River Update Birchdale, Frontier, and Vidas landings are all open on the Rainy River now. Water was flowing just to the west of The Clementson Rapids yesterday when we snapped these pictures. Clementson is located 8 miles east of Baudette and 20 miles east of the lodge. Won’t be long before there is open water in Baudette and soon after in front of the lodge. We expect that to happen this week. Timbermill access will open next. Click here to view the local boat landing map. We are going to run out and check Timbermill later today. Watch our Facebook page and website for that update coming soon.
The fish are biting too! A few of the guides got out this weekend. Caught some nice fish. Check out these pictures and give us a call to book your spring trip.
Lodging and guided trips are available. Spring lodging specials available starting at only $95 for 2 adults per night plus tax.
Water is flowing through Frontier now and the river is open just west of there. Frontier Landing is located 19 miles east of Baudette. Birchdale landing is fully open for boats and it doesn’t look like it will be long before Frontier opens up, especially with the wind and shot of rain in the forecast. Once Frontier opens up, Vidas will be the next landing just east of Clementson and then Timbermill on the east side of Baudette followed by Wheeler’s Point. It is opening up quickly this year!
Birchdale Landing
Birchdale
Birchdale
Frontier Landing
Frontier Landing looking west
Frontier Landing looking east
Vidas Landing
Clementson
Talking with a few anglers yesterday they said the big sturgeon are biting and they caught some walleyes too. Right now sturgeon and walleye can be caught and released. The pike limit is 3 only 1 over 40″, all pike between 30″ and 40″ must be released. Walleye catch and release season is open through April 14. Sturgeon catch and release runs through April 23. “Keep 1″ season (45″-50″ inclusive or over 75”) runs April 24-May 7 followed by one more week of catch and release May 8-15 before closing for 6 weeks. Pike season never closes. A jig and a minnow work well for walleye this time of year, Here is a quick little video on how to set up for sturgeon fishing https://lakeofthewoodsmn.com/sturgeon-fishing/ and for spring pike dead baits, spinnerbait, spoon or crankbait are all going to be good options to start with.
Spring is in the air. The rainy river is opening up!
Ice is disappearing. We have spotted open water about 2 miles west of Birchdale. There is still some shore ice at Nelson Landing in Birchdale but I am sure the county will be out to clear the landing soon. Looks like the warm temps are going to continue. If the wind and rain hit us like the forecast is staying the ice should get chewed up quickly. Stay tuned for more updates.
We took a drive to Nelson Landing at Birchdale this afternoon. We have open water!
We could see open water for about 200 hundred yards to the west of the landing. It won’t be long before boats are splashing in. I am sure the county will be out to clear the landing soon. Check back for another update Wednesday.
Lodging is available now, guided trips will be starting soon and our restaurant, bar, and pool are open. Spring is in the air! www.sportsmanslodges.com
Thank you, guests, staff, and fans for making it another great season! Our ice fishing season is coming to a close. We moved fishing areas and accesses this week but have decided with the warm weather in the forecast it is time to call it a year. Friday will be our last day for rentals. A few accesses remain open on the south shore but be sure to call ahead to the resort or outfitter of your choice for updates before venturing out as conditions are changing.
Our bar and restaurant remain open through Sunday morning 6 am – 10 am and 11 am – 10 pm for food and drinks until 11 pm. Watch our website and Facebook page for updated hours for after the weekend coming soon.
Lodging remains open and spring soft water action is just around the corner. Give us a call to reserve your trip! We have some great spring deals 800-862-8602.
Sportsman’s Oak Island
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge is done for the year too. The restaurant and bar remain open through Sunday morning.
Finally! A break in the weather. Looks like we are going to stay above the donut for awhile. You still have time to come wet a line. Remember we ice fish until late March on Lake of the Woods. This week the best depth has been in 25-32 feet of water. Pink, lime green, and gold have been good colors. Electronics help especially to lure in the suspended fish. 3/8 oz jigs and spoons are good choices tipped with a minnow or even part of a minnow.
We have about 30 inches of ice and about a foot of snow. The guides are ready to take you out and show you a good time.
Walleye, Sauger, Perch, Pike You never know what might come up your hole next. The bite has mostly been walleye and sauger but perch and pike has been common too. Along with eater size and throwbacks being caught, we are seeing some big 19.5”+ walleyes roam the mud flats lately. Deep mud, 28’-32’has been a good depth using small 1/16 oz jigs tipped with plastic that mimics bugs. Do some vertical jigging and dead sticking for your best results. We currently have 20-24”+ of ice and a foot of snow where we fish and travel.
4 ways to get to us this winter!
Fly, let us pick you up (at Sportsman’s Lodge), Take the Ice Road from Warroad or Ride the snowmobile trails. Click here to learn more and on the links below for the latest trail report.
