Welcome to beautiful Lake of the Woods, where the Lake of the Woods Outdoorsman can be your personal fishing, hunting and exploring guide service! Many know Lake of the Woods as “The World’s Best Hard Water Fishery” during the winter months, but all know it as “The Walleye Capital of the World”, and for good reason! Not only is the fishing “World Class”, but our backyard is home to some of the most interesting types of wildlife that attract all outdoor enthusiasts year round.
To see some of the Lake of the Woods Outdoorsman’s adventures, please visit LOTW Outdoorsman on YouTube. Will you be along for the next adventure?
Lake of the Woods occupies parts of two Canadian provinces (Ontario and Manitoba) and the U.S. State of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of Minnesota by crossing the lake or by traveling through Canada. The Northwest Angle is the northernmost part of the contiguous United States. Here’s a little trivia for you, before the French came to the area in the early 1700’s, the Sioux Indians call the lake, “Lake of the Islands.”
Lake of the Woods is over seventy miles long and wide, and contains 14,552 islands and 65,000 miles (105,000 km) of shoreline. It would amount to the longest coastline of any Canadian lake, except that the lake is not entirely within Canada. Lake of the Woods is also the 6th largest freshwater lake located (at least partially) in the United States- after the five Great Lakes.
Just a few of the Lake of the Woods Outdoorsman Favorites
Morel Mushroom Picking
Morel Mushroom picking is a cornerstone among the local community in Lake of the Woods County each and every spring. As the days get longer and longer and the temperature rises after our long winter adventure we start to get a few days of rain and the Morels pop up like weeds in our surrounding forest. The prime time for these tasty omelet toppers is when the temperature will go from 45 Degrees to 70 Degrees Fahrenheit after a few damp and rainy days. The Morels are one of our favorite breakfast treats, and after they’re gone for the season, we count the days till they return. Everything we need the Lord provides, all we have to do is go searching for it. This can be a lesson in life…
Blueberry Picking
Is there anything else better than that homemade blueberry pie mom used to make, especially with fresh picked wild blueberries? I think not! Lake of the Woods County just happens to have oodles and oodles of wild blueberries, if you know where to find them. Blueberry picking has been an important part of both our family traditions for generations! The best time to harvest wild blueberries is typically from the beginning of July till mid August. If you find yourself craving a wild blueberry pie and are ready to get down and dirty, get your picking fingers ready. Typically during this same season the wild raspberries are ripe and ready for harvest also in the same areas. Fruits of the forest pie anyone? Check out Jody’s favorite wild pie recipes on the recipes page of the website…Enjoy!
ATV Riding
Lake of the Woods County is blessed with the Beltrami Island State Forest located south of Highway 11 (Pitt, Graceton, Williams & Roosevelt). Within this tremendous wilderness are miles and miles of roads and ATV riding trails sure to peak the interest of every outdoor enthusiast. Be sure to bring your camera for this wilderness experience as you witness nature in its raw form. The area is populated with wildlife that lives inside its majestic boundaries, such as Deer, Bear, Fox, Grouse, Moose, Wolves, and many unique species of Birds. The experience is truly unique for the outdoor enthusiast looking to explore new territories.
Winter Snowmobiling
If you get sick of setting the hook on all those fish, maybe a snowmobile adventure might be your second day’s outdoor recreation of choice. It may be a trip up to the Northwest Angle for lunch, or touring over to Seven Clans Casino in Warroad to press your luck is another option, or just enjoying some of the thousands of acres of groomed trails conveniently at our disposal in our backyard. Another option is snacking on yesterdays catch by one of our many trailside shelters, which is truly a unique Lake of the Woods shore lunch experience like no other.