Best walleye ice fishing through a resort within 4 hours of the cities

[Nick H.]

I'm wondering where you guys would recommend I take my dad and brothers ice fishing this winter. We are just getting into ice fishing but we do have vexilars, our own rods/reels, and we want to catch walleyes/perch. We don't need to keep a whole bunch so I'm not looking for 4 limits of keeper walleyes. We just want to go spend a couple days on the ice, catch a bunch of fish and throw most everything back.

With that being said, I'd like to go through a resort. So I'd like to either stay in a sleeper house or stay in a cabin at night and fish during the day. I know Red and LOTW are the obvious choices but most everything is going to be booked out I'm sure. I'd like to find something for the weekend of Feb. 1-2. I know it's last minute, but there has to be something out there.

I'd rather not drive 6-7 hours to get there either. With that being said, I'm thinking either Leech lake or Mille Lacs. I have only fished Mille Lacs once through a resort about 9 years ago and we didn't catch any fish for 2 days...and the flashers didn't show any fish. I don't want that to happen again. So, any recommendations for which lake to hit up? Any recommendations for which resort to stay at? This would be the first trip like this for my dad and brothers. Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks. Nick

[crestliner61]

Wouldn't do ML this year...it has been a very tough bite. Leech or Winni could be a good choice. Good luck finding something.

[magic_minnow]

You could rent a sleeper/house on a local lake like Minnetonka. Walleyes would be hard to come by, but you would have a hoot catching pannies n slimers. I think I saw a rental for Lac Qui Parle on hsolist too. Try that.

[fsnrod]

Your best is still red lake.

[laportian]

Go to Leech. Getting a resort booked shouldn't be a problem. Heck the state is claiming there are too many walleyes in it. Red slows down this time of year. From about mid January on I hit other lakes up here. Winnie, Cass, or Leech. I tend to shy away from Winnie too in the winter, been skunked a few times! Fish Leech, Walker Bay has a good primetime bite.

[JoeTC]

I second Leech. There are resorts and Ice house rentals on walker bay or the main lake and you should be able to have great fishing. I've been able to catch walleyes throughout the season out there. A great lake and a great area.

Joe

[ParaPro]

Check out Big Stone,for a very good jumbo perch bite. Artie's bait N tackle in Ortonville is the only place i know of that has rentals though.

[Hoyt4]

Winnie, Leech ,black duck

I would go to red even slow there is fast for other lakes.

[chad austin]

I second Big Stone Lake...

[traveler]

also. Red isn't fishing all that well this year. Some might argue that...

[Nick H.]

Thank you all for the responses. I appreciate the help.

[Jdjulik]

Cass lake chain lakes are worth thinking about. We do very well up there in the summer but havn't tried the ice bit yet.