Early January

[Ringneck]

Last year was my first trip to LOTW ice fishing and I am hooked! We came up late spring and stayed at River Bend and had a great trip. My brother and I are putting together a trip the first week of January this year. I was wondering if a certain area of the lake seems to be better this time of year. I am open to try any decent resort and am just trying to decide if I should be looking for the best resort or the best resort on a certain area of the lake. Thanks for any help you can give me!

[oboyoboyoboy]

I think you have as good of fishing out of Riverbend in January as anywhere. Certain days maybe the west side is better than east or vice versa but would be hard to predict in advance. I recommend Arnesen's if you are looking to try further west. But all places are good.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Most of the resorts are going to be targeting about the same areas on the east side about that time of year as far as depths go. The fish will work thier way out from shallower water earlier in the winter to the deeper water of the main basin as the winter draws on. Just do your research on what resorts most fits the kind of trip your looking to book. Just about all the resorts do a good job on the ice, just depends what your looking for besides. i.e nightlife,accomodations,reputation, location etc. At any rate your right, early Jan. can be some great fishing on LOW and I'm sure you won't be dissapointed this year either if it's anything like the summer we've had!! Good Luck

[Boar]

Theres a spot on LOW in early January that is the best ice fishing anywhere, its starts from Elm point, an runs down to south tip of Buffalo point an hits Dnr reef outa springsteel an the sandbar an works it way all the way from Arnesons an reaches out to the famed reefs an bounches back along the shoreline to long point then to zipple bay an hops over to morris point while working along pine island up to the nine footer an then resting at garden Island, anyhwere along that spot an you shoud do fine. But remember, thats a secret, so ssshhhhh! dont tell no one. Boar

[bak2MN]

Yep tried that spot its pretty good!

[Boar]

Hey! Howd you know! Dang it there gose that spot, probabley fished out by now. Boar

[Ringneck]

Can I get the GPS coordinates to that spot BOAR I think we are gonna go with Arnesons as Ive heard nothing but good abou that place and want to try a little farther west. The only concern I have is that you cant drive out to the sleeper shacks. Has anyone stayed in Arnesons sleepers before and brought snowmobiles to get in to the lodge at night for supper and a few cocktails? Im guessing a 4 wheeler would be a really bad idea at the beginning of January. Arnesons said the drivers would pick you up at your sleeper and bring you in for dinner then back out, but sounds like you would miss the evening bite. The cabins are all filled for the dates we are looking at in January.

[Boar]

Arrnesoon are great an so is zipple. Good luck boar

[LakeoftheWoods]

there isn't much of an evening bite on LOW, so don't be dissapointed in missing an evening bite on the ice...to go get a warm bite in the lodge.

[oboyoboyoboy]

You certainly don't need snowmobiles but I'd bring them if you got them. Be safe at night. It can be easy to get lost if you're not on marked trails at night. Use some common sense on booze, don't ride alone, have a cell phone and GPS but be prepared to survive if they don't work. They're will likely be a good track van trail too. The lodge is usually a pretty good time. Great food and plenty of friendly people around.

[LakeoftheWoods]

Arnesens usually has some form of live entertainment on the weekends. Usually its just kareoke, but its something at least.