Nestled between Ontario, Manitoba, and Minnesota, Lake of the Woods is a sprawling aquatic marvel that unfortunately eludes many boaters.
Covering approximately 4,350 square kilometers (1,680 square miles) this huge lake is more than just open water, it's a labyrinthine paradise boasting more than 14,000 islands. In fact, it’s of the most island-dense lakes in the world. When factoring in the shorelines of these islands, the total shoreline length of Lake of the Woods stretches an astonishing 105,000 kilometers (65,000 miles) which nearly triples the total length of the equator.
In other words: it’s big.
It's the sixth largest lake that at least partially in the United States behind the five Great Lakes.
It's the sixth-largest lake that’s at least partially in the United States coming in just behind the five Great Lakes.
Even though Ontario only has four of the five Great lakes partially within its borders, Lake Of The Woods also sits sixth on the provincial list because Lake Nipigon edges it out.
It's an outdoor lover’s paradise in all seasons, although summer is admittedly more comfortable than the spring/fall hunt seasons or the winter ice fishing and snowmobiling season!
The fishing on Lake Of The Woods is world-class, but the lake is so much more than an angler’s delight. First of all, it’s home to one of the most unique, and longest-running, freshwater sailing regattas in the country.
The LOWISA (Lake of the Woods International Sailing Association) Regatta takes place at the height of summer every year since 1966. It’s not your typical round-the-buoys regatta either -- it’s a navigator’s race, where islands replace buoys, forcing sailors to think strategically as they weave through narrow channels and open stretches of Lake of the Woods. It’s a “race” in the technical sense but community trumps competition. This is a social event drawing sailors from the US and Canada and even welcomes powerboats and houseboats to follow along.
Many consider it Ontario’s houseboat capital, with rental options from Kenora to Sioux Narrows. The massive lake coupled with the limited population means you can experience true natural solitude if you want with seemingly endless bays. You can also rent a boat with the City of Kenora having done the heavy lifting to find the links to the local rental options. If you don’t tow your own boat up and want to get a taste of the lake, you’ve got the tour boat M.S. Kenora that operates right from the downtown waterfront.
While everyone has their own way to interact with the water I do have to say that if you don’t do at least a little fishing on this lake you’re missing out.
It's not quite as “untouched” as Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, but it’s close. And for millennia the cavernous shorelines have been the home for a just about any freshwater target fish you’re looking for. The best way to ensure you do more than just wash lures is to go with a local expert, either a friend who knows the area or hire a guide. It’s rare given his tournament schedule and pressures of being a professional angler, but there are a few days that he’s back home in Kenora and you can hire Jeff Gustafsson as your guide.
If you’re new to the competitive bass fishing world, suffice it to say this guy is a big deal. From his first taste of competition at age 10 when his parents paid his entry into the long-running Kenora Bass International tournament he was hooked. The goal at the first tournament was to catch a single fish to weigh-in so he could walk across the stage of an actual for-money event. Fast forward a few decades and his goals got as big as the opportunity. In 2023, he reached the mountaintop of his sport and became the first Canadian, and just the second-ever non-American (after Japan’s Takahiro Omori won in 2004) to nab the biggest prize in competitive bass fishing: the Bassmaster Classic title.
The Classic, as it’s known, is absolutely insane for all the right reasons. It’s massive, it’s a spectacle, and it’s a whole lot of fun. Total prize money has changed over the years, but when Gussy took the title there was a million dollars in total prize money. Top spot nabbed $300,000 as well as the coveted “World Champion” trophy.
I had the good fortune of connecting with Gussy during one of his brief stops back home near the end of the season, the year after he won the top spot. There’s another article to be written about the grind that is the pro fishing world, so stay-tuned and make sure you subscribe to BoatBlurb’s newsletter because who knows when I’ll get around to that one! But I digress.
The day we met was a cool morning in mid-September. A tornado warning amidst a rocking thunderstorm greeted us upon arrival the night before. The sky remained cloudy the morning after the drama left town. But, no rain and wearing few layers under the inflatable PFD and I was good to go.
I’ve fished with charter captains and avid hobbyists and everyone in between, but I can confidently say there’s nothing in the world like fishing with a world champion. I was using his gear, on his boat, casting where he told me to while Gussy was answering questions and humouring our Director of Photography’s requests for “can you angle this way so I can get a slow-mo show of your reel?” And he still was out-fishing me 17 to 1 after the first hour.
Bass fishing is an art more than a science. It’s not as simple as this lure plus that location equals fish. It’s the movement of the lure, the setting of the hook, the reeling in without snapping your line or losing the fish.
You can get more of Gussy’s backstory by watching the full episode of Water Ways: Ontario on YouTube or America’s Boating Channel but suffice it to say he’s spent a lot of time on these waters fishing for everything he could.
Spending time with someone with a passion and world-best skills is next level. He drops fishing wisdom constantly, without trying to, and genuinely seems to be happy to be on the water even if it is his “office."
If you can’t line up your schedule with Gussy’s, there are other guides and charter options and you can always tow your own boat up.
But no matter what you do, if you have the time, get out and experience Lake Of The Woods. Far too few people have, and there’s lots of room – and plenty of fish – for all!
Check out my fishing trip with Gussy in the episode below:
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