The Walleye Capital of the World has been a popular fishing destination for eons. More walleyes are caught out of Lake of the Woods by ice anglers than any lake in the United States. In addition, the catch rate per hour is, arguably, the best anywhere.

Most anglers who ice fish Lake of the Woods will access the lake on the south shore. Many will stay at a resort and utilize their guides to transport them onto the miles of ice in heated transportation to a heated fish house with the holes already drilled. Not a bad gig, on a frozen lake in heated comfort with millions of walleye swimming below you.

Some visitors to Lake of the Woods go away from the norm a bit. Whether it is because of adventure or simply a change of scenery, they head up to the Northwest Angle.

The NW Angle is the northernmost point in the continental U.S. Rather than the large expanse of ice as far as the eye can see, like on the south end of Lake of the Woods, this area is full of hundreds of islands. Some of the resorts in this area are located on the mainland in Angle Inlet, Minn. Other NW Angle resorts are on islands. All of these resorts are located in Minnesota, and one thing is for sure, the fishing is HOT.

How to Get There
Drive. Many NW Angle visitors drive to the Angle. If you drive, you do need a passport. You actually go over the border into Manitoba, Canada and then enter back into the U.S. up at the NW Angle. This beautiful and winding drive will take you through a nature-filled environment of tamarack, black spruce, white and red pine, cedar and birch. Once you arrive after about a 60-mile drive from the border, you can drive right up to a resort and check in or take the ice road to the one of the many resorts located amongst the islands. As always, work through a resort or outfitter before driving on the ice for safety.

Over the ice
No passport needed when traveling over ice as you will be staying in Minnesota the entire 40-mile trip. Many elect to catch the snowmobile trails across the lake to the Angle. These trails are groomed and well marked with black stakes driven into the ice with reflectors for a nice ride. Typically, anglers pull their collapsible fish houses as their trailers and pack a modest duffle bag or suitcase for the overnight stays. Pure snowmobilers will wear a backpack or strap a bag to their sled.

Sometimes, anglers will fish their way up to their resort destination. Other times, they simply make the 40-mile run and head right to the resort they will be calling home base. There is actually a small log-cabin-type warming house open to the public for your convenience up on Garden Island in the northern part of the big body of water. Some enjoy taking a break on the ride up and starting a nice fire and enjoying some good company while feeling the warmth of the wood burning stove in this rustic shelter.

Heated ice transportation
A few resorts actually offer the service of transporting you across the lake ice in one of their heated ice vehicles. Whether it is a bombardier or 4×4 vehicle specially equipped with track rigs, it is an exciting ride over the mass expanse of the white environment with an occasional fish house.

By air
For those who fly their own planes or are able to catch a ride with a flying service, seeing the terrain via air is not only breathtaking, but efficient. Resorts will work with pilots on what ice is fit for a plane to land. There are also airports in Baudette, Warroad and Roseau.

Should I bring my own shelter?
Many of the resorts at the Angle place their spacious warm houses over some of the best walleye waters in the world. There is good structure in these parts. At times you will be fishing a reef or a drop-off, other times maybe an underwater point off an island or boulders. Similar to many resorts on the south end of the lake, guides will transport you via heated ice vehicle to your heated fish house.

Some resort outfitters will lead you on an adventure into Lake of the Woods waters of Ontario. You supply your own snowmobile or in some cases, rent theirs. Winding around islands, away from the neck-down areas where there might be current, you feel like a modern day explorer on a quest for fish. The snowmobile ride to your fishing spot is part of the adventure and is as much fun as fishing.

Some anglers prefer going out on their own, getting ideas and direction from the resort owners on ice conditions, fish patterns and hotspots. If you have a snowmobile and all of the equipment, it really is an adventure.

When using your own equipment, the sky is the limit. You have very close access to the north end of the big body of water, called Big Traverse and famous spots like Garden Island, Knight and Bridges and simply no man’s land, which is deep flats between key structure that hold thousands of fish. Others will choose to fish around the islands for the beauty and just a change in scenery.

Species galore
The options for a variety of fish around the islands, reefs and endless structure are many. Walleyes, perch, crappies, whitefish and northern pike are all in abundance. Outfitters have their favorite crappie holes in which the fish are typically very cooperative. Big black crappie with a few walleyes mixed in is the norm.

Whitefish are another option. These are not the tulibee you typically smoke; they are different, and the variety you would broil or fry for dinner. They are very active fish and again, usually very willing to take your offering.

Which end of Lake of the Woods is better? Both! The south end of the lake has huge roaming schools of walleye and sauger by the thousands with perch and other species mixed in. It is literally full of fish. There is some structure with reefs, etc., but mainly it is one big bowl full of bait and full of fish. Not a bad choice.

On the other hand, the Northwest Angle has islands, structure, numerous species, wilderness and a lot of fish with few anglers. I cannot tell you what end of the lake to fish. That is really personal preference. Here is what I can tell you. When you are looking down at your electronics, and that thick red line appears, this is Lake of the Woods, so you better hang on!

Joe Henry is a licensed charter captain and tournament angler. Learn more about the Lake of the Woods and the Northwest Angle, resorts, fishing, snowmobile trails, outfitters, ice conditions and more at lakeofthewoodsMN.com or on Facebook.