Tag Archives: minnesota ice conditions

Last week of ice fishing

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Fish house rentals available for 6 more days! Give us a call! Relax in a warm fish house and get in on the late season bite.  March 21 will be the last day we will have houses out for the winter season.

What’s hot
Walleye and sauger bite has been good jigging gold and pink jigs, plain hooks and spoons tipped with a chub or shiner in 25’-33’ outside of Pine Island.  An early morning and late afternoon bite has been best.

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Ice Conditions
Currently  we have 27-30 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.  For conditions in other areas check with local resorts and outfitters as conditions may be different.

Forecast 3-15-2017

Trail Conditions
We have minimal snow on land and the lake.  Grooming is done for the year.

Ice Fishing beyond March 21
Will there be good ice after March 21 this year? Chances are their will be some good ice on the lake for another week or so.  If you interested in venturing out on your own, we have lodging available and some great specials too! $99 Lodge Rooms and 20% off Cabins and Villas March 22-31.  Conditions change often this time of year so be sure to check with the ice road maintainer before venturing out.  Adrian’s Resort and Morris Point Resort both have ice roads nearby. Check with them for the latest conditions.

Rainy River Spring Fishing start soon
From fish houses to boats. It is that crazy time of year when the lake can still maintain 30 inches of ice and the river starts to open up to our east. When temperatures start to increase the river opens up from the east and will continue to open up moving west.  The spring bite is an aggressive sought after bite by many anglers looking to reel some nice walleye, pike and lake sturgeon.  Walleye season is open until April 14, pike season is open year round and sturgeon season is catch and release through April 23, open season April 24-May 7 and catch and release again May 8-15. Derik checked river conditions yesterday and found it pretty locked up with ice for the most part still but with not much snow and warm temps coming up later in the week we expect it to change soon.  Chances are we will see a few boat splashing around the Manitou(38 miles east of Baudette)/Birchdale (26 miles east of Baudette)  area sometime within the next week.  Open water spots were spotted 23 miles east of Baudette (35 miles east of the lodge) and Manitou area is wide open except for but 20 feet of shore ice on either side located 38 miles east of Baudette (50 miles east of the lodge).  The Pelland Kuttes boat landing 57 miles east of is open. Click here for more information about spring fishing and a boat access map.  Watch for inbox and our Facebook page for updates!

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!

Lake of the Woods Current Ice Conditions Report

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11/11/2015

 

Happy Veteran’s Day!
Thank you to all the great men and women who have served! Our hats are off to you!

Ice Fishing starts in less than a month
The stage is starting to be set for the 2015-2016 ice fishing season! Water temperature is on the decline, air temperature is in the 30’s and 40’s and snow is in the forecast. We are busy working on fall projects an tuning up equipment. It has been a beautiful fall but we are ready for ice fishing! It is amazing how fast it can turn. Once we get the 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. Get your reservations in now. Many dates are filling up fast!

Shannon Blomquist
Who is ready for some ice fishing fun?


Stay tuned for updates. We are looking forward 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

 

 

Happy New Year! From the Sportsman’s family to yours, we wish you a healthy and happy 2014.

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Catching holding strong! It has been a great December for walleye and sauger fishing in our neck of the woods. A very active bite and many big fish and big catch days.  The best bite right now has been in 23’-28’ jigging with gold or pink jig, stop sign or #32 macho minnow tipped with a whole minnow or some anglers are swearing by just the minnow head.  Drop your line to about 6 inches off bottom and bring along or rent a vexilar for the best experience.  Vexilar rentals are available at the lodge, but are in high demand so be sure to call ahead to reserve.  Try jigging with one pole and dead stick with the other to see what technique works best for you.

Ice Conditions
Current ice depth in the areas we travel and fish is 20-23 inches. Our houses are situated just off of our groomed snowmobile trail.

Jaedin Johnson 8 years old caught this 27.5 on a shiner and a pink jig

Landen Johnson 4 years old caught another keeper on a gold jig dead sticking! He loves ice fishing!

25 inch walleye Travis Herber and Alex Williamson They also caught some nice eaters few 22 inch and 26 inch walleye. What a trip!

Trail Conditions
Lake Trails
Fresh trail grooming will be done this week on the trails from Wheeler’s Point to Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Wheeler’s Point to Warroad. As always, watch for the caution areas.
Land Trails
Continue to be groomed and are in decent condition.  Click here for more details.

Don’t let winter pass you by! You still have time to make your winter ice fishing reservation. We ice fish until March 31.  www.sportsmanslodges.com 800-862-8602

We Open for the Season Tomorrow!

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Ice Fishing at Sportsman’s Lodges Starts Tomorrow!

Fishing
Pre-season reports are great! Water is clear and the bite is active. We have had a hot bite between 8am-10am and late afternoon between 3pm-5pm in 21’-23’ of water. Pink Swedish pimples and 3/8 oz long shaft gold jigs tipped with a minnow have been working well. Nice 13”-18” walleyes have been found.

