Author Archives: Sportsman's Lodges

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

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5/2/2018

We are starting to see more signs of spring and more warm weather in the forecast, finally!

Young’s Bay has opened up; there is open water in the channels amongst the islands, and quite a bit of open water on the north side of the island. Between the temps and the wind we expect see quite a few more areas opening up this week in time for opener.  The shallow bite should be hot!

Seasons
Minnesota
Walleye Opener May 12
Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie & Perch open all year
Sturgeon keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Sturgeon catch and release Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Muskie opens June 17

Ontario
Walleye Opener May 19
Sturgeon closed
Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie & Perch open all year
Muskie opens June 16

May Specials
May 11-25
Lodging starting at $62 per person per night and lodging and guided fishing packages starting at $381 per person.

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

It’s time to make spring, summer and fall reservations. Click here to learn more about Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge or give us a call 800-772-8411.

We have open water in front of the lodge and Wheeler’s Point landing is open!

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Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River
April 23, 2018

What a difference a few nice days make! All of the public boat landings are open on the river now. The current water temperature at our docks is 40 degrees. The water level is low. Birchdale will be closed April 24 for the day only. Wheeler’s, Timbermill, Vidas, Frontier and Birchdale are the landings near us. For a map, click here.

Sturgeon and pike fishing is going on now and walleye season opens back up May 12. Come get into some goooooood fishing and don’t forget to share or tag your pictures with us. We love to see and hear your fishing stories! You might even show up on our next fishing report.

Logan and Corey reeled in some nice sturgeon!

The bite should only heat up this week with many more fishing holes opening up. The weather forecast looks pretty great too!

Sturgeon are moving around in deep holes of the river bottom. Anchor up and rig your line with a few ounces of no roll sinkers, 4/0 or 5/0 hook tipped with a gob of minnows and shiner. Once one of these dinosaurs take a nibble, get ready for a heck of battle. The big sturgeon are known to wrestle for an hour or two.

Northern pike are another fun fish to target in the spring on Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods has an abundant trophy pike population. Whether you enjoy catch and release or keeping a few to bake or pickle, Lake of the Woods won’t disappoint. Shallow bays off the river and lake are great spots. Casting orange, red and flashy spinner baits with a slow retrieval works well in the spring along with a jigging presentation bouncing off the bottom with a spinner tipped with a shiner. Come have some fun! Guided trips available.

Fishing Seasons
Sturgeon catch and release now Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Northern Pike open year round
Walleye currently closed, reopening May 12

Spring Specials!
Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night now through April 23 and up to 20% off Charter Fishing packages May 12-23.

Book your trip today. Click here or call 800-862-8602.

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

We are starting to see some signs of spring in the islands.

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
April 23, 2018

We are starting to see some signs of spring in the islands. Water is opening up around the points. The weather forecast looks warm!

We are excited to see the ice move away. Summer dates are starting to book up. Give us call 800-772-8411 or email to make your plans!

View from Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge 4-23-2018 Points are starting to open up. Bay is pretty locked up still but the warmer temps should break this up this week.

May Specials
May 11-25
Lodging starting at $62 per person per night and lodging and guided fishing packages starting at $381 per person.

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

The ice is starting to breakup more at Timbermill Landing today!

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The ice is starting to breakup more
at Timbermill Landing today!

Timbermill Park and boat landing is located on the east edge of Baudette. Baudette is located 12 miles from the lodge. Currently Birchdale, Frontier and Vidas landings are all open. Timbermill will be next and then Wheeler’s Point. Based on the forecast, we should have water at our docks in a few days!  Spring is finally here!

The Rainy River is opening up more by the day and sturgeon fishing is heating up!

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4/19/18

The Rainy River is opening up more by the day and sturgeon fishing is heating up!

We have open water up to a mile or so east of Baudette and open water spots in front of Timbermill landing on the east edge of Baudette. We expect to have open water at our docks within a few days. The weather is warming up.

Check out the latest…

Vidas Landing is open along with Birchdale and Frontier Landings.

Timbermill Park (East side of Baudette)

Boat Access Map
Click here for the Baudette Area Boat Access Map

What a catch! It’s time!!!

Ryan Shinabargar reeled in this monster 64 inch sturgeon yesterday in the river near Birchdale. 👍🏻🎣Nice catch Ryan!

Sturgeon fishing is heating up. More river holes are opening up by the day. 
A few ounce no roll sinker and 4/0 and 5/0 hooks tipped with a gob of minnows and a shiner is a good approach. Guided trips available!

