Resort Prices!!

[ANYFISH2]

26 minutes ago, Ballyhoo said:

There are a lot of costs that go into getting people out fishing.  People now are more picky than they were 15-20 years ago, they want nicer cabins, nicer fish houses, they don't like old beat up equipment.  All that costs money to improve.  There are also the down times in the fall and spring when the resorts are spending money doing all these improvements with no income coming in.  Are the prices high?  Sure but most of them are still full so it can't be too bad. 

Some resorts are cheaper but then again you get what you pay for.  I have had mice running around in cabins and doors and windows that don't seal, cold floors etc.  I would pay the extra money now to get something nicer.  In my eyes, if the resort doesn't care about how their facilities and equipment look, they don't put much effort into fishing either.  That attitude carries across the board.

I agree.

 

How do Trappers on leech, charge $300 a day for the house for 4 people, or most resorts on Winni charge $125- $150 a day for the house?  Or Beacons on Red for $240 a day for the house?

 

Costs above are not far off of what was paid at Lake of the woods 15 yrs ago.  Rates above are in 2019.

 

I am just pointing out that somewhere LOTW resorts changed per day to per person. 

[PRO-V]

Say what you will but since ice fishing took off over 20 years ago several resort operators I know on Lotw have made out like bandits. Their business has almost quadrupled using the same cabins and adding some fish houses. I'm fully aware of what it takes to run these places.

[Paradice]

On 12/11/2018 at 9:58 PM, ANYFISH2 said:

Yep, I am talking about prices 15 years ago!

 

You know as well as most, that $300 a day per person, 2 days is difficult. Especially, if you want to take your family.  Not a real good way for these resorts to recruit future costumers, if parents cant afford to bring thier kids

 

I do not make a lot of money either.  I never said the resort workers or most operators are getting rich. 

 

All is good, I can and will chose to go someplace at a more resonable cost.  As will others.  Those of you that wish to just pay the ever rising cost, by all means do, no wonder people are in debt to thier teeth.  Consumers do no favors for themselves any more.

 

Good luck to all you.  Stay safe.

 

Poor people shouldn't be going to RESORTS.   That's what makes them poor people.  They should be fishing the free waters near their home.  If it sucks, they should do something about it, whether that is lobby the government to have someone else pay to fix it, or earn some extra cash and go somewhere that has fish.  

 

I grew up broke, and didn't like it.  So as soon as I could drive, I worked my tail to the bone and changed my situation.  I didn't go on my first "resort" quality fishing trip until I was 25. 

[CANOPY SAM]

Back in the 70's my Dad would take us up to the lake quite often during the winter.   He would rent a day house from Bergeren's Resort (no longer in business).  Very, very few people dared to stay out on the lake overnight!  It was just a bare-bones ice house with folding chairs, a wood burning stove (the fire was lit when we arrived, and there was plenty of cut dry wood for us to burn), holes were opened and cleaned for us, and they provided a bucket full of lively fathead minnows.  We would drive our car out to the house being lead by the resort pickup truck, and they would provide assistance if it was needed.

 

I know my Dad paid $17.50 for a full day's use of the house (regardless of how many of us were fishing there).  The guys that worked for the resort would swing by a couple times a day to make sure we had enough firewood, and minnows to make it thru the day.

 

I recall that we didn't seem to catch any "dinks" back then.  Most of the fish we brought to the surface were solid, 16-18 inch chunky walleyes and saugers.  Now it seems like we have to weed thru 5-10 shakers for each "keeper" we toss in the bucket.

 

We would always catch enough fish for a meal of fried fish, potatoes and Pork and Beans cooked over the Coleman stove my Dad always brought out with us, and most times we had plenty of fish to bring home as well.  We only had hand lines back then.  No fish finding electronics.  We measured depth to the bottom with a 2 oz. weight attached to the hook.

 

Those really were the "good old days"!

 

Can you imagine that???  We paid today's equivalent cost of 2-3 scoops of minnows, for a fish house with holes drilled, limitless firewood, and HUNDREDS of minnows!!! 

[Paradice]

Back when I had to go to the barn to get a feed bucket to put my fishing gear in (which it all fit in one bucket), I could catch all kinds of nice fish with nothing more than a homemade rattle reel and a cheap jiggle stick.  As technology and equipment got better, my ability to catch fish went in the toilet.  

[fishingMN4eyes]

Just booked our first LOTW winter trip this week. Interesting and funny reading this thread. I thought the price for a long weekend was a bit steep, but like others have said, it's guys trip so we will be paying per person. I can fully understand the family angle.

 

Thanks for the laughs!

[nofishfisherman]

The cost is for sure starting to get up there.  I've been wanting to take the kids but I just can't justify the cost for a weekend of fishing.  All of ice fishing trips end up being guys trips where we all split the costs, then it doesn't end up being that bad.  I'm guessing the bulk of the groups that outfitters service are groups of guys splitting the costs and that is partly what drives their pricing.  If they were pricing the houses and services with families of 4 in mind they likely wouldn't be able to charge nearly as much. 

 

I can't fault the resorts as they are pricing based on what the majority of their clientele are.  Very few resorts are out there getting rich regardless.  I do however think hundreds of dollars a night for a single room shack with plywood bunk beds is a bit crazy when you really think about it. I pay less per night when staying in high end hotels in down town Minneapolis.  

[Mike89]

there ya go folks!!  check out the free stuff and for sale forum!!  99.00 a night!!!!