Sportsman’s Lodge

Ice Fishing Continues

Currently, we still have 36 inches of ice and 1-5 inches of snow in the areas we fish and travel. We plan to continue fishing up on the reefs through the weekend and look at moving in closer to the south shore depending on how the weather shakes out and the future forecast looks. Right now it continues to look like we are going to freeze every night and cold weather is back in the forecast next week. That will help! We continue to monitor ice conditions daily and safety is #1.

The bite has been decent, lots of small fish but anglers have been sorting through finding some good eaters and an occasional lunker. Orange, pink, gold small jigs and spoons, and plain hooks tipped with a minnow in 26’-32’ has produced the best. The snowmobile trail to Oak Island was groomed yesterday and hopefully grooming to Warroad in the early morning this weekend depending on conditions. The overall snow cover continues to lessen but the snow-packed trails still have snow for travel.

Heading out on your own?
Ice conditions vary on this big pond, always a good idea to use an ice road or trail maintained and marked by a trusted local outfitter or resort, and always check with the maintainer for any changes before heading out. We do not maintain a public ice road, although there are several in the area. We provide all of the transportation to our rentals via track vehicle.

Give us a call for last-minute trips 800-862-8602.
We have some great midweek deals.

Oak Island

We have houses strung out in the structure and mud 22’-31’. The bite has been finicky but the guides continue to work hard to get you the best experience. Hopefully the sunshine this weekend will get the fish fired up for a meal. Buckshots, gold and pink jigs, and small spoons tipped with a minnow have been working the best. We have 5-8 inches of snow and 22”-28” inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Area resorts are working hard to keep the ice road open to the Northwest Angle and Islands as long as safe and possible. At least through the next week and maybe longer depending on how it goes. The trail across the lake was groomed today and we expect will be open longer than the road. Lake of the Woods passenger service is available. If you are traveling soon, don’t hesitate to give us a call with any questions or for any updates. Flights from Baudette and surrounding areas are available too.

Good luck fishing!

Sportsman’s Lodge

Days are getting longer! March is around the corner!

Check out the pictures of the week.

Anglers are finding walleyes and saugers in 26’-32’ using Glo Shots, green and orange Buckshots, gold and orange jigs, and pink hooks tipped with a chub minnow.  Some anglers having success with a minnow head, some with a full minnow, and some prefer 2. Never hurts to try something new.. Anglers are still seeing quite a few suspended fish so watch electronics for those.  No vexilar? Give us a call ahead of time. We have a few to rent.  Best approach to catch suspsended fish is to fish the bottom and reel up to them once you see them on the electronics. We have found you will catch more fish overall doing this rather than sitting off the bottom several feet and moving down and up.  A mix of dead sticking and vertical jigging is best. Some anglers do the best sitting about 4 inches off bottom and others prefer to hug the bottom. If one approach isn’t working for you, give the other a try. You never know what might get you hooked on dinner!  We have 36 inches of ice and 1-5 inches of snow in the areas we fish and travel. More snow the farther north you go.    

Walleye season is open until April 14 on Lake of the Woods and we have ice fishing trips available until March 31. Come see us! Lodging and fishing packages starting at only $250 per person.
*plus tax and based on double occupancy

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. There are some bare ice spots on the south side of the lake so staying on the trail will give you the best and safest riding. The Northwest Angle Edge Riders rally is this weekend. Check it out!

For more information abou thte trails, check out these links. 

South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

The best bite has been in 25’-31’ right now using Buckshots, Glo Shot spoons, pink and red jigs tipped with a chub minnow. Morning and evenings have been the most favorable for catching walleyes and saugers. A mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach.

Ice Conditions
We have 22-28 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Trail Report
Grooming continues but we have lost some snow due to the warmer temps.
Click on the links for the latest report. The annual Northwest Angle Edge Riders snowmobile rally is this weekend.   Check out their page for all the info and stop by the lodge for food, drinks, and gas. 

Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road, Fly or Take the Passenger Service to reach us this Winter
Click here for more information on all of the options. 

12/18/2019

Good start to the season!
Most people are catching their limits in a day, two. There seems to be an even divide between walleyes and saugers, with a mix of whitefish and eel pout. Few pike and sturgeon caught too! Check out these pictures!

Current ice depth is between 15-16 inches in the areas we fish and travel. We have minimal snow, 0-4” on the lake right now and not much more on land. We are making ice! Some of the best fishing has been in 18’-22’ in the mud lately dead sticking and jigging are both working, using charmers, Buck-Shots, gold or other bright colored jigs and minnows or shiners.

If you are headed out on your own.
Area roads are open. Here is a recent report from a few open roads near the lodge.  Morris Point is only allowing ATV’s, snowmobiles and side by sides and announced earlier this week they are opening their road to small vehicles like jeeps and small pickups on Friday, December 20. Adrian’s out of Four Mile Bay is currently allowing small to mid-size vehicles out not pulling any houses. ATV’s, side by sides and snowmobiles can pull out houses up to 18’ long. Have fun and please remember to stay on the marked roads and trails, ice conditions vary on the lake.

Snowmobile Trails
We need more snow! Right now the lake trails have 0”-4” of snow and land trails not too much more. The lake trail from Four Mile Bay to Oak Island is now marked. 10”-14” of ice is reported on this trail right now. Watch for several bare ice spots as well as chunk ice sticking up. Grooming will begin as soon as we get more snow. The trail from Graceton Beach to Warroad is planned to be checked and marked if all goes well Friday, December 20.  If you are out and about, please stay on the marked trail as ice conditions vary off of it.  No travel is advised on the Rainy River. Ice is inconsistent and not safe yet. For more information about the trails check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters and Northwest Angle Edge Riders updates. 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

12/18/2019

We are looking forward to opening December 26!
The guides have been checking ice and getting fish houses ready.   We are looking forward to opening next week.  Right now out at the resort and in the areas we will start fishing we have 10-12 inches of ice.
Road from Young’s Bay to the Resort
Between Young’s Bay to the resort,  ice is building but due to the high water and current in those areas it is taking a little longer to build some good ice,  some spots currently have 3-6” and others 9”+.  The ice road is plowed out to Mergans Point right now. We will be monitoring these conditions and planning an alternative route if we need to for  guests to get out to the island from Young’s Bay for the first week or so after opening. The snowmobile trail from Young’s Bay to the resort is staked with black stakes and open for snowmobile traffic now, 5”-14” of ice reported as of Monday. Snow is minimal 0”-6” so watch for bare spots and ice chunks.

Trail from Four Mile Bay/Sportsman’s Lodge
The lake trail from Sportsman’s Lodge on the south end of the lake to Oak Island is currently marked with black stakes and open for snowmobile travel. 10”-14” of ice is reported.  We could use more snow, 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.  For more information about the trails check out the Northwest Angle Edge Riders and Lake of the Woods Drifters updates.