Get on the Lake this Winter with Kab Outdoors

That’s a wrap!

The open water and hunting season has come to an end on Lake Kabetogama. The trees have dropped their leaves and resorts have begun to close for the winter – including ours. Although we say goodbye to one season, we welcome another with open arms (or rods in hand, if you will). Ice fishing on Lake Kabetogama is an entirely different animal and one you need to experience for yourself!

The Winter Bite on Lake Kabetogama

All winter long, you can tap into some pristine remote fishing on Kabetogama. The winter smallie bite is a blast when you get into them on shallow rock piles. They tend to hang out in weed beds and have an aggressive bite early in the winter that becomes more finesse as the season progresses. Pike are everywhere and tip-up fishing for them is commonly enjoyed by ice anglers. This lake system produces some monsters, so it’s definitely possible to cross that sought after 40” mark while you’re up here. There’s also great walleye fishing to be had all winter long. You’ll mark plenty all over the lake, so it’s mostly about dialing in presentation and bait choice. Perch are similar to walleye and there’s plenty of jumbos to be caught through ice holes as well! Crappies, although a bit more elusive, can also be found if you have the time and ability to look around for them.

Hole-Hopping in the Comfort of a SnoBear

Ice fishing Lake Kabetogama can require a lot of hole-hopping. If you’re marking a lot of fish but they aren’t biting, you’ve gotta keep moving until you get into some feeding fish. Getting out with a snowmobile and pop-up works just like anywhere else but can be cold and frustrating if you’re running around chasing fish all day. To really dial in the lake, there’s nothing that beats cruising around in a SnoBear and we have packages available to get you out in one!

When it’s time to fish, the SnoBear lowers to the ice to allow you to quickly drill some holes through openings in the floor. In just a few moments, you’ll have a line in the water all while staying warm and cozy without the bulk of a winter jacket. We also provide everything you need including the latest technologies – Humminbird, GPS with marked locations/tracks, Vexilars, ice auger, hole sleeves, forced air furnace, electric heat, generator, surround sound, and even a grill and a rack for a cooler on the back so you can enjoy you days’ catch on the lake! It might be 20 below outside, but you can be toasty at 70+ inside without a coat while fishing and enjoying lunch/snacks without freezing your fingers.

Rent a SnoBear with Kab Outdoors

If you’d like the opportunity to try out a SnoBear for yourself, we have packages available for you to either get out with a guide or operate one on your own. Guided trips include lunch or you can drive/operate the SnoBear yourself at a reduced daily rate. Give us a call for availability to embark on a journey like no other!

Book The Ultimate Cabin and SnoBear Experience

For the ultimate comfort while ice fishing Kabetogama, we have a Guest House/SnoBear package that allows you to crash in our newly remodeled lakefront cabin with the SnoBear parked almost right outside your door to use as you please. Stay in luxury with features including a massaging couch, fireplace, wifi, a heated fish fillet house and more. The guest house has 2 bedrooms and can host a maximum of 6 people. Altogether, this package includes 3 nights in the gorgeous cabin with 3 full days of access to a SnoBear. We have limited availability, so reserve your spot today for the ultimate winter fishing experience on Kabetogama before it’s all booked up!

It’s hard to accept that the open water season is nearing its end, but we’ve enjoyed every moment with our summer guests and look forward to hosting you this winter! There’s more fishing to be had on Kabetogama, so don’t hesitate to call us today for more details and to book your next trip. Nothing stops a tracked SnoBear, so you can be sure you’ll still have a great time on the lake even when Jack Frost is at his worst!

Latest Kab Outdoors Updates

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report

Leeches on a jig are still working well for walleye and smallies and we’re starting to bring in plenty of fish on crawlers as well. Yesterday, our guests brought in several full limits of walleyes and a few nice smallmouth. Smallies have been congregating on rock piles and are in large numbers when you get into them. Water temperatures are hanging on to the mid-to low-60s but will start dropping soon as night temperatures get colder.

Pike have been more elusive lately with no specific pattern to report for those that have been caught. They’ve been anywhere from weedbeds to out in the deep flats of the main lake. Big sucker minnows seem to be performing the best and we have a good supply on hand at the Kab Outdoors store. Come in and stock up to get out to find them yourself.

