Mille Lacs Fishing ban could mean more people coming to Sunset Country this winter.
Mille Lac in Minnesota has been shut down due to overfishing. The ban started August 3rd 2015 and is said to be lifted on November 30th 2015.
The 2015 allotment for removal of fish in Mille Lac was exceeded by over 2000 pounds and will need a lot of time before the remaining fish have a chance to repopulate.
UPDATE October 15th, 2015: In a recent meeting concerning the fishing ban on Mille Lacs, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has concluded that the harvest cap for winter anglers on the lac will be set to 5000 pounds or less. The Chippewa Bands and the DNR have reached this agreement because a recalculation of the total number of spawning-walleye has reached a benchmark when compared to the 2013 fall numbers.
UPDATE October 26th, 2015: Anglers fishing on Mille Lacs will be able to keep 1 Walleye and 5 Northern.
Lucky anglers may be able to see a beginning to their winter season as early as December 1st, 2015 if the DNR finds conclusive evidence for safely lifting the ban. The final decisions will be made in the last week in October following a meeting with the Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee.
Follow this link for the full story and to keep updated on the Mille Lac fishing ban.
There is an alternative for anglers concerned for their season. There are many prime ice fishing spots north of the border that will be open as soon as soon the ice is ready. Lakes just North of the Minnesota border, such as Lake of the Woods and Crow Lake, will be open for ice fishing and are likely to attract a large quantity of fishermen this winter. But don't worry, these lakes are huge and there's plenty of replenishing schools of fish to be caught.
Most lakes in the Sunset Country area are ice fishing friendly and have a variety of fish to catch including the highly sought after Walleye.
If you're an avid ice fisherman from northern Minnesota and don't want to to wait to find out if you'll be able to fish this winter then you're in luck. We've compiled a list of resources as well as reasons why Sunset Country is the place to be for ice fishing this season.
To read more on Mille Lacs, Click here for the Minnesota Lakes Management Page
Photo Credit: Musky Bay Resort
Ideal Conditions
In some northern communities in the U.S. the temperature quickly becomes too cold for fair-weather fishing but unfortunately never gets cold enough so that the ice freezes over. Although Lake of the Woods is enormous in size, the cold Canadian winters manage to freeze almost 90% of the lake within a few months of hitting sub zero temperatures. Come late December to mid January the ice will have thickened enough for the ice roads to be plowed, opening up miles and miles of prime ice fishing spots.
Great Value
High market value on the U.S. Dollar means that you can save a lot of money by booking with Canadian Outfitters. The current cost of paying for your accommodation with American dollars in Canada is approximately .77 of the actual value of commodities. This is an exceptional time for American tourism in Canada because everything that you buy, from gas to fishing licences to food, will be 22% to 25% percent less the cost of buying domestic. Whether your exchanging dollar for dollar, paying in cash or with credit cards all values are honoured in Ontario and Sunset Country.
Updates on the U.S - Canadian exchange rates here
Close to Home
Fantastic ice fishing is just minutes from the U.S. - Canada border. If you're from the northern states and are looking for a place to get in some ice fishing this year then Sunset Country is the place to be. Lake of the Woods is a massive lake that starts from the top of the United States and spans far into Sunset Country. There you will find dozens of camps and outfitters who will be open this winter and will be more than happy to accommodate any ambitious winter anglers.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Smith
Click here for steps on how to get a fishing licence for non-residents
Ice Fishing Outfitters in Sunset Country
Lake of the Woods Region
Harris Hill Resort
18 miles from Baudette, Minnesota
Website: www.harrishillresort.com
