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Governance As an international body of water, the lake's water levels are regulated and controlled by the International Lake of the Woods Control Board, part of the International Joint Commission. As early as 1912 water levels were a matter of concern. The governments of Ontario and Canada formed a board of control in 1919. A treaty between Canada and the United States, known as the Lake of the Woods Convention and Protocol, was signed in 1925 and established elevation and discharge requirements for regulating Lake of the Woods based on the IJC recommendations. The joint Canada-Ontario Board of Control continued to exist and retains responsibility for regulating normal water levels (maximum 1061¼ ft or 323.47 metres, minimum 1056 ft or 321.87 metres). Only when water levels exceed these levels are they referred to the international board which consists of two engineers: one Canadian and one American. Communities near the Lake of the Woods The Aulneau Peninsula The largest land feature in Lake of the Woods is the Aulneau Peninsula. It is connected to the mainland with a tiny neck of land at its southeast corner, but a canal (Turtle Portage) was cut through at this point, effectively making the Aulneau an island. The canal has now been filled back in, but a manually run portage for small to medium sized boats is in its place. The Aulneau is approximately twenty miles long and ten miles wide, and contains within it over eighty lakes, the largest of which is Arrow Lake. The Aulneau Peninsula was named after the Jesuit Father Jean-Pierre Aulneau, a French Catholic priest, who was killed 6 June 1736 on Lake of the Woods. The Catholic Church in Warroad, Minnesota, is named Father Aulneau Memorial Church after him. Other islands Recreation on the Lake of the Woods Tourism is a large part of the local economy of the Lake of the Woods, and there are many recreational opportunities available on the lake and in the surrounding countryside. Much of the lake is fairly remote, but resorts and equipment outfitters offer options for those who do not have access to their own boats and equipment. Camping The eaisiest place to start camping at the Lake of the Woods is in the Minnesota's Zipple Bay State Park. The Park offers a wide variety of services including campsites, toilet facilities, a marina with access to the Zipple River, and a beach. Minnesota and Ontario both offer state sanctioned parks and campsites, which can be located through the respective governments. For more adventurous and experienced campers, there are infinite possibilites for camping on the lake. One can locate a prospective campsite by boat, landing and examining the site in person. Make sure to obtain the proper camping permits from the Canadian or the Minnesota government, respectively, and obey all local laws. There is prevalent wildlife even on the small islands on the lake, so it is a good idea to take precautions against bear and cervids. One of the easiest ways to be introduced to exploring and camping on the lake is to contact one of the numerous marinas or resorts on the lake, for example Gill's Morson Marina in Morson Ontario. They provide housboat rentals, nautical charts, camping and fishing advice, and expert knowledge on how to most enjoy the lake. For more experienced people who have the right equipment and want to explore, Miles bay offers numerous exqusitely beautiful camping opportunities. Fishing As with any fishing, be prepared to obtain the proper licensing. The Canadian government offers a great deal on a non-resident tourism license valid for eight days. If you will spend time fishing in both Minnesota and Canada, you must be licensed in both jurisdictions. The vast size and terrain of the Lake of the Woods provides myriad fishing environments and opportunities. Best known for its abundant walleye population, they can be caught with a variety of methods in all conditions. The most common, and the easiest, is to jig with light to medium tackle in anywhere from fifteen to forty feet of water. Popular set-ups include a simple jig, a jig with a plastic hair grub, or a simple spinner lindy-rigged to a slip sinker. Live bait is preferable for this method. Minnows are especially productive, but worms and leeches can also slaughter the walleye in certain conditions. Expect to catch a substantial amount of lake perch with this method as well. A second approach is to troll the shoreline in about 10 to 15 feet of water with a diving lure. A rattling lure or a mid-range diving lure is best. This will catch walleye, especially in a little deeper water or near underwater terrain, but will also net bass, northern pike, and muskellunge. The proper speed depends on the conditions and location, but usually around 2 to 6 mph is a good starting point. For those interested is advanced pike fishing, the Lake of the Woods is excellent. One hundred thousand miles of shoreline offers a lot of great pike habitat. The best way to cover a lot of shoreline is by moving along the shore and casting a pike lure into the shallows. Lake of the Woods offers just about every kind of fishing available in the area. To experience this incredible diversity, one must only remember two things. Always make sure you have the proper licensing and follow all fishing and boating laws, and keep in mind that chartreuse is the best color lure for fishing this lake. Boating Although boating is inherent with any activity on the lake, it can also be enjoyed as its own recreation. Whether a slow trip searching for wildlife around some small islands or ripping down the sunset channel, it is always enjoyable to experience the lake from a boat. A trip to Kenora for lunch brings one through an area of the lake riddled with cabins of unique architechture. Here you can take an aireal tour by floatplane, shop, eat, or take the dogs for a walk. Another way to enjoy boating is through water sports. Some people are turned off by the relatively cool temperature of the lake and seasonal algal blooms. For those who don't mind these issues, the lake offers vast expanses of deserted open water for waterskiing, tubing, or wakeboarding. This should only be done in areas that have been scouted and cleared on the chart to make sure there are no rocks, reefs, or other obstacles. One should also stay away from the shoreline while waterskiing because there can be hidden and unmarked rocks near land. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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