Tag Archives: fishing resort

Top 5 Reasons to book a charter fishing trip!

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Top 5 Reasons to book a charter fishing trip!

#1 Catch more fish!
#2 No equipment required!
#3 No experience needed!
#4 Your biggest task of the day is reeling in fish and enjoying the day!
#5 Groups of 1+ welcome! Boats hold up to 6 passengers plus the guide. Bring a group of 6 or groups of less, we will get you on a boat with other guests to enjoy a fun filled day!

What are you waiting for? Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us at [email protected] for a free quote or click here for more information.

 

Nate Nygard 30 inch 12.86lb walley.  Guide, Baihly Hontvet

Nate Nygard 30 inch 12.86lb walley. Guide, Baihly Hontvet

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report June 22, 2016

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Walleye Bite
Not too many changes this week. Anglers using jigs tipped with a chub minnow are having luck along shorelines in 8’-14’ and 26’-28’ of water. Gold jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow or worm is the best approach. Water temperature is holding steady at 66 degrees.

Pike & Smallmouth Bass
Northern pike and bass have been found in shallow weedy bays. We have thousands of bays just waiting for you. Successful anglers are using small spinners and spoons.

Muskie season is open!
Some success was had this week with several nice follows and a few nice ones reeled in. South facing shallow bays with a soft bottom in 4’-10’ of water using a buck tail are good spots this time of year. Buck tails are a great early season lure to start with. Interested in learning more about the best technique? Ask about our guided trips. Our experienced knowledgeable guides are available to teach you more about the sport and the Lake of the Woods area. Trips available through October.

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The view from our front window

 

 

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report June 1, 2016

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Jigging for walleyes
Anglers continue to fish in close to Oak Island and the surrounding islands mainly on the Minnesota side. Jigging with an orange or green ¼ ounce jig tipped with a chub minnow in 20’-25’ of water seems to be bringing in the best results. Water temperature is hovering around 60 degrees.  The catch has been mainly 13”-17” walleyes and a few saugers in the mix.

The muskies are getting frisky!
A couple of anglers were out casting for northern pike this past week and a few muskies took a nibble. Muskie season opens June 18, and it sounds like they are hungry! Give us a call and we will set you up with a professional guide that knows all of the best bait, tricks, tips and places to go.

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School is out! Fishing time!

Book your Summer Trip
Lodging and guided trips available through October.

Sportsman’s Lodge Lake of the Woods Sturgeon Tournament & Walleye Opener Report 2016

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Sportsman’s Lodge Lake of the Woods Sturgeon Tournament & Walleye Opener Report 2016

The 10th Annual Sturgeon Tournament is in the books & Walleye Opener is this weekend!
What a year! Over 200 sturgeons were caught over the two day, 50 boat tournament including an unofficial state record sturgeon! The two day tournament started Friday, May 5 running 8:30am – 4pm and Saturday 8:30am – 3:00pm. The weather was warm and a little breezy but the wind was in our favor keeping the river nice and calm.   The tournament is a catch and release tournament spanning over 1.2 miles just in front of the lodge on the Rainy River and just around Wheeler’s Point. Check out this hog! The recorded largest sturgeon on record with the Minnesota Department of Natural resources is 70 inches in length and 26.5 inch girth. On day one of the tournament this 70.5 inch length and 28 inch girth whopper was caught by Joe Anderson and his boat mates. What a catch!

Joe Anderson 70.5 inch, 28 inch girth lake sturgeon caught on the Rainy River Lake of the Woods, MN at Sportsman's Lodge 5-6-2016

Joe Anderson 70.5 inch, 28 inch girth lake sturgeon caught on the Rainy River Lake of the Woods, MN at Sportsman’s Lodge 5-6-2016

Musical entertainment, lots of fish stories and a banquet rounded out the festivities on Saturday. Thanks to all the participants it was another great year. We are looking forward to 2017. May 5 & 6. The tournament is already full but you can always contact us to be added to the waiting list or just come up and give sturgeon fishing a try. It is a lot of fun!

Check out some of the action and for more action click here. Congratulations to all the Winners!