Our leech supply is coming to end soon but is the bait of choice for walleye right now, so stop in and get some while you still can. We’ve had some guests starting to lead line the deep water, but this strategy often results in a high kill rate, so keep that in mind.

Bear Update

WOW! What a great bear season it is turning out to be with our hunters out notching tags left and right. We’ve already had some huge black bears taken this season over the 300lb mark. One hunter, Marc, was determined not to give up and it paid off. With 30+ hours in the stand, he harvested one of the biggest bears of the week after watching hunters come and go with filled tags. We’ve even had wolves trying to get in on all the action (check out the timestamps on the images below at a bear harvest scene).

Winter is Coming

There’s still time to reserve one of our few openings to enjoy fall at the resort, but it’s time to start thinking about winter and the ice fishing to be had on Lake Kabetogama. We have SnoBear rentals available to get you on the ice in comfort! Call and book today! It’s one of the best ways to experience the lake and an easy way to take friends and family out with you that aren’t fond of the freezing cold temps of northern MN.

Fishing and Bear Report for September 3rd

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report

Surface temps on the lake are now in the low 60s and the fish, particularly walleye, seem to have moved out a little deeper. Pike are still relatively shallow and we're picking smallies off of mid-lake humps. As it has been most all summer, leeches are the ticket. If you're not using leeches, you’re missing out on a lot of action.

Bear Update

MN bear season is in full swing and opening day was a success for Kab Outdoors! As we've mentioned, our hunters generally have a 100% opportunity for a shot at a bear and this season is kicking off as usual. Our guests took 4 bears on opening day and another 2 the second day of the season. At this rate, we'll be in the double digits by Labor Day.

Enjoy Early Fall at Kabetogama

It’s always an adventure up here whether you’re out cruising around the islands of the National Park on the lake or out in the woods with a gun (or bow) in your hand. We still have a few late summer/early fall spots open at the resort, so claim your spot today before it’s gone. Come out and dip your toes in our heated pool and enjoy some quality time in the north woods as the leaves begin to change!

The Cast & Blast Special

We’re spending our mornings on the lake catching walleye (the usual tactics are still producing - jigging shallow with a leech and little movement) and our afternoons out deep in the woods.

BLACK BEAR HUNTING KAB OUTDOORS

Black bear season opens September 1st and we began baiting on August 13th when the baiting period opened. This year, we’ll put out 20,000 pounds of bait. We don’t do traditional bait sites, instead, we figure out where they are and bring the food to them in 5 gallon buckets at a time.

Hunters bring their own wheelers and we take them out to their sites, but it’s up to them to make their way back to the trail after dark. Every year I tell the guys, “Hope your wife let you bring your balls, you’re gonna need them!” It’s a whole different experience for some people to sit out in the woods at dark let alone expect a bear to approach. The sounds and suspense can be a bit too much for some folks.

For the last 10 years, we’ve had a 100% opportunity for every KAB Outdoors hunter. Everyone gets a shot and they’re almost never over 40 yards. We just can’t make the shot for you, so you and your equipment need to show up well prepared if you’re lucky enough to draw a tag.

SUMMER ON LAKE KABETOGAMA ISN’T OVER YET!

We have plenty of warm days ahead and guests are still enjoying the view from our HEATED pool. We have a few openings at the resort for early September, so give us a call to reserve your spot - they go fast! Come out and enjoy the pristine beauty of the lake and hang out by the pool… or give us a call for details about getting your application in for next year’s bear hunt.

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report for August 17th

Lake Kabetogama has been providing a consistent morning and evening bite for all species with most being targeted relatively shallow. With temperatures consistently exceeding 90 degrees, be sure to take a midday break at the Kab Outdoors store where the AC is always on and the ice cream is always cold!

We breakdown the details of our fishing successes over the last week below. Remember, we have guided trips available if you’d like some one-on-one help figuring out the lake with our local experts (https://www.kaboutdoors.com/contact).

Walleye Fishing on Lake Kabetogama

Much of our success walleye fishing has continued to involve targeting them shallow with most of our guests limiting out in the mornings. Leeches and crawlers remain the best bait choices for catching “eater size” fish with plenty caught in the low 20s. We’re starting to pick up a few more slot fish also.

