LOTW Father/Son Fishing Trip

[Banker]

A former NHL player turned fishing guide on the Lake of the Woods, Jean Paul Tessier, is a friend of mine AND a sponsor on our website this season. When he heard about my Father's ambition for a father son trip the hamster wheel started spinning. The end result is my pops and I flying out to fish on one of the best hardwater fisheries with one of the best guides available and it will all be on video for the folks back in Ohio to watch at your leisure.

Janary 14th-15th-16th watch out Minnesota, aint seen nothin like what we Ohioans do on the ice!

[Banker]

History of Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods was carved into the granite of the Canadian Precambrian Shield by receding glaciers over 10,000 years ago. The underlying bedrock that the present lake sits upon is among the oldest of geological formations to be found on earth. The area was originally covered by the mammoth Lake Agassiz which covered much of Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba and northern Minnesota. However, over time, these glacial waters receded leaving Lake of the Woods as we know it today.

The Lake of the Woods area has a rich history that dates back to 7000 BC when the Palaeo Indians hunted prehistoric large game. Evidence of the early Cree is found on many ancient pictographs that have survived for more than 500 years. (Many of these paintings can be seen on the rock faces that are found throughout the lake system.) The native's referred to the north end of the lake as Wauzhushk Onigum, which literally translated means "portage to the country of the muskrat."

The first white man to see the lake was Jacques de Noyen, a 20 year old French explorer, in 1668. He was followed by the French explorer De La Verendrye who built Fort St. Charles in 1732 and surveyor David Thompson who first visited in 1797.

The early 1800's saw a rapid increase in settlement with the arrival of many traders and missionaries. The Hudson Bay Trading Company established a post on the Winnipeg River in 1836, and shortly thereafter moved to the Lake of the Woods, becoming the town's first building.
Commercial fishing began to take root during the early 1890's, and in 1893, Lake of the Woods was deemed the world's largest source of caviar. Around this time, a gold rush began to take shape that marked the beginning of local mining. (These two major gold rushes proved to be every bit as big as the Klondike era!)

The Backus-Brooks paper mill began operations in Kenora in 1923 and has been through several different owners since that time. Today it is owned by Abitibi Consolidated and continues to be the town's major employer.

[Banker]

Fish Species of Lake of the Woods & Area
Lake of the Woods and area is a truly outstanding fishery with a wide array of species to target, and an even wider range of areas and structure to locate them at. Only a few places on this big body of water feature wide expanses of open water - most of the lake consists of narrow channels, large islands and long bays. It truly is a fisherman's fantasy come true.

Although there are dozens of fish species to bide your time with while taking it easy, the walleye and musky surely rein supreme in these neck-of-the-woods. Walleye are plentiful and easy to locate and catch, and the size of the fish you will hook into will oftentimes amaze you. They can grow BIG in this body of water, and the surrounding lakes, so make sure you bring a large net to corral your trophy into. It is not unheard of for a group of four anglers to land upwards of 100 walleye in a full day of fishing - now that's what I call exceptional fishing for anywhere in North America.
The fabled musky is another species that garners a lot of interest on this water, both for the size they can attain and for the numbers you can play tug-of-war with. Their have been some truly gigantic 'skies landed by anglers testing their skill, and it may only be time until a record fish is pulled from the watery depths.

Some of the other species that draw attention are the tasty perch, massive northern pike, lake trout, crappies and both species of bass. Attesting to the quality of the bass fishery, the Kenora Bass International Fishing Tournament - held every August - is one of the largest bass tournaments in Canada with over $120,000 in prize money. (Take a look at some of the past winners' weights and recognize the fact that some hawg bass call these parts home.) The Black Crappie is another plentiful and tasty fish that averages between 10 and 15 inches in length and is found throughout the entire area. A great specie to introduce a youngster to fishing, or for the grown-up to have some "light-action fun" and catch a meal for the entire family.

Lodges and guides throughout the area are more than happy to show you where the fish are biting and put you on productive spots. Whether you choose an area right on Lake of the Woods, or a lake on the perimeter of the big water, you are sure to have an unforgettable fishing experience.

[Banker]

Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods & Area
As if the fishing during the open water season wasn't good enough, once old-man winter turns up and casts his frozen spell, the fishing experience takes on a whole new dimension for those hardy souls looking for fun and adventure.

Ice fishing on Lake of the Woods can only be described as phenomenal! With a multitude of available species to target, the hardest chore will be deciding which area of the lake to try your luck first. The entire Lake of the Woods area, and the surrounding lakes, offers the hard-water angler a variety of different spots to concentrate on and different fish to try your luck at. Whether you prefer to venture on the ice by yourself or in a group setting, or choose to try one of the guides or hut operators that "litter" the ice, the choice is purely yours. There are literally hundreds of hut operators in the area, and each one provides top-notch service to keep the angler happy and satisfied. Operators can provide you with everything from licenses, equipment and bait, to traveling to the best locations the lake has to offer. Many of the lodges that are found in the area have their own cluster of huts out on the ice, but, if you prefer to move around, a lodge is a terrific home base for you to work out from.

Walleye and pike are high on the list of many of the anglers that make the pilgrimage onto the frozen surface each year, although lake trout, crappie and perch can also hold their own when it comes to sought after fish. Nothing tastes better than deep-fried walleye or crappie on a cold-winter day to warm your tummy and put a big smile on your face.

Catching a trophy through the ice is a very real possibility when traveling to this part of the country, and numerous BIG fish have been pulled to the surface by those lucky anglers willing to try their luck. The Real Fishing Show and The In-Fishermen routinely shoot fishing shows on this prime piece of ice, and the footage has shown some truly remarkable catches over the years.

Pay attention to the Fishing Regulations while out on the ice as they may differ from those used during the open water seasons. There are livebait restrictions and seasonal dates that should all be carefully studies before heading out to drill your first hole of the year. Enjoy the Lake of the Woods ice fishing experience - it will definitely grow on you each and every time you try it.

There are is only oneplace to check out for LOTW..LOTWOutdoorsman is traveling to the best locations the lake has to offer.

[snowcone]

that was a great read and I wish that I was out on the lake drilling holes. to read about such a nice fishery and too live here is a reality check....I have lived and fished all over the country including the oceans over the world. but alas and oh well when a fish comes out of the water flopping on the end of your line funny I doesn't matter how big or small too a fishing addict  like me its great   

[Ntoiceman36]

We have fished just below lotw @ mille lacs,what an experience great fishing and beautiful scenery