Lake Sturgeon Lake Sturgeon Fishing for Sturgeon

10th Annual Sportsman’s Sturgeon Classic Tournament Results
Day 1 1st Place and the unofficial Minnesota record sturgeon 70.5 inch length, 28 inch girth Joe Anderson from Murphy Lake, MN – $2,150 cash plus $500 bonus for the record breaker. Day 1 2nd Place 64.75 inch length, 25.5 inch girth Mike Denuccie from Nashwauk, MN – $925 cash
Day 1 3rd Place 64 inch length, 26 inch girth Joe Lorenzen from Felden, MN – Sturgeon Rod
Day 2 1st Place 63.5 inch length, 23 inch girth Dave Clement from East Grand Forks, MN – $2,150 cash
Day 2 2nd Place 62 inch length, 22.5 inch girth Mark Sage from Grand Forks, ND – $925 cash
Day 2 3rd Place 59.5 inch length, 21.5 inch girth Brandon Lunski Grand Forks, ND – Sturgeon Rod

Other Prizes over Two Days Longest Eelpout 19.5 inch Danielle Denny from Blufton, MN – Prize Pack
Longest Bullhead 12.5 inch Joe Lorenzen from Felden, MN – Prize Pack
Longest Sucker 24.5 inch Jill Strom from Eveleth, MN – Prize Pack
Powder Puff 58 inch length, 23.75 inch girth Cindy Hunter from Grand Forks, ND – Prize Pack
Kid Division – Largest Sturgeon caught by a kid 29 inch length, 12 inch girth Prize Pack
Best Boat – Zach Omdahl – PowrTran Kicker Steering

Over $7,000 worth of cash and prizes were awarded.   Thank you to the contestants, staff and sponsors for making this such a successful event. Bryan “Beef” Sathre, Icatchandrelease.com, Rapala, Northland Tackle, Fish Addiction TV, 13 Fishing, Glacier Fish Houses, Lake of the Woods Tourism, St Croix Rods, SpeedyWorms.com, PowrTran, Fibertech, Dak Shack and Airwave Pedestal Seats.

Sturgeon catch and release season is open through May 15 and then re-opening July 1.

 

Walleye Opener is this Saturday May 14
Walleye Opener 2016
It’s that time of year again! Time to start reeling in the walleyes again! The river and the bay are full of fish and we think it is going to be a great opener. No boat, no equipment? No problem! We have charter trips available starting at just $112 per person per day including a full day trip aboard a 27’ Sport Craft, experienced guide, us of poles, bait, tackle, assortment of pop and water and fish cleaning. Lunch? Sure we can take care of that too! Ask about our shore lunch and box lunch options.

The bite
Shallow shorelines between 6’-20’ are going to be the best using a jig and a minnow or a jig and a spinner. Gold is always good as well as pink and orange in the stained Lake of the Woods waters. Drifting or trolling is going to work well. If pulling crankbaits is more your style that should produce some nice fish too. The current water temperature is 55 degrees and the current is normal.   Northern pike season is also open and Lake of the Woods has a huge population right now of trophy pike. Pitching dead ciscos with a bobber on a quick strike rig on bottom or just 6 inches off bottom are great ways to lure in these monsters along shorelines in weedy bays. Get your fishing buddies together and get ready for some fishing! Lodging starting at only $45* per person per night and guided trips are available. Call 800-862-8602 or book online here.

*plus tax and based on double occupancy Sportsman’s Rainy River location
rainy river weather 5-10-2016
Spring Specials through May 26!

Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages May 13-May 26 and lodging packages starting at only $40 per person per night now through May 26.  It’s fishing time!

Lake of the Woods & Rainy River Fishing Report May 3, 2016

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Few more weeks of sturgeon fishing, 10th annual tournament is this weekend!
Water temperature continues to warm up. We are currently at 49 degrees today and the week’s forecast looks beautiful and much warmer!