As for technique and presentation, a small jig or a slip bobber are still the ticket to pick up the finesse bite and Lindy Live Bait Jigs continue to provide a solid option. Weedlines in less than 10 feet of water continue to hold walleye, and less-aggressive jigging with little movement has been the key.

Kabetogama Smallmouth Bass Report

The smallmouth bite remains strong with plenty caught in the high teens with some over the 20” mark. Fishing shallow weedlines has also worked well for catching “eater” smallmouth on Kabetogama. However, it seems that bigger smallies are coming off the rock piles. Getting out in the mornings and evenings to target rocks in 6-9 feet of water has been the ticket. Top water fishing has been working well but a jig with a leech has also been producing fish when out a bit deeper at 12-15 feet.

Leeches are the KEY to catching smallies lately. We have plenty at the store to keep you on the water with some bulk also available.

Pike Report for Kabetogama

Shallow weeds have also provided the most success for pike fishing proving that shallow is best strategy for fishing almost anything on Kabetogama right now. 9” Suick Thrillers have been our go-to for trophy pike for generations – I hear it’s in our DNA! Pike people are a special kind and it’s great to see the ones we’ve taught how to catch them and where to find them get out and find success on their own.

The Pool is Open!

We’ve passed our final inspections on the pool, which means – the pool is officially open! Guests can now enjoy the pool with it’s incredible view of the lake from 9am until dusk every day. We’re also working on putting in a tiki bar for poolside refreshments – so keep an eye out for updates.

As the heat continues, the renowned ice cream at our store continues to provide a refreshing mid-day treat. We also have plenty of bait and tackle along with all the latest updates!

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report August 6th

Lake Kabetogama and surrounding waters continue to provide excellent fishing as long as you follow a couple of key tactics: go shallow and use finesse strategies.

Our guests this week enjoyed fun multi-species action, as well as a sneak peek at our new pool (which is opening to our guests soon).   We discuss these topics and more in our latest fishing report below.

Walleye Fishing Lake Kabetogama

For Lake Kabetogama walleye, we have been targeting fish in 5 to 10 feet most of the time, focusing heavily on weedlines.  For techniques, it’s been all about the finesse bite - using 1/8 oz to 1/16 oz jigs with live bait.  As for jig preference, we have been using a lot of Lindy Live Bait Jigs, due both for their form factor and the fact that they have a short, wide gap shank.  

As for bait, leeches and crawlers have been providing limits of “eater size” fish.  We also have found success using bobbers, yet again proof that finesse fishing has been key. 

In summary, when targeting walleye, remember to fish wind-blown areas, weedlines, and make the most of the morning and evening.  When it comes to technique, focus on finesse presentations. Little movement seemed to be the biggest key.

Smallmouth Fishing Lake Kabetogama

For Lake Kabetogama smallmouth, fishing shallow has also worked well.  Classic smallie presentations can definitely produce fish, but live bait jigging and bobbers have produced our nicest catches this week.  To find them, search for shallow rock piles and weedlines. 

There have been some larger fish caught, but also large numbers of small fish signaling great smallmouth fishing for the years ahead. 

Pike Fishing Lake Kabetogama

One of the biggest joys of Lake Kabetogama is knowing at any moment you can catch a trophy pike. The pike pictured above was caught using live bait jigs while targeting walleye. However, if you want to chase big fish exclusively, we recommend going with big rigs. You can learn our favorite baits and strategies by reading our pike blog post here. Don’t forget you can always stop in our Kab Outdoors store and we can set you up with our favorite baits.

Driftwood Lodge Pool Update

Finally, we have a pool update! We have our pool ready to go, fence installed, and are now waiting on our final inspection - which should occur this week! This means our guests will soon get to enjoy our incredible pool and view. The pool will be available to guests from 9 am to dusk. We are excited to have a tiki bar available too - so stay tuned!

Don’t forget to swing by our store for the latest updates, bait, and our renown ice cream.

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report for July 23

Walleye Fishing Update on Lake Kabetogama

Consistent weather has led to consistent walleye fishing. Water temperatures have been varying between 73 and 80 depending on the time of the day and location. We have been targeting fish shallow and in many cases in less than 10 feet on rock piles and in weeds. Our presentations have been pitching jigs or using slip bobbers and our choice of bait continues to be leeches. If we don’t catch fish we move. Staying mobile is definitely key.

