Ice fishing guide or area

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sigpros

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My wife and I would like to do an ice fishing trip next year and looking for some advice on a state to go too and a guide or charter place. I saw that some places even rent cabins you can stay on the ice and fish out of. Anyone ever done a trip like that and have a good place they recommend?

Thank you
 
sigpros said:
My wife and I would like to do an ice fishing trip next year and looking for some advice on a state to go too and a guide or charter place. I saw that some places even rent cabins you can stay on the ice and fish out of. Anyone ever done a trip like that and have a good place they recommend?

Thank you
Click to expand...
Extremely popular in Minnesota to rent out houses and even take you to and from them. You can find places where they do it all and places where you have a little more to do yourself. I'd say most will help you get started but a guide staying there with you isn't common if it even exists--it's not really needed they can show you how to fish when they drop you off.

If this is a special trip I'd recommend lake of the woods.

lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Sleeper Fish House Rentals Archives - Lake of the Woods

lakeofthewoodsmn.com lakeofthewoodsmn.com
 
A sleeper house on Lake of the Woods would be hard to beat. No guide needed. For a real adventure, a trip into the wilderness in Northwest Ontario to chase lakers is an awesome experience. We are leaving a week from today for our 19th year doing it, though we don’t go guided.
 
brymoore said:
What do you want to catch?
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I would like to catch some yellow perch since I never have. My wife would like to catch some walleye but honestly we just like to fish. Now bringing home some fish would be a huge plus.

Maybe a "guide" wasnt the best choice of words, its just we don't get enough ice very often to ice fish here in missouri and I have never done it. So i would like to be able to have someone show us the ropes. Those sleeper houses look awesome and I would like more info on places people have done that through.

It just looks like a rally fun time and man i bet those fish taste good out of that cold water
 
There are guides on Lake of the Woods that will assist you in finding fish, but I have no names for you. They use forward facing sonar and WILL put you on fish. Great place to stay in a sleeper and maybe hire a guide for a day and explore on your own around the sleeper as well. Many times, you never have to leave the sleeper as they are on fish and you can catch boatloads....errr fishhouse loads of fish!
 
Definitely get a guide since you have never done it. Perch patrol on Devils lake is great as are other local guides I'd assume. Go to some South and North Dakota fishing forums for more info. Another option for both perch and walleyes is Webster SD. A lot of the guides there use Snow Bears to get you around. Look up Trophy Bite Outfitters in Webster SD, he seems to always be on fish and uses snow bears. At these locations you would use a hotel for lodging. Overnight on the lake may be options if you ask those guide services. For big walleyes look at Lake Winnipeg and dress WARM and plan to work at it but they have big walleyes. I dont know about the sleeper shacks in MN, haven't been there in years. Lake of the woods usually has sleeper shack on spots for smaller eater size walleyes and saugers.
 
sigpros said:
My wife and I would like to do an ice fishing trip next year and looking for some advice on a state to go too and a guide or charter place. I saw that some places even rent cabins you can stay on the ice and fish out of. Anyone ever done a trip like that and have a good place they recommend?

Thank you
Click to expand...
Where are you coming from? Lake of the woods is over rated, unless your on the Canadian side. The MN side looks like downtown St. Paul. Way to many people, even at the NW Angle.
 
Last edited:
Muskeez said:
Definitely get a guide since you have never done it. Perch patrol on Devils lake is great as are other local guides I'd assume. Go to some South and North Dakota fishing forums for more info. Another option for both perch and walleyes is Webster SD. A lot of the guides there use Snow Bears to get you around. Look up Trophy Bite Outfitters in Webster SD, he seems to always be on fish and uses snow bears. At these locations you would use a hotel for lodging. Overnight on the lake may be options if you ask those guide services. For big walleyes look at Lake Winnipeg and dress WARM and plan to work at it but they have big walleyes. I dont know about the sleeper shacks in MN, haven't been there in years. Lake of the woods usually has sleeper shack on spots for smaller eater size walleyes and saugers.
Click to expand...
Perch numbers are down on Devils Lake. The state is planning to start stocking them from other lakes to help.
 
Take a look at Bay of Quinte around Picton, Ontario. North Shore of Lake Ontario. Famous for big walleyes and yellow perch. Lots of options for guided ice fishing, shanty rentals including some with bunks. Favorable exchange on US vs Canadian $$.
 
Muskeez said:
Definitely get a guide since you have never done it. Perch patrol on Devils lake is great as are other local guides I'd assume. Go to some South and North Dakota fishing forums for more info. Another option for both perch and walleyes is Webster SD. A lot of the guides there use Snow Bears to get you around. Look up Trophy Bite Outfitters in Webster SD, he seems to always be on fish and uses snow bears. At these locations you would use a hotel for lodging. Overnight on the lake may be options if you ask those guide services. For big walleyes look at Lake Winnipeg and dress WARM and plan to work at it but they have big walleyes. I dont know about the sleeper shacks in MN, haven't been there in years. Lake of the woods usually has sleeper shack on spots for smaller eater size walleyes and saugers.
Click to expand...
Hotel for lodging wouldn’t be bad. The cabin in the lake would just be a cool thing but we would rather get on some fish over anything else
 
Canada is tough to beat if you want to drive and want a troohy walleye. For a closer trip id look hard at SD. As mentioned above anywhere around the Webster area with a reputable guide your sure to catch some eyes and perch. Several area lakes have good crappie fishing too.
 
Beings that you are from Missouri, I will say that some of those smaller lakes in Northern Missouri offer tremendous crappie and bluegill ice fishing if the ice forms. South Central Iowa has many lakes that offer great ice fishing with a little more reliable ice. They probably do not have guide services, but I offer it in case you want to explore on your own.

I know a guy who goes to South Dakota every year. Goes out with a guide in a Sno Bear. Does perch a couple days, and walleyes a couple days.

Example of a Sno Bear:
1767974083348.png
 
sigpros said:
Now you guys have me looking at ice fishing rods I mean we always need an excuse to buy some new gear am I right?
Click to expand...
I became an ice fisherman because my sons wanted to do it. First outing we rented a hand crank auger and used our bass poles.

Fast forward too many years and we have a drill ran auger, fancy poles, box of lures and jaw jackers for maximum effort.IMG_1908.jpegIMG_1909.jpeg

Boys are much older now.
 
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