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Sturgeon Fishing
It was a breezy weekend and the bite dipped this past weekend.  Some anglers say that your bait must stay in the same spot without any movement to entice these bottom feeders to go to the smell. Some movement by the sway of the boat can confuse them.  That could have been the reason for the dip in the catch rate this weekend.  Anglers still caught some nice 40”+ sturgeon.  The successful anglers also noted they used 2 anchors, set up in or near a hole in the river bottom in current, added a shiner to their gob of worms for some added smell hooked into their 3/0-4/0 circle hook and 3-4 ounce no roll weight and did not try a new spot until at least an hour had gone by.   There is a lot of fish moving around, give these tips a try and give it a shot.  When you reel in a 65 inch prehistoric dinosaur it will all be worth it!

Check out this video for more sturgeon fishing tips!

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The guys from The Simple Outdoorsman joined us last week. Check out a few of their pics. These guys got into some nice fish. Be sure to check them out on facebook and like their page.

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Check other their video below!

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Right now through May 7, you can keep one sturgeon within 45”-50” or over 75” with a Minnesota fishing license and $5 sturgeon tag. Sturgeon tags can be purchased at the lodge, online or anywhere that sells Minnesota fishing and hunting licenses.  May 8-15 is catch and release.  The season closes May 16-June 30. These fish are fun to catch and release or very tasty smoked.  Lodging, Guided Trips, Boat & Dock rentals available.

10th Annual Sportsman’s Sturgeon Tournament is this weekend!
Fifty boats and over 100 contestants will battle it out over this two day event.  We usually see over 100 fish caught and released over the two days including winners in the 65”+ range.  The tournament runs Friday, May 6 8:30am-4pm and Saturday, May 7 8:30am-3pm. The bar is a great place to stop by after the tournament to hear about the action, grab a beer, food and listen to musical entertainment.  The tournament is full for 2016 but lodging is available starting at only $45* per person per night. If you have never fished for sturgeon or just would like to learn more, stop by the bar. Most anglers in this tournament have been doing it for 7+ years.  They have a lot of good tips and great stories to share. The weather is looking great and we are excited for our 10th year! Good luck anglers! It is going to be a fun weekend!

*plus tax and based on double occupancy

Northern Pike bite is heating up!
Tributaries and bays along the river are great spots.  Anchored and casting out a jig tipped with dead bait and bouncing off the bottom has been producing some huge pike.  Some anglers are having great success trolling with crankbaits too.  Lodging and guided trips are still available. Click here or give us a call 800-862-8602.

Walleye Opener is May 14
Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages May 13-May 26 and lodging packages starting at only $40 per person per night now through May 26.  It’s fishing time!

Check out the fishing action on our Dock Cam!

Photo Contest!
Submit your summer photo from a trip to Sportsman’s, tell your friends to vote and you could win a free night lodging at Sportsman’s Lodge! Click here.

Few days left of walleye season, bring on the dinosaurs & pike!

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April 14 is the last day for walleye season until it re-opens May 14. The weather is warming up and the walleye bite is heating up. Lodging only $40* per person per night in our lodge rooms and cabins midweek.  Guided trips, boat rental and dock slips available too!  Give us a call!
*based on double occupancy and plus tax

Bring on the sunshine!

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Walleye Bite
The past week has been tough, the weather was cool. The weather is warming up and we expect the last few days of the season to be much better.  Jigging with long shank bright colored jig tipped with a shiner minnow or rainbow has been working the best in 14’-18’ and 22’-26’ of water around points and gaps with current.  The current water temperature is 35 degrees but should warm up quite quickly with the forecast ahead.

24 inch Walleye Rich Chacich released24 inch Walleye Rich Chacich released

 

Its Sturgeon’s Time
Now through May 15 is one of the best times of year to reel in these prehistoric dinosaurs.  The Rainy River is home to thousands of the shovel nosed species whom can live for over 100 years and have been recognized dating back to 136 million years ago.  The largest sturgeon caught on record in Minnesota measured in at 180 inches in 1903 (MN DNR).  The bite has been good!  Many anglers have had great success finding several in the river bottom in deep holes and crevices.  Some prefer areas with a little current.  Anchor and set up your rig with a 2-4 ounce no roll sinker, 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook tipped with a gob of night crawlers and even a minnow or two. Sturgeon catch and release season is now through April 23 and May 8-15. You can keep one April 24-May 7 between 45”-50” or over 75”. Remember to purchase a sturgeon tag if you plan on harvesting a sturgeon. They are $5 and can be purchased at the lodge, online or anywhere that sells Minnesota fishing licenses.

