Ice & Fishing Report

Arnesens fishing lake of the woods

1/16/24 Fishing Report

Fishing report courtesy of Arnesens Resort
 

Here’s the latest update from Captain Tim “Wingnut” Hill. We’re in the process of checking ice and staking trails for safety as the lake still has areas of thin ice. The cold snap is finally helping, but safety is #1 for our crew. The ice team is working on getting sleeper fish houses out and we’re also checking thin spots farther out so we can hopefully get to some of our normal fishing areas. Fishing is a little spotty, but with limited depths and areas to fish that is going to happen. Working the bottom jigging seems to attract fish and gets ‘em going. Glow pink, red and wonderbread seem to be better. As I write this, we are trying to get to more areas to fish. Thanks for your patience! – Wingnut

1/10/24 Ice Update

A recap of the last week from Springsteel Resort.

“Last week Wednesday we posted pictures of open water. That area appeared to cap off Thursday and then on Saturday we got 3 or so inches of snow. So today we went and checked out the area that was open last week. There was 8-10 inches of good ice out to 18ft of water then we got into the area that was open. There is some rough patching ice with a crack running down the middle of it. The ice in this was 4-5 inches with some spots of very poor ice….thin ice that sank from the weight of the snow and then froze. I definitely wouldn’t recommend any wheeled traffic in this area. It needs some more time to make ice. The temps for the next 7 days look great for making ice.”

Springsteel Resort is not sure what ice conditions are further south in front of the Warroad River.

Photos courtesy of Arnesen’s Resort

Calling All Hockey Day MN Fans

Hockey Day MN Fans

If there’s ever been a time to venture next to the Canadian border, this. Is. It!

Whether you’re a hockey fan or not, you’re not going to wanna miss this event. There will be something for everyone. And you don’t have to be outside all the time. There are activities in the Village as well as plenty to see. But don’t forget the rest of the town. 

Outdoor Activities

Hockey Village: The heart of the event, featuring the “Outlaw Rink” fthat allows the public to skate (with a helmet) during Hockey Day.  There’s also a mini skating path; a mini version of Warroad’s famous Riverbend Skating Path.  Northern Toboggan will be there with their hand-crafted wood toboggans for sledders to enjoy down a fun sledding hill.  The Hockeytown Lodge is a large, heated entertainment tent with food, drinks, vendors, and nightly music entertainment. There are fun igloos (not heated) and fire pits scattered throughout the Village.

Riverbend Skating Path: The iconic 5.5-mile natural ice rink along the Warroad River is accessible at Doc’s Harbor Inn. Skate rentals are available.

Still want more? 

You can make your way across the tracks for more fun. Enter our cozy downtown main street. We have shopping, food, and entertainment. 

  • Floral and gifts shops
  • Places to get your Hockey Day or HockeytownUSA gear & Lake of the Woods apparel
  • Find the trinkets you can only find in Warroad
  • Grab a brew name after Lake of the Woods at Lake of the Woods Brewery…the Northern-most Brewery in the contiguous U.S. 

Speaking of, they have something up their sleeve, too, and it’s a must-see! 

There will also be a Mug Walk. Bring your mug downtown and you will be able to get hot chocolate fixins from numerous restaurants. Stop in and shop for a while to check out the merchandise and warm yourself. 

There are ice sculptures placed throughout town to enjoy. Town will be your place to get on the skating path. You may enter the famous River Bend Skate Path by Doc’s Harbor Inn and enjoy their skating rink & rent skates from them. You can also gain access by Lake of the Woods Brewery.

Come hungry. 

We have a coffee shop that has everything from breakfast and lunch to apparel, to custom engraved gifts.  It’s more than any coffee shop you’ve seen, it’s LOW! 

Are you looking for pizza? We have a variety of pizza joints to satisfy almost any tastebud. 

Our local American Legion is knocking out ribs and prime rib specials Friday and Saturday night and they are delicious. Have a big group or team event? They can help with that too! 

Springsteel Resort and Summit 49 at the Hampton Inn are both doing breakfast buffets. 

Check Joe’s Place for breakfast off the menu. Menus of the local restaurants and their hours will be available on our website and at the Village at the VisitWarroad tent.  Come and see us!

Springsteel Resort Fishing Derby Ice Update

FISHING DERBY UPDATE 2/7/24.
Due to poor ice conditions, we regret to inform you that the Warroad Area Chamber of Commerce & Springsteel Resort, Inc Fishing Derby is canceled for 2024.
 
GOOD NEWS… more prizes to be raffled off!!! Get your tickets now for $20 each & you could win one of the prizes below. Need not be present to win.
 
Tickets will be available for sale until 9 AM Saturday, February 17 at all gas stations and many businesses in Warroad and until 2 PM at Springsteel Resort.
 
