Sportsman’s Lodge
800-862-8602
11/18/2009
Weather and Ice?
The change of seasons is defiantly starting, but we continue to still have only a skiff of ice on the bays. The river and lake is wide open. The weather has been unseasonably warm the past few weeks, but the temperatures are starting to drop. Highs in the 40’s and lows in the 20’s at night have been the norm this week. The water temperature has been hovering around forty degrees. It won’t take much for the water freeze this year. I would predict probably only one more week of soft water fishing before the real cold temps start in and we start to seem some ice form. We only need ten days of zero degree temperatures to make twelve inches of ice, it won’t take long.
Fall Fishing
The fall fishing continues to be very good in the Rainy River just up river from Sportsman’s Lodge. The best depth has been seventeen to eighteen feet. The lucky presentation has been a 3/8 oz brightly colored jig tipped with a shiner. Nice walleyes averaging in size between sixteen to twenty-eight inches are being caught.
Last weekend of Whitetail Rifle Deer Hunting Season
It has been a tougher than normal season for deer hunting in the region this year. Warm temperatures? Wolves? Decrease in population? These are all things being thrown around the coffee hour in the local area. The deer bagging may be down, but the family traditions are still being enjoyed. Hundreds of deer camps around the state have been lit up with family, friends, good food, good stories and fun in the past few weeks.
Still time left to enjoy this sport and here in the northland we have plenty of woods to explore! 66,0000 acres of Beltrami State Forest is right out our back door. Come on up and take in the last weekend or come for the muzzleloader season which will start Nov 28. Many are speculating that the colder temperatures will set in by then which may increase the hunters luck.
Ice Fishing & 2010 Fishing Season outlook is great!
Our local paper, The Baudette Region recently published an article, from a recent gillnet survey.
This year’ sauger classes have been strong and recent gillnetting by the Department of Natural Resources showed the bulk around 10 inches. “The sauger abundance is skyrocketing right now,” said Phil Talmage of the DNR. The walleye counts are not as strong, but still within the normal ranges. Weather and habitat are the biggest factors in production and cool, late summers have had an impact on the walleye. Although this spring was cold and the summer late, “We got an extra four weeks of walleye growth this year,” Talmage said. What the fish couldn’t do early, they made up for with rapid growth in the warm September.
Now is the time to make your reservations for the upcoming ice fishing season! Get in on some legendary fishing on Lake of the Woods this winter!