We’re excited to be heading back to George’s Minnesota Muskie Expo at the end of February. Andrew and I have been part of this show for over six years now, and it’s always one of our favorite winter traditions.
If you’re planning a muskie trip, looking to upgrade your tackle box, or just want to sit in on some great seminars, this is the place to be. The show is packed with retailers, resorts, guides, manufacturers, boats, and some of the best muskie speakers in the industry—all under one roof.
We’re also proud to sponsor the show each year by donating a fishing trip in exchange for our booth. It’s not just another event for us—it feels more like a reunion with past guests, new anglers, and friends from across the muskie world.
Andrew and I will be there all weekend, so come by, say hello, and talk fishing. Whether you’re planning your first trip to Lake of the Woods or coming back for another one, we’re always happy to help you pick the right dates and cabins.
I grew up on Lake of the Woods and have spent my whole life fishing these waters. Andrew grew up on Lake Shebandowan, and together we’ve built our lives around fishing, guiding, and running a family-owned resort. When you stop by, you’re talking to the people who actually live and fish here—not a corporate sales team.
Show Details
Dates: February 27 & 28 – March 1, 2026
Location: Canterbury Park Expo Center
Shakopee, Minnesota
In conjunction with the Minnesota Anglers Boat Show
Why Visit the Minnesota Muskie Expo?
Now in its 30+ year run, George’s Minnesota Muskie Expo is one of the top muskie-focused shows in the Midwest. It brings together:
- Muskie tackle retailers and manufacturers
- Fishing resorts and guides
- Boat and electronics dealers
- Free seminars from top muskie anglers
- Family-friendly kids’ activities
It’s the perfect place to:
- Stock up on new lures
- Learn new tactics
- Meet resort owners face-to-face
- Plan your next fishing trip
Hours:
- Friday: 1:00 pm – 7:30 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
If you’re thinking about a Lake of the Woods fishing trip, this is a great time to sit down with us and talk through options.
Andrew and Meagan Saarela at the main dock—family-owned means you’re talking to the people who actually fish these waters
A Family-Owned Lake of the Woods Fishing Resort
Saarela’s Moonlite Bay is a family-run Lake of the Woods fishing resort located near Morson, Ontario, on the Canadian side of Sabaskong Bay.
We purchased the resort in 2015 and run it as a hands-on family operation alongside our longtime guide Serge and our staff—from guiding trips and running boats to fish cleaning, shore lunches, and weekly fish fries.
When you talk to us at the show, you’re getting real answers from the people who:
- Run the lodge every day
- Know the reefs and bays personally
- Help guests on the water
- Cook the shore lunches
- And share the dock at night
That’s the difference between a corporate fishing operation and a true Lake of the Woods fish camp.
Our Cabins at Saarela’s Moonlite Bay
We have five lakeside cabins on our island resort, each designed for different group sizes and fishing styles.
We offer housekeeping cabins, which means you bring your own food and cook in your cabin. It gives you full flexibility to fish at your own pace without being tied to a fixed meal schedule.
Boat Rentals Built for Lake of the Woods
Our rental fleet is designed specifically for the big water conditions on Lake of the Woods.
Our guided fishing trips are led by our head guide, Serge, who has been with the resort for over 20 years and knows these waters like the back of his hand.
Shore lunch option includes your morning catch—whether it’s perch, pike, or walleye—fried fresh over an open fire, along with beans, corn, potatoes and onions, homemade cookies, and all the fixings. For many first-time guests, it becomes the highlight of the trip.
Best Times to Fish Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods offers excellent fishing throughout the season.
Musky Season
- Opens the third Saturday in June
- June: aggressive post-spawn fish
- July–August: consistent action, deeper patterns
- September–early October: prime trophy window
Musky fishing is strong all season long, but fall is when big fish feed heavily before winter. Some move shallow onto rock and reef structure, while others suspend deeper chasing cisco, which is why both casting and trolling are productive this time of year.
Why the Canadian Side of Lake of the Woods Is Different
The Canadian side of Lake of the Woods offers:
- Vast water with fewer boats
- Remote reef and island structure
- Cisco-based forage for bigger fish
- Trophy-focused regulations
Many guests are surprised at how quiet the water can be. On some days, you may only see a handful of boats.
Seminars and Activities at the Expo
The Minnesota Muskie Expo features free seminars all weekend from experienced muskie anglers and guides.
Topics include:
- Muskie movement and strategy
- Technology and sonar tactics
- Great Lakes and Canadian muskie fishing
- Guide panels and Q&A sessions
There are also:
- Kids’ tackle-making stations
- Trout ponds
- Minnow races
- Family activities
It’s a great show whether you’re a hardcore muskie angler or bringing the kids along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find pictures of Lake of The Woods Musky
Check out our guest pictures of trophy musky catches – all within a short boat ride from our Lodges on the island-filled south west corner of Lake of The Woods
How far is the resort from the U.S. border?
