Moving on into January
And just like that, we are in the second month of our ice fishing season.

We currently have 21-23 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel and making more by the minute especially this week. A cold snap has knocked at our door.

Anglers have been finding the best bite in 26-31 feet of water. The past week we have seen more walleyes than saugers and quite a few nice walleye in the slot (19.5”-28” must be released) as well as quite a few eelpouts. Electronics have definitely helped many anglers increase their catch rate. Dead sticking with a #2 single plain hook tipped with a minnow about 6 inches off the bottom or jigging with a buckshot or spoon a few more inches up has worked well. Or start a few inches off the bottom and watch electronics, work your way up.

Trail Conditions
Black stakes mark the trails from the south shore to Oak Island and NW Angle and south shore to Warroad as well as Wheeler’s Point to Baudette. Grooming is in progress. Snowmobile traffic only allowed on the Rainy River right now. We need 4-5 more days of single digits and below to build up that river ice before it is safe. 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.

Plowed Roads
We do not maintain a plowed road ourselves as we supply the transportation for all of our trips to our houses via a groomed trail, but if you are interested in venturing out on your own, there are several roads in the area. Be sure to always check with the outfitter for current conditions before heading out as conditions can change and always be sure to stay on marked trails. The entire lake never freezes equally.

Football, Fishing and Your Sweetie
Pick one trip or take two!
Superbowl Sunday, Feb 2- Join us for the big game and some great fishing for a few days midweek.
Treat your sweetie to a midweek trip in February. Enjoy our cozy accommodations, fun fishing adventures, a dip in the hot tub, a romantic dinner, nightlife and more. Check out our winter packages and come have some fun. And don’t forget we ice fish through March so if you can’t make it in February, we have March options too!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
1/8/2020

The Bite
The bite has been up and down the past few days, some houses doing better than others depending on the time, day and approach. The best bite has been in 22’-26’. More walleyes are being found on the rocks and more saugers with a few perch in the sand and mud. Pink jigs have been hot as well as gold and glo. Guide Tip ~ Try deadsticking with one pole and jigging the other, it doesn’t hurt to turn on the electronics too if you aren’t getting them to hit. Don’t have a fish finder? We have a few to rent, give us a call to reserve.

Ice Conditions
We currently have 18”-20” of ice in the areas we fish and travel. If you are headed off the trails on your own, be sure to check with a local guide for current ice conditions.

Trail Conditions
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. Grooming is in progress. 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.

Plowed Road
The regular plowed road from Young’s Bay at the Northwest Angle is open. Follow our signs out! It is about a 9-mile trip.

Come have some fun this winter!
Weekend trips are available February and March and midweek trips available now through March. It’s ice fishing time! Click here to learn more about our ice fishing packages.