When you take a Minnesota vacation with MINNēSTAY, you will be surrounded by seemingly endless bodies of sparkling water. In the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, it's hard not to want to cast your line. Discover the joys of a Minnesota fishing trip while staying in one of our beautiful Minnesota lake cabins or luxury home rentals and reel in fantastic catches!
An Array of Fish Species in Minnesota Lakes
You will find over 1,000 different species of fish swimming our Minnesota lakes and rivers, so choose your bait for what you wish to reel in and cast away! Here are just some of the native species you can look forward to catching on your line!
Walleye (state Fish of Minnesota)
Walleye is highly prized for its mild, flaky taste and challenging catch. It's also Minnesota's state fish. Prized for their light texture and flavor, the Minnesota Walleye is a delight to fish.
Best Lakes and Rivers:
- Lake Mille Lacs: Famous for its walleye population, especially during spring and fall.
- Leech Lake: Known for trophy-sized walleye.
- Lake of the Woods: Excellent year-round, including ice fishing.
- Mississippi River Pools: Great for walleye fishing, especially near Red Wing.
Northern Pike
Northern Pike are aggressive and fun to catch. They're abundant and thrive in colder waters. They are also a beautiful fish and wonderful to eat!
Best Lakes and Rivers to Catch Northern Pike:
- Lake Vermilion: A top spot for trophy northern pike.
- Rainy Lake: Offers consistent catches of large pike.
- Upper Red Lake: Known for its shallow waters, perfect for pike.
- Minnesota River: Good for larger pike near river bends and slow-moving waters.
Muskellunge (muskie)
Known as the "fish of 10,000 casts," muskies are a challenging and rewarding fish for experienced anglers and novices alike.
Best Lakes to Catch the Challenging Muskellunge:
- Lake Minnetonka: Close to Minneapolis, it's a hotspot for muskie fishing.
- Leech Lake: One of the best muskie fisheries in the state.
- Cass Lake: Consistently produces large muskies.
- Lake Vermilion: A great location for trophy-sized muskies.
Fishing Minnesota is an incredible experience as you will have a wide variety of waters and an array of species. While these are the top three, there are so many varieties that are sure to give you a thrilling experience. The breadth of fish living in our waters creates the perfect fishing for any level of expertise.
Boat Rental Options in Minnesota
In the land of 10,000 lakes, we believe there is no wrong way to boat. Fishing in our area is an amazing experience from the avid fisherman to the novice looking to learn about the sport. If you have not ever tried to coordinate a boat rental with a vacation rental it can be a bit of a challenge. So, we wanted to make a short list of options that are great in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area for you. Here are some of our favorites.
Charter Marine has been in the Marine Service and Rental industry since 2010. Offering a variety of rental equipment from snowmobiles to pontoons and boats. They also offer a variety of watersport equipment ensuring that all their guests have everything they need to enjoy the waters in Minnesota. They truly value the relationships they have with clients. They continually strive to improve and deliver personalized attentive service at a reasonable price. Check out Charter Marine boat rental options HERE.
Boatsetter:
You do not have to be an experienced boater to enjoy lake fishing. Boatsetter offers rentals in hundreds of locations with boat captains available to help you on your adventure. They offer a wide range of boats for rent, including options for self-driving or hiring a USCG licensed captain. Prices range from $200 to $1,200 depending on the boat and rental duration. Please visit the BOATSETTER WEBSITE HERE.
River Marinas on the St. Croix River
Why just fish on the lake? The River Marinas on the St. Croix River provide various boating services, at several river marina locations. Learn more about the various river marinas and boating rental options on the website RIVER MARINAS WEBSITE HERE.
Bremer Jet Ski & Watercraft Rental, Inc.
Love water but maybe you want to do something other than just fishing? Bremer Jet Ski and Watercraft Rental offers jet skis and boat rentals, focusing on quality and customer satisfaction. They provide delivery services for rentals. Check out all your watercraft rental options on the Bremer website HERE.
Your Boat Club
Imagine booking your MINNēSTAY and having our friends at Your Boat Club deliver a rental boat right to your vacation rental. That is the beauty of Your Boat Club. They offer access to three interconnected lakes with a variety of boat rental options. They also have various locations on several different lakes in the area. Learn about all your boat rental options with Your Boat Club HERE.
Brainerd Lakes, Best Rentals
Brainerd Lake has an especially bountiful location for fishing Minnesota. You can easily locate each Brainerd Lake as well as their size, management class, and size of the lake to have a reasonable estimate of the fish you are more likely to find where. Get More information about all your boat rental options on Brainerd Lake HERE.
All of these options provide a variety of boating experiences, from kayaking to pontoon rentals, ensuring you can find something that suits your needs.
Fish in All Four Seasons in Minnesota
There are also several different ways to fish because of the changing of seasons and waters available to anglers. Summer brings the best open water fishing for offshore and onshore casting, and winter in Minnesota is the best for ice fishing MINNēSTAY has a great blog on ice-fishing options HERE! That does not mean that spring and fall are not fishing seasons. In fact, when the lakes begin to thaw the fish really start biting in the many rivers and lakes of Minnesota. Fall is fabulous for fishing too as the fish are gearing up for winter. Let's face it, fishing anytime, and in any season is always a great experience in Minnesota.
There is No Better Place to Stay Than MINNēSTAY
Why not make it a MINNēSTAY in one of our many lakeside cabins, or luxury waterfront properties? Enjoy your perfect front row seat in the open waters. You might even be able to fish right from the dock. Many of our lakefront rentals are equipped with slips and docks so that you can easily access the water at any time and spend as much of your Minnesota vacation as you please bob with the waves. So, grab your fishing gear and head to Minnesota for an unforgettable fishing excursion with MINNēSTAY! The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes is calling your name!