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Articles by Joe Henry
Two Seasons, One Trip
September and October are a two-for-one up in northern Minnesota. The weather turns, the trees put on their color show, and for about six weeks, Lake of the Woods runs fishing and hunting seasons side-by-side better than almost anywhere else. Big fish have the feedbag on, waterfowl are staging, three species of grouse call the area home, and there are more deer than people roaming tens of thousands of acres of public land. Pack the rods, the shotgun, and maybe even your bow.
Minnesota’s Northwest Angle
There area in northern Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods is, well, let’s call it special. Special, that is, if you appreciate a variety of wildlife, thousands of islands, a relaxed way of life, and of course, world class fishing. If you have been there, there is a good chance that you are a return visitor. If you have not been there, this is an adventure to add to your bucket list. This area is way too special to miss.
How to Jig for Walleyes on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods sits on the border of Minnesota and Canada. It is one of the best places in the Midwest to catch walleyes. But like any good fishing spot, it has its own tricks. Once you learn those tricks, you will catch a lot more fish. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start jigging for walleyes on Lake of the Woods. If you have never fished Lake of the Woods before, you might be surprised to see charter boats sitting still in the middle of nowhere.
March Pike Fishing: Lake of the Woods’ Best-Kept Secret
Minnesota has plenty of lakes with northern pike. But when you start talking about trophy pike—fish over 40 inches—the list gets short in a hurry. Lake of the Woods gets most of its fame from walleyes, but year after year, it proves it’s also home to big numbers of monster pike. Just scroll through the Facebook pages of local pike anglers and resorts, and you’ll see what we’re talking about. What makes a trophy pike lake?
Ten Good Reasons to Love Sauger
Every winter, thousands of ice anglers make the trek to Lake of the Woods with visions of walleyes dancing in their heads. And why not? This is the Walleye Capital, after all. But there’s another fish swimming beneath those holes in the ice that deserves a whole lot more credit than it gets. Comedian Rodney Dangerfield built his career on the phrase, “I don’t get no respect.” That’s the sauger in a nutshell.
How Walleyes Navigate Sound and Vibration
The difference between success and failure can be extremely minute. In the world of walleye fishing, all it takes is getting that split second reaction from a walleye to eat for an ice angler to experience success. A proven method to get that reaction bite is utilizing the walleye’s high-tech forage detecting system of their lateral line combined with their inner ear to your advantage. Sound and vibration travel five times more in water than in air.
A Guide to Ice Fishing Lake of the Woods
When the long, northern winter sets in and the lake begins to freeze, a transformation takes place on Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods. This sprawling body of water, often referred to as The Walleye Capital of the World, becomes one of the most celebrated ice fishing destinations in North America. Each year, thousands of anglers travel here to experience the unique combination of excellent fishing, infrastructure of ice fishing resorts and outfitters, and myriad ice fishing options.
Consistent Summer Walleyes on Lake of the Woods
In many midwestern waters, the sultry days of July and August, which some refer to as the “dog days,” is a tough time to catch walleyes. The weeds are up, baitfish are prolific and tough to compete with, and catching walleyes consistently is downright tough. There is a body of water that absolutely shines in these conditions, however, and that is Lake of the Woods. There are numerous ways to catch walleyes at this time of year over deep mud and, it is a blast doing so.
Icing March Walleyes on Lake of the Woods
The scenario plays out every year: The days get longer, the air begins to warm, the water begins to flow and oxygenate the water, and the walleye’s instincts tell them to bulk up for the upcoming spawn. It’s March on The Walleye Capital of the World, and the walleyes are on the move. March is prime time for icing Lake of the Woods’ walleyes. The majority of Minnesota and much of the Ice Belt has ice fishing seasons close at the end of February.
Deadstick Strategies to Catch More Walleyes This Winter
It’s called the “one-two punch” when ice fishing. Jigging one line and deadsticking the other. The jigging line attracts walleyes. If they are active, there is a good chance they will eat whatever is being jigged. When walleyes are in more of a neutral mood, the deadstick can be the hottest stick in the fish house. But, success with a deadstick isn’t just about hanging a live minnow under a bobber. By really paying attention to the details, the deadstick will turn into the hot stick.
