We have reserved a package at Zippel Bay Resort for January. I see we drive ourselves out to the house. Do they escort you out and get you set up or give you a map where the houses are and let you go totally on your own, or just how does that work? If we are given a map, we could get out there earlier, but chance getting lost on the big ice. Anyone been to Zippel Bay Resort before that can shed some light? Thanks for the help.

They will take care of you fine. The houses are on a map and easy to find.you will have a great time fishing with them.

I concur. They even have street signs. They will tell you to go out on the main trail and take a left on "sauger lane" or "walleye drive" or whatever and look for your big house number. Zipple will cater to you if you want them to, but when I go we just get the directions and we're on our own.

Zippel's street signs are awesome, pretty neat operation.

Funny. Fishwater you must be going through the same thought process as me. Can't wait to go!!!

My group is heading up there the last weekend of December, Should be fun, first time up there at LOW for all of us..anything that we should defenitely not miss?

Zippel does transport people in early ice season. Been out there on top of two inches of ice in 17 FOW were the day before it was open water! My brother and I were the only two people on the new ice.

Early ice is some of the best fishing but it's nice when they have the sleeper out on the big pond.

hamrej23,
Make sure your group gets emerald shiners as well as fatheads. Some days they both work but some days the emeralds work a lot better than the fatheads. If your up for moving with portables make sure to go shallow in the morning and evening. Some days though you can get them shallow all day long especialy in early ice.

No kidding. I broke the news to Annie earlier this week, she took it better than I expected - "just put it on the calendar dear..."


I advise going a little out of your way to log cabin bait, they have a pretty stellar tackle selection. Also, make sure you don't miss that first solid bite...

I 2nd Log Cabin Bait. Two years ago I had an issue with my flasher and the owner of Log Cabin went above and beyond and let me use his own flasher for the day. I know where Ill be buying my bait from now on.

Good luck!

My group was at Zippel mid-Jan. last year, and as the others have stated the operation is pretty slick. They give you very specific directions by using their street sign system and from there you can come and go as you please. We were on the ice as the sun was coming up each day, but the real action took place between 9-11 in the morning and again around 2-4 in the afternoon. Then we headed off as the sun was hitting the tree tops. For us the shiners that we got from the resort worked the best, didn't have much luck with the fatheads. Just make sure they add some shiner life to your bait bucket so they last all day.

Lot of questions answered and good info. I will be staying at Zippel's the end of December for the first time. Sounds like its a great place.

I agree 100% with the posts above. I have stayed at some other resorts at other lakes closer to the Twin Cities. Unfortunately had some bad experiences at a few resorts (I don't want to say which ones) on Mille Lacs. Finally last year we had enough and went up to Lake of the Woods for the annual trip with the buddies. I'm not sure about the other operations on LOW (I hear good things about a lot). But to simply put it, Zippel Bay Resort gave me absolutely no reason to go anywhere else. They take great care of you. And not to mention the fishing was awesome last year. Between 8 people, we caught in the neighborhood of 150 walleyes/sauger in 3 days/nights out of their sleeper cabins. We had to toss some tiny ones back, but we caught plenty of eaters to have a meal on the ice and bring home our limits, not to mention a nice 28" walleye the last night by one of the group members. All I can say is, if you go Zippel Bay Resort, I have a hard time believing you will be disappointed. Regardless of the bite, you should still get bites/catch fish. Here's to wishing tight lines for all LOW anglers this year!!!

Sounds Like Zippel Bay also will sell us the bait? Or will we have to go off site for that.

Good to hear that Otis. That is exactly what my group is doing this year. We have been on a guys ice trip annually for 7 years now and to Mille Lacs a lot. But never catch anything there worth talking about. So we decied to try LOW this year and staying at Zippels. If we like it, which I know we are going to, will probably be our new annual ice trip destination.

I was wondering if the sleepers had cook stoves in them? The Zippel bay website doesn't give much for details about the sleeper houses. I will be up there for a few days the last week of december. I can't wait!!