Jan 20, 3 day/4 night Ice fishing trip with two other persons. Ice fishing was excellent as we caught plenty of fish to take home plus eating while there, not over our limit. Walleye and Sauger, we released at least 8 fish that were over the DNR size limit of 19 inches, personally won't keep them over 15 inches as small fillets fry up much better. Our guide for 2 days was Brian, very helpful and knows what to suggest in the house to make fishing better. He represents the Wigwam extremely well and he is the type of ambassador you want greeting and helping the customer. He was not obsequious but open if you wanted conversation.
The fish house was a 4-man and it was the best ice hole configuration I have fished in, we sat without backs against the walls facing each other which made it very easy to help the other guy land a big fish, you could see without any turning around exactly what the other guy was doing. the benches we sat on were of the right height and they were covered in carpet so you didn't experience boat bu-t. The heater was more than adequate and you could fish in a t-shirt it was that warm at the low setting. We had our own fishing gear but we could have fished with the resorts gear and brought nothing, they supplied the bait and they were skimpy, I was never concerned we would run and i changed to fresh lively bait without thinking twice.
My only suggestion for the house was on the 2nd day we had water on the ice and if a fish flipped off at the hole we ended up chasing it in the water, after the 2nd time doing this you are pretty well PO'd. Move the house right away under these conditions even if only a few feet. Our houses were cleaned from the last occupants which at some of the resorts they don't understand no one wants to fish in a garbage dump, especially in those where guys are chewing and smoking. I think some of the young guides don't understand the average older adult doesn't care to live like a slob.
The cabin was great for 3 persons, a bedroom for each. I never recommend doubling up in a room, I quit sleeping with other guys 45 yrs ago when I left the US Army. The cabin was clean and spacious, the shower / bathroom OK. The towels as usual were on the small size with softness of brillo pads, but no worse than any other resort in the area. I think there must be a special supplier to find bath towels of this consistency. There was a double bed in each room, plus a single (can't imagine sleeping in that small a bed). The beds were well used but not unsleepable. If I was replacing them I'd look for a better grade and ones that will hold up to big guys as the average and not the exception.
The kitchen was a big negative, no paper towels, the sink faucet was almost inoperable, electric burners on the range ran all too hot. The cooking utensils were one step up from Cro-Magnon period. The serving ware were the usual cheap stuff that the water had discolored and the fork tines were mostly bent so badly as be close to unusable. I suggest you eat at the lodge, the food was average but tasty and really no different than most of the resorts on the lake. You go here for fishing and not a 4-star hotel experience.
I wouldn't expect the suggestions or deficiencies mentioned to be corrected, most of the sport fishing guys are pretty brutal on the accommodations and that forces owners to watch that they don't overspend on things that will be abused.
I was unhappy at time of checkout to see they had recently begun charging a 3% up fee for purchases made on debit cards. I complained directly and the only response was the from an older women behind the desk who muttered under her breath " it was on the internet". Merchant/retailers absorb these fee's and calculate it into their overall operating expenses, they don't gouge the customer at time of ck out. When making a reservation they should say directly we will charge you a 3% fee if you use a debit card and at time of registration again "say" there is a 3% up charge for debit cards. Forget your little "notes" on the check in desk, do you really think I came here to read every note you hang in your office?
I would and will fish here again; there is no place like Lake of the Woods, MN read more