News

Minnesota B.A.S.S. Nation
May 19th, 2024

Minnesota B.A.S.S. Nation Kabetogama Fishing Tournament

The Pines of Kabetogama, a premier destination renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and exceptional amenities, is thrilled to host the Minnesota B.A.S.S. Nation’s inaugural fishing tournament of 2024 on Sunday, May 19th. This prestigious event marks a significant milestone in the world of competitive fishing, especially for those passionate about Kabetogama fishing.

Kabetogama Lake, nestled in the heart of Voyageurs National Park, offers a unique blend of scenic wilderness and top-tier fishing opportunities, making it an ideal location for the Minnesota Bass Nation Team Trail event. With practice runs scheduled from Thursday, May 16th to Saturday, May 18th, the tournament will culminate in an exciting competitive day on May 19th. This event is set to attract approximately 80 teams, bringing over 200 visitors to the Kabetogama community, a testament to the lake’s reputation as a premier destination for Kabetogama fishing enthusiasts.

The MNBN Team Trail is a prestigious pathway to the Bassmaster Classic! This sanctioned trail of the Bassmaster Team Championship offers teams the chance to compete in high-stakes tournaments with a partner of their choice, plus one allowed substitution during the season. With an entry fee of $500 per tournament, which includes the big bass competition, teams vie for the chance to rank among the top three and advance to the National Team Championship.

The required annual membership of $40 per team in the Bassmaster Team Championship Series not only secures your participation but also grants a B.A.S.S. membership card and a year’s subscription to B.A.S.S. Times. 2024 brings exciting new changes, including paydown to the 15th place based on 80 boats, new teams can begin registration starting January 8. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a competitive fishing experience in the stunning Kabetogama waters!

The Pines of Kabetogama, with its luxurious accommodations, including five well-appointed cabins and expansive RV sites, provides the perfect setting for participants and spectators alike. Each cabin offers amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, modern kitchens, and private terraces with charcoal grills, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The resort’s 20-slip marina, equipped with fuel service, is a convenient hub for the tournament participants, providing easy access to Kabetogama’s rich fishing waters.

Kabetogama fishing is celebrated for its abundance of bass, making it an excellent choice for the tournament. Anglers will find the clear, pristine waters of Lake Kabetogama ideal for pursuing trophy-sized bass. The lake’s varied underwater terrain, including rocky bottoms and weedy bays, offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for both seasoned and novice fishermen.

The tournament’s main event and weigh-in will take place on the lawn and the marina  of The Pines of Kabetogama, providing a stunning backdrop of natural beauty. Spectators are welcome to join the excitement of the weigh-in and experience the vibrant atmosphere of a professional fishing tournament. It’s a unique opportunity to witness the thrill of Kabetogama fishing firsthand.

For those new to the sport or looking to improve their skills, enhance your Kabetogama fishing experience with our top-of-the-line boat rentals at The Pines of Kabetogama. Our fleet, featuring the latest models like the 2022 Lund 1800 Alaskan Sport Fishing Boat, is perfectly suited for both the casual angler and the seasoned fisherman. Each boat is fully equipped with advanced fishing technology, including lake maps, sonar and live wells, ensuring that your fishing adventure is both successful and enjoyable.

The Pines of Kabetogama is not just a host for the Minnesota B.A.S.S. Nation’s fishing tournament; it’s a gateway to the extraordinary experience of Kabetogama fishing. Whether you’re a competitor, a fishing enthusiast, or just looking for a unique event to witness, this tournament promises to be a memorable event set against the stunning backdrop of one of Minnesota’s most beautiful lakes.

Don’t hesitate to give us a call at 218-875-2000 or contact us if you have any questions.

Voyageurs National Park in the Fall

Summer might be nearing the end, but our season is not over yet, in fact, it’s almost time for the grand finale – autumn! Every season offers something special to experience, but you can’t beat the striking beauty and peacefulness of Voyageurs National Park in September and early October. It’s the time of year when I look around and think to myself “Where are you? You are missing it!”. What exactly makes the autumn such a great time to travel up north? Well, read on to learn why it is time to pack your bags, leave the hot weather behind, and fall in love with your new favorite autumn getaway destination. 

