Becker's Resort
Bena
From $242–$461 / night · 2026 (cabins)
Lake Winnibigoshish, called Big Winnie, covers about 56,500 acres in the Chippewa National Forest and is one of Minnesota's ten largest lakes. It is a reservoir on the Mississippi River, held back by a Corps of Engineers dam on the east side. Bena sits on US 2 along the south shore, Deer River is the nearest town to the east-side resorts, and Cut Foot Sioux Lake joins the north end.
Walleye and perch draw most visitors. In winter the resorts plow ice roads and rent day houses, and several guides fish the lake through the ice.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Pick the south shore for launch fishing out of Bena, the east side for the most resorts and guides, or Cut Foot Sioux for sheltered water and Forest Service campgrounds.
6 places to stay
South shore: Bena
Resorts off US 2 around Bena, where McArdle's, Four Seasons and Denny's run launch boats, plus the Forest Service's Winnie Campground.
Denny's Resort
Bena
Call for current rates
Four Seasons Resort
Bena
Call for current rates
McArdle's Resort
Bena
From $175–$595 / night · unstated (3-night minimum)
Nodak Lodge & Resort
Bena
Call for current rates
Winnie Campground (Chippewa National Forest)
Deer River
From $16 / night · fee listing dated 2025-26; year not confirmed
9 places to stay
East side: the dam and Deer River
Resorts along the east shore between the Winnie Dam and Highway 46, the closest side to Deer River. Most of the lake's guides list a Deer River or Grand Rapids address.
Blueberry Hills Golf Course and RV Park
Deer River
Call for current rates
Bowen Lodge
Deer River
From $235–$680 / night · 2026 (May-Sept)
Eagle Nest Lodge
Deer River
From $270–$1,363 / night · 2026
High Banks Resort
Deer River
Call for current rates
Little Winnie Resort & Campground
Deer River
From $130–$528 / night · 2027 summer / 2026-27 winter
Northland Lodge
Deer River
From $120–$440 / night · 2026
Tamarack Lodge
Deer River
From $130–$645 / night · unstated
The Pines Resort & Campground
Deer River
From $185–$450 / night · unstated
Winnie Dam Campground (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)
Deer River
Call for current rates
6 places to stay
Cut Foot Sioux & the north end
Cut Foot Sioux and Little Cut Foot Sioux off Highway 46, Williams Narrows, and the Forest Service campgrounds at Onegume and Mosomo Point.
Cut Foot Sioux Resort
Deer River
From $220–$370 / night · unstated (2025 offer on page; winter listed without year)
Dixon Lake Resort
Squaw Lake
Call for current rates
Mosomo Point Campground (Chippewa National Forest)
Deer River
From $16 / night · third-party listing, year unknown
Onegume Campground (Chippewa National Forest)
Deer River
From $23 / night · unofficial third-party fee, year unknown
Williams Narrows Campground (Chippewa National Forest)
Deer River
Call for current rates
Williams Narrows Resort
Deer River
Call for current rates
II. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | $400–$500 | $500 | $330–$450 | $350 | 3 |
| Guide boat, up to 3–4 anglers | $700 | $700 | $500 | $500 | 1 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bro's Guide Service (Brian Brosdahl)Max | Call | – | walleye | |
| Early Bird Fishing Guide Service (Jeff Sundin)Deer River | Call | – | walleye, crappie, smallmouth bass, northern pike, perch, muskie | |
| Minnesota Fishing Pros Guide ServiceDeer River | $400 | $330 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | walleye, perch, northern pike |
| Northern Drift Outfitters (Lake Winnie Guide Service, Capt. Jeff Johnson)Grand Rapids | Call | – | walleye | |
| Reel Deal Guide Service (Ryan Strand)Blackduck | $700 | $500 | Guide boat, up to 3–4 | walleye, panfish |
| Royal Guide Service (Roy Girtz)Grand Rapids | Call | – | walleye, perch | |
| Snowbear Dave's Fishing Guide ServicesDeer River | Call | – | ||
| Zup's Guide Service (Scott Zupfer)Deer River | $500 | $450 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | walleye, northern pike, perch, crappie, smallmouth bass, sturgeon |
III. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Becker's, McArdle's, Nodak, High Banks, The Pines and Tamarack publish day-house rates, and Zup's rents day houses with a guide.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Becker's ResortBena | Spear house $90, 2-person $100, 8-hole $155, 12-hole $227 per day (guest rates; non-guest $110-$242; undated) | – | plowed roads |
| Denny's ResortBena | – | Yes | plowed roads; skid shacks placed and removed; wheel house access |
| Dixon Lake ResortSquaw Lake | Yes | – | |
| High Banks ResortDeer River | $180/day (8x18 $220), 8 holes each, undated | $350/night, sleeps 4 | Guide track vehicle |
| Little Winnie Resort & CampgroundDeer River | darkhouse spearing rentals on Little Winnie (no rate published) | – | |
| McArdle's ResortBena | 8-hole day house $200/day (winter rate section) | – | |
| Nodak Lodge & ResortBena | Day houses: 6-hole $150, 8-hole $190, 14-hole $250 per day (undated) | – | plowed ice-fishing access (association listing) |
| Tamarack LodgeDeer River | 8-hole day house $135/day for up to 4; dark house $65/day for 1, $100 for 2 (undated) | – | plowed lake access |
| The Pines Resort & CampgroundDeer River | 6-hole 8x10 $150 with a cabin / $175 without; 8-hole $200 / $250, per day (undated) | – | |
| Zup's Guide Service (Scott Zupfer)Deer River | Day House $125/person/day (2-person, 2-day minimum), rates undated | Premium $175/person/night (2 people, 2 nights min); Platinum $250/person/night (3 nights min); Trophy $600/day for 2-4 people |
IV. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- May 9, 2026Walleye, sauger and pike seasons open.
