Tag Archives: sportsmans oak island lodge

Sportsman’s Lodges Fishing & Ice Report 3-18-2022

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Walleye caught at Sportsman's Lodge

Warmer Week
It looks like Mother Nature is loosening her grip on winter. We have had nice sunny days here this week which has been great but the long-range forecast tells us it is time to hang up our ice fishing rods for the year. We have decided our last day of ice fishing will be Sunday, March 20. It is time to put away the winter gear and start shining up the boats. Spring is in the air. It has been another great winter season. Thank you to all our loyal guests and followers. We enjoyed seeing you, chatting with you, and serving you.

The Bite
The current bite this week in 16’-25’ in the mud. Mainly walleyes and saugers are being caught, eater and throwback sizes. An occasional trophy walleye and a pike are also coming up the holes. Bright orange, gold, and pink have been hot colors, 3/8 oz or less for jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow. A mix of jigging and dead sticking is the way to go. A plain hook tipped with a partial minnow is a good tactic for the dead stick. We still have over 3’ of ice and snow. Melting is going on but we have a long way to go.

Spring Fishing
Up next, the river bite. River fishing on the Rainy River is a blast. The walleye season here runs through April 14. Sturgeon catch and release are going on now through April 23. April 24-May 7 you can harvest a sturgeon, (be sure to get a tag with your license) within size limits and then one more week of catch and release May 8-15 before the season closes until July. Walleye will close after April 14 and re-open on May 14 for the year. Pike season never closes and Lake of the Woods is home to thousands of trophies. A fun way to spend a few days. Right now the river is open 64 miles east of the lodge. If we continue to get warm temps and especially rain, it can get chewed up pretty quick. Stay tuned for updates starting next week.

Time to book your spring and summer trips
Dates are starting to fill. Check out all the options at www.sportsmanslodges.com Lodging starting at only $99 a night for two people April 1 – May 25. Guided trips are available through early May and charter trips start May 14.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Heigh-Ho Heigh-Ho a Fishing we will go
For another weekend that is, before we take a brief spring pause. Our restaurant and bar will be open until 9 am Sunday. We have had a great winter and lots of fun seeing and serving you. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again in May. If you haven’t made your reservations for summer yet, give us a call at 800-772-8411 or find us online at www.oakislanlodge.com. Our office will be open through the breakup season.


The last few days the sun has been melting some measurable snow. The fishing has been pretty good. A mix of walleyes and saugers, mostly walleye have been caught. Macho minnows, Rippin Raps, and 3/8 oz jigs have been hot tackle in colors of orange, yellow, gold, and glow in the dark. Minnows are the bait of choice. The trails are still open. Lots of snow. Midday gets a little soft. Good luck fishing!

Hello from Sportsman’s!

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April 14, 2020

Hello from Sportsman’s!  

We hope this message finds everyone safe and healthy. We just wanted to let you know we are thinking about you and are still here.

Last week we decided to extend our closure to May 4 at this time and awaiting information to move forward. We have also rescheduled our May sturgeon tournament to October 30 & 31. If you had a reservation during this time, our staff is working on contacting you or please contact us when it works for you to make alternative arrangements. Due to the change, we now have some openings for this popular tournament. If you are interested in signing up or learning more, click here or give us a call.


We are hopeful for May at this point. We are busy working on changes to keep you and our staff healthy and safe in the days ahead such as electronic check-in options, increased cleaning protocols, online food ordering option, social distancing practices and more.  When it is time we are ready, we’re all in this together.  

 

We are welcoming the open water, more by the day. Water has been flowing in front of the lodge for over a week now. At Oak Island we still have an “ice view” but getting softer by the day. 

 

If you have any questions our front desk staff is available 7 days a week 8am – 4pm. Contact us anytime at Rainy River Location:  800-862-8602 or by clicking here.  Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411 or by clicking here.  We look forward to seeing you soon.

Our current view of the Rainy River from our Sportsman’s Lodge location.

 

Our current view from our Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge location.

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 2/5/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

2/5/2020

The latest bite
Fishing has picked up! 1/4 oz green and orange jigs and spoons have been hot in 26’-32’ of water. As well as glow in the dark and good old gold. A mix of walleye and sauger have been the average catch. Plenty of good eaters, throwbacks and a few lunkers, 20”-30” mixed in. We have 2-3 feet of ice and 6-15 inches of snow in the areas we fish and travel right now.

Our houses are scattered anywhere from a 15-45 minute bombardier ride out. The guides are working hard to get you on the best bite.

Snowmobile Trail Report
The Lake of the Wood’s Drifters and the Northwest Angle Edge Riders take care of the trails in our area. Click the links for the most up to date information.

Lake of the Woods has an extended season.
Walleye season continues through April 14 here unlike most of the state.
Ice fishing trips are available through late March and Rainy River soft water fishing kicks off in early April.

Treat your sweetie to a midweek February trip to Sportsman’s.
2 nights lodging and 2 days ice fishing packages available starting at only $309* per person! Contact us today to plan your trip 800-862-8602.
*plus tax

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

2/5/2020

Island Time
Island life is good! We are loving the longer days.  A mix of walleye, saugers, and some jumbo perch are being reeled in. Red, pink, glow and gold jigs or spoons have been working tipped with a minnow head or full minnow in 26’-30’off the edges of the reefs. The best technique can vary day by day so try some light vertical jigging, hard jigging, and dead sticking and make sure your hooks are sharp.

Ice Conditions
We have over 2’ of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Snowmobile Trail Report
The Lake of the Wood’s Drifters and the Northwest Angle Edge Riders take care of the trails in our area. Click the links for the most up to date information.

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Spring is just around the corner.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip! Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials May 8-25. Contact us today.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge opens up Thursday, December 26!