We have had some guests catching fish in 20 - 30 ft as well, using bottom bouncers, spinners, and crawlers. However, we still have been finding most success shallow.

Those fishing Namaken have been finding fish in 20 to 30 feet and have been using shiners - which is a staple for that lake all summer long.

Lake Kabetogama Smallmouth Report

The smallmouth bite has been incredibly strong the last couple of weeks. In fact, we have had multiple days with multiple fish over 19”. You can find them on rocks, weeds, and shorelines. The key is to keep the wind to your back. For bait, we recommend cranks, Mepps, jigs, or Whopper Ploppers for top water.

Pike Report on Lake Kabetogama

Pike is a great daytime option for all anglers on Kabetogama. Our biggest fish of the week was 42” and 21 lbs. We have been finding them in shallow weeds, and do most of our pike fishing between 11 and 3 in the afternoon. As always, we recommend using big baits - particularly loud and flashy lures that run along or just below the surface. Kent always has a Thriller ready to go (made by Suick Lure Company), taking advantage of the aggressive and territorial behavior of these fish.

We have also heard of some anglers finding them deep on reefs. They’ve been catching them using deep diving cranks which is another fun option if you want to mix it up.

If you want to relax the afternoon away, you can never go wrong bobber fishing with sucker minnows either.

Kab Outdoor Store Updates

We have made it no secret that we are a big fan of leeches this time of year, and so we have made it a priority to keep jumbo leeches on hand. Of course, we always stock shiners, fatheads, and crawlers as well. You can get bait by the dozens, gallons or even pounds. Whatever you need, we have you covered!

Also, be sure to check out our apparel both in the store and online!

Top it all off with ice cream and air conditioning and we have everything you need!

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report for July 16

Our guests had a blast this week with bass, pike, and walleye being very active. Fishing has really picked up since spring, water temperatures are warm (75F - 80F) and the store is full of plenty of gear, bait, and ice cream to help you have a successful week!

Just remember when we give these reports that the main way to succeed is to simply find the right locations and fish the right times. Below we break down our key depths, presentations, and timing during our last week on Kab. If you need any help, remember we offer guided trips.  Be sure to contact us for availability (https://www.kaboutdoors.com/contact). 

Walleye Report on Kabetogama

We have been finding walleye as deep as 24 feet and as shallow as 4 feet. The key is finding the active pods of fish. Once you find these locations you can get nearly anything to work. Don’t be afraid to fish shallow in the weeds!

Of course, we always recommend a variation of slip bobbers, snells, and floating jig heads. For live bait, we have been using leeches and crawlers. 

Fishing early mornings and late evenings for the most success. 

Smallmouth Report on Lake Kabetogama

Smallies can be found on their classic locations, including rock piles, gravel, and even in the weeds. The bite is strong right now, and although many presentations are working, we have been having some fun with topwater!

A couple of options you could try if you are new to smallmouth include: 

• Walking the dog with a Booya Prank or Plopper

• Super shallow cranks (we recommend size 10 &12)

• Simple slip bobber and leech setup

If you don’t get bit after a short period of time, don’t be afraid to keep moving.  Just like with walleye, finding the active fish is key. 

Pike Report on Lake Kabetogama

Pike has been our most consistent fish all season. As for targeting them,  we recommend using big bait to target the big fish.  This includes thrillers and ploppers. We also have a few secret weapons at the store for anyone who decides to stop in. If you would like to learn more about pike on Kabetogama, we still recommend that you check out our blog post on pike fishing that you can read right here. 

At Kabetogama, We Have Everything You Need 

If you are unsure of what to use and need some assistance, be sure to visit our store - or better yet book a trip with us! Additionally, when you have downtime and it’s 90F outside, the ice cream hangout of Kabetogama is the place to go.  Best of all, we ALWAYS have the AC on!

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report (July 10th)

Here is our latest fishing report for Lake Kabetogama this week. Be sure to check back weekly for fishing reports, lodging updates and more.

