Author Archives: Sportsman's Lodges

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report & Oak Island Update – 5/6/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Minnesota Walleye Opener is this Saturday, May 9
The Minnesota walleye fishing holiday and long-standing tradition is finally here! Fresh walleye for supper on Saturday night can’t come soon enough.

The ice as far as we can see is gone and the big pond is ready to go. The weather is looking fair, a little on the cool side but common for the big day. Wind 5-12 and partly sunny. So where is the best place to find the early season walleye on Lake of the Woods? Shallow sandbars are usually a good place to start. 12’-20’ on the windward side. Rig up a jig and shiner minnow or a chub and do some jigging.

After a day of walleye fishing, don’t count out the sturgeon. Sturgeon “catch” season is going on now through May 7 and you can enjoy catch and release May 8-15 before closing for 6 weeks. Deep holes in river and bay are usually great spots to reel in one of these monsters. Drop a 4/0 or 5/0 hook with a gob of worms and a no-roll sinker to the bottom and give it a try. Check out some of the photos from this past weekend.

Rooms Available
We have a few rooms available for the weekend. Give us a call 800-862-8602.

Our Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge location opens May 15 for the season. For summer reservations call 800-772-8411.

The staff has been busy deep cleaning and increasing cleaning protocols as well as practicing and implementing new social distancing to serve you. We will kick off our new online food ordering option at our Rainy River location on Friday too for curbside pick up and delivery to your room, cabin, or villa until we can open for dine-in. We look forward to having you visit. Good luck fishing everyone!

Hello from the Island!

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Hello from the Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge! We are starting to see some more open water out in front of the lodge. Still quite a bit of ice on the main lake yet but it is softening up.

We are looking forward to seeing you this summer. At this time, we plan to open for the season May 8 for the MN walleye opener May 9. Your health and safety are important to us. We will be using enhanced cleaning protocols and safety standards to help keep everyone safe. Please watch our website for more information about those coming soon. As of right now, the Canadian border is closed until May 20, so until then you can get to us by boat across the lake. A passenger service with a follow boat option is available too.
For more information and reservations, please contact us at 800-772-8411 or via email here
https://sportsmanslodges.com/contact/

Good news!

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We are planning to open up May 4 here at Sportsman’s Lodge.
Our staff is working hard at deep cleaning and preparing the resort now for the upcoming season. We will be using enhanced cleaning protocols and safety standards to help keep everyone safe. In addition, we plan to start takeout food service on May 8. Check out our website soon for more information. For reservations give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us here https://sportsmanslodges.com/contact/
We are available daily 8am-4pm now and expanded hours coming soon. We look forward to seeing you this summer ☀️.
www.sportsmanslodges.com

Our Sportsman’s Oak Island and Eagle Ridge locations are planning on opening May 8. As of right now, the Canadian border is closed until May 20, so until then you can get to us by boat across the lake. A passenger service with a follow boat option is available too.
For more information and reservations, please contact us at 800-772-8411 or via email here
https://sportsmanslodges.com/contact/

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.

March 24, 2020

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Hey Anglers,

We hope you are all healthy and making the best of the circumstances we all are dealing with during this time.  We wanted to take a minute to say hello from the Northland and update you on a few changes that have come up.

This morning, the Lake of the Woods County Board of Commissioners met via teleconference with the Koochiching County Commissioners. The Koochiching County Board voted unanimously to close the Kooch County owned Rainy River accesses which include the Upper Sioux landing, Frontier landing, Nelson Park landing and Vidas landing with concerns about a large number of anglers coming into the area in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision will be reviewed on April 14th at their next board meeting.

In addition, the Lake of the Woods County Board voted to close all county controlled right away landing that provides access to the Rainy River until further notice. This will be reviewed weekly.

Last night, the Baudette City Council voted to close the two river accesses in Baudette, Peace Park, and Timber Mill Park, until further notice.  Basically what this means is all public accesses between Baudette and International Falls are closed at this time. We are hopeful with all efforts being made across the country this will change by soon and we can get back to fishing. We will update you on April 14th or if anything changes prior. If you have a reservation this affects, please contact our front desk staff at 800-862-8602. Our office is currently open from 8am to 4pm 7 days a week.

We appreciate your business over the years and look forward to seeing everyone soon!

The Sportsman’s Family

 

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 3/11/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge
3/11/2020

 

Cool temps! 20 days of ice fishing left, you still have time!

A decent bite this week. Catching a variety of walleyes, saugers, and few eelpouts. Anglers trying some different things if the bite isn’t hot for them are getting the best results like different lures, jigging speed, dead sticking, on bottom vs a few inches off the bottom, minnow head vs full minnow and using electronics like a Vexilar. The bite continues to be in 29’-34’ out about 45-55 minute ride from the lodge. Hot jigs have been 1/4 oz gold, pink or chartreuse or a plain hook tipped with a minnow. Come have some fun!

If the weather starts to warm up we will be moving our houses to stay away from the slush and to allow a longer season with safe ice. With the bombardiers and groomed trails, we have many areas to fish. Check out the pictures of the week and make plans to come wet a line.