Warm Days, Cool Nights (and not many bugs at all)

September offers some of the best weather for enjoying Voyageurs National Park in the Fall! While we were busy enjoying the hot end-of-summer days, Mother Nature started subtly dropping hints that the seasons would be changing soon. It started with a hint of a cooler breeze in the air, a slight change in air temperature that you could feel and smell. It is likely that the 85+ degree heat is firmly in 2023’s past, and we are welcoming the cooler temps and gearing up for all the fall outdoor fun.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself going on a daytime hike on the trails in Voyageurs National Park in the Fall. Maybe you started your walk wearing a light jacket or sweater, but as your pace picks up and the sun warms your face, you are able to shed a layer or two and enjoy the moderate temperatures. It will be quiet, yet if you pause for a moment, you will hear the forest alive with activity. Woodpeckers hunting for bugs in the trees. Chipmunks scurrying around the forest floor to prepare their winter nest. A male Ruffed Grouse drumming to his own beat to protect his territory.

As you continue on your journey, the leaves crunch under your shoes, releasing that sweet, earthly aroma that can best be described as “autumn”. You know exactly what I mean, the fragrance of fall that often evokes feelings of nostalgia. Take a deep breath in of that fragrant, crisp air, and release your tension and stress as you exhale. Immersing yourself in nature is one proven way to disconnect from your daily stressors and recharge your mind and body, and it doesn’t take too long to feel the restorative effects.

In the evening as the sun sets and the temperature cools, you might consider starting a campfire to stay warm as you gather with your loved ones. Grab your favorite sweater or flannel and a cozy blanket and enjoy the simplicity of just being together.  Our family has a book of “scary” stories that we like to read together, and sometimes we play a few rounds of Mad Libs, sure to get a few laughs. And sometimes we all grow quiet as we gaze into the fire and watch the flames and embers dance around, deep in thought and perfectly content. Campfires are just so much more fun when it is cooler and darker outside.

Darker Skies, Brighter Stars

The days have been getting shorter since June, and now the skies are noticeably darker earlier in the evening, providing an extended opportunity to view the stunning night sky. So, stoke that campfire and stay up to observe the amazing night sky. On a clear night, you might see the constellations, the Milky Way, shooting stars, planets, satellites, and occasionally even the Northern Lights.

You won’t have to stay up past midnight in the fall to stargaze (perfect for those like me who prefer to get to bed at a reasonable hour). The skies will become particularly dark around mid-September, as the moon will be in the New Moon phase.  This will be a good time to challenge yourself to find the Andromeda Galaxy, the furthest object visible to the naked eye, only 2.5 million light-years away. (Hint: Look for the Cassiopeia constellation). Venus, Mercury, and Neptune will also make an appearance in September (visible to the naked eye, although you may find that binoculars or a telescope will provide a sharper view).

Voyageurs National Park is an International Dark Sky Certified Park, and we do our part to minimize light pollution to enhance your stargazing experience. We have invested in dark sky-friendly lighting on our property and turn off most lights later at night to reduce light pollution for our stargazers. We kindly request that you turn off your outdoor lighting at night too, your camp neighbors will thank you!

Mother Nature’s Foliage Kaleidoscope

The number one reason to visit Voyageurs National Park in the fall is, of course, the fall colors!

Already the trees are turning shades of yellow, providing a preview of the stunning visual contrast of the brilliant foliage against the blue waters of Lake Kabetogama that we can expect to see in the coming weeks. If you are hoping to view the vivid fall foliage in all its glory, now is the time to start planning your fall getaway. Typically, Minnesota’s fall foliage season progresses from the north to the south starting around mid-to-late-September, but the colors are changing a little earlier this year. The Minnesota DNR has launched its 2023 Fall Color Finder, so you can check in daily to see where and when fall colors are peaking around the state.

If possible, we highly recommend you plan a boating trip to explore the blue waters of Voyageurs National Park in the Fall and countless islands full of trees with vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds. Bring your camera – the contrast in colors makes for striking photographs! We offer pontoon and fishing boat rentals through the end of September, which give you more flexibility to sightsee at your own pace, explore the islands, and enjoy the park’s day use sites.

We also offer canoe and kayak rentals for active travelers who want a little more adventure. The national park offers boat tours through the end of September as well (just be mindful of which visitor center your tour departs from so you aren’t late). Private boat tours are also an option, call us to find out who we recommend locally. And of course, you are welcome to bring your own boat!

You can experience the brilliant fall foliage in Voyageurs National Park in the Fall by foot, car, or boat, but don’t wait too long, the trees have already started changing colors and you don’t want to miss the spectacular fall color show!

Plan Your Fall Escape Now

Minnesota’s North Shore and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area get more attention when it comes to fall color tourism in Minnesota, but don’t overlook Voyageurs National Park in the Fall!

Moderate daytime temperatures (not too hot, not too cold), cool evenings, minimal pesky bugs, wildlife viewing opportunities galore, and vibrant fall foliage. Oh, and world-class fishing too. If you are looking for a peaceful retreat with spectacular views of fall foliage, consider The Pines of Kabetogama. We offer a unique collection of luxurious accommodations with generous amenities that sleep between 2 – 10 people, and a beautiful RV campground that can easily accommodate the largest of RVs.

