Why Every Iowan Should Go on a Minnesota Fishing Trip | While Iowa consistently ranks near the top amongst big game hunters, it’s a different story when it comes to fishing. While there are plenty of options and species to choose from, things could still be a little better. When it comes to fishing, Minnesota definitely takes the cake. Here are a few reasons why every Iowan should consider going on a Minnesota fishing trip at least once in their lives.
Land of 10,000 Lakes
According to the Minnesota Natural Resources Department, there are over 10,000 lakes in Minnesota, which makes it the state with the most amount of 10+ acre lakes besides Alaska. And many of these lakes are known the world over, such as Leech Lake, Lake Minnetonka, Mille Lacs and many others. Whatever the exact number is, Minnesota has tons of spots for anglers who want to get their lines wet.
Tons of Different Species
Don’t let the “walleye fish state†name fool you, Minnesota has way more options to offer. In addition to walleye, Minnesota is known for its smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskie, sauger, northern pike, crappie, sturgeon, perch, bluegill, steelhead, salmon, burbot, splake and different varieties of trout among others.
Great Lodging Options and Accessibility
Minnesota has tons of great resort and lodging options to choose from. Cabin living is a big thing in Northern Minnesota and you can find tons of different cabin rentals MN for all budgets. It also has tons of great accessible locations. Whether you want to explore the Boundary Waters or go fishing near the Twin Cities, you’ll find what you’re looking for.
The state has tons of drive-to fishing spots that are easily comparable to some of the best fly-in spots in northern Canada. They also have a lot of public access sites complete with hard surface ramps to facilitate loading and launching large boats.
There are also over 155 charters and fishing guides in Explore Minnesota’s database at the moment. They provide anglers with a comfortable, enjoyable, and safe Minnesota fishing experience, and do an excellent job at it, so you might consider hiring their services once you get there.
Fishing Tournaments
If you’re into the competitive side of things, Minnesota hosts a ton of events as well. Whether you’re into smaller local fishing derbies or national tournaments, you’ll have the chance to catch them in Minnesota.
Ice Fishing
Fish don’t go through hibernation, so why should you? If you never had the chance of going ice fishing, prepare for a completely different experience. But forget the old idea of staying in a cold shack fishing out of a hole; with all the new tech gadgets and creature comforts we get today, ice fishing is way more attractive that it once was. So, if you haven’t already, you should definitely give it a try.
If you’re a serious angler and don’t mind the drive, why not head up north and see what the state has to offer?