- May 23Bass harvest opens.
- June 6 – November 30Muskie season (1 fish, 54-inch minimum).
- September 14Smallmouth bass go back to catch-and-release.
- February 28, 2027Walleye, sauger, pike and bass seasons close.
- March 15, 2027Every fish house must be off the ice by midnight.
Fishing dates are from the DNR's 2026 regulations. Resorts set their own ice-road opening each winter, depending on ice.
V. Field notes
The dam and the slot
- The Corps of Engineers built the first Winnibigoshish dam in 1881–1884, a timber crib structure, to hold back Mississippi River water for navigation downstream. It was the first of six headwaters reservoirs.
- The concrete dam that stands today replaced it in 1899–1900, and the Corps runs a campground beside it.
- The 18–23 inch walleye slot has been in place since 2015, when it replaced a 17–26 inch slot.
VI. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027)
- Walleye and sauger season: May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027.
- Walleye: release every walleye from 18 through 23 inches; only one over 23 inches in possession. 6 walleye and sauger combined.
- Sunfish: 5 a day (Winnibigoshish special limit).
- Northern pike (North-central Zone): May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 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 to February 28, 2027.
- Muskie: June 6 – November 30, 1 fish, 54-inch minimum.
- Perch 20 a day and 40 in possession. Crappie 10.
- Fish houses must be off the ice by midnight on March 15, 2027.
From the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (inland seasons, North-central pike zone, and the Winnibigoshish special regulation, which also covers Cut Foot Sioux, Little Cut Foot Sioux and the connected waters). Rules change each March; check before you fish.
VII. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does a fishing guide cost on Lake Winnibigoshish?
A guide boat for 1–2 anglers runs $400–$500 for a full day. A guide boat for up to 3–4 anglers runs $700–$700 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person, and usually include bait and gas.
What's the walleye slot on Lake Winnibigoshish?
Release every walleye from 18 through 23 inches, with only one over 23 inches in possession, inside the statewide 6 walleye and sauger combined (2026–27 DNR rules). The same rule covers Cut Foot Sioux.
What does a fishing guide cost on Lake Winnibigoshish?
Published rates for one or two anglers run $400–$500 for a full day and $330–$450 for a half day. None of the guides date their rates, so confirm when you book.
Can you go launch fishing on Winnie?
Yes. McArdle's, Four Seasons and Denny's in Bena run launch boats. Denny's charges $65 a person for a half day, and McArdle's and Four Seasons price the whole boat for up to six.
Can you rent an ice house on Lake Winnibigoshish?
Yes. Day houses run about $135–$250 a day at Becker's, McArdle's, Nodak, High Banks, The Pines and Tamarack Lodge, and High Banks rents a sleeper for $350 a night.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: Winnibigoshish, Unknown author (historic photograph), Public domain; Big Fish Supper Club, Bena, Minnesota LCCN2017709509, John Margolies (Library of Congress), Public domain; Winnibigoshish Lake Dam, Burt Levy (Historic American Engineering Record), Public domain; Chippewa National Forest - Social - 1, U.S. Forest Service, Chippewa National Forest, Public domain.
