Tag Archives: northern pike fishing

Lake of the Woods & Rainy River Fishing Report April 20, 2016

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Lake of the Woods & Rainy River
Fishing Report April 20, 2016

It’s Sturgeon & Pike time!

The sturgeon and pike fishing has been great!
The water temperature has warmed up 6 degrees this week.  Current temperature is at 46 degrees today and the weather is holding steady. Anglers are finding lots of sturgeon and pike to bite this week. Lodging and guided trips are still available. Click here or give us a call 800-862-8602.

Sturgeon Bite
Lots of nice 30”-65” sturgeon have been found in Four Mile Bay, areas within of the river near the lodge, Clementson and Birchdale. Size 3/0 or 4/0 circle hooks and a 3 ounce no roll sinker tipped with a gob of crawlers and a frozen shiner has been working well.  To keep the worms from sliding off a good tip is to use piece of a plastic grub at the end.  Anchored at deep river holes or crevices with a little current are best.  Catch and release is open now through April 23 and May 8-15. You can keep on within 45”-50” or over 75” April 24-May 7. They are a blast to reel in!

Northern Pike bite is heating up!
Tributaries along the river and Clementson Rapids are stacked with pike right now.  Anchored and casting out a jig tipped with a shiner and bouncing off the bottom and rocky areas has been producing some huge pike.

Ryan 48 inch sturgeon, released. Way to go Ryan!

Ryan 48 inch sturgeon, released. Way to go Ryan!

 

Mike reeled and released a 52 inch sturgeon! Nice one!

Mike reeled and released a 52 inch sturgeon! Nice one!

 

Now thats a whopper! 63 inch sturgeon caught and released by Michael Daly

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Forecast for the Week

Forecast 4-20-2016

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.

CATCH THE ACTION AT THE SPORTSMAN’S LODGE RAINY RIVER LOCATION THIS SPRING!

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CATCH THE ACTION AT THE
SPORTSMAN’S LODGE
RAINY RIVER LOCATION THIS SPRING!

Spring Fishing Fever 2016

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The extended walleye season we enjoy on the Canadian border allows for a phenomenon not available for much of the state. The warming weather and increased currents at the beginning of April work to open the Rainy River just as the walleyes are beginning their spring run. The action is fast, and the fish are huge, pulled up one after another. Most fishermen prefer jigging with minnows this time of year. Walleye season closes from mid-April to mid-May, giving anglers an opportunity to try their luck with Minnesota’s largest fish – the mysteriously prehistoric lake sturgeon and the frisky fighting northern pike. Lake of the Woods is proud to be one of the top ten lakes in Minnesota offering the best catch opportunity for you to catch a trophy sized sturgeon or pike in the whole state.

Spring Lodging Rates available March 14 – May 26

  • Lodging as low as $40 per person per night
  • $40 midweek/$45 weekends cabin or lodge room based on dbl occ.
  • Enjoy our new villas $59

For our spring rates and packages Click here.

Who is ready for spring soft water fishing?

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It won’t be long and we will be launching boats and fishing for walleyes, northern pike and lake sturgeon! We have our sites on early April. Walleye season on Lake of the Woods is open until April 14, closing for a short time April 15-May 8 and then opening for the season again May 9.  The spring bite can be incredible! The warming weather and increased currents at the beginning of April work to open the Rainy River just as the walleyes are beginning their spring run. The action is fast, and the fish are huge, pulled up one after another. Most fishermen prefer jigging with minnows this time of year to reel in the walleyes. For sturgeon big hooks and a gob of worms work well and for northern pike, dare devils or buck tails are popular lures.

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For more information about Sportsman’s Lodge lodging and fishing packages, click here.

Walleye Opener 2012 in 9…8….7…. days and counting!

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We are enthusiastically waiting for Walleye Opener 2012! Opener this year is Saturday, May 12.  We have had very good fishing the past three years and are looking forward to once again another excellent year here on Lake of the Woods.  The DNR has done a great job at maintaining and growing our fishery over the years.  Many long time guides continue to say they have not seen the fishing like this in years if ever.  The walleye and sauger population is in great shape and continues to thrive.  The large lake specialist, Tom Heinrich from the DNR said in a recent St Cloud Times article that the sturgeon population in his estimation is one of the largest in the country.  We also have one of the highest trophy pike populations in the state as well. We are very happy with where the fishery is at and headed at this time and are looking forward to another great summer!