A Winter Adventure With No Hassle – Just Fun!
You are going to love ice fishing on Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods is a legendary fishery with over 14,000 islands, 65,000 miles of shoreline and the home to thousands of fish.
In the winter the ice gets up to 4 feet thick and fishing is a blast. At Sportsman’s we take care of everything so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the trip. The fish house, transportation to and from the fish house, jig sticks or rods/reels and jigs to use, bait, we clean your fish, offer fishing tips throughout the day and even have lunch delivery options.
We kick off our season in early December when we have 8-12 inches of ice. We place our fish houses off the main ice roads and along groomed trails.
The main catch is walleye and saugers but it is not uncommon to reel in an occasional northern pike, eelpout, sturgeon, perch, crappie, or tullibee. Our season runs through late March, unlike most Minnesota lakes.
Full Day Experience of Minnesota Ice Fishing
Your day of fishing starts between 7:30 and 8 am (check at the front desk for your scheduled time) and we pick you up around 4:30 pm.
Our experienced guides will check on you periodically throughout the day to answer your questions, deliver a lunch for those who ordered one the day before and offer Minnesota fishing tips so you can enjoy a fun filled day of fishing.
We are constantly moving our houses to stay on the fish, because our goal is for you to catch fish!
What’s included with our ice fishing trips
Some fish houses have bathrooms (check for availability). Ice fishing available early December through the end of March.
“A big shout out to Sportsman’s Lodge Lake of the Woods. They have made our first winter family trip amazing. The drivers to the ice house Joe and Cody were great. A+ Rating. Great fishing, food and customer service. Thank you for the wonderful memories!”
Your Fish House
Our fish houses accommodate either 4 persons, (8 holes – 8 X 12) or 6 (12 holes – 8 X 16) and are always private to your group. The fish houses are equipped with propane heat, lights, and folding chairs or a bench. Some houses have an attached restroom. Inquire about availability.
Want to camp on the ice while fishing? Check out Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Sleepers.
Licenses & Limits
A Minnesota fishing license is required. To purchase a fishing license click here or call 888-MN-LICEN (665-4236). For information about current limits click here.
Fish Finder Rentals Available
Many anglers swear that electronic fish finders help their chances of reeling in more fish and we agree, more often than not we see anglers who use them reel in more fish. If you would like to give one a try, we have Vexilars available. They go fast so be sure to contact us ahead of time to reserve.
Haven’t been on an ice fishing trip at Sportsman’s? Here’s what your day will look like.
A lot of first-timers are interested in what a day of ice fishing actually looks like. Take a look at the pictures below to get a visual of a day of ice fishing at Sportsman’s. Check out our bombardiers, inside and outside of our fish houses and a few pics of what you’ll be reeling in!
