Wild Northerner Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 13

HEADLINE: A town to come back to over and over again

BY SCOTT HADDOW

Wild Northerner staff

The town of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls fit’s the ideal destination place for any outdoors-loving person.

This small, but big- hearted, community on the Eastern shores of Lake of the Woods boasts a region of rugged beauty, amazing fishing and hunting opportunities and endless places to camp, explore, paddle, hike, ski and enjoy nature as you see fit.

“This is a great area for a family vacation or the fishing and hunting trip with the buddies,” Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls Township Cultural Officer Denise Lysak said. “It’s all here. It’s a friendly and inviting place to spend time.”

First and foremost, the area is dominated by Lake of the Woods. This is one of the world’s largest inland, freshwater lakes with more than 14,000 islands and more than 100,000-kilometres of shoreline. There are trophy fish to be caught, with musky being one of the top attractions. There are also pike, walleye, lake trout, smallmouth bass, perch, sauger and crappie on the docket. With so many options, anyone who loves fishing must put this water body on their to-do-list. Lodges and resorts are a great way to begin exploring this massive lake. It also makes a perfect spot for year-round fishing.

Lake of the Woods, thanks to its natural glory, is a sweet place for any paddler, whether they go by canoe, kayak or paddleboard. The islands and bays provide experiences galore.

The township is also home to two provincial parks - Caliper Lake and Sioux Narrows. Caliper Lake is home to an impressive stand of old growth red and white pine trees. There are 83 campsites, with eight walk-in sites, which require a short hike of 20 to 50-metres from the main campsite road. Visitors might even see American white pelicans nesting at the lake. Sioux Narrows is located on the Lake of the Woods. There are 71 campsites, with eight walk-in sites, which require short hikes of 20 to 50-metres from the camp road.

This region is rich in history and culture. It has been home to Ojibway and Cree indigenous people, fur trappers and traders and miners and loggers. There was once a gold mine near Regina Bay.

To get a good dose of the culture of the region, the annual Moose N’ Fiddle Music Festival should be on the list of things to do when visiting this township. The festival takes place Aug. 18-19 on the shores of Caliper Lake under the canopy of towering pine trees. It is a unique and memorable setting. The festival is likened to a big outdoor kitchen party. It puts a focus on professional and emerging musicians, folk bands, country singers/songwriters on the outdoor stage with artisans, craft beer tents, music workshops, and food trucks creating a village-like atmosphere. For more information check out this link: www.snnf.ca/moose-n-fiddle-festival/

Three fishing tournaments in the area in September make for exciting angling action for those looking to see if their luck can translate into some extra cash.

The Bassin’ for Bucks is a three-day smallmouth and largemouth bass bonanza. It features daily cash prizes for big fish and overall tournament prizes. There is a also a Youth Award and 100 Plus award. One hundred percent of the entry fees are paid to the anglers in prizes. Money prizes are based on a field of 120 entries. For more information, visit: www.bassinforbucks.com

The Crow Lake Classic calls itself “The biggest little bass tournament” in Sunset Country. This event is limited to 50 teams and runs in mid-September. It is a two-person team, two-day event with daily and combined prizes of money. For more information, go to: www.crowlakeclassic.com

Big monsters swim in Lake of the Woods. It is renowned for musky that bust the 50-inch barrier. The Nestor Falls Musky Cup offers up big money and one of the most unique fishing trophies to be won and goes in late September. The format is a two-person team, fishing for two days, with daily and total combined length. The tournament is limited to 40 boats. For more information, check this link: www.muskycup.2cat.com/

“If you like the outdoors, there is something for everyone here,” Lysak said.

For more information about what to see and do in Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls, follow this link: www.snnf.ca

BY SCOTT HADDOW

Wild Northerner staff

The town of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls fit’s the ideal destination place for any outdoors-loving person.

This small, but big- hearted, community on the Eastern shores of Lake of the Woods boasts a region of rugged beauty, amazing fishing and hunting opportunities and endless places to camp, explore, paddle, hike, ski and enjoy nature as you see fit.

One town, many options