If you love a good deal, our cabins are available now with seasonally discounted rates and low minimum stay requirements, making it easier for you to plan a last-minute escape. We close for the 2023 season on October 9^th, so hurry and book your trip to view Mother Nature’s fall finale!

Things to Do

The Best Things in Life Are Free (or Almost Free)

The Pines of Kabetogama is centrally located on the peaceful shore of Lake Kabetogama with direct access to Voyageurs National Park. Voyageurs does not have an entrance fee and you do not have to make advanced reservations to enter the park, which is one less thing to worry about (and perfect for the non-planners – just show up as you tend to do anyway!) At our resort, we have many options to keep you and your family as busy as you want to be, and most of our activities are free! Here are a few ideas to get you excited about your stay:

Fish from our dock and you may catch The Big One. We have world-class fishing in Lake Kabetogama, and believe it or not, you can catch fish right off our dock! Last year, we had a wonderful family visit from Chicago on their first family fishing trip, and the 10-year son caught a massive Northern Pike off the northwest corner of our dock while learning how to fish. The excitement was contagious in the marina, he got countless congratulatory high fives and even shouts of encouragement from nearby boaters (who were likely jealous), it was such a cool moment! Really, how can you not get excited when a child has such an amazing experience, knowing his memories will last a lifetime? You might have luck catching Northern Pike or even walleye in our marina too.  We sell live bait in the gift shop and can lend you a bait bucket if you forgot yours. Just remember this – when you do catch The Big One, I will happily accept a sample of your fish fry dinner. 😊

Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful view while playing a family-friendly lawn game. You can’t beat the view of the Lake Kabetogama from our expansive front lawn (and occasionally the excitement of witnessing a big catch), but if you need a little extra entertainment, we invite you to borrow one of our many lawn games. Cornhole (or bean bag toss) is cherished by many, but we have also expanded our offerings to include bocce, volleyball, badminton, croquet, ladder toss, and my two new personal favorites – Kubb and giant four-in-a-row. I played Connect 4 all the time as a child, and the giant version is even more addictive (bigger is better in this case, and it’s going to be really hard for me not to play this all summer). Last year, I was introduced to Kubb (also known as Viking Chess) by one of our staff members at a team picnic, and we had such a fun time together playing this game (while eating a delicious fish fry, see previous section). This Swedish yard game is rumored to have been played with real skulls and bones by the Vikings, but this version includes wooden blocks and sticks. It is fairly simple, think a cross between horseshoes and bowling, but I guarantee your friendly competitive side will come out and you will share many laughs and cheers with your loved ones while you play this new game.

Find an interesting new read. We have a well-stocked lending library of books and magazines for you to browse new titles and maybe even find your next good read. Last year, one avid reader happened upon a book in a series that she had been waiting to read, she was thrilled! Stop in to say hello, browse our books, and if you can, leave one behind for someone else. I love to read, just about anything and everything, and I can attest that a cozy place to read is curled up in a chair by the community firepit…

Meet new friends by the community firepit. I firmly believe that anyone can get along and make a connection if they can find something in common, and all of our guests have at least one thing in common – you are among the exclusive club of those that have visited Voyageurs National Park! Don’t be shy, grab a chair and say hello and maybe you’ll spark up an amazing conversation and learn something new. If you have kids, they will enjoy meeting new friends too. My kids gravitate towards other children and love to have someone to play with, and I’m sure yours do too. It’s entertaining to watch a group of kids create a new game (such as “Fastest Tiger in the Wild West” or “Lava Monster”, I didn’t make these up) and I’ve seen several groups of kids choreograph new dance and cheer routines. While your kids are entertained, you can sit back and relax and enjoy those conversations with your old and new friends too.

Explore the night sky. Voyageurs National Park is a certified International Dark Sky Park, which means that it has minimal light pollution, and you can see so many more stars. We have replaced the lighting on our property to be dark-sky friendly as well, meaning you can view the magnificent night sky like never before. Bright stars, brilliant planets, the Milky Way, satellites, and the Northern Lights (when they happen) are all visible from just about anywhere on our property, and it’s amazing what you see when you take a quiet moment and look up. The community firepit (and the entire front lawn really) is the best location to view the Northern Lights if you are lucky, and if you do see them, you will have something else in common with other guests to talk about the next day around the community firepit!