Ten Tips for Summer Fishing on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a vast body of water located on the U.S./Canada border. It is known as The Walleye Capital of the World as the lake and Rainy River are home to literally millions of walleyes, trophy walleyes and a fishery that kicks out good fish 12 months a year. The lake has 14,552 islands, over 65,000 miles of shoreline and just about every kind of fish-holding areas anglers look for. There are many places to fish. And there are many ways to fish. Where do you start?
Will Sturgeon End Up Being Managed Federally Like the Wolves?
By Joe Henry This is not another story about wolves. Rather, this is a story about Lake Sturgeon. The connection? There is an effort to add sturgeon to the endangered species list, just like the gray wolf has been. If this would happen, the many very sharp fisheries managers and biologists within the MN DNR who have worked tirelessly for years bringing back the lake sturgeon population would lose all control as far as managing the sturgeon in Minnesota.
The Comeback of Rainy River Sturgeon
One of the largest populations of lake sturgeon in the U.S. lives in the Rainy River. This scenic and winding waterway marks our international border with Canada and feeds the lake best known for walleyes—Lake of the Woods. This stretch of water is home to a strong and growing population of sturgeon. Both the number and average size of these prehistoric fish are on the rise and anglers are taking notice. The sturgeon population has been getting healthier since the mid-1960s.
3 Scent Control Products I am Happy I Added to my Deer Hunting Arsenal
|  Category: article Oct 20th, 2022 by Keith Worrall Modified Oct 20th, 2022 at 10:44 AM by Joe Henry I am a deer hunter and I love deer hunting. With a busy schedule, I don’t have as much time as I would like to decompress in the woods. With that being said, being efficient with my gear, making life easy, yet being effective in the field, is very important to me. I started using some storage and scent control products recently that has really made my life easy and more effective.
Big Fish Rule Zippel Bay Pike Tournament
What a weekend of pike fishing. The mantra of this year’s tournament was “great timing and lots of big pike”. According to Zippel Bay Resort owner Nick Painovich, “It was a really good year. The big females were done spawning and were in the bay eating and gaining strength back.” With that said, there were big fish in the Bay and a lot of nice fish caught. Overall, there were 68 two-person teams that competed. 438 pike were weighed in for a total of 1,488 total pounds.
Looking Ahead to the 2022 MN Fishing Opener on LOW
For some, it’s almost like a holiday. The Minnesota fishing opener is fast approaching, and this tradition is one many look very forward to. Lake of the Woods resorts and hotels are open, prepared and looking forward to welcoming anglers for the 2022 MN Fishing Opener. As happens quite often in the north country, people are asking, “when is spring arriving?” It has been a cold spring and ice still remains on the lake.
Spring Rainy River Open Water and Fishing Progressing
3 BOAT RAMPS ARE OPEN Despite a cold week of weather which included snow and freezing temps, open water on the river has made good progress. It started out with the Nelson Park boat ramp opening up in Birchdale, MN. This is a nice ramp that is appropriate for boats of all sizes. The ramp is a good one with ample water depth. The second ramp that opened as the open water line makes it’s way west is Frontier. Again, a very nice boat ramp.
New Video on How to Fish the Rainy River in the Spring
By Joe Henry | on April 05, 2022 www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com As we await the first main boat ramp on the Rainy River to open up and be ice free (Nelson Park in Birchdale) a very good informational video has come out about spring fishing on the Rainy River. TJ’s Guide Service is owned by TJ Erickson, a guide originally from the Roseau, MN Area. He initially cut his teeth on Lake of the Woods and on the Rainy River before becoming a teacher in the Park Rapids area.
Willie Ewing Breaks Two World Records on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Tourism – www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com Willie Ewing. He may not be someone you recognize but he made snowmobile history recently on Sunday, March 13 and Monday, March 14, 2022 as he broke two world records on Lake of the Woods. Driving him was the awareness and the ability to send more kids who cannot afford to go to Living Word Bible Camp near Grand Rapids, MN. Why he did it… 1day4kids.com. This video was filmed this past summer.
