The North Star state is a premier fishing hotspot and these are some of its top waters.
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Evidence of the last ice age, this irregularly shaped lake with its beautiful and enormous bays, long connecting channels, and remote backwater areas is one of Minnesota's most popular metro lakes, just a short drive West of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Lake Minnetonka is also famous for its role in Prince’s blockbuster movie “Purple Rain” Here you can fish serious tournaments, run sailboats, party on yachts, enjoy high-end restaurants, water ski, or just pleasure boating. Alternatively, if you just want to pull into a boat slip and enjoy dinner and drink with family and friends, Lake Minnetonka is the place for you. Plus, the largemouth bass fishing here is phenomenal.
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Minnesota is one of the best fishing destinations in the United States. It offers world-class opportunities to catch a multitude of fish species. Known as the land of 10,000 lakes, the state offers you and your family a wide variety of fun recreational activities, but where should you get started? The following list of lakes are the best options for specific fish species, plus other outdoor family-friendly entertainment.
If you're looking for more of a relaxing easy-going vibe for you and your family, look no further than Gull Lake. You’ll find this 9,947-acre lake just a couple of hours north of Minneapolis-St. Paul, nestled near the small town of Nisswa, Minnesota. Gull Lake is an action-packed vacation and recreational oasis. It’s a big body of water with amazing sandbars. It also offers a wide variety of activities, including fishing, boating, paddle boarding, kayaking, shopping, swimming and sunbathing on the beach, not to mention all the incredible dockside restaurants you and your family can enjoy.
With about a million acres of water, 65,000 miles of shoreline, over 14,000 thousand islands—and the opportunity to catch a record-breaking fish upon any cast—Lake of the Woods, considered the "Walleye Capital of the World,” is truly a world-class fishery. Whether you're a beginner or a tournament pro, Lake of the Woods offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for walleye, jumbo perch, smallmouth bass, muskie, lake trout and lake sturgeon. Lake of the Woods also has a variety of amazing resorts, with great amenities for you and your family. Located along the Minnesota/Canada border, this is a true North Country experience. The Northwest Angle is an isolated piece of land bordering Canada, also known as the “Chimney”. Access is tricky, you can only get there by boat, snowmobile, drive across the frozen lake, charter a flight or drive through Canada. You wont regret making the trip.
The Ojibwe people call this lake Nee-Man-Nee, “the sun tinting the water a reddish color.” With 40,000 acres of water, 365 islands and 1200 miles of shoreline, Lake Vermilion is one of the most scenic Lakes in Minnesota. It’s known for showing its visitors incredible, breathtaking sunsets.
Walleye fishing is world-class and the opportunity for your kids to catch a stringer of huge panfish (20 is the limit) is easily attainable. If you and your family are looking for a classic Minnesota lake vacation experience, look no further than Lake Vermilion.
One of the coolest ecosystems you will ever visit, Lake Pepin is a hybrid of the Mississippi River and a naturally occurring glacial lake. On the border of both Minnesota and Wisconsin, Lake Pepin is 2 miles wide and 22 miles long with an incredible diversity of fish species. This lake offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, family-friendly fishing, great sightseeing, paddle boat tours, and is the birthplace of water skiing. Lake Pepin is surrounded by half a dozen small towns where you can visit local restaurants, antique shops, microbreweries and amazing opportunities to see bald eagles and different bird species due to its location on the Mississippi River Flyway, designated as a globally important migratory corridor.
Otter Tail Lake is the largest of the more than 1,000 lakes in Otter Tail County, stretching over 21 square miles with 13,725 acres of water. It’s located near the city of Ottertail and the Otter Tail Chain of Lakes and is known for its incredible fishing. However, if your family enjoys other recreational activities Otter Tail Lake has you covered. The lake has boats and pontoons you can rent, and while you visit you can take a sailing class, visit a state park, tour the Lund Boat factory, visit the Phelps Flour Mill, stop at the local boutique shop, or grab a delicious pizza lakeside at Zorbaz.
The small quaint town of Preston is a hidden gem, considered by many as the “Minnesota Trout Capital”. The Root River system is an incredible ecosystem with great fishing habitat and offers extraordinary trout fishing opportunities. This unique tributary offers Browns, Brookies & Rainbow trout fishing. Fly fishing requires a higher level of angling skills, fishing knowledge, casting accuracy, understanding current, eddies, and how trout relate to turbid water. Bait or “fly” selection is another challenge for the angler, choosing the correct fly, during the specific time of year can be a critical component of an angler’s success. Fly fishing can be physically demanding. But if you’re up for it, you’ll find some of the best trout fishing in the Midwest.
Known as the “freshwater sea” by the Ojibwe people and other Minnesotans, Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world, holding 10% of the world's surface water. Lake Superior is known for its amazing lake trout and smallmouth fishing. During your visit hire a local charter boat captain to take you and your family offshore fishing for Lake Trout. Trolling crankbaits, spoons and artificial plugs is a fun and practical way to catch fish. Another option is to hire a fishing guide that specializes in Bass fishing. It’s not uncommon for you and a guide to catch 50-plus Smallmouth Bass during your fishing excursion. A must-visit along its shoreline is the city of Duluth. The walkway here offers great scenic walks, biking and skating. Go to the Aerial Bridge, Lake Superior Railroad Museum, and Great Lakes Aquarium or you can enjoy people-watching, a sculpture garden, coffee, or a bite to eat at Canal Park.
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