http://www.golfdeerriver.com
http://www.jeffsundin.com
http://www.mnfishingpros.com
https://beckersresort.com/
https://beckersresort.com/camping/
https://beckersresort.com/fishing-hunting/
https://beckersresort.com/ice-fishing-lake-winnie/
https://beckersresort.com/lake-winnie-boat-rentals/
https://beckersresort.com/lake-winnie-cabins/
https://brosguideservice.com
https://captainexperiences.com/guides/reel-deal-guide-service-1
https://captainexperiences.com/locations/regions/lake-winnibigoshish
https://captainexperiences.com/trip/13063/half-day-or-full-day-fishing-trip
https://dnr.state.mn.us/top10lakes/index.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Winnibigoshish
https://exploreminnesota.com/profile/bowen-lodge/825
https://exploreminnesota.com/profile/williams-narrows-resort/1058
https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/fishing/fishing_regs.pdf
https://golfdeerriver.com/camping/
https://howsyourriver.com/access_sites/plughat-point
https://itascahistorical.org/winnibigoshish-dam/
https://komonews.themlsonline.com/minnesota-real-estate/listings/property/6694915/952-River-Drive-NW-Bena-MN-56626
https://mcardlesresort.com/
https://mcardlesresort.com/boat-pontoons/
https://mcardlesresort.com/launch-guide-services/
https://mcardlesresort.com/rates/
https://visitgrandrapids.com/area-attractions-directory/listing/northern-drift-outfitters/
https://www.army.mil/article/95823/headwaters_reservoirs_streams_dreams_and_navigation
https://www.bowenlodge.com/
https://www.bowenlodge.com/boat-rentals
https://www.bowenlodge.com/fishing/
https://www.bowenlodge.com/rates-and-specials
https://www.cutfootsiouxresort.com/
https://www.cutfootsiouxresort.com/cabins.html
https://www.cutfootsiouxresort.com/camping.html
https://www.cutfootsiouxresort.com/fishing-information.html
https://www.cutfootsiouxresort.com/watercraft-rentals.html
https://www.dennysresort.com/
https://www.dennysresort.com/fishing-charters-and-launches
https://www.dennysresort.com/summer-rates
https://www.dennysresort.com/winter-rates
https://www.dglobe.com/sports/northland-outdoors/big-winnie-lives-up-to-walleye-reputation-during-july-excursion-with-fishing-guide-brian-bro-brosdahl
https://www.dixonlakeresort.com/
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/bigwinnie/index.html
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/new-rules-this-year-on-winnibigoshish-saganaga-other-lakes
https://www.eaglenestlodge.net/
https://www.eaglenestlodge.net/ice-fishing-lake-winnibigoshish/
https://www.eaglenestlodge.net/rates/
https://www.eaglenestlodge.net/watercraft-rentals/
https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/dixon-lake-resort/224
https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/early-bird-fishing-guide-service/2911
https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/minnesota-fishing-pros-guide-service/3154
https://www.fishingwinnie.com/
https://www.fishingwinnie.com/cabins.html
https://www.fishingwinnie.com/things-to-do.html
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/chippewa/projects/47989
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/chippewa/projects/65373
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/chippewa/recreation/winnie-campground
https://www.highbanks.com/
https://www.highbanks.com/boat-rentals/
https://www.highbanks.com/ice-fishing/
https://www.highbanks.com/resort-amenities/
https://www.highbanks.com/stay/
https://www.howsyourriver.com/access_sites/williams-narrows-resort
https://www.lakewinnie.net/area-businesses
https://www.lakewinnie.net/fishing
https://www.lakewinnie.net/lodging/bowen
https://www.littlewinnie.com/
https://www.littlewinnie.com/rates/
https://www.nodaklodge.com/
https://www.nodaklodge.com/cabins.html
https://www.nodaklodge.com/campgrounds.html
https://www.nodaklodge.com/current-info.html
https://www.northlandlodge.com/
https://www.northlandlodge.com/boats.html
https://www.northlandlodge.com/rates.html
https://www.recreation.gov/
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/231998
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233533
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campsites/82174
https://www.recreation.gov/camping/poi/233848
https://www.royalguideservice.com/
https://www.snowbeardavesfishingguideservices.com/about
https://www.tamarack-lodge.com/
https://www.tamarack-lodge.com/ice-fishing/
https://www.tamarack-lodge.com/rates/
https://www.thepinesresort.com/
https://www.thepinesresort.com/rates-reservations
https://www.thepinesresort.com/rates-reservations/watercraft-rentals
https://www.thepinesresort.com/rates-reservations/winter-rates
https://www.zupsguideservice.com/
https://www.zupsguideservice.com/rates