July walleye lake recommendation

[Renee]

Hello! My first post here, but I’m looking to take my family on a week long fishing trip with species of choice being Walleye. We have gone to Canada in the past, but we’re hoping to go somewhere closer to home in northern Minnesota. I’ve been looking at Winni, Bowstring, or Kabetogama. but am open to other options. I read Kabetogama got slammed because of the border being closed. We are looking to go the first or second week of July. So time is of the essence on the lake decision as things are pretty booked up already. Bonus for any specific resorts you love. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Edited May 7, 2022 by Renee

[BobT]

7 hours ago, Renee said:

Hello! My first post here, but I’m looking to take my family on a week long fishing trip with species of choice being Walleye. We have gone to Canada in the past, but we’re hoping to go somewhere closer to home in northern Minnesota. I’ve been looking at Winni, Bowstring, or Kabetogama. but am open to other options. I read Kabetogama got slammed because of the border being closed. We are looking to go the first or second week of July. So time is of the essence on the lake decision as things are pretty booked up already. Bonus for any specific resorts you love. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Could check out Thunderbird Lodge on Rainy Lake.  Here's a link. We actually haven't stayed there but they have rented us a dock slip for the weekends the past couple years. They've always treated us well. 

 

https://thunderbirdrainylake.com/

[JBMasterAngler]

Kabetogama has indeed been slammed the last couple of years because of the border situation. The fishing hasn’t been very good either. In fact, last year it downright SUCKED! You had to travel deep into Namakan to find anything.

[Badgervet]

We've been to Lake Winnie every year for the past 20 years (its my wife's family's tradition for the past 35 years) and we stay at Becker's resort and have a good time.  We have two boys and they enjoy the pool and the playground.  It's not a high end resort but most of the cabins are updated and comfortable.  We usually go the second/third week of July.  The walleye fishing is hit/miss depending on what your expectations are and when the bug hatches are.  I usually catch about a dozen every year with most in the slot (18-23 inches need to be immediately released) with a handful of eaters every year.  Last year we caught a bunch of 12-13 inchers so I'm hoping that they've grown up and now are in the 16-17 inch window.   If you stay out for a few hours overnight, you got a better chance of catching them.  We generally troll with crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers during the day and I've had some luck with scatter raps at night.  The northern fishing is pretty good in the Mississippi just by the resort (trolling with daredevils) with lots of decent sized perch though the tend to have a bit of worms if you catch them in the river.  The perch in the lake are cleaner.  

[Better Than Working!]

I have been fishing Kabetogama the last 5 years with a lot of success. Been there early September and mid June. Don't know if last year was different from previous because of pressure or low water levels but the fish were there, just in different locations than other trips. We stay at Northern Lights Resort. Very nice cabins and great location, but July is all waitlist. I am going for the opening week and will post reports. Haven't fished the opener in probably 40 years!