Best Minnesota Fishing Trips & Vacations

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Lake of the Woods is on the U.S./Canada border in northern Minnesota, with more than two thirds of the lake being in Canada.  This is one of the most scenic lakes in the country with over 65,000 miles of shoreline, pristine wilderness and tons of wildlife.  The Minnesota and Canada portions of this lake both provide some fantastic fishing as well as numerous fishing resorts and lodges.  Lake of the Woods is one of the most popular lakes to fish in Canada and Minnesota.

Bemidji, MN Area - The Bemidji area lakes provide many recreational opportunities.  With over 400 lakes in a 25 mile radius, there are plenty of options for boaters and fishermen.  There are plenty of resorts and lodges as well as other accommodation for you to choose from.  Anglers love having so many different lakes to fish.  You can target the smaller lakes that don’t have as much fishing pressure or you can target some of the bigger lakes that the area fishing guides make a living on.  Most fishermen come here for the tremendous walleye fishing, but you can also target northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, perch, crappie and other panfish.

Boundary Waters - Ely, Minnesota offers some of the finest outdoor adventures in the United States.  The Boundary Waters provide some of the most spectacular fishing you’ll ever experience.  The opportunities are endless in this region.  The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is the largest wilderness preserve east of the Rocky Mountains.  You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy these waters.   There are many canoe outfitters that can help you with all of the details of planning a trip into the Boundary Waters.  You will also find numerous resorts along the lakes in the Ely area.  If you love to fish, explore the outdoors and are ready for an adventure, this might be the perfect place for you to visit.  You will be able to fish for walleye, northern pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, lake trout, stream trout, whitefish, perch, crappie and sunfish.  The area lakes, streams and rivers provide some of the finest smallmouth bass fishing in the country.

Brainerd Lakes - The Brainerd Lakes Area is located in northern Minnesota.  With 465 lakes in the area, this area is loaded with recreational opportunities.  There is plenty to do here for every age group.  Have fun boating, fishing, hiking, golfing, shopping or dining.  Numerous resorts and hotels are located in Brainerd giving you many options for either a family trip or a weekend fishing trip with friends. The fishing is good on most of the lakes in the area.  Most anglers target walleye, northern pike and bass.  There are good numbers of fish as well as some trophies in the Brainerd Lakes Area lakes.

Lake Vermilion - Are you looking for a big lake with a variety of fish?  Lake Vermilion is an excellent lake that has 40,000 acres of water, 365 islands and 1200 miles of shoreline.  If that wasn’t enough, it stretches 40 miles across the heart of Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region.  This lake is a great place for an outdoor getaway.  There are plenty of resorts along the lake to take care of your accommodations.  Because of the size of this lake, you should have no problem finding an area on the water all for yourself. Many trophy muskie and walleye are caught on Lake Vermilion every year.  Largemouth and Smallmouth bass are plentiful and they are underfished.  If you like northern pike, 10 to 15 pound fish have become common because of the slot limit.

Lake Winnibigoshish - Lake Winnie is one of the best, if not the best, walleye lakes in Minnesota.  Visitors love coming to Lake Winnie for the outdoor recreation.  Boating, fishing, hunting, swimming, hiking and biking are very popular in this area.  There are plenty of resorts around the lake to make your trip a comfortable one.  The fishing is remarkable.  If you are looking for a lake that has lots of walleye and northern pike, you might want to plan a trip to Lake Winnie.

Leech Lake is located mainly within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation and completely within the Chippewa National Forest in north central Minnesota.  The Lake is one of the most popular tourism destinations in all of Minnesota.  There are numerous recreational opportunities here such as fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, hiking, biking and much more.  You will find a variety of accommodations here to fit your needs. Leech Lake has been recognized as one of the most consistent walleye fisheries in the state.

There are good numbers of northern pike in the 5 to 10 pound range as well as many largemouth bass in the 3 to 5 pound range.  Perch, rock bass and sunfish are loaded in this lake making it a perfect place to introduce the kids to fishing.  Muskie and smallmouth bass can also be caught in Leech Lake.

Mille Lacs Lake is Minnesota’s second-largest lake and it covers 132,000 surface acres.  Mille Lacs is a great lake for outdoor recreation, but it is known for its outstanding walleye fishery.  The lake is a very fishable lake for first time visitors.  The lake’s maximum depth is right around 40 feet, but there are dozens of shallower mud flats on the north end of the lake.  The deep water fishing takes place on the southern deep gravel and rocks.  There is an excellent forage in the lake which helps support a fishery that includes walleye, northern pike, muskie, perch and smallmouth bass.

Rainy Lake is located along the border of Minnesota and Canada near International Falls.  A large portion of the lake surrounds Voyageurs National Park.  Rainy Lake is a popular vacation destination for people that enjoy the outdoors.  Resorts, cottages, hotels and houseboats are available to make your stay a memorable one. The lake is known for its incredible fishing.  The walleye and smallmouth bass fishery is outstanding with many trophy-sized fish.  Other species are also available.

