As I sit in my Mn house with the outside air temp -25f with a -40f windchill I am starting to plan LOTO trip. This would be our first trip down, curious when would be the best time to go?

Best places to stay?

I think I could find a couple other MN rockers to join the caravan down.

Thanks!!

The Shootout the weekend before Labor Day weekend is the biggest event of the year. Definitely a must-see for powerboat fanatics.

But you'll have a great time any time of the Summer with the main boating season being between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Where to stay depends on what you're looking to do/see, your crowd, and whether or not you'll have a boat.

Ditto !!!!!!!

Shootout weekend is what drew us to LOTO. Once we visited, that weekend is what lead us to become weekenders, then once we became weekenders, it lead us to fulltime.

There is no bad weekends, but as stated, as a Performance Boater, Shootout is without a doubt the best week of the year.

There is tons of info on MWBP for places to stay and getting a flavor of the lake in general.

Look forward to having you join us.

ps: a secondary "best weekend" is the Support the Troops Poker Run weekend in June.

I love LOTO threads.

Arrive Tuesday or Wednesday of Shootout week (weekend before Labor Day)

I would stay at Camden on the Lake until Friday. I would then pack my stuff up and head to Dog Days Friday, party there and have a room at Capt Rons for Friday and Saturday night.

Lots of boats on the Camden side of the lake a tons of action there (especially early). Plus an easy drive to Dog Days Friday night get together.

Saturday and Sunday I would buy a ticket to get on the Celebration boat. They have a pontoon shuttle back and forth between Captain Rons and the boat. It's the best of both worlds. It can be very hot that week and the Celebration boat has AC.

You really don't need a "big" boat until Saturday or Sunday. I went down on Tuesday last year and had a blast running around. Lots of boats come in throughout the week and "test" their stuff to get ready for the weekend. Don't get too hung over because the big boys are out early. It was a sweeeeeeet alarm clock hearing their sound thunder off the bluffs.

I would not try to take a small boat more than 5 or so miles down the lake from the raft up on Saturday. The word rough gains a new meaning when boats leave the Shootout Saturday. There have been complete threads on how rough this is. It is no joke. I've had water coming over the bow in a 40' Sea Ray.

Sunday is a different story. Most of the party crowd is gone and there seems to be 1/2 the boats there. There is every bit as much to see Sunday though. Some guys use Saturday as a tune up and let it all hang out Sunday.

I'm sure others have different ideas but the plan I presented will not disappoint.

By far my favorite week of the year.

Some great info. Labor Day shoutout sounds like a blast! I think that is a good time to plan!!

I can't wait to see some big dogs.. Trying to get the wife to upgrade from my 27 fountain to 38-42... That might seal the deal... :-)

Now I got to round some more mn boats to caravan down!!

By the way.... -35f outside this morning!!

Weekend B E F O R E Labor Day.

42 Fountain will go anywhere on the lake in style.

Roger.... Weekend before... That would have sucked!!

There are several MN peeps who come down for the Support Our Troops Poker Run.

I from iowa and began boating on the Mississippi river a hour and 20 from my house. 2006 I went to loto to boat 6 hour drive. I have never been back to the Mississippi river to boat since.