Fishing Seasons
Sturgeon catch and release now Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Northern Pike open year round
Walleye currently closed, reopening May 12

Spring Specials!
Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night now through April 23 and up to 20% off Charter Fishing packages May 12-23.

Book your trip today. Click here http://sportsmanslodges.com/contact/ or call 800-862-8602. 

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

Check out the latest open water report from Frontier Landing!

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Good Morning! Check out the latest open water report from Frontier Landing. The river has opened up a little bit more this week. Open water has now been spotted 6 1/2 miles west of Frontier Landing. That is 3 1/2 miles east of Vidas Landing and 12 1/2 miles east of Baudette. Hopefully Vidas will break loose in a few days. Bring on the warm temps!

Lodging and Guided Trips Available! Walleye Season open through April 14 and re-opening May 12 Spring Sturgeon season open through May 15. (Some dates catch and release and some keep one) Pike season open year round Come have some fun! Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night April 1-May 23, 2018.

Learn more at: www.sportsmanslodges.com/spring

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy

River Update!

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River Update!

This morning, April 10, from Frontier and Birchdale Landings:

Yesterday afternoon, April 9, from Frontier and Birchdale Landings:

The river is open up to a few miles west of Frontier landing as of today. Approximately 15 miles west of Baudette. Weather forecast although not nearly as warm as last year at this time, is warming up. We will be doing another update Thursday. Stay tuned!

The River Bite
Some getting into a great bite with reports of 50+ fish in a few hours most ranging from 19″-30″ walleyes and 30″+ sturgeon to others struggling to get a dozen. Water is cool hovering around 33-35 degrees and the current is still slow. Walleyes – Gold, pink and orange jigs and plastics have been tackle of choice and shiners. Mix of vertical jigging vs dragging bottom depending on day. Some having the best luck drifting and others anchored. Sturgeon – Gob of worms, on a 4/0 or 5/0 hook and few ounces of no roll sinkers. An added shiner works sometimes too. Sturgeon are being found in deep holes and at the incline of holes along the river.

Seasons
Walleye open through April 14, reopening May 12
Northern Pike open year round
Sturgeon catch and release open through April 23
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Catch & release May 8-15 & Oct 1 – April 23

Ice Fishing
Due to the cool spring, we still have lots of ice on the lake. Extensions are still needed. We don’t have any houses out but if you are interested in venturing out on your own, Morris Point road is open to ATV’s and snowmobiles. For the most to up to date conditions they can be contacted at  218-634-2570.

Join us this spring!
Openings available this weekend and throughout the spring. Lodging starting at $43* per person per night and guided trips available. Charter fishing packages up to 20% off May 11-23. Click here to learn more: www.sportsmanslodges.com/spring

*Plus tax. Minimum rates may apply.

River Update Coming Soon

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River Update Coming Soon

 

Hey Everyone!

What a crazy spring so far. We have gone from two of the warmest spring season’s to now one of the coldest. I guess that is Mother Nature for you, unpredictable. We are going to head out this afternoon and tomorrow morning and snap some pictures of what the river looks like and how far it is open to share with you tomorrow morning. We also will post another update Thursday afternoon too.

Over the weekend, the morning bite on the river was a struggle.  Temps dipped down causing some of the accesses to freeze up and then thawing late morning/early afternoon.  Some anglers went ice fishing on the lake for morning and headed to the river for the afternoon/evening soft water bite.  Still lots of ice on the lake.   Although it doesn’t appear to be time to break out the shorts yet, the forecast does look warmer for this week.  Warmer temps should help navigating the river and the increase the bite for the last few days of walleye season. Walleye season runs through April 14, re-opening May 12. Spring sturgeon catch and release season runs through April 23 and May 8-15, keep one (within size limits) April 24-May 7. Pike season never ends.  If you haven’t experienced reeling in a monster sturgeon or trophy pike, spring is one of the best times to do it. It is a blast! Give us a call, lodging and guided trips are available. 

The bite over the weekend was hit and miss. Some of those who did the best were jigging with 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz jigs on the river and small jigs/spoons on the lake in 16′-24′ tipped with a minnow. Sturgeon anglers were using a gob of worms, on 5/0 hook and a few ounces of no roll sinkers in deep holes of the river.   Pike anglers using live suckers and big smelt in pre-spawn areas.  The current is slow right now. Stay tuned for more updates tomorrow and Thursday.