Ice Conditions & Trail Report
Currently we have 10”-15” inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish and 14-15 inches of snow. The snowmobile trail from the Northwest Angle/Young’s Bay has been marked. The ice road has been plowed just today but vehicles are not allowed out for another 4-5 days once we get a few more inches of ice. The snowmobile trail is also marked from Baudette to Oak Island. This trail will be dragged tomorrow and grooming will begin as soon as we get a few more inches of ice.

 

Fantastic Fishing

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The early season bite continues to be excellent! A very active walleye and sauger bite has been taking place the past few weeks. Some of the most successful anglers report, jigging using a vexilar tipped with a frozen shiner has worked best in 21’-25’ of water. Some of the most active times of day have been between 9am-11am and 3pm-4pm. Gold and pink chubby darters, macho minnows, buck shots, and round jigs have worked well. On the clear and sunny days, white has been a very popular tackle color. Vexilar/fish finder users always seem to have even better luck. If you do not have one of those devices, but would like to try one out, we do rent a few. Call to reserve yours 800-862-8602. Check out some of the latest photos here and on our Facebook page. Give us a call or click here to book your winter getaway! We ice fish until the end of March.

11-year-old Manford reels in a nice walleye

11-year-old Manford reels in a nice walleye

Chad Zeman 23.5 inch walleye caught on red hook at 2:30pm and released

Chad Zeman with 23.5 inch walleye caught on red hook
at 2:30pm and released

Chad Jansen from Zimmerman, MN with 27 inch walleye caught with a gold and orange buck shot in 25 feet of water; released

Chad Jansen from Zimmerman, MN with 27 inch walleye caught with a gold and orange buck shot in 25 feet of water; released

Nice One! 26 inch walleye Kackman Party; released

Nice One! 26 inch walleye Kackman Party; released

Recent Angler Comments:
“The Zeman party had a very successful two days of fishing on Monday 12/16 & Tuesday 12/17. I caught a 25″ walleye on Monday at 10:30 am using a glow hook. Tuesday at 2:30 pm I reeled in a 23.5″ walleye using a red hook. Both fish were a blast to land. This has been the best fishing our group has had in years.”

“140 fish, 3 guys, pink and gold….we need more minnows! Incredible fishing! Time of our life!”

Ice Conditions
Current ice conditions in the area we fish and travel is 12”-14”. About 12-14 inches of snow lies on the ice. 

Ice Road
According to Adrian’s, who maintains the ice road going out of Four Mile Bay near Wheeler’s Point, they currently they have 10-11 inches of ice on the Bay and 11 ½-14 on the lake. ATV’s and snowmobiles are only allowed out at this time. A few more inches of ice are needed until trucks will be allowed. The large amount of snow we received a few weeks ago all at once, has slowed the ice making process down a bit. Stay tuned!

Trail
The lake trail is marked from Four Mile Bay/Wheeler’s Point to Oak Island. Plan to pull a drag on the trail tomorrow and start grooming as soon as we get a few more inches of ice. Watch for the ice ridges like always, especially when the temperature fluctuates 15-20 degrees. The lake trail from Four Mile Bay/Wheeler’s Point to Warroad and Four Mile Bay/Wheeler’s Point to Baudette will be marked today. More and more land trails are now groomed. For more information on the trail conditions, click here.

It’s Freezing Season!

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It’s Almost Time For Ice Fishing

Temperatures below zero and single digits the past few days. Great ice making weather!

We plan to venture out and do our first ice thickness check later this week. Stay tuned! The forecast looks cold.

Do you have your winter reservation in yet?
Give us a for call and ask about our NEW Villas at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location! Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location call 800-862-8602 Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge or Eagle Ridge location call 800-772-8411 or online

Lake of the Woods 11-24-13
View North from Morris Point
View of Four Mile Bay
View up River from Wheeler’s Point

It’s Freezing Season

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Soft water fishing has pretty much come to a close this week. A few hard core anglers are still out, but for the most part we are getting ready for hard water! It is time to start stocking the tackle boxes and re-stringing the poles.

11-12-2013-freezing-up

It Won’t Be Long Now!

We have had some real cold nights earlier this week that froze up some ice sheets on the river and some of the larger bays. Unfortunately, most of those have dissipated, but that is typical for this time of year. It is still early. The water is cold and ready! If we can get 10 days of below zero weather that usually sets us up with 10-12 inches of ice to kick off the season. Typically we start ice fishing in early December. It won’t be long, we can’t wait!

Lots of projects are going on at the lodge this fall at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location.
Three New Villas are being constructed and in the completion stage. They will be ready to rent in December. Stay tuned on our Facebook page for pictures coming soon! Our 3rd floor of motel rooms is getting a face lift, some new fish houses are being built, landscaping in front the lodge main entrance has been re-done, the lodge was freshly painted on the exterior and new shingles were put on the lodge room wing over the summer too. We are excited to show you are new improvements!

Winter Reservations
If you haven’t made your reservations for winter yet, now is the time! Give us a call Sportsman’s Lodge 800-862-8602, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411, Sportsman’s Sleeper Division 218-634-1589 or request online. Ice fishing season starts in is less than a month!

11-14-2013-freezing-up-2

Freezing Up!