Trail Report
Trails are open. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

23rd Annual End of the Season Mardi Gras Party is March 28
Our end of the season bash is coming up! Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, costume contest win $200 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Fishing Away

This week depths in 22’-27’ around structure using plain hooks, gold jigs s and small spoons tipped with a minnow has been the best approach for catching walleyes and saugers. An occasional perch, tullibee, perch, pike, and eelpout too. A mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach and electronics help! We have 30-32 inches of ice.

Trails
The trails are open. Click the links for the latest reports.

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

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

Time to book your spring and summer trip.
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 8 -25! Contact us today 800-772-8411.

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 3/4/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge
3/4/2020

March Fishing is in Full Swing

Walleyes, saugers, and a few perch, pike, eelpout and tullibee have been caught this week. Walleyes and saugers predominately but it’s March, which means a greater chance to catch a variety of species. The best bite continues to be 29’-34’ using a combination of dead sticking and jigging. Hot tackle has been plain hooks and jigs/small spoons colored green glo and pink tipped with a minnow.

We are still out about a 45-55 minute ride to the fish houses and have over 3’ of ice. The ice is in good shape and no slush. When the weather starts to warm up we will be moving our houses to stay away from the slush and to allow a longer season with safe ice. With the bombardiers and groomed trails, we have many areas fish. Check out the pictures of the week and make plans to come wet a line.

Trail Report
Trails are open. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

23rd Annual End of the Season Mardi Gras Party is March 28
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, costume contest win $200 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge 

Glow in the dark is hot!
Jigging glow in the dark jigs and small spoons have been hot this week tipped with a minnow. A mix of walleye, saugers, and a few perch and pike are being caught in 22’-30’ of water around structure. We have 30-32 inches of ice and plan to keep fishing through the 22nd here in the islands at this point.

Trails
The trails are open. Click the links for the latest reports.

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

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

Time to book your spring and summer trip.
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 8 -25! Contact us today 800-772-8411.

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 2/29/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River

A little Over A Month Left Of Ice Fishing Season

The best bite this week continues to be 29’-34’. A notable more aggressive noon – 2 pm bite has been going on the last few days. A mix of 3/4 sauger, 1/4 walleye, and a few tullibee.Stop sign lures or jigs with glitter, pink/gold or chartreuse/white tipped a minnow has been working. For the best catch rate, a little work can go a long way. It doesn’t hurt to switch up tackle, try one-rod dead sticking and jigging the other, use electronics and test right on bottom vs a few inches off the bottom to grab the attention of the fish as they are swimming by.Ice Conditions and Rally Weekend
We have over 3’ of ice and the snowmobile trails are in good shape. Trails are freshly groomed. The Annual Northwest Angle Edge Riders snowmobile rally is planned for this weekend hosted at our sister resort, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge on Oak Island at the Northwest Angle 40 miles north of Baudette. This event is always a great time! For more information about the event, click here.Visit us in March for a fun getaway. Click here to learn more

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

The Bite
20’-27’ on reefs and edges of reefs using pink, gold, red and white jigs tipped with a minnow has been working well. Anglers have been reeling in a nice bag of walleyes and saugers for supper along with an occasional trophy. We have 30 – 32 inches of ice where we fish and travel. Last chance openings available March 1-4, 15-22 and one 3 bedroom cabin 8-22.
Hosting the Northwest Angle Edge Riders Snowmobile Rally this weekend!
We are excited to be hosting the annual snowmobile rally Feb 29. Click here for all the info and make plans to head out on the trails or take a cruise on the ice road to join in the fun. The trails are in great shape. Click the links for the latest reports.

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 2/21/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge
2/21/2020

Days are getting longer! Ice fish with us through March.
It is a beautiful sunny day today, a nice time to be out on the lake. Unlike many lakes in Minnesota, Lake of the Woods is considered a US/Canada border water lake so our walleye season extends through April 14 and our houses can be out longer. We ice fish through March 31.

This week we have found the best fishing to be in 29’-34’ of water. Anglers have been catching a mix of walleyes and saugers along with a few jumbo perch. We have over 3’ of ice right now where we fish and travel. White, pink and gold jigs have been hot tipped with a minnow using the deadsticking and jigging techniques. Electronics help too!

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

Weekend Ice Fishing Trips available in March
We also have midweek trips available now through March. Come have some fun!

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
2/21/2020

A what? A muskie!
You just never know what might nibble at your line. One of our guests was fishing for walleye when a 53” muskie took a chomp on his bait! What a surprise that was! In the winter, muskie season is closed and we do not target them but sometimes the fish don’t realize that. This guy got hungry. This huge fish was released and another great fishing story was made.

The best walleye/sauger bite has been in 20’-25’ right now in the current using Buckshots, Glo Shot spoons, purple,  gold and pink jigs tipped with a minnow. A mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach. We have 30”-32” of ice now in the areas we fish and travel. We should be good to go through March 22 here in the islands for some goooood ice fishing.

Hosting the Northwest Angle Edge Riders Snowmobile Rally next weekend!
We are excited to be hosting the annual snowmobile rally Feb 29. Click here for all the info and make plans to head out on the trails or take a cruise on the ice road to join in the fun. The trails are in great shape. Click the links for the latest reports.

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