Jigging & Electronics

Currently we are finding the best luck outside Pine Island about a 25 minute ride from the lodge. 26’-32’ of water has been best using bright colored jigs or buck shots.  Average fish size has been 14 inches in length. Jigging with a minnow has been the best approach. Electronics definitely help your catch rate, especially with the suspended walleyes. We have Vexilars available to rent if you are interested. Call ahead, they go fast

Had a great time this past week. Here is a photo of my 27.5 in released walleye. Joe Donsjkowki

Trail Conditions
Public trails are freshly groomed and continue to be groomed as much as state and local club funding allows.  Many resorts run on their own trails or assist in grooming the trail as well. We have a nice 2-3 foot snow base right now. At this rate will be riding the trails until April!

Ice Conditions
Currently we have 46-48 inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish and we are making more daily! What a winter! Guide Tip: If you are venturing out on your own, we encourage you to stay on the marked trails and know where you are going. Even though we have 46-48 inches in the areas we travel and fish does not mean the entire lake does. Stay safe and wet a line today!

Fish House Rentals available until March 31!
We still have a month of ice fishing! Give us a call to book your stay. Late season fishing usually is very active 800-862-8602!

Martin Donajkowski with a 23.75 in walleye

End of the Season Party!
March 29 is our annual Mardi Gras Celebration. Entertainment, Contests, drink and food specials, beads, costumes, stay and play packages with lots of goodies and good times! Save this date and call to book your Mardi Gras weekend package today!

Caught minutes ago! Sarah Turner lands the biggest walleye of her life! 27 inch walleye caught and released.

Sarah Turner with the 27 inch walleye she caught
on a plain hook and minnow!

Fishing has been like the weather this week. Up and down!  Sometimes a good morning bite, sometimes the afternoon is favorable. The best approach has been using electronics, Fish Finders, Marcum, Vexilar, whatever your favorite flavor is. 26’-32’ of water using ¼-3/8 oz. jigs tipped with a minnow head or full minnow. Try a little of both and see what works for you.  Glow in the dark and gold have been hot colors. Macho Minnows #32 and Stop Signs have been good too. It is a light bite so you really have to get the feel for it and the optimum time to set the hook. Walleyes, Saugers and tulibees are coming through the holes this week.

Anne displays her 27 inch walleye,
which was caught and released

Trail Report
We are getting some wind today which will be hard on the trails. The groomers are grooming as much as funding allows and resorts are helping out as well to keep it in the best shape possible. It takes on a lot of traffic these days.

Ice Conditions
Currently we have 46 inches of ice and building daily! WOW! The good news is since we are a US/Canada border lake we can have our permanent houses out until March 31 unlike many other lakes in Minnesota. Lots of ice fishing is still to be had! We will have rentals available until the end it looks like at this point! 

South Shore Ice Conditions & Fishing Report
2/5/2014

Small Jigs Are Key!
Anglers using 1/4 oz gold and glow in the dark jigs tipped with a half minnow are doing best. Vexilar/Fish Finder users are also seeing the best success as well. The best bite has been in 27’-32’ of water mid-day. It is a timid bite, so to have the best luck, you really have to get the feel for the bite and set the hook just at the right time. Try jigging with one pole and dead sticking with the other and see what works best for you. A mix of walleyes, saugers and tulibees are being caught. Fish sizes are all over the map, ranging from 10” to 30”.

Steve Miranda from Stewartville, MN caught this 29.5″ walleye
on Jan. 21 on a Gold Jig. The fish was released!
Steve was in a Sportsman Sleeper House.

Rhonda Eskola Wolf caught this 24 inch walleye on Jan. 27.

Josh Apman from St Paul, MN caught this 26 inch walleye.
Josh was in a Sportsman Sleeper House.

Ice Conditions
With below average temperatures we continue to make ice! Current ice depth is between 30-34 inches, nearly 3 feet. As long as we do not get any long stretches of 32 degree plus weather we should have no problem fishing right to the end of the season March 31.

Trail Report
Trails on lake and land continue to be groomed 1-2 times a week. For specific trail conditions click here. Take a ride today!

All You Need Is Love and a Fishing Pole
Treat your sweetie to a lodging and fishing package at Sportsman’s Lodge in February. We have sweet dining specials, entertainment and good fishing going on. Ask about our packages today 800-862-8602. Book your Minnesota charter fishing date today!

The weather continues to be colder than average. It should start warming up a little bit soon, right? Forecast is calling for highs in the single digits and lows below zero in the week ahead. On a more positive note, the sun is shining and the fish are biting! The bite is a timid bite so it is important to try a few different jigging techniques and get a feel for the nibbles. Vexilars and fish finders are definitely worth bringing along or renting. We have some for rent if you are interested. Most of the time we see these electronics doubling the angler’s catch rate. There has been a nice amount of 14”-25” walleyes and 10-12 inch saugers caught this week. Some of the best tackle has been charmers, buck shots and stop sign lures. Gold, pink and glow in the dark colors have been the most favorable. Fishing has been best in 28-32 feet of water just a short 25 minute ride from the lodge.

Don’t just take it from me. Check out the pictures here and on our Facebook page and read here what some of our recent guests are saying…

“Thanks for the great time your staff provided us! Here’s our big fish of the week, a 29 inch walleye! Caught on a pink and gold stop sign with minnow.”  – Ryan Denu

Ryan Denu with 29 inch walleye. Great time in the Sleepers!

“Thanks for the great weekend!” – Brad Gerlach

27.25 inch walleye caught on January 4, 2014 by 8 yr old Grant!

“Thank you, Gregg and Diana! Julie and I could not have been treated better during our recent stay, from the moment we arrived until the time we departed. Starting with Jenny at the front desk to Luke in the Bomber, just the best! Good luck the rest of the way, and ‘hopefully’ we will be back in March. Take care.” – Roger Beck

“Thank you for making my stay for son’s first visit a wonderful experience.” – Woody Prehn

“Thanks, Sportsman’s, for another great girl’s trip!!” – Jyothi, Krista, Jen & Trish

Jyothi

Krista with 22 inch walleye

Jen

Trish

Ice Conditions
We continue to make ice with these frigid temperatures. We have between 30-34 inches in the areas we travel and fish right now.

Trail Conditions
The trails continue to be groomed 1-2 times a week. Click here for specific trail information. 

Time to get fishing!
The season is half over! Don’t miss out! We still have openings midweek through March and weekends mid and late March. Give us a call to book your adventure and be sure to ask about our NEW Villas! The brand new lodging units are very comfortable. Fish house rentals available until late March. Come on up! 800-862-8602