Lake of the Woods, MN: Top 10 Reasons to Book a Fishing Charter This Summer
By Joe Henry | on March 19, 2022 This year, you just might want to consider a Lake of the Woods charter boat They are a great way to plan a trip to Lake of the Woods when you don’t know the lake, don’t have the right boat, are a novice angler, or want something family friendly? A guided fishing trip aboard a big charter boat is a great solution to all your worries. Here are the TOP TEN reasons to book a charter trip when you visit Lake of the Woods.
10 Reasons to Ice Fish LOW Through March
By Joe Henry | on March 13, 2022 March in MN is the end of ice fishing for much of the state, especially when it comes to walleyes and pike. The season closes at the end of February and fish houses have to be off the ice early in March. The rules are different for Lake of the Woods as it is border water with Canada and benefits from extended seasons. Fish houses can remain overnight on the ice through March 31 and the walleye season remains open through April 14.
Antigen Testing Option for Travelers Driving to the NW Angle
LAKE OF THE WOODS – THE WALLEYE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD (lakeofthewoodsmn.com) Want to drive to the NW Angle? As long as you are vaccinated, there are few things you need to do, but it is getting easier every day. Antigen tests professionally administered or observed are now being accepted. Let’s try to make this as easy as possible. In a nutshell, you need to be vaccinated, have proper travel documents to enter Canada (passport, etc) and have COVID Test with a negative result.
New Angry Walleye Ice Bar is Open
Have you ever heard of the Angry Walleye Ice Bar? Justin and Tanya Ferguson, owners of Cyrus Resort located on the south shore of Lake of the Woods had an idea. They certainly knew about the success the Igloo Bar had and still receives. The novelty of a bar out on Lake of the Woods is something that gets the attention of many.
Fly Fishing in Minnesota
Often times, when people talk about a fly in fishing trip, the thoughts turn to summer and Canada. There is now another great option that puts you in the heart of world class walleye fishing without having to cross the border. Lake Country Air now does fly in trips to Minnesota’s Northwest Angle. The fly in adventure is incredible. . The Kodiak they fly can take up to 8 passengers.
Snowmobile Trail to NW Angle Open
Lake of the Woods Tourism Being one of the first to travel north across the massive ice of Lake of the Woods up to the NW Angle on a snowmobile to assess ice conditions can be, well, let’s just say an adventure most would gladly pass on. It is a task Gregg Hennum, owner of Sportsman’s Lodges and someone who grew up on the lake has taken on for years.
Women on Ice… Advancing the Sport of Ice Fishing
The Women on Ice group celebrating a successful trip, camaraderie, and the mission of advancing the sport of ice fishing for women. Barb Carey, the founder of Women on Ice getting ready to lead the day’s activities on Lake of the Woods during a recent event. When Barb Carey joined AGLOW (Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers) seven years ago, something became very evident. Women were not being represented enough throughout the ice fishing industry.
Fish the 24th Annual Zippel Bay Resort Ice Out Trophy Pike Tournament
The 24th Annual Zippel Bay Resort Ice Out Pike Tournament will take place May 1-2, 2021. The ice is gone and there have already been reports of big pike in the bay. This year is setting up to have a lot of action. Pike season on Lake of the Woods never ends. As we are border water with Canada, our pike season is continuous or another way of saying it is it goes all year long.
Resorts Unite to Create NW Angle Guest Ice Road
With the border being closed since March, NW Angle resorts on Lake of the Woods have come together to create a first time ice road from the south shore up to the Angle. For those with snowmobiles, nicely marked and groomed trails lead from the south shore up to NW Angle resorts and some excellent ice fishing opportunities.
Putting the Hurt on Stained Water Walleyes
One of the keys to successfully catching walleyes in stained water is color. Understanding what colors are preferred will put more fish topside. Tannins. They are the organic matter from plants that causes water to have that light tea color. This stained water as they call it, creates a lot of opportunities for walleye anglers. It is helpful to understand some significant nuances when fishing stained water and how to fully take advantage of what this beautiful color of water presents.
Effectively Jigging the Rainy River
Joe Henry with a nice Rainy River walleye that came from slowly working a jig and frozen shiner during the fall of the year. The Rainy River has earned a reputation for being a world class walleye fishery. It not only yields big numbers of walleyes, but some real tanks in excess of 30 inches.