About 45 minutes from the Baudette/Rainy River crossing to Morson, Ontario, followed by a short boat ride to the island.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. You’ll also need an Ontario fishing license, which can be purchased online before arrival.
Can we fish for both walleye and musky on the same trip?
Absolutely. Many guests fish walleye in the morning and musky in the afternoon.
Do I need to bring my own musky gear?
Serious muskie anglers usually bring their own equipment, but rods and reels are available for rent.
Come See Us at the Expo
If you’re attending the Minnesota Muskie Expo, stop by Booth 58 and say hello. We’ll have cabin photos, fishing maps, and our availability calendar ready.
Whether you’re ready to book or just want to talk fishing, we’d love to meet you.
Your next Lake of the Woods fishing trip might start with a simple conversation at the show.
Matching Your Group to the Right Cabin
We’ve got five cabins on the island, and picking the right one matters more than most anglers realize. Here’s how I break it down when someone asks.
- Musky Manor: Sleeps up to 7 people (six beds and a futon) with two bedrooms. A great option for larger groups who want extra space.
- Bear’s Den: Sleeps up to 8 (six beds and two futons) with two bedrooms, plus a large living room and kitchen—perfect for groups that like to spread out.
- Loon’s Nest: Sleeps 5–6 (five beds, including one large double). A comfortable, well-laid-out cabin that’s great for smaller groups looking for a relaxed stay on the island.
- Squirrel Lodge: Sleeps 4 (four beds) in a one-bedroom layout just steps from the dock. Ideal for serious anglers who don’t mind simpler, smaller accommodations.
- Beaver House: A cozy, private cabin set in the middle of camp with one double bed and a futon, best suited for 2–3 guests. A great option for couples or small groups looking for a quiet, tucked-away stay.
At the booth, we’ll have interior photos so you can see exactly what each cabin offers. We operate as a housekeeping resort, which means you bring your own food and cook in the cabin. Serious anglers like the flexibility—it lets you fish dawn to dark, grab lunch from the cooler, and cook a fresh fish dinner whenever the day winds down.
Many groups choose to add a few guided days with Serge as part of their trip, then spend the rest of the week fishing on their own. The guided days help you learn the water and productive patterns, while the rest of the trip gives you the freedom to fish at your own pace. Check our cabin rental rates and package options to see what fits your budget.
Boat Specs That Actually Matter
Our boats are 16.5-foot Alumarine skiffs powered by reliable 30 to 50 horsepower Yamaha four-stroke outboards. They’re simple, open-concept boats with flat floors—perfect for casting, jigging, and moving around comfortably.
They’re stable, easy to handle, and well suited for the conditions on Lake of the Woods, whether you’re fishing structure close to camp or heading out to explore.
Each boat comes with comfortable, shock-absorbing seats, along with the essentials we provide for every trip: landing nets, stringers, life jackets, safety kits, and seat cushions if needed.
You’ll see the setup, understand the capacity limits, and know what to expect when you arrive.
No surprises. Just details about equipment that works.
How Your 2026 Fishing Trip Becomes Part of Moonlite Bay’s Storytelling
We’ve always shared guest photos and stories from the season, but in 2026 we’re putting a bigger focus on it. We love showing the real moments that happen out here—big fish, shore lunches, sunsets, families making memories on the water and even 360-degree lake panoramas from your trips will be featured on Saarelas.com and our social channels throughout the fishing season.
This is about showing the real story of what happens when families come to Lake of the Woods – seeing real moments like that matters.
Trophy musky releases, shore lunch traditions, multi-generational moments—your trip tells the ongoing story of Moonlite Bay
At the booth, you’ll see examples of 2025 guest photos from our page on Facebook.
There’s a picture of shore lunch on a windswept island, fresh walleye sizzling in the pan. There’s a photo showing what sunset looks like from the main dock. There’s a photo gallery of Lake of the Woods walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass that guests caught and released.
Sharing photos is always optional. If you’d like your catch or trip featured, you can email them to us or tag us on social media. And if you’d prefer to keep your trip private, that’s perfectly fine too—we always respect our guests’ privacy.
Take a look through our fishing trip video archive to see real moments from past guests and what a week at Moonlite Bay is all about.
When Should You Book Your 2026 Lake of the Woods Muskie Trip?
The best muskie fishing on Lake of the Woods happens during certain windows. You can catch beautiful fish all season, but if your goal is a 45-inch-plus fish—or joining the 50-inch club—timing becomes more important.
Ontario, Lake of the Woods muskie season opens the third Saturday of June, and early season can be a great time to be on the water. Fish are active after the spawn and you’ll often see plenty of action as they move through weed edges, rock transitions, and shallow structure. It’s a fun, high-energy time to fish and a great opportunity to put your first muskie in the net.