What to Use on Kabetogama for Walleye

Time of day, conditions, weather patterns all come into play when trying to pick a method to the madness this time of year. Walleyes don’t always bite during easy hours so it’s crucial that you put in effort around lowlight hours - early morning and evening. You may have to try something new to find success - but those who put in the effort have been highly rewarded.

For tackle keep light jigs, slip bobbers, spinner rigs, and floating jig heads on hand right now. One of Kent’s favorites during the day is a 48” snell with just a #6 hook and tipped with the bait of your choice - but we are partial to leeches.

Remember to fish the wind and go slow. By slow we mean below .04 mph and don’t be afraid to drag. If that doesn’t work try the traditional vertical jig.

Finding fish is simple here - there are plenty of them. People will mark fish shallow, deep, and everywhere in-between. Not all fish are hungry when we find them so keep moving until you find active fish. If you haven’t had any action in 15 minutes or so, time to move on.

A couple of tips for this area:

• Do not “fish” with just your electronics. Fish good areas too!

• If there is a promising spot, spend 15 minutes working on it and then move on.

We have been catching walleyes in 4 feet of water out to 22 feet of water. Keep in mind, anything deeper than 30 feet is a death sentence.

Slow, fast, venting bladders, throwing them back head first, it doesn’t matter - it’s a probably dead fish. You don’t need to fish out deep - you can find them shallow in the weeds or along with rock piles. We love our fishery so we need to practice conservation as much as possible.

If you hook a fish you can’t free easily - cut the line. It’s better to keep that fish alive than release it only to die shortly thereafter!

Lake Kabetogama Smallmouth Report

For finding smallies all you need to do is pick any rock hazard marker on the lake. In addition, look for wind-blown shoreline and rocky points.

Cranks will work well but so does soft plastics, (especially crawfish), boohya pranks, and whopper ploppers for topwater. Smallies are a fun bite this time of year and a great way to break up the walleye fishing midday.

The Kabetogama Pike Bite Remains Steady

Pike fishing at Kab offers an awesome opportunity for action and is also another great way to break up the midday walleye bite. If you are looking to target these fish, we have an entire post dedicated to pike fishing that you can find here.

Kab Outdoors Has You Covered

Bait, gear, tackle - we have you covered! We are way more than just a bait and tackle shop, but with that said, we do bait and tackle SO well! We hands down offer the best bait selection in the area. We have a large variety of minnows, crawlers, leeches, and BIG leeches you can find in bulk. Be sure to stop by our store and check us out.

Looking for a trip? Give us a call: 218.875.2281

Lake Kabetogama Fishing Report for July 1st

Here is the latest fishing report for Kabetogama for the week of June 28th.

Kent was back at it yesterday morning after a break. Flying blind, he was still able to keep 12 walleyes and was done at 9:30. He fished for the hopes of a few saugers, caught one 16”, and released another limit or 2 of smaller fish. The fishing was solid.

With water temperatures well into the 70’s (on average around 75 F) - Crawlers and leeches have been popular.

Use jigs, bobbers, or break above the weeds and structure by using floating jig heads. Of course, you can try spinners rigged with bottom bouncers for a more traditional approach closer to the bottom. Take your pick, all are available at the Kab Outdoors store!

In summary:

• You can find fish 4 to 20 feet of water - mixing it up with jigs and spinner rigs depending on the time of day.

• Slip bobbers with leech around the weeds or out deeper have been working well right now also.

• You can find the smallies and pike in weeds, rocks. Doesn’t seem to matter.

• Fishing is solid, but put the effort in during the mornings and evenings for walleye and midday for pike and bass.

Be sure to check out our entertainment - blind Joe - Wednesdays at 7 at the dock. Swing by boat or bring a chair! See you there!

Also be sure to check our latest tips on Pike Fishing found here.

Blind Joe from the voice playing at our Driftwood Lodge Resort dock!

Pike Fishing Tips for Lake Kabetogama

Lake Kabetogama Trophy Pike

We have been getting frequently asked about finding successful trophy pike fishing on Lake Kabetogama. Therefore, we have compiled a few of our best pike fishing tips to help you find and catch these Lake Kabetogama trophies.

PIKE GEAR

Pike fishing is a serious game. If you are here for pike, put your walleye gear away. If you want to throw big baits then you need big gear. This means you have to have a rod with some backbone.