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge opens up Thursday, December 26!
The fish houses are ready! Tim and Josh fished for a few hours yesterday afternoon and kept some nice fish for supper and caught a northern too. Gold, red and orange are hot colored jigs right now. Right now we have 10-16 inches of ice in the areas we travel. Apps, pizzas, and cocktails will be available starting at 11 am Thursday and the full dinner menu starting at 5 pm. We will start serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily starting Friday. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Road from Young’s Bay to the Resort
The main ice road from Young’s Bay to the island is not quite ready yet so we will be using an alternative route for now. Guests, please give us a call ahead of time to be led out.

Trail from Four Mile Bay/Sportsman’s Lodge
The lake trails are marked with black stakes from Four Mile Bay near Sportsman’s Baudette location to Oak Island and Young’s Bay at the angle to the lodge. We don’t have much snow, 0”-6” right now, so if you head out, be sure to watch for bare spots and ice chunks. The
Lake of the Woods passengers Service will be running from Sportsman’s Lodge to Oak Island starting December 26.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Sportsman’s Family to yours!

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report

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Lake of the Woods South Shore & Rainy River Fishing Report

6/4/2019

It’s Heating Up!
Fishing has been crazy this past week! As the air and water temperature warms up, the walleyes have started moving out to 26-28 feet water. Water temps are ranging from 56 to 62 degrees and the forecast looks great this week! Our guides have been successful in the rocks, mud, and sand using 3/8 oz. jigs. The walleyes have been biting on gold jigs tipped with a shiner. Many guests are catching fish that are 17” to 19” along with many walleyes 27” or bigger! Pro tip of the week – make sure you are setting your hook, practice makes perfect! Guided trips available, come have some fun this summer.

Celebrate Dad in June!
Lodging & Guided Charter Packages starting at only $233*per person, gift cards available too! Purchase yours online or call 800-862-8602.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy

Lake of the Woods Oak Island & the Northwest Angle Fishing Report
Great Walleye Bite
Depths 18’-20’ in the mud jigging a jig and minnow has been hot. Gold and orange have been good jig colors. Captain Steve and his crew boated over 100 fish along with some nice slot fish this week. Lots of sun in the forecast. Water temp currently 57 degrees.
Nice Pike
Casting out flashy spoons and shad raps have been the hot ticket 6’-20’.Smallmouth Bass
Anglers are having the most success finding the bass casting using mallet spinners and shad raps deep 20’-30’.Muskie season opens June 15.

Experience the Northwest Angle and Islands. Join us this summer!
Openings available late June and throughout the summer. Check out our summer packages and make plans today. 

NW Angle/Oak Island Fishing Report Lake of the Woods January 17, 2019

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NW Angle/Oak Island Fishing Report Lake of the Woods January 17, 2019
The Ice Road to the Island is open. Guides cleaned some nice fish yesterday.
The plowed road to us at the island is now open from Young’s Bay. It takes a little bit of a different path than previous years between Flag Island and Oak Island but other than that, the same. We have our signs posted. Follow the signs out and come see us. The bar and dining room are open daily.

The walleyes have been on the move this week, moving off rocks and into the deeper mud and sand in 25’-30’. Gold, red, glow spoons and jigs and plain hooks have been good, especially gold. Gold is always a good go-to Lake of the Wood’s walleye color. The bite has changed up to rather than more of a morning and late afternoon run, to more all day. A mix of jigging and dead sticking is the best approach to reel in some walleyes and saugers. We have ice fishing openings now through late March. Our winter walleye season on Lake of the Woods runs until April 14. Come have some fun!

Ice Conditions
We currently have 14”-21” of ice in the areas we fish and travel. If you are venturing out on your own always be sure for your safety to stay on marked trails and roads. We have lots of areas with safe ice, but the entire lake never freezes equally and some spots are never fit for travel.

Trail Conditions
We have a nice base of snow and the trails are freshly groomed. Regular grooming is in progress. The trails from the south shore to Oak Island and NW Angle, south shore to Warroad and Warroad to Oak Island/NW Angle are all marked with black stakes. For more information about the trails and latest on the land trails, check out Lake of the Wood’s Drifters and the Northwest Angle Edge Riders Facebook pages.

Midweek lodging and ice fishing trips available through late March starting at $310 per person.
Click here to learn more about our ice fishing packages.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy groups of 4+.

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Ice Update 11/24/2018

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We are building ice!
We are finding 5-8” in most areas we fish and travel but still waiting on a few areas to heal up. We have a great start and the forecast looks favorable. Check back soon for updates!

For reservations contact us at 800-772-8411 or click here. 

Our sister resort, Sportsman’s Lodge on the south shore will begin their season Friday, Nov 30.
For their ice report, click here.

 

Lake of the Woods Satellite Picture Update 5-10-2018

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Lake of the Woods Satellite Picture Update 5-10-2018

Check out the latest satellite picture from today compared to Mondays!
Big changes happening here the past few days! We have not been across the lake to check it out yet, so please use caution when venturing out. It sure looks like the ice is disappearing quickly.
Opener forecast is looking good!  Woohoo! Let’s go fishing!


Spring Break in the Islands!

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Check out the pictures of the week!

Who needs the tropics when you can come to Oak Island and enjoy peace and quiet and ice fishing?  Need a break? Come see us! We have some openings March 12-18.

The best bite has been in 25’-31’ right now using Glo Shot spoons, small spoons and jigs in the colors of gold and pink tipped with a chub minnow. Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach. Vexilars are certainly helping too.  Anglers are reeling in a mix of walleyes and saugers with an occasional northern pike or perch.

Ice Conditions
We have 36+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Trail Report
Grooming continues!  For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Spring is just around the corner.

It is never too early to start planning your spring trip!  Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 11-25! Contact us today.