Try a new water sport. For a nominal fee, we offer canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards for rent by the hour, first come first serve. This is a low-commitment way to try out a new sport, and despite its size, Lake Kabetogama can be as smooth as glass on a quiet day. We have a protected bay for those that are new to paddle sports, or for the more experienced, you can paddle out further to explore the lake and nearby islands. If you didn’t know, Voyageurs National Park is named after the voyageurs (a French word for “traveler”) who, more than 250 years ago, traversed the interconnected waterways by canoe. (I hope they mostly had pleasant weather).

Treat Yourself to an Expedition on the Water

With Voyageurs being a mostly water-based park, you might want to get out on the lake to find prime fishing hotspots or points of interest only accessible by boat, and there are options at nearly every price point.

Lake Kabetogama Boat Rentals.We also offer Lake Kabetogama boat rentals right here at the resort, and we have a variety of fishing boats and pontoons starting at $135/day up to $345/day, depending on the boat you select. Our boat rentals are by the day and start as early as 8 am (or you can sleep in and arrive when you are ready). Our marina staff will orient you to the boat and then you have it until later that evening (times vary by season). Our rental timeframe gives you a full day on your boat to go fishing and exploring on your own agenda.

Schedule a Voyageurs National Park Boat Tour. Not everyone is eager to rent a boat or to be responsible for safely navigating the waters, and that’s completely understandable. The national park offers a variety of boat tours throughout the summer months, departing from all three visitor centers, and the per person price runs between $20 – 60 per person depending on your age and the cruise you select. Tickets are available for purchase starting on April 15th of each year for that summer’s tours, and I recommend that you book as soon as you know which cruise you want to join as some tours will sell out in advance. The park’s boat tours visit popular tourist destinations such as Kettle Falls and Ellsworth Rock Gardens, among others, and they also have a late-night cruise where you can view the night sky and learn about constellations.

Charter a Lake Kabetogama Private Boat Tour Guide. For a more personalized experience, you might consider hiring a local Kabetogama private tour guide. This is more in the “splurge” category, as price ranges typically start around $200 and go up (variables based on the number of people, length of tour, distance traveled, so have a conversation with your tour guide to see what works best for your budget). This might be worth it if you prefer a private excursion with your family with greater flexibility to spend more (or less) time at certain locations compared to a park tour with a strict schedule.

Hire a Lake Kabetogama Fishing Guide. Lake Kabetogama has world-class fishing, and you’ll find popular species such as walleye, sauger, Northern Pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch, and more. (Again, happy to taste test your catch of the day). Many of our guests choose to hire a local Kabetogama fishing guide on their first day of fishing. The local guides will know where the fish are biting, teach you how to catch them, and more often than not get those fish on your dinner plates! This also falls in the “splurge” category, however well worth the money if you are intent on catching your fishing limit while visiting the best fishing lake in Northern Minnesota.

Northern Minnesota Day Trips

If you can work it into your itinerary, there are a few things that I would add to the “must do” category.

Snap a photo on the Kabetogama Walleye. On your way in, or out, of Kabetogama, you absolutely must stop to get your picture on the giant walleye! Climb on top of walleye (complete with a saddle) to capture a family photo that you will cherish for years. This also might entertain your group for a bit, especially if you travel with a crowd that likes to ham it up for the camera. If you appreciate giant, touristy sculptures (I know I am not alone here), or even if you don’t (who are you), then you can’t miss this photo opportunity. Even better, make snapping a photo on the Kabetogama walleye a new annual family tradition (or if you are my kids, at least four times a summer).

Visit downtown International Falls. International Falls has a cute little downtown area on 3^rd Street with shopping and restaurants that will amuse you for an afternoon. Ronning’s is one of the charming stores that has practical items like clothing and shoes, unique gifts, souvenirs, games, and locally sourced food and crafts.  I challenge you to walk out of this store without a bag! While you are downtown, you must stop by Smokey Bear Park, where you will find…drumroll…a giant Smokey the Bear statue! Smokey stands 26-feet tall and has been a resident of this International Falls city park since 1954. He’s still just as handsome as ever and waiting for you to memorialize your family vacation.

Best. Vacation. Ever!

Well, are you excited yet? I can’t wait for the 2023 season to get into full swing and share more of my favorite memories with you! I am hoping that you have decided to choose The Pines of Kabetogama as your Kabetogama lodging destination. We offer a collection of luxurious accommodations with generous amenities that sleep between 2 – 10 people, and a beautiful RV campground that can easily accommodate the largest of RVs so your whole family can stay…and play! With an abundance of activities sure to please everyone in your group (whether you planned them in advance or not), you will hear the praise “Best. Vacation. Ever.” From Everyone. We can’t wait to meet you!