Welcome to Andrew Martinsen's Website Andrew Martinsen Dear Friend, Andrew Martinsen here. I first started going fishing back when I was like 3 years old, on Lake of the Woods in Minnesota. When I caught my first fish, it wasn't just the fish that was hooked - I was as well. Anyway there's this lodge up there where we used to go. You'd walk in and immediately see a bunch of fishermen laughing & having a good time. I thought it was pretty cool, even as a kid. Sure the floors were creaky and the lodge had seen better days (it's since been remodeled and looks great), but there was something about that place that said FISHING to me. The whole atmosphere up at the lake was one of excitement - even though most of the anglers were on vacation it was as though they were Home - in their element, pulling in fish and having the time of their lives. And I will never forget it. I've always loved fishing and that's why I didn't hesitate for one second to form a fishing community online when I had the opportunity. You can check it all out for yourself at my walleye fishing site. I wrote you a couple articles below on fishing Lake of the Woods that I thought you'd like. Enjoy :-) Take Care, Andrew Fishing, Lake of the Woods, and the Time of a Lifetime: Part I – The U.S. Side By Andrew Martinsen Fishing at Lake of the Woods, in Minnesota, offers a great catch all year long. Whether you enjoy summer fishing for the challenge or ice fishing while braving nature, or both, Lake of the Woods in Minnesota can offer it. This lake is situated in Lake of the Woods county in Minnesota, and the lake and nearby Rainy River are right on the border between Canada and Minnesota. The towns of Baudette and Warroad offer lodging, restaurants, stores, bait and tackle shops, and just about everything else you could possibly need, whether you are staying one day or two weeks. There are a couple of fantastic fishing spots right down the road from Warroad, and very close to the border between the United States and Canada. These are Buffalo Point and Rocky Point, and anglers commonly catch their limit in these areas. They both offer excellent Walleye habitat where the fish like to hang out, as well as plenty of food like baitfish to attract the Walleye. Rainy River runs into Lake of the Woods, and fishing near this area can offer excellent results, both in number and in size. Walleye are also frequently located and caught off the Northwest Angle and Islands. The Walleye really enjoy hiding in this area, and there are plenty of underwater ledges and structures to provide cover for them. Many trophy Walleye have been caught along the South Shore, and this is a winter favorite. Condos in this area allow you to fish whenever you want on the ice, no matter what time of the day or night it may be. Ice fishing in the winter is also popular in the Rainy River, where ice houses are numerous and fish are caught daily. The Rainy River is also a terrific spring fishing area at Lake of the Woods, because the Walleye head to the shallows to spawn, making them very abundant and aggressive, feeding on almost anything you throw at them. Four Mile Bay is another hotspot lately for ice fishing, and so is Zippel Bay. Walleye anglers can go to Baudette, which is the county seat, and go out on Baudette Bay, and odds are you will run into anglers no matter what season it is. In the winter it is common to see ice houses out on the lake and in the bay. Lake of the Woods offers some of the best Walleye fishing in the world, with many trophy fish in the lake waiting to be caught. No matter where you stay when you go to Lake of the Woods on the Minnesota side, you are sure to have a great time and find plenty of fish, regardless of the season. The cool water of the lake offers a habitat that Walleye thrive in, and even in the summer you can find the fish in the deeper areas in abundance. The next time you want to go Walleye fishing and have the time of your life, think of Lake of the Woods. Ten pound Walleye are commonly caught, and many types of lures and bait offer success. To Catching the BIG Ones, Andrew Trolling for Walleye on Small Rivers On small rivers, it is the tendency of most anglers to drift. However if you're in a boat or even a canoe, trolling these beautiful rivers can put more walleye in your net. Use the current and water clarity to determine the best speed to troll at. Start out slow in dark waters; usually around one mile per hour. Clear waters make it possible to pick up a little speed but not a lot. Trolling a small river needs to be slow in order for it to work. Walleye like to hang near the river edges so target these spots. Turns and bends are the prime locations to find walleye. Walleye like spots where the faster current meets the slower current. The turbulence gives them cover and unsuspecting baitfish. Crankbaits usually present well on the river. You will have to contend with a higher level of debris. If you add a small split shot