July and August are our most popular months, especially for families. The weather is warm, the days are long, and the fishing stays consistent. Muskies are active throughout the season, with great opportunities during early mornings, evenings, and cloudy days.
Lake of the Woods fishing season calendar showing muskie and walleye peak months highlighted.
September through early October is a GREAT trophy muskie window—fish stage shallow and feed aggressively before winter
But come September, that’s when muskie fishing really gets serious.
Mid-September through mid-October is the fall feed. Water temps drop into the 50s. Musky move shallow to 4 to 8 feet on main lake rock piles and inside turn points. They’re ambushing cisco schools and feeding hard before winter.
This is when 45 to 50+ inch fish are realistic goals, not luck.
Why February Booking Matters
February is when many anglers start planning their summer trips. Popular weeks like July 4th, early August, and Labor Day are always in high demand, so booking early helps you get the dates and cabin that fit your group best.
➤ Andrew and I will have our live availability calendar at Booth 58.
You can book right at the show with a deposit and secure your dates for 2026. It’s a great chance to talk one-on-one with us, ask questions, and plan the trip that fits your group best.
If you’re retired or have a flexible schedule, the last two weeks of September can be a wonderful time to visit. The weather is cooler, the lake is quieter, and the muskie fishing can be excellent as the fall patterns set in.
Must-Attend Seminars at the Muskie Expo: Canadian Tactics, Pro Anglers, and Guided Panel Discussions
The seminars at the Minnesota Muskie Expo are free with admission. No extra cost. Just show up and learn from pro anglers who’ve spent decades chasing big fish. The schedule runs Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, and every session teaches something you can use on Lake of the Woods.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
1:00 pm – 7:30 pm
2:30 pm – Mike Kramer: Muskie Catching Strategies
4:00 pm – Mike Keyes: Great Lakes Muskies
5:30 pm – Josh Borovsky: Success in 2025 — What Mattered
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
10:00 am – 6:30 pm
11:30 am – Kevin Cochran: Technology vs. Muskies
1:00 am – Gregg Thomas: Muskie Movements & Strategies
2:30 pm – Steve Herbeck: Giants from the Bay to the Shield
4:30 pm – Chase Gibson: Battling Water Clarity to Find Success
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
11:00 am – Luke Ronnestrand: Details that Trigger Bites
12:30 pm – Josh Borovsky: Minnesota Guide Panel
2:00 pm – Doug Wagner: Building Confidence for Success
Free pro seminars all weekend—learn tactics from veteran guides that apply directly to Lake of the Woods reefs and structure
The techniques from these seminars apply directly to Lake of the Woods fishing.
Our advice?
Attend The Fishing tactics sessions, then come chat muskies with us!
We’ll show you how those techniques translate to FMZ 5 waters and the specific reefs, rock piles, and shores of Lake of The Woods.
What Makes Lake of the Woods Different from Minnesota Muskie Waters?
If you’ve fished musky in Minnesota—Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, Lake Vermilion—Lake of the Woods Canadian side is a completely different system.
Huge trophy musky are realistic goals, not pipe dreams—Lake of the Woods holds trophy fish that Minnesota anglers dream about
Lake of the Woods is a classic Canadian Shield musky fishery where large rock structures and a diverse forage base strongly influence Musky Fishing patterns.
Structure and how muskies use it
➢ Lake of the Woods has extensive mid‑lake structure: offshore rock reefs, boulder piles, gravel humps, saddles, and sand/rock transition areas rising out of deeper basins.
➢ Many humps and reefs top out relatively shallow and are surrounded by much deeper water, creating sharp breaks and edges that concentrate bait and predators.
➢ Muskies commonly travel along and set up on these breaks and transition lines, using them as travel routes and ambush points between shallow feeding zones and deeper holding areas.
➢ Despite the emphasis on rock, weeds are also important: cabbage beds, shallow bays, and outside weedlines can be prime musky locations, especially earlier in the season or under low‑light conditions.
Forage base and musky behavior
➢ Cisco (tullibee) are an important pelagic forage species on Lake of the Woods and provide high‑energy food for predators such as musky and walleye.
➢ Cisco often school and move in open water and can shift vertically in the water column, which can create intense but sometimes brief feeding windows when muskies intersect these schools.
➢ The lake also supports other forage such as perch and various minnows, so muskies may switch between pelagic, reef‑related, and weed‑related feeding patterns depending on season, light, and weather.
➢ Compared with many traditional Midwest musky lakes that are more focused on weeds, wood, and perch or sucker forage, Lake of the Woods generally offers a stronger combination of rock structure and pelagic bait that pushes more open‑water and reef‑oriented patterns.