The drawing for all raffle and fish prizes will be at 3:30 PM on Saturday, February 17. Winners will be posted by 6 pm.
 
Springsteel Resort will have a DJ & Karaoke on the 17th from 9 PM – 1 AM, join them for a fun evening!

It. Is. Cold. Mother Nature turned on and we couldn’t be happier! I don’t think we’ve ever said that before. 

YOU ASKED FOR AN UPDATE, WE ANSWERED... "We are making ice, baby!"

The sub-zero temperatures we are experiencing are giving us high hopes of still having our Fishing Derby on February 17.  It’s only been cancelled once and we won’t call out the C-word for the pandemic that caused that. 

We have tickets sprinkled all over town, and the region for that matter, to make it easier to buy your tickets and get entered to win $10,000! The prizes don’t stop there. We have changed to more cash prizes to entice the participant and make pick-up or delivery easier if you are not present during the drawing.

There may be a village created for Hockey Day MN, but we’ve been creating a village off Springsteel Island for years during the Springsteel Fishing Derby! We have people that drill all the holes that morning. The fence line is put up to create our village on ice and enclose the fishing area. There are fish houses put out for shelters, weigh-in stations, and worker quarters.

Grab your best fishing rod, a bucket of minnows, and c’mon out! Guluk!

PICTURES FROM DERBY'S PAST

Riverbend Skate Path Update

Skating Path Update Jan 2024

Riverbend Skate Path is Open

Sure, the negative temps might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the Riverbend skate crew, it’s a dream come true.

Volunteers have been out day and night, transforming the frozen river into a skateable path for everyone to enjoy. Over the weekend, they carved out a path, only to have Mother Nature dump a few inches of fresh powder on their hard work. But our dedicated volunteers are nothing if not resilient and before you knew it, the path was open for skating!

They warn it is not perfect, but it’s an outdoor skating path, it’s to be expected. The Riverbend crew has given us a place to escape cabin fever, to lace up our skates, and feel the wind in our hair (even if it is a bit frosty).

A BIG Thank You to the Riverbend Ice Warriors! These volunteers have poured their hearts into making this winter’s path a reality again this year. If you see any machines on the path, please move to the side so they can continue the necessary maintenance. Feel free to give them a wave and a thank you. They deserve it!

For skate path updates, follow them on Facebook.

Tips for Safe Skating

Of course, with any outdoor activity, there are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Dress in layers so you can adjust to the changing temperatures
  • Wear proper footwear (think boots, not sneakers!)
  • Be aware of your surroundings
  • Don’t skate alone, especially if you’re a beginner
  • Skate rentals are available
  • And most importantly, have fun!

Embrace the cold, grab your skates, and head on down to the Riverbend Skate Path. Just remember, it’s not about perfection, it’s about enjoying the moment. And with this kind of winter, every moment counts!

A few of our favorite memories. Photo credit: Jordan Olson

Hockey Day Minnesota 2024 Fan Bus Trips to Warroad

Fan Bus Warroad

Fan Buses to Hockey Day Minnesota 2024 are now available. Take the worry out of driving – travel in the comfort of a motorcoach bus to Warroad, Minnesota. Single Day and three-day Weekend packages are available. Tickets are on sale now at www.hockeydaymn.com/tickets

Single-Day Trip – Saturday, January 27, 2024

Departs from Moorhead, Minnesota, Fargo or Grand Forks, North Dakota. Hop on at any one of three SCHEELS® parking lots. Cost is $175 per person, plus fees. See Flyer for details.

 

Three-Day Weekend Trip – Friday, January 25 – Sunday, January 28, 2024.

Depart from two locations: St. Cloud, Minnesota from SCHEELS® store parking or Eagan, Minnesota from the Marvin® office located at 2020 Silver Bell Road. Hotel accommodations in Bemidji, Minnesota, on Friday and Saturday nights. Double Occupancy required. Cost is $375 plus fees. See Flyer for details

Travel to Warroad in the comfort of door-to-door service on a motorcoach bus. Tickets to enter the Hockey Day Village and hockey game matchups on Saturday are included. Bring your own snacks and warm winter wear—hats, gloves, snowpants, etc.

Three-day trips include 2-nights of double-occupancy lodging in Bemidji, tickets to a Bemidji State Women’s D1 Hockey Game, and entry into Hockey Day Minnesota Village for Saturday, January 27. Outdoor winter temperatures could range from +20 above zero or -20 below zero.

Fan Buses were made possible through partnerships with SCHEELS® and Marvin®. We thank them for allowing hockey fans to park and hop on the motorcoach bus to Warroad. Hockey Day Minnesota is program of the Minnesota Wild, supported by Bally Sports North and Minnesota Hockey. For more details visit: www.hockeydaymn.com