Booking information: www.harrishillresort.com/contact
Halley's Camps
Minaki, Ontario
Website: www.halleyscamps.com
Booking information: www.halleyscamps.com/contact
Barber's Resort
Minaki, Ontario
Website: www.barbersresort.com
Booking Information: www.barbersresort.com/contact
Muskie Bay Resort
Nestor Falls, Ontario
Website: www.muskiebayresort.com
Booking Information: www.muskiebayresort.com/muskie
Crawford's Camp
Sioux Narrows, Ontario
Website: www.crawfordscamp.com
Booking Information: www.crawfordscamp.com/contact
Crow Lake Outfitters
Nestor Falls, Ontario
Website: www.crowlakeoutfitters.com
Booking Information: www.crowlakeoutfitters.com/contact
Lakeview Lodge
Nestor Falls, Ontario
Website: www.lakeviewlodge.ca
Booking Information: www.lakeviewlodge.ca/contact
Smith Camps
Kenora, Ontario
Website: www.smithcamps.com
Booking Information: www.smithcamps.com/contact
Miles Bay Camp
13 miles north of Morson, Ontario
Website: www.milesbaycamp.com
Booking Information: Milesbaycamp@gmail.com
Halverson's Camp
Nestor Falls, Ontario
Website: www.halversonsoncrowlake.com
Booking Information: www.halversonsoncrowlake.com/Contact
Patrica Region
North Country Lodge
Vermillion Bay, Ontario
Website: www.musky-fishing.com
Booking Information: www.musky-fishing.com/ontario
Birch Dale Lodge
Eagle Lake, Ontario
Website: www.birchdalelodge.com
Booking Information: www.birchdalelodge.com/ontario
Cedar Point Lodge
Eagle Lake, Ontario
Website: www.cedarpointlodge.com
Booking Information: www.cedarpointlodge.com/contact
Davis' Bonny Bay Camp
Dryden Ontario
Website: www.bonnybay.com
Booking Information: www.bonnybay.com/ontario
Moosehorn Lake Lodge
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Website: www.canadafish.com
Booking Information: www.canadafish.com/contact
Red Lake Outfitters Inc.
Red Lake, Ontario
Website: www.redlakeoutfitters.com
Booking Information: www.redlakeoutfitters.com/contact
Stanley's Resort
Eagle Lake, Ontario
Website: www.stanleys.com
Booking Information: www.stanleys.com/contact
Harris Bay Resort
Ignace, Ontario
Website: www.harrisbay.com
Booking Information: info@harrisbay.com
Red Pine Lodge
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Website: www.fishredpine.com
Booking Information: www.fishredpine.com/contact
West Point Cove Camp
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Website: www.westpointcovecamp.com
Booking Information: www.westpointcovecamp.com/contact
Clark's Resorts & Outposts
Vermillion Bay, Ontario
Website: www.clarksresorts.com
Booking Information: www.clarksresorts.com/contact
Merkel's Camp
Dinorwic, Ontario
Website: www.merkelscamp.com
Booking Information: www.merkelscamp.com/dinorwiclake
Pickett's Lodge
Pickle Lake, Ontario
Booking Information:www.ontariossunsetcountry.ca/picketts
Rugby Lake Lodge
Dryden, Ontario
Website: www.rugbylakelodge.com
Booking Information: www.rugbylakelodge.com/ontario
Press Lake Camp
1 hour north of Ignace, Ontario
Website: www.presslake.on.ca
Booking Information: press@lincsat.com
Agimac River Outfitters
Ignace, Ontario
Website: www.agimacriveroutfitters.ca
Booking Information: www.agimacriveroutfitters.ca/contact
Rainy River Region
Gateway North Outfitters
Emo, Ontario
Website: www.gatewaynorthoutfitters.com
Booking Information: www.gatewaynorthoutfitters.com/contact
Marr's Perch Lake Lodge
Atikokan, Ontario
Website: www.perchlake.on.ca
Booking Information: www.perchlake.on.ca/contact
Crystal Beach Resort
Atikokan, Ontario
Website: www.fishcrystal.com
Booking Information: www.fishcrystal.com/ontario
Barker Bay Resort
Fort Frances, Ontario
Website: www.barkerbay.com
Booking Information: www.barkerbay.com/contact
Timber Wolf Lodge
Fort Frances, Ontario
Website: www.timberwolflodge.org
Booking Information: www.timberwolflodge.org/contact
Campbell's Cabins
Fort Frances, Ontario
Website: www.campbellscabins.com
Booking Information: www.campbellscabins.com/contact
Border Country Outfitters
Emo, Ontario
Website: www.bordercountryoutfitters.com
Booking Information: www.bordercountryoutfitters.com/contact
For a complete list of Sunset Country outfitters and hotels that offer winter accommodations click here
Resources
Minnesota Fishing
Ontario Fishing
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