Getting to Northwest Angle in Winter

[Pbrenn]

I am planning a trip up to the Northwest Angle in early March to ice fish. Looking for thoughts and best way to get there across the lake from the south shore. I am thinking my only 2 options are snowmobile which would be the fastest or take the Sportsmans Lodge Bomber ride for a lot of $$$. Anyone take a Polaris Ranger with tracks across? What are everyones thoughts? 

[Kettle]

I've never gone from Sportsman's but have taken the trail from Arnesens up to the NW angle and that trail is typically in good shape and well labeled with black PVC pipe which is easy to see in the day and has reflective tape on it for at night. Have gone during the day and at night on that trail. Many people do it on snowmobiles and obviously you could do it on a Ranger with tracks but it would be a pretty long drive 

[leech~~]

Not sure if it's a State snowmobile trail but you may want to check with the DNR about a tracked Ranger driving on it? 

Edited January 22, 2020 by leech~~

[Hoey]

From what I know, the State Trail crosses past the Arnesen area SW over past 12 Mile Reef near the Manitoba border, then NW up toward the Angle, then East toward Garden, then north up into the Angle waters.  It is somewhat of an out of the way route and like Leech indicated, about tracked SxS on that trail.  Going cross county is possible using the Arnesen trackvan trail up 16 Mile Reef, then x-cross country to the NE.  Another possible route is to cross the border at Warroad by driving a car/truck up there.

[Xplorer]

Question I have is are you just doing a day trip to the Angle waters to fish, or are you going to stay up there overnight also?

I have snowmobiled from Longs Point resort to fish the Starren shoal area south of Garden island, and have gone as far as 4 block/crowduck islands.  Those were day trips, I've never gone all the way up to Angle Inlet.  When we went there we drove thru Sprague, MB and up (fished out of Jakes).  

What we really had to watch out for is pressure ridges out on the main sheet.  Some of them took awhile to find a decent place to cross over them.  And obviously its a huge area, GPS/compass/map is needed.

 

If I remember it was about 22 miles from Long Point to Fourblock, and only about 14 to Garden.  None of this was on a snowmobile trail, all "cross-country".

  

[Ballyhoo]

All black staked trails on the lake are State grant in aid trails and you can't drive an all tracked vehicle on them.  Has to be skis in the front.

 

[Pbrenn]

We are Staying up on Flag Island for a few days of fishing. In the past I have taken snowmobiles which was great but I have a larger group this year and most people don't have sleds but I have access to rent a buddies SnoBear, so was wondering if it would be an easy ride in a SnoBear either out of Wheelers/Long Point or Warroad up to Flag Island

[Hoey]

I was up near the south shore of the Angle a couple weeks ago.  There is large, nasty crack/pressure ridge we had to cross on sleds.  We went up one route and back on another.  I do not know if or how the marked trail handles this.  So just a heads up, it is out there and can be crossed.  We did have to travel a 1/2 mile or so to find a best available crossing on the way back.  

 

Again - Another possible route is to cross the border at Warroad by driving a car/truck up there.

[Rick]

Welcome to FM @Pbrenn.

 

Let us know how your trip goes. Pics too please?