Fish abound year-round
Nearly one third of this 951,337-acre northwoods lake that drains north to Hudson Bay lies within Minnesota, making it our largest lake. Lake of the Woods offers some of the best year-round fishing you can find. Fish the ice early December to late March. Dive right into fishing the Rainy River in spring and fall. Venture out to lake for the warm summer bite. You'll find walleye, northern pike, sturgeon, sauger, perch and more.
Lake of the Woods management planning
The Lake of the Woods Fisheries Management Plan is being updated. This plan will guide Lake of the Woods fisheries management.
The Lake of the Woods plan was last updated in 2018, and the 2025 update addresses environmental changes, updates in fisheries management and changes to reflect current public values and use.
The public comment period on the 2025 Lake of the Woods Fisheries Management Plan was open from Monday, Jan. 13, to Sunday, Feb. 16. Comments are currently being reviewed and a final plan draft management plan is being drafted. Upon completion, you will be able to find a copy of the final plan on this webpage.