Road trip advice

[slamminsam]

Living in upstate NY, we're not going to be on the hard stuff until the middle of January the way things are going and forecast. So I think this would be the year to take me and my son (and probably my dad) out for a road trip.  Trip of a lifetime to do some ice fishing.  Any ideas or recommendations? Looking to go around last week of December.  Must include:

Ice: guaranteed ice, not maybe or could have some.  Don't want to plan and then not have any.
Walleye, perch and crappie would be preferred targeted species...definitely eyes
Don't really need a guide, but some advice from readers on areas on lake would help.
Lodging:  Don't really want to camp on ice.  Doesn't need to be 5 star by any means...just warm cot and place to cook.  TV is a bonus (same with wifi).  Electric would really help...charging batteries.

I have electronics, shelters, tip ups, downs, and rod-n-reels.  Would need to be able to have bait available as well....minnows, etc.

Any advice or recommendations on lake and lodging would be great...plus, I'm not rich, so somewhat affordable is always a plus...thanks.

[upnortfishing]

Not sure what to suggest, Champlain is pretty far down on my list of ice destinations but its relatively close to you. My travel destinations in order are 1.)Lake Erie 2.) Lake of the Woods 3.)Devils Lake or such in NoDak.

But there is so much good fishing in Wisconsin that the travel stuff happens rarely as I would rather spend more time on the ice than in the truck. Thinking about going up to northern Minnesota in a week or 2 if the weather doesn't cooperate around here though.

[Icer for life]

I live in SE Michigan and have been thinking the same.........Canada, never traveled there, but would love to take a road trip between Christmas and New Years.  Wondering how far North one would have to go and what are some of the better lakes.

[bigstorm]

Im not counting on much ice in southern WI before mid December, but that would not be the area for the trip of a lifetime in my opinion either. Last year my wife and I did a late February trip to Lake of the Woods, stayed in a sleeper house and had a blast but I might be nervous about that for late December this year.

For this year the wife and I are going to Devils Lake ND over New Years. Im pretty confident there will be safe ice for trucks as ND has a whole new level of cold.... Only issue for you is that would be a heck of a drive for you

[Perch tugger]

Devils Lake in NoDak.  I live about 4 hours from the lake I am going to hit it in Febuary for 3 or 4 days. I am going to check out some first ice action Thanks giving weekend close to Williston. I hope we will have 3 to 5 inches buy then if the temps hold we should make about a inch or so per night.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Living in upstate NY, we're not going to be on the hard stuff until the middle of January the way things are going and forecast. So I think this would be the year to take me and my son (and probably my dad) out for a road trip.  Trip of a lifetime to do some ice fishing.  Any ideas or recommendations? Looking to go around last week of December.  Must include:

Ice: guaranteed ice, not maybe or could have some.  Don't want to plan and then not have any.
Walleye, perch and crappie would be preferred targeted species...definitely eyes
Don't really need a guide, but some advice from readers on areas on lake would help.
Lodging:  Don't really want to camp on ice.  Doesn't need to be 5 star by any means...just warm cot and place to cook.  TV is a bonus (same with wifi).  Electric would really help...charging batteries.

I have electronics, shelters, tip ups, downs, and rod-n-reels.  Would need to be able to have bait available as well....minnows, etc.

Any advice or recommendations on lake and lodging would be great...plus, I'm not rich, so somewhat affordable is always a plus...thanks.

Well......what is the walleye fishing around you like? A group of us goes up every Dec around the 19th to Upper Red, and we do three days two nights of Ice Fishing in a sleeper shack. If you hit the ice just right and have a full moon with an over cast during the day 100fish a day can be had. There are some nice perch and some really nice crappie in there also. The walleye will outnumber them in the catch by far.

[matzilla]

Champlain...If I was going to road trip it, I'd hit Bomoseen, Dunmore and maybe some of the smaller lakes in between on the way up fish the Grand Isle area on the way down and hit the bays/coves. There are plenty of affordable places to stay around the Burlington area or Middleburry/Rutland

[slamminsam]

Lake of the Woods sounds like a place I'd love to hit...some guys from around here have been there...I haven't asked them yet how that went.  Wheres Upper Red?  Devils has eyes?  So...LOW, Upper Red or Devils?  What do you think?

[ChaumontMasters]

Champlain...If I was going to road trip it, I'd hit Bomoseen, Dunmore and maybe some of the smaller lakes in between on the way up fish the Grand Isle area on the way down and hit the bays/coves. There are plenty of affordable places to stay around the Burlington area or Middleburry/Rutland

Champlain and Bomo wont be too far ahead when it comes to making ice.. 

[fishinchiro307]

Red Lake is also in Northern MN. I fished LOTW, Red Lake, and pretty much every other lake in Northern MN. LOTW is by far my favorite place to fish. It has awesome scenery, and you have the opportunity to catch monster fish in pretty much every species.

[bigstorm]

Lake of the Woods sounds like a place I'd love to hit...some guys from around here have been there...I haven't asked them yet how that went.  Wheres Upper Red?  Devils has eyes?  So...LOW, Upper Red or Devils?  What do you think?

LOTW was a great time even though fishing was a little slow when me and the wife were there. The sleeper shacks were just like camping. Regarding Devils Lake, it is mostly known for perch, but walleye and northern pretty common there too. We are staying at the Woodland Resort, day 1 is fishing with the Perch Patrol, day 2 we are reserved a fish house thru Woodland

[LSCjigger]

 It'd probably be easier to count on ice on LOTW at that time of year. There's nothing like a hot bite on Erie, but LOTW is something every ice fisherman should experience.  Haven't been in a few years due to the epic winters we've had down here...but I'll be back soon!

[Light liner]

If you decide to check out Vermont check out holiday harbor great place everything you need is there.
Bait, place to sleep and shantys.
Bruce does a great job setting people up.
Just book early.

http://www.holidayharborlodge.com

[slamminsam]

Sounds like I'm gonna be checking out LOTW!!!  Can't wait...hope there some eyes in there, if not some schooled perch.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Sounds like I'm gonna be checking out LOTW!!!  Can't wait...hope there some eyes in there, if not some schooled perch.

If you got the time try doing the trifecta. LOTW,Upper Red Lake, & Winnibigosh.

[bigstorm]

Sounds like I'm gonna be checking out LOTW!!!  Can't wait...hope there some eyes in there, if not some schooled perch.

My wife and I went thru Zipple Bay Resort. We have a shallow water sleeper house (in 15ft) for the early morning and evening bite, then we could drive out to another fish house for us that was in deep water for the mid day bite. It was a little more $ to do the package with both fish houses, but I felt it was well worth it. There was a consistent bite that went from 30min before sunrise to an hour after then again about 30min before sunset to an hour after. Mid day was decent out in the deep water house