Please recommend a lake (Brainerd, Aitkin: renting, inspection, live)

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by 601halfdozen0theother

I'd recommend one of the lakes in the Hackensack region: Tenmile, Birch, Stony, or Pleasant.

There are a jillion mom and pop resorts in the area

wow, you weren't kidding. I went onto the website you recommended ... there truly are tons of resorts. They all seem to offer roughly the same prices, so if we end up going to this region, which is a likely possibility, I think we'll just randomly choose a resort.

Originally Posted by Ghengis

If it's truly the Northern & Walleye fishing experience you seek, the best bang for your buck would be to visit the BWCA and areas nearby.

I would love to visit BWCA or Lake of the Woods, but I think it's too far for this trip. I'm only taking a few days off work, so I want to keep it within a couple of hours of the Minneapolis airport.

Thanks for the links.

[80skeys]

Hey Guys/Gals - so I'm narrowing down to maybe Birch Lake, Pleasant Lake. Can I get some second opinions on how's the fishing at these lakes? Talking with the resort owners, it doesn't seem too good. One of them told me "to be honest, it hasn't been good.".... Is this just a result of the seasonal change or something?

Also when a Minnesotan says the fishing "isn't good" i don't know what that means! Lol.

Here in California, "not good" = 0 bites all day long.

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

wow, you weren't kidding. I went onto the website you recommended ... there truly are tons of resorts. They all seem to offer roughly the same prices, so if we end up going to this region, which is a likely possibility, I think we'll just randomly choose a resort.




I would love to visit BWCA or Lake of the Woods, but I think it's too far for this trip. I'm only taking a few days off work, so I want to keep it within a couple of hours of the Minneapolis airport.

Thanks for the links.

drive time from MSP to Hackensack 3:37
drive time from MSP to Ely 4:17

[601halfdozen0theother]

Go to exploreminnesota.com
Choose Planning Tools
Choose Reports
Choose Fishing Reports

Lakes are warm

There's also lake-link.com.

Fishing doesn't look too bad - lakes are warming. Dawn and dusk are best times, usually.

Good luck and have fun! Fishing is always really about more than fishing, anyway . . .

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

drive time from MSP to Hackensack 3:37
drive time from MSP to Ely 4:17

I'm wondering if it would make sense to fly into Canada instead of Minneapolis and go to Lake of the Woods or the BWCA .....

[demtion35]

The BW isnt in Canada though, but to fish in the BW you would still have to get a self issue day permit which is easy to do.

You would also need to know what is allowed and what is not. Get hotel in Ely as has been mentioned.

Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake, Vermillion, are all great for fishing, lots of resorts, best call ahead, talk with local bait shops they would know more, and perhaps get a fishing guide to make the most of it especially if you are not familiar with the waters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsDY6wIln28

You can use outfitter canoes in Ely for the BW fishing, also shuttle service is easily available if needed they will haul yu and canoe around for the entry points. Need to call ahead,

Here is an example of usefull tool. In this example Im using Little Indian Sioux Hustler, entry point #14. From here you can use the google maps for best results, and easily see fishing spots and routes to take as mentioned by others who have been there before.

The Indian Sioux Hustler ep. is up the Echo Trail out of Ely.

BWCA Maps

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by 80skeys

I'm wondering if it would make sense to fly into Canada instead of Minneapolis and go to Lake of the Woods or the BWCA .....

that drive up from the TC is quite enjoyable and mostly freeway or divided highway, within an hour and a half you'll find yourself "Up North" and the time will fly by. Having two full days is certainly worth it, many people here do the same or less on weekend trips. Better yet squeeze another day or two in.

Didn't see when you are planning on making the trip but the sun sets well after 9pm in late June affording lots of time on the lake.

[80skeys]

demtion35 and Ghengis: great stuff. those areas sure are beautiful up there. Thanks for the info.

[welkins1]

I took my boys to MN a couple yrs ago and we caught a bunch of walleye. We flew to MSP, rented a car, and drove to Mill Lacs. Stayed in a pretty nice cabin. We hired a guide because we were new to walleye fishing. Had a great time and flew back with our limit already filleted and packed in a cooler. I would encourage you to hire a guide no matter where you go as they are the local experts. At least for a day or two so you can learn and then maybe rent a boat and try it on your own. If you go to Mill Lacs look up Burch's Guide Service. He is the Guide we hired. He has a web site. Good honest guy. I would go fishing with him again. This is a great time of yr to catch walleye.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by welkins1

I took my boys to MN a couple yrs ago and we caught a bunch of walleye. We flew to MSP, rented a car, and drove to Mill Lacs. Stayed in a pretty nice cabin. We hired a guide because we were new to walleye fishing. Had a great time and flew back with our limit already filleted and packed in a cooler. I would encourage you to hire a guide no matter where you go as they are the local experts. At least for a day or two so you can learn and then maybe rent a boat and try it on your own. If you go to Mill Lacs look up Burch's Guide Service. He is the Guide we hired. He has a web site. Good honest guy. I would go fishing with him again. This is a great time of yr to catch walleye.

Thanks for the tips. Did you check the cooler w/fish on the plane or take it as a carryon? I've never "flown with fish" before, so if you could describe what you did, it would be helpful.