Great Fall Winter & Spring Activities at Thunder Lake Lodge

The Seasons at Thunder Lake Lodge

For those who like a slower pace, we suggest visiting Thunder Lake Lodge in the off-season. Fall is gorgeous after the heavy crowds of summer have left. Winter is clean, crisp, and beautiful. Spring offers some of the best northern pike fishing anywhere on Big Rice Lake and our special off-season values won’t break the piggy bank.

Fall

Come join us for waterfowl hunting, grouse hunting, bowhunting or the deer hunting opener. The fall walleye fishing bite is fantastic and you have the whole lake to yourself (unless Craig is out there with you). Colors begin in mid-September and continue until mid-October, peaking around October 1. The days are warm, the evenings cool, and the air as fresh and clean as it gets! – “Sweatshirt weather” at its finest. Walleye and bass fishing increases dramatically as they begin to start feeding and packing on the pounds for the ice and winter season.

A number of cottages are open through deer hunting season, and believe it or not, we often have a women’s retreat on deer opener weekend! The ladies figure if the guys can get together, so can they.

Winter

Winter is beautiful and peaceful at Thunder Lake Lodge. Enjoy the comfort and warmth of our ultra-modern ‘Condos.’ Each has a gas fireplace and we have special rates for couples – or bring your group. Condo 1 sleeps 10! You are welcome to bring your snowmobile and use the nearby trails. Look for Thunder Lake, located near the center of this local Minnesota snowmobile trail map. We are near the Washburn cross country ski trails which are nicely groomed. To maintain the serenity at the Lodge, we do not allow thru traffic of snowmobilers who are not staying with us.

Feel free to call and ask us about details and rates for ice fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, scrapbooking or just hanging out for a weekend at the lake.

Getting up at the ‘crack of dawn’ to see sunrises like this isn’t as painful as it sounds! The sun treats us to such spectacles over the lake between 7-7:30am during our beautiful winters.

Spring

Spring at Thunder Lake Lodge brings some of the best northern fishing in the state. Our private launch site on Big Rice Lake gives you access to a real day of excitement. From fishing opener until the water warms in June, limits of 5-6 lb northerns are not uncommon. Our spring regulars speed troll with cane poles using dare-devils for lures. They hoist fish into the boat as fast as they can get the line in the water. 50-60 northern and an occasional walleye is a normal day on Big Rice! It’s not too late to get in on the action.

Take home a story from Thunder Lake Lodge and Big Rice lake this spring. The action doesn’t stop on Big Rice. Fishing for walleye, bass and panfish on Thunder Lake will reward your efforts. In May, a few walleyes can be caught from shore at the Lodge. Strings of ‘eaters’ can make it into the fish house daily. Walleye fishing is best in May and June, but slows down during the peak summer. Bass are something else on Thunder and are great action for the children. Bass opener is usually Memorial Day weekend. Check out the action below! Smallmouth & largemouth action is hot all summer. Thunder Lake’s unusual ‘Canadian shield’ nature is full of structure – flats, ledges, sunken islands, dropoffs – creating holding spots for fish everywhere.

Take a break and enjoy the facilities at Thunder Lake Lodge. Jamie takes pride in the colorful displays of spring flowers you’ll see in the gardens around the grounds. Join us in the Lodge to tell your tales – or make a campfire at your cabin and brag all night.