My favorite is the telescoping Prorex by Diawa match that with the Lexa400 HD. It’s a quality setup that can handle whatever you plan on throwing at these fish.

HOW TO FIND PIKE

1. Look for and target the submerged weed beds. I like the ones that no one knows is there, no grass or weeds visible.

2. Next, you will need to locate them. Find them with your electronics then back out. Start Looking in any of the bays on kab.

HOW TO TARGET PIKE

1. Once you find a promising spot, keep the boat out in 10-12 feet of water and cast big shallow running baits on top of submerged weeds. The goal is to be casting into 5-7 feet- any shallower you will be catching weeds most of the time.

2. Use Suicks, Big bucktails, big topwater. Wire leaders are the only way to go for sure. Not the cheaper plastic coated “steel/steal leaders”.

WHEN THE PIKE ARE SHALLOW

1. If you don’t find them deeper then try shallow, and this is most applicable in the fall.

2. In this instance, I recommend that you try a softball-sized bobber in about 3-6 feet of water. At our Kab Outdoors store we have some custom-made harness’s that lets the 4-12” sucker swim freely.

Be sure to swing by our store to grab your items and get the latest fishing report.

Lake Kabetogoma Fishing Report For May 28th

"The weather pattern on Kabetogama this week has been interesting to say the least. First, sunburned to the point of being painful to get dressed, then temperatures plummeting into the mid-30s. Oh and let’s not forget the 180-degree reversal of the wind that blew hard from the southwest on Tuesday, before the 45-degree temperature drop turned it into a nor’easter for Wednesday.

When Kent pushed away from the Dock that morning, it was 42 degrees with a 20 to 25 MPH wind out of the north and snowing sideways. Kent said “My fingertips were still numb a day later. Luckily, my Simms ice gear was the ticket for keeping the rest of my body toasty warm and dry.”

Prior to the temperature crash, Kent and Kolby were both producing limits of fish for their crews. As you might expect though, the turbulent weather didn’t help in terms of keeping the fish on a hot bite. The shallow water action was affected most, Kolby’s favorite early season method of pitching jig and shiner combinations toward the shallows and working them back to the boat was put on pause.

Somehow though, despite the tough conditions, folks were still able to catch some fish. Fish had moved out to the breaklines and the key depth range was 18 to 28 feet, at least that’s where Kent and his crew had the most success. Some of the anglers who actually produced the best catches were the folks who stayed at the resort and spent their time fishing right here, from the dock! In this instance, they were the smart ones.

Honestly, it was a couple of tough days, but it looks like happy days are here again. Kent says that by late evening on Thursday, anglers had begun carrying walleyes into the fish cleaning house again. Memorial Day Weekend appears to offer more stability in terms of weather and that will help make this a productive period on Kabetogama.

Planning for your holiday weekend fishing trip will be fairly easy. Kent, Kolby and most of our guests are still using spottails as the bait of choice. Most folks add them to jig head in the 1-8-to-3-8-ounce size range, depending on how deep they’re fishing. Never forget, shiners, especially the larger ones can also be used on Lindy Rigs to produce excellent results. Sometimes, the slower presentation, combined with the minnows natural attracting power can leave walleyes powerless to say no. They will often take this presentation when more aggressive ones fail.

Lindy Rigs tipped with leeches is an option too, in fact leeches began flowing out of the bait shop last week. We’re waiting for some of the anglers who bought them to return with reports about how they produced fish and we’ll pass the info along to you when we can.

At the store, we have a fantastic selection of walleye jigs to choose from and they are available in both bulk and pre-packaged, with sizes ranging between 1-16 ounce and 3-8 ounce. So no matter where the fish go, you’ll have the right weight to get your bait in front of them.

Walleyes have captured the attention of most everybody, so northern pike are not getting a lot of attention. But as the accompanying photo proves, there are some big ones out there for anyone who wants to take a swing at catching them.

Kent has a passion for catching big pike by casting large, wood jerk baits like the Suicks. We’d encourage anybody who shares Kent’s passion for big pike and who’s interested in learning the ropes to stop by the store for a chat. We will show you the gear and Kent’s favorites lures for catching. By the way, you could really get a jump start by booking a guide trip, there’s no better way to learn the lake than that.