Charlie Borak 66 inch sturgeon! (released)

Charlie Borak 66 inch sturgeon! (released)

50 and 63 inch sturgeon Daly Group pic 2

50 and 63 inch sturgeon Daly Group

One of the Best Lakes in the State for Trophy Pike
Lake of the Woods has an incredible habitat for northern pike and is one of the top five lakes in Minnesota to reel in a trophy.  Spring is one of the best times of year to reel in these fish.  Just when the weed growth starts in the bays, they are great spots.  Throw a dare devil or shiny shad rap in their direction and get ready for the action.  The weather is getting warmer, we expect in a week the bite should really get going.  There are several bays along the river to try; along with Four Mile Bay and Zippel Bay.

Experience a great day of fishing!
Guided trips available! No hassles with the boat, motor, no fish to clean, poles to buy or bait to pick up. Your biggest worry of the day is what snacks to bring.  We offer spring guided outfitter trips aboard an 18 or 20 foot boat, guide, bait, use of poles and fish cleaning provided through late May.  We offer charter trips aboard our 27’ charter boats equipped with an onboard restroom, use of poles, bait, tackle and fish cleaning starting May 14 through late October. It’s the way to go!

Who’s Hungry?
The Sandbar is open daily at 11am and breakfast is available by reservation the night prior Monday through Friday and anytime 6:30am-10:30am Saturday & Sunday. For more information and our current specials, click here.

Dock Cam

The Dock Cam is back up! Check out the view!

Current Ice Conditions

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11/25/2015

 

Happy Thanksgiving!
From our homes to yours, the staff at Sportsman’s Lodges wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Freezing Season!
The freezing season is in progress. Late last week small bays froze over including the Baudette Bay in Baudette and parts of Young’s Bay at the Northwest Angle near our Oak Island location. The forecast for the week ahead is calling for lows in the teens. We expect to see the bays continue to make ice and the big lake continue to cool down. Now all we need is the wind to keep calm and subzero temperatures and we will start to make some serious ice. It is crazy how fast the season can change. Once we get below zero we can make an inch or two a day! When we get 10-12 inches of safe ice, we are ready to roll! Stay tuned for updates. At this point an early December start date is in our sights.

Bays are making ice!
Bays are making ice!
Baudette Bay
Baudette Bay

Gift Cards Available
Looking for a great gift idea for the angler on your list? We have gift cards available. Always the right color, size and price! Click here to purchase online now.

Ice Fishing Packages starting at $166!
Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River Location
Hook this Hot Deal before it is gone!
1 night lodging in a room or cabin and 1 day ice fishing including the fish house warm and ready just off a quiet groomed trail, transportation to and from the fish house, use of jig sticks, jigs, bait and tackle.

Saturday, December 26, Wednesday, December 30 and Saturday, January 2

  • $166 per person
  • With breakfast, lunch and dinner $215

Wednesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 14

  • $142 per person
  • With breakfast, lunch and dinner $190

Rates quoted are price per person plus tax, based on double occupancy at the Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location. Upgrade to our new villas for an additional $18 per person. Click here to book now or call us at 800-862-8602!

Thanksgiving Day Office Hours
Our office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. We will re-open Friday at 8am.

Current Ice Conditions

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Weather is cooling down!
We are starting to see the temperature dip. Snow and lows in the teens is in the forecast today and for the rest of the week! We are ready to get this water cooled down and make some ice. Current water temperature is 37 degrees.  Fall projects are in full swing and we are doing our ice dance! Who is with us?

Once we get the our first blast of cold air we just need zero degrees or colder for 10 days and we will have 10-12 inches of safe ice to start our season.  It doesn’t take long once we start freezing.  Get your reservations in now. Many dates are filling up fast!

ice-slIce Fishing season is soon here!

Stay tuned for updates. We are looking to another fun year!

For reservations click here to book now or call us at
Baudette/Rainy River Location: 800-862-8602
Oak Island & Eagle Ridge Location 800-772-8411

Who wants a FREE ICE FISHING TRIP this year?  Click here to enter for your chance to win!