Lake of the Woods… Grouse Hunting Mecca
The area around Lake of the Woods is home to literally hundreds of thousands of acres of public hunting, much of it prime grouse habitat. Dirt roads, ATV trails and designated walking trails are all available. When we think about fall around Lake of the Woods, most outdoors folks start thinking about big walleyes putting on the feedbag, aggressive muskies or even slab NW Angle crappies. There are others, though, who prefer to mix it up a bit.
On the Water Decisions for Summer Walleyes
Making good decisions on the water includes lure selection. As a rule of thumb, use something different than others you are fishing with until you find a pattern. “Different” can be color, wobble, size, vibration, where in the water column, etc. It’s summer. Surface water temps in areas on Lake of the Woods have reached 80 degrees plus. The mayfly hatch has taken place. Other hatches happen periodically. Spinners and crawlers are the go to method for some.
Sensational Sturgeon on the Rainy River
Lake of the Woods Tourism Lake of the Woods Tourism Reports The Sensation Sturgeon is a fish that is plentiful in the Rainy River, they eat a lot and are can be caught with consistency and the fish can grow in excess of 100 lbs which is fun! When the walleye bite isn’t at its prime, sturgeon fishing is a fun and exciting option. In years past, the Laurel Indians on both the Canadian and US side of the border used to harvest these huge fish and use them for fuel for the winter.
Ten Reasons to Consider a Lake of the Woods Charter
By Joe Henry | on July 05, 2020 Charter captains take pride in putting customers on walleyes. The success rate on a charter boat is very high and the captain even cleans your fish! You never know what you will catch on a Lake of the Woods charter boat. The chances of catching a big walleye are high and bring smiles and memories every single day. Want to plan a trip to Lake of the Woods but you don’t know the lake, are a novice angler or want something family or group friendly?
Fishing the MN Side of the Angle
Joe Henry, Lake of the Woods Tourism There is an area in the northern section of Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods that is, well, let’s call it special. Special, that is, if you appreciate a variety of wildlife, thousands of islands, a relaxed way of life, and of course, world class fishing. If you have been there, there is a good chance you are a return visitor. If you have not been there, this is an adventure to add to the bucket list. This area is way too special to miss.
Options on Lake of the Woods
This week the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz and his staff announced charter boats are once again allowed to operate starting June 1st. This is great news for many Lake of the Woods resorts as charter boats are a integral part of their resort and offer visitors options and the opportunity to access Lake of the Woods safely, effectively and with very high fish catch rates. Why are charter boats such a great option? No worries. Just step aboard and most everything is taken care of.
Get Your Jig On for Lake of the Woods Walleyes
The author with a nice walleye that fell for a jig and minnow. Anchoring up and vertical jigging on Lake of the Woods is a staple for filling the livewell. The first time I heard the fishing report from Lake of the Woods, I was skeptical. Initially, it did not make sense to me. Charter boats were pulling in limits of nice walleyes and saugers. Got it, nothing new. The anglers were using jigs and frozen shiners. Ok, makes sense so far.
Coronavirus illuminates inequities in Iowa as Latinos face missing paychecks
OPINION Joe Enriquez Henry, Iowa View contributor Published 6:00 a.m. CT March 21, 2020 Ironically, the most pressing issue we hear about from Latino households is food insecurity, when a big part of our community grows, picks and prepares food for the rest of the state. Blanca Plascencia is a local restaurant owner in Des Moines and a member of my LULAC Council. One of her three restaurants just closed this week, and as a result she had to let go 22 employees.
River Monsters of the North
Anglers wishing to fish for sturgeon on the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods have many options throughout the year. Monster. Merriam Webster describes it as an animal of abnormal form or structure. Oxford dictionaries describes it as a large, ugly and frightening imaginary creature, a thing of extraordinary or daunting size. I am not really sure if they were thinking about lake sturgeon living in the Rainy River when they came up with these definitions, but in many ways, they certainly do fit.
Bonus March Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods
Joe Henry of with a Lake of The Woods Walleye As many Midwesterners who enjoy ice fishing are in the heart of the ice fishing season, it is good to look ahead at a month of ice fishing that many don’t really consider when it comes to targeting walleyes and pike, March Ice Fishing on Lake of the Woods! You see, in most of the great state of Minnesota, March ice fishing is somewhat limited.