four feet above you lure you will decrease a lot of tangle issues. If you plan to go with spinner rigs you will find that they work best while back trolling. You will need to keep your boat moving upstream in order to optimize the lure presentation. Don't forget to keep the rod moving as well. The spinner will do most of the work but that doesn't mean you can be complacent. The area that you want to target is about one foot above the riverbed. You may need to add weight in order to achieve this. Bait walker, weighted wire or a three-way swivel will all do the trick. Long lining also works well in shallow rivers that hold walleye. Spring and spawning are the best times to employ this technique. Target shore areas that have sand or gravel bed. Walleye love to spawn in these spots. Long lining works so well because it counters the effect that your boat has on the walleye. Since you are in such shallow water, the walleye will move as you pass. The long line allots time for the fish to come back to the spot before the lure passes. The line can be anywhere from one hundred to two hundred feet behind the boat. A lot will depend on the current and size of the river so you will need to adjust accordingly. You have to go slowly in order for this method to work. The actual speed will vary from river to river so experiment. Base your speed on what seems to be working. Choose a thin crankbait over a thicker one. While they still move, it is less dramatic and disruptive to the walleye. This time of year the walleye are particularly jumpy; take your time. A minnow on the lure will up its appeal because walleye are just coming out of their winter hiatus. While many people choose to drift on small rivers, trolling is great because it allows you to quickly eliminate unproductive water. Give it a go next time you're on a small river and let me know how it goes! Fishing, Lake of the Woods, and the Time of a Lifetime: Part II – The Canada Side By Andrew Martinsen Walleye fishing at Lake of the Woods in Canada offers an excellent opportunity for you to catch Walleye every day. Lake of the Woods is located closest to the town of Kenora, Ontario and it covers over three thousand Kilometers, with sides touching both Canada and the United States. The Canadian side of this lake is nestled in pristine woodlands along part of the shore. Walleye are the most commonly and popularly fished in Lake of the Woods and this area is a common destination for anglers through all seasons of the year. It is common to catch five and six pound fish most of the time, and this lake is known for trophy Walleye. If you are a non resident you can catch two a day, and a two day license is available. Only one Walleye kept each day can be over eighteen inches long. There are many areas on Lake of the Woods in Canada that are great hotspots for Walleye, and frequently other fish as well. Snake Bay offers great Walleye fishing, and lodging right on the shore. The Walleye are numerous in this area, making it a prime spot for anglers looking for these fish. The Keewatin Channel is another favorite with Canadian fishermen and foreign anglers. In the spring time, after the Walleye have finished spawning, you can find them hanging out along the sand shores and the boulders along the edge of the lake. During these times, a jig that has a minnow attached can be very successful in catching the fish. Gold spinners will also attract the resting fish. Because the water is cooler, move the bait a little slower to ensure the fish does not have to work too hard for it. Walleye can be caught in water as shallow as a few feet of water during the spring, so it is the perfect time to fish for them. Crankbaits have also always been successful during this time at many spots in Lake of the Woods. Fall Walleye fishing follows many of the same patterns as spring concerning where the fish can be found and what baits work best to catch them. In the fall you will find the Walleye along the bays and inlets of Lake of the Woods. When the weather starts to turn warm, normally in the middle of June, the Walleye can be found right in the weed beds in front of the lodges, and out in the bays. Shortly afterwards, the fish move out to the reefs, and normally from the end of June until the end of August, sometimes later, this is where the Walleye are most numerous. During the summer, you'll usually find the fish at depths between fifteen to thirty feet. Great bait can be live baits, worms, leeches, and lures that are gold seem to attract them in the warmer weather. A jig with a minnow using a swivel technique is also usually successful at this time. Lake of the Woods in Canada is a Walleye angler’s dream come true. The beautiful scenery, the abundant Walleye present in the lake, and the trophy Walleye that have been caught in Lake of the Woods, make this a must- visit if you love Walleye fishing. Thanks again, take care, and Great Fishin’! (Always), Sincerely, Andrew Martinsen