Event Details: Admission, Parking, Exhibitor Highlights, and How to Find Booth 58
The Minnesota Muskie Expo & Boat Show runs February 27 through March 1, 2026 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. Easy access from Interstate 35 and Highway 169. If you’re driving from the Twin Cities, it’s about 30 minutes south. From Rochester or Mankato, it’s an hour north.
Admission is $10 per day or $17 for a three-day pass. Kids 12 and under get in free. Parking is unlimited and free on-site. Cash only at the door, so bring bills if you don’t want to hunt for an ATM.
The event is family-friendly too. There’s a kids’ zone with activities. On-site food and drinks so you don’t have to leave for lunch. And kid-focused seminars on Sunday morning teaching basic fishing skills and conservation ethics.
The vendor floor is packed.
Hundreds of exhibitors including
☛ muskie lure manufacturers like Musky Innovations, Mepps, and Suick.
☛ Boat dealers showing new Alumacraft and Lund models.
☛ Rod builders demonstrating custom blanks.
☛ Tackle shops with terminal gear and line.
☛ And resorts like Saarela’s Moonlite Bay, and from across the Midwest and Canada talking fishing trips.
Minnesota Muskie Expo trade show floor at Canterbury Park Shakopee
Hundreds of vendors, free seminars, and on-site booking—this is where serious anglers plan their 2026 fishing seasons
Booth 58 is where you’ll find us.
Booth assignments are posted at the main entrance when you walk in. Look for the Saarela’s Moonlite Bay sign.
We’ll have cabin photos, boat layouts, GPS screenshots showing reef structure, and a laptop with our live availability calendar pulled up.
Questions to Ask us: What Serious Anglers Want to Know Before Booking
Come by the booth and talk with us about your plans. We’re happy to answer questions and help you figure out if Moonlite Bay is the right fit for your group.
Navigation and Safety Questions
“How far do we have to boat to reach musky spots?”
It depends on what you’d like to target, but there’s productive water close to the island, and many guests start catching fish within minutes of leaving the dock. If you want to explore farther, Andrew will show you safe routes and backup plans in case the weather changes.
“What if the lake gets too rough?”
We keep a close eye on wind and wave forecasts every day. If conditions get rough, we’ll point you toward more protected bays and island areas, or simply adjust your guided day to better weather. There’s always somewhere comfortable to fish, and we make safety a priority.
Guide Service Specifics
“What does Serge actually do on a guided fishing day?” He runs the boat, spots structure on the GPS and sonar, suggests lure changes based on what the fish are doing, nets your fish, and can cook an amazing shore lunch. A guided day isn’t just a guy sitting in the back watching you cast. Serge is actively working to put you on fish. He’ll adjust depths, switch presentations, move to different reefs if the bite dies. And when you catch a trophy musky, he’s the one handling the net and making sure the release goes smooth.
Shore lunch over an open fire—fresh fillets, beans, corn, potatoes, cooked on an island, along with homemade cookies for dessert.
“What is shore lunch and is it included?”
Shore lunch is optional. This is a popular add on and a 50-plus year Canadian fishing tradition. On guided trips, Serge, Andrew (or one of our other guides) fillets fresh walleye caught that morning, breads them, and fries them in cast iron pans over a propane grill on a Lake of the Woods island. Served with beans, corn, potatoes, and homemade cookies. It’s an upgrade to add onto your guided packages, and for most, it’s the highlight of the whole trip.
Check our cabin rental rates and full deposit policies for complete details. And watch our fishing videos to see what guided trips and shore lunch look like in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book my 2026 fishing trip at the show, or can I book later online?
You can book anytime by reviewing our Availability Calendar and phoning us. Call – (807) 631-9169
opular summer weeks like July 4th, Canadian Civic Holiday, and Labor Day are always in high demand, especially with returning guests. Booking early helps you get the dates and cabin that work best for your group. If you’re at the show, it’s a great chance to talk with us in person about options, fishing patterns, and trip details. And if you can’t make it, our online availability is always up to date.
Key Takeaways
- Booth Location: Find Saarela’s Moonlite Bay at Booth 58, Minnesota Muskie Expo, February 27 – March 1, 2026, Canterbury Park, Shakopee, MN
- Direct Planning: Talk face-to-face with Andrew and Meagan Saarela about Lake of the Woods muskie, walleye, and fall fishing trips—31 years combined family knowledge
- Guest Content Featured: Your 2026 trip photos and videos will appear on Saarelas.com and social channels throughout the season
- Free Education: Pro seminars all weekend covering muskie mechanics, Canadian tactics, river patterns, and guided panel discussions—no extra cost
- Admission: $10 daily ($17 for 3-day pass, kids 12 & under free) with unlimited free parking and on-site food
- Book at Show: Lock in your 2026 or 2027 dates with deposit and get insider advice on navigating 1.4 million acres of Canadian waters
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