Our MinnKota trolling motor shop has been hopping, in fact strong sales have depleted inventories. But, we do still have a couple of standard, 24 volt Terrovas in stock and there are a couple of Ulterras with 60 inch shafts that were traded in last week.  Call to double check the availability, but we currently have both 24- and 36-volt models available.

The warm weather piqued folks’ attention for ice cream last week and sales were brisk. Don’t worry though, ice cream is one item we have plenty of, so stop in for a cone, a chat and maybe to do a little bragging about your catch.

This will be a busy weekend on the roads, so drive cautiously, with an eye on the ditches because both deer and bears will be wandering. We’ll see you when you get here to wish you good luck on the lake!

Driftwood Lodge on Lake Kabetogama Update

New Vexus Guide Boat available this season.

There is a lot happening this spring at Kabetogama, specifically at Driftwood Lodge Resort and the new Kab Outdoors Resort. We started by taking down the former lodge at Driftwood, then we took down a ton of scrappy trees, dug up some giant, pesty rocks that were causing issues, and the really big news….we have started the installation of a new heated, swimming pool! We hope to have it completed by mid-June. And for the grownups, we’re adding a tiki bar serving beer that will be open in the evenings.

We Have Started Installation of The New Swimming Pool

But that’s not all, we are putting on the finishing touches to three new tiered RV sites at Driftwood (where the old lodge was located). And we’re putting in a new well for water. Please bear with us this spring if there is still some construction happening. We will do our best to keep it to a minimum, but we are doing our best to make improvements that will make your vacation even better.

At the new Kab Outdoors location, we took down a ton of trees there as well so you can actually see the lake when you drive in and all the cabins have a view of the lake now too. We got rid of the concrete steps that led down to the lake and replaced them with a beautiful new ramp that is handicap accessible. We are just about finished remodeling one of our seasonal cabins there as well.

New Alumacraft Boats for Rent

For your fishing pleasure we have added several new Alumacraft boats to our rental fleet. Like the others in our fleet, they have all the latest technology to help you bring in the fish.

It’s been a little crazy getting everything taken care of, but it’s also been a lot of fun to see the changes and the progress made by everyone. We hope you’ll enjoy the upgrades too!

The Great 2021 Mix-Up Continues on Lake Kabetogama

"The great 2021 mix-up continues on Lake Kabetogama. Every day presents us with a fresh fishing pattern, every day brings us a different mix of fish species and most days, we target more than one depth range to find them.

During the past couple of weeks, our guests have caught crappies, jumbo perch, walleyes, pike and sauger, all in no sequence. The one constant has been that when folks are persistent, they wind up being rewarded.

Throughout this entire season, fish have been more likely to roam over softer bottom flats than to hug tight to structure. Still, they will occasionally move onto structure to feed, so even when we fish over the mud, we are positioned nearby more defined structure like reefs and deep water points.

Because of the nomadic nature of the fish this season, we’re convinced that the best plan is to fish with a combination of tip-ups set in shallower water, while jigging lures are fished slightly deeper. Fish are roaming in an overall depth range of about 20 to 30 feet, but 30 feet is a little deep for our liking, so we try to focus on a 25-foot maximum.

Each angler rigs a tip-up and sets it up at about 20 feet deep. Once the tip-up is set, drill a handful of holes, in a variety of depths around the neighborhood and try a variety of jigging lures in each of them.

At the store, we’ve got some nice lively minnows for rigging tip-ups. They run larger than your average jigging minnows, so swing by and pick up a few of each size on your way to the lake. We’ve got all the most productive jigging baits too, and we can walk you through some of the better choices for your next trip. Even experts agree, if you want to catch a fish on Kabetogama, we have the right tackle for the job.

We weren’t sure what to expect when we decided to start offering SnoBear and lodging combinations this winter. But the response has been strong, our guests have really enjoyed the comfort and efficiency. If you’ve ever wondered, these things are super easy use and really fun to fish out of. Plus, we have ours rigged up with the latest electronics to help you find and catch fish.

The Sno Bear and lodging combo trips are great for couples and families who want to fish together efficiently, but in total comfort.

