This Minnesota Island Cabin Airbnb Has Its Own Fishing Hot Spot

Fishing is a big deal in the Land of 10,000 Lakes—and every spring we all wait with bated (baited?) breath for the end of that dark time between ice out and the walleye opener. Many of us Minnesotans spend these slow weeks re-spooling our reels, organizing our tackle boxes, and staking out our honey holes. We all have our favorite spots, but in northern Minnesota, one lake is particularly renowned for its world-class walleye (and muskie) fishing: Lake Vermilion. At almost 40,000 acres, Vermilion is adjacent to the Boundary Waters and Superior National forest, bounded by dozens of bays, and dotted with hundreds of islands. There may be no better way to get close to Lake Vermilion's bounty than setting up your base camp on one of these islands, and few island base camps will put you on the fish better than this island cabin Airbnb in Minnesota.

Yes, you will need a boat to reach this rental, which includes a dock and a lift to keep your vessel off the rocks of this notoriously shallow lake. Once here, though, you won't really have to leave again (if you don't want to), because you can catch walleye right off the dock. Whether you're jigging from the dock or heading out to another hot spot, though, you'll start your days much closer to the fish than most other anglers.

Although the owners refer to the property as "The Bunkhouse," there's much more to it than the moniker implies, like electricity, WiFi, and a flat screen television. You'll find a queen bed in the bedroom, and in the main living area, there's a futon that can sleep two. I'd call it comfortable for two and "cozy" for four guests. Two tent pads, as well as another boat lift, are available (at an additional cost) if you'd like to bring along a few more friends. A shower house with a washer and dryer is just steps from the cabin.

Even with all these amenities, you (hopefully) won't be spending too much time indoors. When you're not chasing dinner, you'll be cooking up a shore lunch on the spacious deck, which is equipped for whipping up a feast with a flat iron grill, a pellet grill, a Weber barbecue, and an electric smoker. If there's a night you don't feel like cooking, boat over to The Vermilion Club for a giant pizza or a tasty burger. (I'm a big fan of the ribeye, myself.)

Take a break from angling with a paddle in one of the provided kayaks or stand-up paddle boards. Spend the evenings around a crackling bonfire, gazing up at the stars—perhaps watching the northern lights dance across the sky—and listening to loons call hauntingly across the water.

When you stay at The Bunkhouse, you should expect to pack in everything you'll need, from groceries and bedding to ice and bait. Stores in the area can help with most of the consumables. To book your stay at this island cabin Airbnb in Minnesota and get started on your angling adventures, head over to its Airbnb listing.

We'd love to hear some of your favorite places to eat and/or stay when you go fishing in Minnesota. Be sure to tell us about them.