Best Western Premier The Lodge on Lake Detroit
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
The town of Detroit Lakes wraps around the north shore of Detroit Lake, about 3,000 acres in two basins, Big and Little Detroit. The Pelican River runs south from it through Lake Sallie and Lake Melissa, and Pelican, Long and Cormorant lakes are a short drive away.
Detroit Lake has a long city beach and lakefront hotels; the cabin resorts are mostly on the smaller lakes around town. Walleye, bass, pike and panfish are the main fish.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay on Detroit Lake to walk to town and the city beach, or at a cabin resort on Pelican, Long or Melissa for a quieter week.
6 places to stay
Detroit Lake
The lakefront hotels, condo resorts and city campground on Big and Little Detroit, next to town and the city beach.
Breezy Shores Resort & Beach Club
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
Detroit Lakes American Legion Campground
Detroit Lakes
From $55–$60 / night · 2026
Edgewater Beach Club
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
Holiday Inn Detroit Lakes - Lakefront
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
Lakes Inn
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
1 place to stay
Sallie & Melissa
The lakes south of town along the Pelican River.
Serenity Bay Resort & Campground
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
6 places to stay
Pelican, Long & Cormorant
Cabin resorts and campgrounds on the lakes around town: Fair Hills on Pelican, Long Lake west of Detroit Lakes and near Vergas, and Upper Cormorant.
End of the Road Resort
Lake Park
From $1,000–$1,100 / week · year not stated
Fair Hills Resort
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
Lakecrest Resort
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
Long Lake Campsite & RV Resort
Detroit Lakes
Call for current rates
Pelican Hills RV Resort (Pelican Hills RV Park)
Pelican Rapids
From $43–$120 / night · year not stated
Sunset Bay Resort
Frazee (Vergas area)
From $99–$1,499 / week · 2026
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baxstar FishingDetroit Lakes | Call | – | walleye, northern pike, muskie, bass, crappie | |
| Brad Laabs Guide ServiceDetroit Lakes | Call | – | walleye, panfish |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Baxstar rents day houses and Ice Castle sleepers on the Detroit Lakes area lakes.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxstar FishingDetroit Lakes | wooden 6-hole 16x8 day house from $150/day Sun-Fri, $225 Sat; aluminum 8-hole from $150 Sun-Fri, $275 Sat; prices for 1-2 people, $25 per extra guest; year not stated | Ice Castle 17 ft $825-$875 Fri-Sun (2 nights), $450-$525 single night Sun-Thu; 21-24 ft $975-$1,050 Fri-Sun, $595 single night Sun-Thu; plus tax and fees; year not stated | 4x4 vehicle required for sleepers; free rides only where a vehicle can reach the lake |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye, sauger and pike seasons open.
- May 23Bass harvest opens.
- February 28, 2027Walleye, sauger, pike and bass seasons close.
- March 1 / March 15, 2027Fish houses off the ice, depending on which side of the US 10 / Hwy 34 line the lake is.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 regulations.
V. Field notes
The lakes by numbers
- Detroit Lake: about 3,067 acres across both basins; Big Detroit is up to 89 feet deep, Little Detroit 16.
- Lake Sallie: about 1,273 acres, 50 feet deep. Lake Melissa: about 1,846 acres, 37 feet deep.
- Pelican Lake (Otter Tail County, home of Fair Hills): about 3,986 acres, 55 feet deep.
VI. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
- Walleye and sauger season: May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 6 combined, only one walleye over 20 inches.
- Northern pike on Lake Sallie and Lake Melissa: release every pike from 24 through 36 inches; 3 in possession, only one over 36.
- Northern pike elsewhere (North-central Zone): 10 in possession, not more than 2 over 26 inches; release every pike from 22 through 26 inches.
- Largemouth bass: catch-and-release only from March 1 to May 22, then 6 combined bass from May 23, 2026.
- Crappie 10, sunfish 20, perch 20 a day and 40 in possession.
- Fish houses: Detroit Lakes sits on the US 10 / Highway 34 line that splits the removal dates. Lakes north of the line must be clear by March 15, 2027, lakes south of it by March 1, 2027; check which side your lake is on.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (inland seasons, North-central pike zone, and the Sallie and Melissa special regulations). Rules change each March; check before you fish.
VII. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
Is there a fishing guide in Detroit Lakes?
Baxstar Fishing (Brady Baxter) runs open-water and ice trips, with ice trips from $395 for 4–8 hours, and Brad Laabs guides for walleye. Neither publishes a per-boat open-water rate.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: South Shore of Detroit Lake, Minnesota mid July 2022, Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0; Detroit Lakes station, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Myotus, CC BY 4.0.
http://endoftheroadresort.com/rates.html
http://www.baxstaroutdoors.com
http://www.breezyshoresresort.com
http://www.edgewaterdl.com
http://www.pelicanhillsrv.com/
http://www.pelicanhillsrv.com/stay-with-us
http://www.sunsetbaymn.com
https://business.visitdetroitlakes.com/list/member/baxstar-fishing-8052
https://business.visitdetroitlakes.com/list/member/breezy-shores-resort-beach-club-1075
https://business.visitdetroitlakes.com/list/member/edgewater-beach-club-1168
https://business.visitdetroitlakes.com/list/member/long-lake-campsite-rv-resort-1348
https://business.visitdetroitlakes.com/list/member/sunset-bay-resort-2619
https://business.visitdetroitlakes.com/list/ql/lodging-travel-15?q=&c=534839&sa=False
https://dlamericanlegioncampground.com/
https://dlamericanlegioncampground.com/rates/
https://dlinn.com/
https://dlinn.com/pontoon-rental
https://dlinn.com/sections/amenities-services
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Lake_(Minnesota)
https://fairhillsresort.com/
https://fairhillsresort.com/rates/
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing_regs.pdf
https://lakesinndl.com/
https://m.yelp.com/biz/lakecrest-resort-detroit-lakes
https://ottertaillakescountry.com/lake/pelican-lake/
https://prwd.org/lakes/detroit-lake/
https://prwd.org/lakes/lake-melissa/
https://prwd.org/lakes/lake-sallie/
https://thelodgeonlakedetroit.com/
https://thelodgeonlakedetroit.com/baxstar-fishing-guide-service-in-detroit-lakes/
https://thelodgeonlakedetroit.com/brad-laabs-guide-service-in-detroit-lakes/
https://visitdetroitlakes.com/explore/spring-fishing-guide/
https://www.baxstarfishing.com/
https://www.baxstarfishing.com/guided-ice-fishing
https://www.baxstarfishing.com/ice-castle-rentals
https://www.baxstarfishing.com/icefishing/ice-house-rentals
https://www.campspot.com/park/pelican-hills-rv-resort-pelicanrapids-mn
https://www.detroitlakes.com/lodging/resorts1a.html
https://www.dl-online.com/news/local/lakecrest-resort-receives-approval-from-detroit-lakes-planning-commission-for-residential-development
https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/best-western-premier-lodge-lake-detroit/3214
https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/end-road-resort/1353
https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/pelican-hills-rv-park/1558
https://www.facebook.com/p/Brad-Laabs-Guide-Service-100057172521839/
https://www.facebook.com/serenitybayresortandcampground/
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/detroit-lakes/dtlmn/hoteldetail
https://www.serenitybayresortandcampground.com/
https://www.serenitybayresortandcampground.com/aboutus
https://www.sunsetbaymn.com/cabins
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g43010-d1119993-Reviews-Lakecrest_Resort-Detroit_Lakes_Minnesota.html