a return visitor. If you have not been there, this is an adventure to add to your bucket list. This area is way too special to miss.

In thinking about Lake of the Woods, it helps to think about it in basically three parts. First, the Rainy River on the south end flows into the lake. Second, Big Traverse Bay is the large body of water in the middle that rivals a great lake. The third section is on the north end, starting at Garden Island, and is where the majority of the 14,552 islands of the lake begin. This area is the northernmost point of the contiguous U.S., and is called the Northwest Angle.

Only about 120 people live full-time in this entire area. Deer and bear most certainly outnumber people. The Angle Inlet School is the only surviving one-room school in Minnesota. In fact, I had the opportunity to attend the school play, and it was fabulous. One hundred percent of the students performed in the play… all ten of them!

The Northwest Angle is detached from the main portion of the state and is bordered on three sides by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. Consequently, when driving to the Angle, you actually enter into Canada for about 40 minutes and then enter back into Minnesota at the Northwest Angle. For that reason, visitors are required to have a passport, passport card, an enhanced driver’s license, or a combo of their birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID for crossing the border.

Some visitors avoid customs by traveling up on the lake, staying in Minnesota waters. This means about a 40-mile boat ride (or snowmobile ride) from the south end. Some resorts and a shuttle service offer a transport service across the lake to the Angle. It’s as easy as parking on the south end at the transport service’s parking lot, loading your gear on the boat or track rig, depending upon the season, and your adventure begins.

When you arrive, the Angle has about 12 resorts catering primarily to anglers. Although you are amongst nature, you don’t have to sacrifice the modern conveniences unless you want to. Many resorts have Wi-Fi, satellite dishes, air conditioning, and full meal plans.

Some visitors prefer to disconnect from the world and stay in a log cabin that’s more traditional, without the frills. Either way, the lake life in these parts—where boats are used more than an automobile—will draw you in.

Some call this area God’s Country. The absolute breathtaking beauty and the positive feelings this area invokes upon people’s souls is contagious. About half of the resorts in these parts are on the mainland portion called Angle Inlet. These resorts offer the opportunity to drive your vehicle right to your cabin. The other half are amongst the islands in the area. In this case, the resort meets you at Young’s Bay with their boat and transport you, unless of course, you bring your own boat.

In the winter, an ice road is plowed to most of the island resorts from Young’s Bay, allowing guests to drive right to their resort.

World-class fishing

This area really has it all. The first decision to make is whether you are going to fish Minnesota, Ontario or both. For those who prefer to fish the Minnesota side, there are thousands of spot,s and the possibilities are limitless. Because this area of the lake borders Canada, many visitors will fish Ontario, too, if nothing else, to explore an extra 40 miles of fishing and wilderness by water.

Lake of the Woods is named, “The Walleye Capital of the World” for good reason. Walleyes thrive and seem to be everywhere. As a result, fresh walleye shore lunches and fish frys are the norm in these parts.

If you chase muskies, you are likely aware of this area’s reputation. It is tough to turn on a Saturday morning muskie show and not see Lake of the Woods a good portion of the time. With so many islands, bays, rock points, saddles, humps, red cabbage and more, this is a muskie angler’s dream. Both the Minnesota side and Ontario side hold good numbers and trophy fish over 50 inches.

One fish taking a back seat in popularity is the smallmouth bass. Smallies are often caught by walleye anglers, but not often targeted. Bass thrive amongst the thousands of islands and are everywhere. Anglers often comment they cannot believe how unbelievable a bass fishery this area is and that nobody fishes for them. Walleyes rule in these parts, and that’s just the way it is.

Other fish that are prevalent, and you will catch are sauger, pike, jumbo perch and crappies. In certain parts of the lake, whitefish and lake trout abound and are a blast.

Local guides

Fortunately, this area has several passionate guides who work with the resorts and know the lake well. They are excellent at making the fishing adventure about you and what you want to catch.

As a bonus, most of them have perfected “shore lunch.” They actually have special recipes for the fish batter, potatoes and beans. Prepared fresh on an island, a delicious meal of fresh walleyes tends to diminish the quality of the more typical fish fry back at home.

Northernmost Point buoy

The Northwest Angle is home to a unique landmark that draws visitors from across the country and beyond: the Northernmost Point buoy, marking the northernmost point of the contiguous United States. People make the trek specifically to snap a photo with this iconic buoy, and many who have also visited Key West, Florida make a point of collecting both — pairing it with a photo at the Southernmost Point buoy to complete a one-of-a-kind, coast-to-coast bragging rights combo. Right next to the buoy sits Jerry’s Bar and Restaurant, a great, little watering hole that is the perfect spot to celebrate the accomplishment with a cold drink and good company.

Beyond the fishing

If you want to mix it up a bit, there is a lot to offer. Joe Laurin of Lighthouse Boat Tours is a local who is deeply passionate about the Angle and its rich history, and he has turned that passion into an unforgettable guided boat tour experience. Joe personally takes visitors to some of the most fascinating and hard-to-reach destinations on the lake. For anyone wanting to venture beyond the fishing rods for an afternoon, a Lighthouse Boat Tour is an absolute must.

• Historic Fort St. Charles. Stop by this preserved fort on Magnuson Island, used for trade and exploration back in 1732.

• Massacre Island. Stories vary over time, but in a nutshell, 21 explorers were massacred by Sioux Indians who believed guns were sold to their rivals. Most of the explorers were beheaded. A Jesuit Cross still resides at the top of the island.

• Abandoned gold mines and POW camps. The area is also home to forgotten pieces of history scattered amongst the islands, including abandoned gold mines and POW camps that few people ever get to see up close.

• Petroglyphs and painted rocks. Centuries-old native paintings and petroglyphs on the rock walls of Lake of the Woods are believed to be 800 to 900 years old. These ancient works still mystify historians and chemists alike, as the materials used by the early artists have proven remarkably durable through centuries of exposure to the elements.

The Northwest Angle is an absolute oasis of world-class open water and ice fishing, hunting, wildlife and a variety of outdoor activities. It’s an area that does not get a lot of attention. It’s also an area that once you visit, you can bet you will be back.