One of the most common questions I get in the boat when guiding is "what is your favorite time of the season on Lake of the Woods?" And I would be lying if I said anything other than June. The early season fishing on Lake of the Woods is near impossible to beat, but this appears to be no secret, as year after year, June is nearly booked solid.
What does seem to be a little known secret is the late summer, particularly August, season on Lake of the Woods. I know, I know I said the fishing in June is tough to beat, and you are after all coming to Duck Bay for the legendary fishing. So why would you come in August? Well, do me a favor and follow this link to check out our 2017 mid-August fishing report http://www.duckbaylodge.com/blog/fishing-report-august-13-19/... Now, if your jaw hit the ground too hard, go grab a bag of ice because I want to tell you why else August is a great time to visit Duck Bay.
Aside from the still superb fishing, late July and August offer some very welcomed comforts in the form of great weather. If you ask any of our guides, we will still tell you, leaving the dock without your rain gear is a mistake you will only make once, but most August days it stays safely tucked away as you rarely need it. With an average high of 73, the lowest average rainfall of the summer months, and typically low winds August is, more often than not, the most comfortable month to be at Lake of the Woods.
Now the last thing I want to talk about is something that I believe is what truly separates Duck Bay from all the other lodges. And that is the amazing staff. Many of our long time guests will attest to Dave and Sheree's ability to put together an amazing team, and the hard work our staff put in to provide 5 star service to all our guests day in and day out all season long. However August, in my opinion, is a truly special month at Duck Bay. Our early season projects have been wrapped up, our preparation for fall hasn't begun, and this coupled with the long warm calm evenings tends to draw everyone down to the docks to unwind and relax. The girls often come down to do yoga or relax on the docks while the setting sun cast an orange glow over the sky. The calm evenings allow me to break out the fly rod and get some much needed practice casting from the docks. Jimmy will be throwing big top water baits on the dead calm water trying to draw out just one of the muskies that call our bay home in the summer. And Sheree will be watering her flowers, then unwinding with a book, while Dave enjoys a hard earned cigar. It's something truly precious. Everyone at the lodge; long time guests, new guests, and staff alike are all drawn down to the water to enjoy one another's company, share stories, and enjoy the sheer beauty that August has to offer.