From walleye to whitetails; moose to muskie and everything in between, Lake of the Woods is a destination most anglers and hunters owe it to themselves to experience. With the water and the Canadian Shield being the natural dominant forces, the fish and wildlife have carved out an exceptional existence in this tough terrain, making its diversity for species and techniques second to none.

A remnant of glacial Lake Agassiz, Lake of the Woods sits on one of the oldest geological formations on Earth. And this pond is huge — containing more than 14,000 islands, roughly one million acres of water and more shoreline than Lake Superior. It is nestled between Canada and the US — touching southeastern Manitoba, western Ontario and northern Minnesota — and offers amazing diversity on both sides of the border.

The earliest inhabitants appeared more than 8,000 years ago — nomadic hunters in search of big game. The area attracted even more attention during the fur trade period because it was on the main east-west water route and furs were plentiful. Today, it’s sportsmen who flock to the lake — and with good reason.

By Jeff Gustafson & Chris Kindraka
Photos by Chris Kindraka