Summer is fast approaching, and our bookings are already looking good, but there are still openings available. In all likelihood, the Canadian border will remain closed this summer and that means demand will remain high.

We wouldn’t want you to be disappointed, so don’t wait around too long, give us a call and lets get your reservation in the books before it’s too late." — The shelves are stocked with everything you’ll need to convince those fish to bite; so be sure to stop in and let us help. For More Information Call 218.875.2281

THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER

"The family that plays together, stays together and we are lucky, because sometimes we get to watch.

Natalie, along with her brothers Andy and Oliver have been coming to Kabetogama on the annual family ice fishing trips for a while now. It’s been fun to watch them grow, learn and as 12-year-old Natalie proved last fall, mature. 

Demonstrating more patience than many adult hunters, Natalie let several potential bear targets walk in and out of range of her stand as she waited for something “better” to come along. Finally, one did, the 300-pound chocolate that you see pictured here. 

Natalie knew that persistence would pay off, but the knowledge didn’t come out of nowhere. Her persistence was developed, nurtured and developed over time, we think, because of getting outside, hunting and fishing with her family. Anyway, we’re proud of her and we’re pretty darn sure that we’ll be seeing signs of her influence on her brothers, Andy and Oliver in the near future too. 

Our wildest dreams would come true if we are able to watch scenarios like this play out over and over again, right here at Kabetogama. We genuinely believe that our outdoor heritage depends on more families playing outside, together.

As we roll into the final few weeks of the walleye season, we’ve generally been pleased with the fishing on Kabetogama. While there haven’t been many “hot bites”, there haven’t been many totally down days either. Most every group have been able to parley their catch into a fish fry for the family.

Walleyes, like we reported last week are coming from a wide range of depths and have been caught on a variety of presentations. When push comes to shove, a combination of tip-ups and jigging lures, all in action at the same time will produce results. Use large lively minnows on the tip-ups to produce both large walleye and big pike.

Set a tip up out and away from structure, but near sunken reefs or underwater points. Drill holes nearby, but closer to structure for using the jigging presentations. Periodically re-position your tip ups and drill a few fresh holes for jigging. 

We have experimented with jigging lures and had some success with most of the popular presentations. Glow Spoons, Rattl’n Flyers and Quiver Spoons are a few that come to mind, but stop in the store on your way to the lake and we’ll fill you in on what’s hot at the moment you arrive.

Perch, sauger perch and pike have come along as bonus fish, part of the overall catch but not the specific targets. For folks interested in adding more perch to the creel, one thing we can suggest is to fish softer bottom areas. Rocks and hard gravel are fine for perch at times, but late winter is when insect larvae begin to pull fish away from defined structure.

Marl is a semi-soft material that’s ideal for bloodworms and it is found in areas that transition between a hard bottom and mud. When you locate areas like these, be deliberate in your search, perch are almost sure to be roaming the flats nearby. We can help point you in the direction of some likely areas where this strategy can work.

Fishing from our Ice Castles, or for that matter, any rental shelter offers anglers opportunity to develop specialized strategies. We suggest experimentation and advise our guests to offer an array of lures that cover the gambit from attracting, to enticing to triggering.

Rig a couple of rods with large flashy lures to get the fish’s attention, but always have a couple of rods set up with more subtle, lifelike baits too. When you see fish that don’t strike the aggressive presentations, quickly offer them the more subtle ones. 

For a family, this could be accomplished by taking turns at offering specialized presentations. Maybe mom could handle the jigging rod, using something like a Glow Streak, while dad watches the set line rigged with a large lively minnow as the kids present smaller blade style ice jigs tipped with smaller minnows or waxworms. Have fun mixing it up and forming your own “family plan”. 

Our Sno Bear and lodging packages have been well received this winter. In fact, we’re already adding reservations to the books for next year. Even though the season is winding down soon, there are still a handful of openings during mid-week. If you’ve pictured yourself moving across the lake in total comfort, drilling holes and fishing spots without needing a jacket, then the Sno Bear is for you! Give us a call to find out what we still have available." 

— The shelves are stocked with everything you’ll need to convince those fish to bite; so be sure to stop in and let us help. For More Information >> Contact KAB OUTDOORS or Call 218.875.2281