It has been a cold week, warmer temps are in the forecast.
A cold snap has been among us for the past week but it looks like it is going to break after the weekend. The bite has been a little finicky this week, a little more work has had to be put into luring in the catch. Changing up lures, trying different techniques, and using electronics have helped. Rattle spoons and jigs colored wonderbread, pink and gold colored tipped with a full or partial minnow has seemed to work better than others as well as a plain hook and a minnow. A mix of dead sticking and vertical jigging has been the best technique.
The best bite has been in 26’-32’ of water. We currently have over 2’ of ice, making more by the minute and around a foot of snow. Our snowfall so far is below average.
Midweek February trips available as well as some openings the weekend of Feb 26.Can’t swing it in February? We fish until late March. March openings are available too. Pick your favorite package and come have some fun.
Oak Island
Change up your colors On cloudy days try Glo pink and chartreuse. On the sunny days, try favoring gold. Try a mix of small spoons and jigs 3/8 to 1/4 ounce. Tip either one with a minnow or minnow head. The best bite currently is in 27’-31’. We have over 2 feet of ice and about a foot of snow on average. Give both dead sticking and jigging a try. When dead sticking using a bobber is best to see the nibbles so you can take the rod and set the hook at the optimal time.
A little more ice, a little more snow, and good fishing going on
Check out the pictures of the week! Thank you to everyone who submitted their photos.
Jigging and dead sticking 3/8 – 1/4 ounce gold, wonderbread, glow and pink spoons and jigs tipped with a minnow have been the taster’s choice this week. Electronics help too.
27-32 feet has been the best depth. It is mid-season so the ride out to the best action is a little longer than the early season, about 30-60 minutes but worth it. We always like to keep the ride as short as possible but we want to give you the best experience too. We gained a few more inches of ice and snow. Currently we have over 2’ of ice (25”-30”) and 10-12 inches of snow where we fish and travel. More ice is always welcome this time of year to keep us fishing through late March.
Fire tiger rattle spoons and white glow spoons as well as jigs have been hot this week tipped with a minnow in the mud 28’-31’. The catch of the week has been mostly walleyes and saugers but a few big pikes too. We have 22 inches of ice and about 12 inches of snow in the areas we fish and travel. Try a mix of jigging and dead sticking for the best results. Electronics help too! To reserve a vexilar rental, always best to call ahead.
Come wet a line this winter, you still have time!
We currently have some openings Feb 21-24, 28-March 3, 7-10, and 12-20.
And at Eagle Ridge, Feb 7-11, 14-17, 26-March 3, and 7-20.
Snowmobile trails are staked and getting groomed on a regular basis in the islands and from Warroad and Baudette to us. For more information click here for the Northwest Angle area and here for the south shore.
Here we are already at the mid season point. Lots of good fishing has been had but we still have 2 months left! If you haven’t had the chance to get out, you still have time. Remember on Lake of the Woods since we are a border water we can have our fish houses out until the end of March unlike many lakes in the state.
The best bite continues to be in 27-31 feet with a mix of techniques, dead sticking and jigging. Plain hooks, gold and pink jigs and spoons are working the best, tipped with a minnow. Glow anything and wonderbread jigs have also been notable for walleyes and saugers. Many of the suspended fish caught have been big walleyes so keep an eye on the Vexilar. Fish the bottom and when you see action, reel up. The ride out is 30-60 minutes right now. We have houses in various areas to give you the best experience possible. We currently have 22-26 inches of ice and 7-10 inches of snow in the areas we fish and travel.
New Shower House!
For sleeper guests and anyone who is spending some extra time on the lake. We have a new shower house available for use just down the road from the lodge at our new seasonal campground. Enjoy a hot shower before heading home. The showers are coin-operated.
Midweek Openings available in February, weekends and midweeks in March
Give us a call at 800-862-8602 or click here to check availability now for dates of your choice. Packages starting at only $250 per person for 2 nights and 1 day midweek and kids 17 and under always stay free in lodge rooms with 2 adults, fishing just $52 per kid per day. (plus tax and based on double occupancy)
Oak Island
Bring the tiger to get the walleye Yes, you read it right. Fire tiger rattle spoons have been hot this week. Don’t forget to pack a few tigers in your box. 🙂 The catch this week has been 70% walleye and 30% sauger mix along with a few pike and jumbo perch. Best depth has been a little deeper than last week, 26’-30; just off the deep side of structure on the edge. Average walleye and sauger size has been 15”-17”. We now have 20-22 inches of ice and 12 inches of snow in the areas we fish and travel.
Snowmobile trails are getting groomed on a regular basis. For more information click here for the Northwest Angle area and here for the south shore.
Ice Road from Warroad to the Lodge is OPEN!
It is a fun adventure and one more way to get to us! Road passes can be purchased by clicking here.
