About
"Big Winnie," as it's called by the locals, offers visitors 141 miles of scenic, unspoiled shoreline with lots of convenient boat access and lodgings. The Lake Winnie Dam, built in 1884, created the sprawling body of water that in turn made way for two more of Minnesota's best fishing lakes, Cut Foot Sioux, and Little Winnie.
Though its' sandy beaches make a prime playground for swimming, Winnie plunges to 78 feet, yet offers plenty of shallows for walleye anglers. In fact, walleye thrive in all three lakes, many weighing in at four to five pounds. Other abundant species include northern, muskie, perch, crappie and bass.
Just as game fish thrive beneath the lakes' blue surface, wildlife abounds on its shores. Deer, fox, loons, grouse, ducks and bear are just some of the animals that share the wooded habitat of the Chippewa National Forest, home of Lake Winnibigoshish. A nature lovers' paradise, the forest offers ample opportunities for hikers, photographers and naturalists alike.
An unbeatable team, lakes and land provide a score of recreational activities that are supported by boat and personal water craft rentals, as well as outfitters located near the action. And whether rustic or luxury quarters are desired, nearby lodgings aim to please the taste of every visitor to the Lake Winnie Resort Area.
What's Nearby
Mentioned In
Ice fishing in Ely / Credit: Ely Area Tourism Bureau
Whitetail Woods in Farmington has two camper cabins open year-round / Paul Vincent
Boat fishing in Lake Margaret in the Brainerd Lakes Area / Paul Vincent
A misty morning over Leech Lake / Peter Hawkins