More Minnesota Destinations

Alexandria Lakes - The Alexandria area has a nice blend of lakes, wooded hills and open prairie.  Located in west central Minnesota, this area is very scenic with many recreational opportunities for the outdoors enthusiasts.  Fishing is very popular in the area.  Walleye and northern pike are abundant in many of the lakes.  Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, rock bass and other panfish are also caught in most of the lakes.  There are numerous lakes here to keep you busy as well as local fishing guides and bait shops to help you have a memorable trip.

Cass Lake is a glacially-formed lake that is located within the Chippewa National Forest and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in north central Minnesota.  The lake is a part of the Cass Lake Chain of Lakes which consists of 9 different lakes, two river flowages and approximately 26,000 acres of water.  Cass Lake is a popular vacation destination for swimming, boating and fishing.  The chain of lakes are known for its excellent walleye and muskie fishing.  Trophy walleye and muskie can be caught regularly if you know where to locate them.  Northern pike, bass, perch and other panfish are also available.

Crane Lake is located in northern Minnesota near the Minnesota – Canada border.  The pristine waters are located in Voyageurs National Park.  This area is a wonderful vacation destination to get away from it all.  The unspoiled waters, pristine wilderness and outstanding fishing attract thousands of visitors every year.  Fishing is very good
on Crane Lake for a variety of species.    The lake is mostly known for its smallmouth bass and walleye fishery.  Northern pike, muskie, largemouth bass and crappie make this lake a well-rounded lake.  The largemouth bass and muskie are uncommon, but trophy fish do exist in this lake.  The pike and crappie have healthy populations.  Many
anglers target the slab crappies in late summer and early fall.  This is the time that they are found in large schools over deeper water.

Detroit Lakes - If you are looking for lakes, the Detroit Lakes area has plenty.  With over 400 lakes within 25 miles of Detroit Lakes, there is plenty of outdoor recreation for friends and family.  The accommodations in Detroit Lakes give you plenty of options with many campgrounds, hotels and motels, resorts and more.   Make sure you bring your fishing rods.  With all of the lakes, there are plenty of fishing opportunities for you.  Walleye, northern pike and bass are the dominant species in most area lakes.  Muskie, trout, perch, crappie and other panfish inhabit these waters as well.

Duluth, MN (Lake Superior) is a popular town that serves as a port for Lake Superior.  This city is located on the Minnesota side of the Michigan – Minnesota border.  You can head to the historic downtown for plenty of shopping and dining or venture out onto Lake Superior.  Fishing and boating is very popular out of the Duluth port.

Grand Rapids, MN is a small town in Minnesota that is known for its outdoor recreation.  The area lakes are popular among fishermen and boaters.  Many anglers and families plan trips to the Grand Rapids, Minnesota area every year.  There are so many lakes to fish and a variety of different fish to catch.  Most fishermen target walleye and northern pike, but you can also catch muskie, smallmouth bass, perch, rock bass and even largemouth bass.  The types of fish depend on the lake you are fishing.  There are fishing guides in the area to help you learn the area waters and catch some fish.

Kabetogama Lake is part of Voyageurs National Park on the Minnesota, Ontario border.  This lake has miles of pristine, undeveloped shorelines and 25,000 acres of water.  It is a popular vacation destination for people who love the outdoors.  There are many resorts waiting to accommodate you and most of them have boat rentals available at the resort. Lake Kabetogama has built a reputation for being one of the top walleye lakes in the state.  The lake offers some outstanding structure for walleye to thrive here.  Fishing is also very good for northern pike and perch.  Smallmouth bass and crappie are less abundant but they do inhabit Kabetogama Lake.

Lake Osakis is rated as one of the top fishing lakes in the state.  This lake has a healthy population of walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, crappie and some smallmouth bass.  The lake has plenty of resorts and lodges, boat rentals, gift shops and restaurants to make your trip more comfortable.  The lake is located only a couple of hours from Minneapolis which makes it an ideal place for people looking to getaway for the weekend.

Upper Red Lake is known for its excellent walleye and northern pike fishery.  Back in the mid-1990s, the walleye population was nearly crippled because of over harvesting.  The Red Lake Nation control most of Upper Red Lake and Lower Red Lake and only tribal members are allowed to fish these areas that are controlled by Red Lake Nation. Commercial fishing took its toll and depleted a majority of the walleye on the lake.  The lake has recovered because of an extensive stocking program and new regulations.

The state-controlled section of the lake is popular among fishermen and there are plenty of lodging options to accommodate you on our trip.  The walleye fishing is very good.  Some very big northern pike can be caught on this lake and there is also some decent fishing for perch and crappie.

Lake Pepin is a 24,550 acre lake located on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin.  This is a popular lake among anglers.  Most fishermen target walleye and sauger here, but you can also catch northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and panfish.  There are numerous public boat launches, fishing guide services, marinas and plenty of lodging options to accommodate you on your trip here.  Ice fishing is also very popular here during the winter.

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