Late Ice Traditions for Walleyes and Pike
Catching nice walleyes through the ice on Lake of the Woods in March is bonus fishing for many. Even though in MN, it is border waters and enjoys extended regs on both fish houses on the ice through March 31 and walleyes open through April 14. March is an interesting month, one some parts of LOW, anglers are driving out on the ice catching walleyes and big pike through the ice. Just east of Baudette, anglers are targeting big walleyes on the Rainy River from a boat.
We need to put campus mental health services in perspective
In my opinion As universities ramp up supports for students, those who aren’t in school face uneven access to care. BY JOE HENRY | FEB 03 2020 Campus mental health has been an ongoing issue for most of my nearly two decades in higher education in Canada. In recent years, various groups, echoed by the media, have framed this issue as a crisis.
Winter Walleye Movements on Lake of the Woods
With a large watershed like Lake of the Woods, walleye movements vary during the ice fishing season vary based on area, what the fish are feeding on and come March, spawning habits. Resorts monitor how many fish are caught per house and calculate fish movements to determine when and where to move fish houses. Monitoring fish movements and acting accordingly leads to more walleyes and saugers in the fry pan. The author with a nice Lake of the Woods walleye.
Perfecting the "Tease" to Ice More Eyes
Joe Henry with a nice Lake of the Woods walleye that fell for some “teasing”. Being willing to adapt to the mood and behavior of walleyes can lead to a good day of ice fishing. Ice anglers who hunt walleyes through the ice know the feeling. Watching a promising thick line come through on your electronics, it holds for just a moment while you are poised, ready to set the hook to only watch it slowly fade away.
Plan Ahead to Ice Fish The Walleye Capital of the World
There are certain things you can plan for and certain things you cannot plan for. Catching an eelpout on Lake of the Woods while walleye fishing is an unexpected. Often called “Poor Man’s Lobster”, anglers will boil the meat in salt water or 7UP and dip in melted butter. You never know what you will catch on LOW! This is the time of year conversations often make their way to ice fishing Lake of the Woods. Planning an ice fishing trip provides anglers variables including when is the best time to go?
The Fall Run of Walleyes on the Rainy River
Joe Henry with a healthy emerald chasing river walleye. Nice walleyes like this follow the emerald shiners from Lake of the Woods into the Rainy River each fall. As the air begins to cool and the leaves begin to float to the ground, an annual event of nature takes place within one of North America’s premier walleye fisheries. Each fall, large numbers of emerald shiners make their way from Lake of the Woods into the Rainy River.
Fishing | Outdoors Weekly
Toothy Fish in the Fall By Bob Jensen | on September 22, 2019 Fall arrives in different places at different times, but when it gets to northern pike and musky country, anglers who like to chase these top-line predators know that the odds for getting bit are good, and chances are as good as they get for a trophy.
Tips & Tactics | Outdoors Weekly
Toothy Fish in the Fall By Bob Jensen | on September 22, 2019 Fall arrives in different places at different times, but when it gets to northern pike and musky country, anglers who like to chase these top-line predators know that the odds for getting bit are good, and chances are as good as they get for a trophy.
Hot Headphones and Speakers for Top Workers
share by Joe Henry | April 22, 2019 The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay bundle features H9i ANC headphones with P6 and M5 speaker systems. read more Plenty of workers will say that they are fine listening to their music and podcasts with whatever $5 pair of headphones they have lying around. But that may be because they have not worked with something more high-end. A great audio system with a rich and layered sound -- and no tinny treble or too much base -- can transform a listener's aural experience.
Why Rain Jackets Can Be Effective Incentive Rewards
share by Joe Henry | April 09, 2019 The North Face's Resolve 2 jackets (left) include fully adjustable and stowable hoods, while Patagonia's Torrentshell jacket (right) is a tried-and-true solution for people who have to brave the elements on a daily basis. read more April showers bring May flowers -- and a wet sloppy mess if your employee gets caught in a downpour, wearing the suit he needed for the big client meeting in 30 minutes.
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