Northwest Angle

[billwill]

I just finished reading William Kent Krueger's novel Northwest Angle. Really good book.
I'm pretty good with geography but I must admit that I had never heard of that area of the country before...the Angle. NW Minnesota and a pretty remote piece of land, less than 200 folks.

Was wondering if anybody had ever been there or knew anything about it?

 

[Onomea]

Don't know about the area, but I like that Krueger series of mysteries. I think I have read them all.

 

[photocosmo]

The "Northwest Angle" refers to the land situated on the Northwestern shore of the Lake of the Woods at the top of the little "chimney" that sticks out of the top of Minnesota. It is the Northern-most land in the lower 48 states and is only accessable by boat (about 30 miles across the "lake", I think!) or by driving through Canada. While I've never been there I have fished for Walleyes on the Lake of the Woods a few times either out of Kenora, Canada or from the Southern shore and Zipple Bay up by Baudette, Minnesota. It's remote to say the least but beautiful and pristine and the fishing is fantastic! Last up there four years ago over Father's Day weekend with my Dad and then 15 year old son. We all caught our limit of Walleyes and Sauger, ate "shore lunch" every day, got up about 5am and were in bed each night by 10!
Good memories.

 

[Marshwheeling]

If you grow up in Minnesota, you at least know about the Northwest Angle, but not too manu people actually get there. I have read some mystery/thriller where it figures in the plot, but I don't remember what it was. Maybe In the Lake of the Woods, by Tim O'Brien.

 

[Janitor]

I've gone to a cabin up on the Angle several times. There's an older couple up there had a place with 5 or 6 nice log cabins that they had built themselves. Great place to spend a week, and even though she doesn't fish my wife would love going up there and spending time out on the lake with me while I fished.

It doesn't get much better than a shore lunch of Walleyes you caught over the last couple hours.

ETA : The last 20-30 (or so) miles in is a tough drive. It's a section of road that crosses a section of Canada, and as far as I know only goes from Minnesota to Minnesota. Not a lot of inspiration to maintain it very well. I used to have to go around my boat and tighten things up after that bit of road.