Author Archives: Sportsman's Lodges

Top 5 Reasons to book a charter fishing trip!

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Top 5 Reasons to book a charter fishing trip!

#1 Catch more fish!
#2 No equipment required!
#3 No experience needed!
#4 Your biggest task of the day is reeling in fish and enjoying the day!…
#5 Groups of 1+ welcome! Boats hold up to 6 passengers plus the guide. Bring a group of 6 or groups of less, we will get you on a boat with other guests to enjoy a fun filled day!

What are you waiting for? Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us at [email protected] for a free quote or click here for more information.

 

Nate Nygard 30 inch 12.86lb walley. Guide, Baihly Hontvet

Nate Nygard 30 inch 12.86lb walley. Guide, Baihly Hontvet

Up & Down

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Fishing has been like jigging this week, up and down. The most successful approaches have been pulling spinners with crawlers or minnows or 3/8 oz. jig tipped with a minnow on the reefs in 20’-30’. The eastern side of Falcon Island and Little Oak Island has been good areas. The water temperature is 72 degrees.

Muskies & Northern Pike
Morning and evening bite has been the best. Top water crank baits and spinners have all been working casting in a weedy bed.

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Pictures and Videos
Have you visited us? We love to see your pictures and videos! Please share with us! You might even show up in a fishing report! Share with us via Email, Facebook or Instagram #sportsmanslodgelow

 

Fishing is great!

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Lots of nice walleyes have been caught this week. Guests going out on charters have been enjoying good fishing action with a mix of 12”-28” walleyes. A mix of bait fishing and trolling for crank baits has been working well! If you jump on a charter, no equipment is required. We will take care of the bait, poles, tackle, get you on the fish and clean your fish too. It has been a warm few days with highs in the upper 80’s, great weather to be floating around and reeling in walleyes. Water temperature is currently 73 degrees. Gold, orange, silver/white and white/red have been popular colored tackle. Bait fishing has been best using a spinner, 1-2 ounces of weight and tipped with leech or crawler. Hot spots have been out in the mud along the south shore of Lake of the Woods or further north up on the reefs in 26’-32’.

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Groups of 1+ welcome!
We welcome groups from 1+. Charter trips include the guide, aboard a 27’ Sport Craft boat, onboard restroom, use of poles, bait, tackle, assortment of water and pop and fish cleaning. Box lunches and shore lunches available for an additional fee. Give us a call and pack the camera! July & August trips still available!

Check out some of the fishing action this week from guides Wes, Travis & Mike!

youtubevideo_sportsmans

Spinners & Reefs

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This week we have experienced a mixture of sun and rain. The 10 day forecast looks much more stable and lots of sun. The best approach for reeling in the walleyes this week has been using a silver, white or gold spinners, 1-2 ounces of weight tipped with a minnow or leech in the mud bottom and around the reefs in 20’-30’ of water. Water temperature is 71 degrees.

WEATHER2JULY

 

Muskies & Pike
Shallow weedy bays have been best although we do notice they are on the move to the points. Rock piles and cabbage have been good spots. Casting buck tails and jerk baits has been working best during the day and top water baits in the evening.

 

Blue Skies & Walleyes are in the Forecast

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The past week the weather has been up and down but it looks like starting tomorrow the forecast is shaping up! We still have openings for the summer and fall season. Come enjoy some summer fun!

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The Scoop
The water temperature is holding stable at 70-72 degrees. A bunch of really nice fish have been reeled in this week. Check out these pictures! The best technique has been mixed. Some anglers are doing really well with white/silver and red spinners, 1-2 ounces of weight and tipping it with a leech or minnow. Other anglers are finding that trolling with crank baits is working the best. Outside of Zippel Bay, Graceton Beach and the northern reefs in Big Traverse have all been hot spots in 26’-32’. Our guides always want to give you the best experience but if you prefer one approach over another we are happy to accommodate. Charter trips include a guide aboard a 27’ Sport Craft boat with onboard restroom, use of poles, bait, tackle, assortment of pop and water and fish cleaning. Shore lunches and box lunches available too.

youtubevideo_sportsmans

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report July 6, 2016

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Hit or Miss
The fishing has been hit or miss this week. The best tip is if one method doesn’t work try another. We are also getting to the end of the fish fly hatch so that should help the bite as well. The best approach has been using 3/8 oz. gold jigs tipped with a minnow or gold and pink spinners and a few ounce sinker tipped with a night crawler or leech in 20’-30’ of water on the reefs. Anglers are also find a few pulling crankbaits in shallow bays as well. The current water temperature is 68 degrees.

Muskies & Northern Pike
The bite was a little slow last week with the cold snap but the weather the past week has warmed up nicely and the bite has started to pick up. Shallow weedy bays using small baits are working well. Guide tip is to slow down your retrieval. As we move into late July we expect the bite to really get good!

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Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report July 6, 2016

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Lots of Options
Stock up your tackle box or leave the hassle to a guide. The fish flies have hatched and the weather is warming up which means the best way to lure in some walleyes is changing. The best method right now is using a few methods. Drifting or trolling with a gold and pink spinner tipped with a night crawler or leech is one method. Drifting and jigging with a 3/8 oz. flashy colored jig and a minnow is another option. The third option anglers are just starting to use is down rigging with rapalas. The walleyes are starting to go deeper. 20’-32’ outside of Zippel Bay and on the northern reefs have been hot spots. It has been a beautiful week of weather here this week. The water temperature has warmed up to 70 degrees now, up 5 degrees this week. Don’t let summer pass you by! Get out and enjoy it!

Billy Hedtke reeled in a nice 27 inch walleye! (released)

Billy Hedtke reeled in a nice 27 inch walleye! (released)

2nd time fishing and she reels in a 27 inch walleye! Nice job Chris from Sleepy Eye MN! (released) Guided by Captain Mike

2nd time fishing and she reels in a 27 inch walleye! Nice job Chris from Sleepy Eye MN! (released) Guided by Captain Mike

 

 

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Muskie fishing is heating up and walleyes are on the move

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Walleyes are on the move this week to the reefs. Anglers have been finding the best schools in 20’-30’ of water on the reefs using a 3/8 ounce gold and orange jigs and a minnow. Pulling gold spinners and bottom bouncers in the same depth outside of the reefs using crawlers or leeches has been working too. Areas around Big Narrows, Little Oak and east side of Falcon Island have all been producing lots of nice walleyes.

Kuechle Group guided by Captain Mike Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge

Kuechle Group guided by Captain Mike Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Muskie
We are starting to hear of more muskies being seen. Lots of picture snapping has been going on and stories to tell. Several measuring 40+ inches have been found lately. Top water and small baits have been the best in shallow weedy bays.

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