Author Archives: Sportsman's Lodges

Mud, Rock, Sand. . . Read all about it! 8/26/2013

August 23, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

Summer heat came back! Walleye fishing has been great! Lots of action! Nice quality 14”-18” and 23”+ too. Trolling with crank baits in the mud 32’-35’ in northern Big Traverse and shallow rock 11’-15’ is working. Drifting and jigging in the evening in the shallow sand near Pine Island 6’-12’ has also been successful.

Lake Sturgeons are active!
Lake sturgeons are biting in the river in the deep holes with current. Anglers have spotted several jumping in the evening hours. Quite the show! Keep one (within size limits, refer to DNR regulations for details) season lasts until Sept 30 and catch and release season is Oct 1-April 23. To keep one you just need to purchase a $5 sturgeon tag and have Minnesota fishing license. Click here for more information on licenses and limits.

6 year old Andrew Burquest caught 28.5 inch walleye

6-year-old Andrew Burquest from Elk River, MN & 28.5 inch walleye caught in 34 feet of water using a crawler harness 8-10-2013

Veteran fisherman Kenny Hopp reeled in a nice 30 inch walleye on a fire tiger shad rap while fishing with Captain Dave

30.5 inch walleye caught by Joe Waller and guided by Captain Darryl

28 inch walleye caught by a member of the Hagen group Captain Mike

Labor Day Weekend Special!
Stay 3 and get the 4th night FREE at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location! We will also be hosting our 2nd Annual 80’s Party on Saturday, Aug 31. Pack your zubaz! For reservations book online or call 800-862-8602.

Deep Rocks

August 19, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

Some of the best walleye fishing has been found in deep rocky areas in 22’-25’ feet of water this week. Dead minnow on a 3/8 oz chartreuse and black jig has worked best. Little Oak Island and areas north around Skeet have been good. The evening bite has been the best. Go charter fishing in Minnesota and catch yours!

Pike & Musky
Pike and musky have been found in the deep weed beds especially in the late afternoon using a cowgirl.

Nice Walleyes! Guided by Captain Eric

Good Quality & Quantity! Does it Get Any Better?

August 19, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

It has been a great week of fishing! Lots of nice size walleyes have been found. Many good eaters, 14”-18” and several 23”-27” along with some whoppers 28”+. Check out the pictures here and on our Facebook page!

The best bite has been found trolling with crank baits. Red and gold lures in deep 30’-34’ of water along the outside of Graceton Beach and Long Point have been good spots. The guides have been hot on the walleye trail. Get in to catch your excitement before the snow flies! We have openings. www.sportsmanslodges.com

John Royer IA 60 inch sturgeon Captain Mike

Labor Day Weekend Special
Bring the whole family. Stay 3 nights and get the 4th night free! Labor Day weekend at Sportsman’s Lodge Baudette location. Reserve today 800-862-8602.

Fall into Walleyes!
Fall is just around the corner. Check out our fall packages.

Brittany 24.5 inch walleye with Captain Eric

Walleyes, Muskies, Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike take your pick or try them all!

August 7, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

Now is a great time of year for walleyes, muskies, smallmouth bass or northern pike fishing near Oak Island Minnesota and the Northwest Angle of Lake of the Woods. The muskies and northern pike have really been hitting on spoons and buck tails, the bass on shad raps and the walleyes are hot on gold spinner or orange and pink 3/8 oz jigs tipped with a minnow.

The best locations for walleyes have been either south of Oak Island in 20’-25’ of water or areas around Tug Channel and Falcon Island around points and in depths between 10’ – 20’. We have recently seen mainly nice good eater size walleyes between 14”-18” caught a few slot fish 19.5”-28” but overall nice size fish for a delicious walleye shore lunch. As for muskie, northerns and smallies…areas on the south side of Oak Island, around Skeet, and the west side of Falcon Island are all good places to try.

Monster Crappie Guide Joe Cooper

Guide Joe Cooper NW Angle Area pictures courtesy of Steve Worrall

A look ahead…
Fall foliage, hunting seasons, and excellent walleye, crappie fishing will soon be upon us. Make your reservations now and fall into walleyes with our great fall rates!

Fishing has been excellent!

August 7, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

I have received so many pictures this past week they are overflowing onto our Facebook page for you to view. Check them out and keep sending us your pictures! We truly enjoy seeing them and having you share your experience with us. Thanks to everyone who has shared theirs with us.

A mix of bait and trolling with crank baits have been producing great results. Fish seem to be starting to change to early fall characteristics. It has been unseasonably cool the past few weeks with temperatures in the upper 60’s and lower 70’s during the day and cooling down to 50’s in the evening. Trolling with crank baits in the mud 30’-32’ outside Zippel Bay area and drifting while bait fishing over shallow sand bottom in 5-10mph winds has produced good results. Rock reef bait fishing has been tougher the past week. Lots of big walleyes have been found, especially 23”+.

Summer may be winding down, but the fishing continues!
Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River are legendary fisheries in the fall. Catch the walleye excitement right up to freeze up. (Usually early November) Enjoy great fall rates including lodging as low as $39 per person per night and lodging and Minnesota charter fishing packages through October starting at just $188 per person for 2 nights and 1 day. You won’t want to miss it! Click here for more information or here to reserve online. *Rates based on double occupancy plus tax.

Amy Kirkpatrick 28.5 inch walleye Captain Mike

Grant 32 inch Leiseth Group Captain Dave

It’s a double! Paul Carlson Captain JP Nice!

50% off Fall Camping if you book by August 15!
Book your 2 nights or better camping stay for available dates of Sept 2-Oct 16 or Oct 20-31 by Aug 15 and get 50% off our regular rate! Enjoy dining, bar, weekend entertainment, gift shop, indoor pool, hot tub, game room and more. Dock slips, boat rental, guided fishing trips, conference center and more available too.

Good Fishing

August 2, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

The best areas to find some good fishing have been around Johnston Passage, Skeet and Little Oak Island in a few different depths, 10’-12’, 18’-22’ and 29’-33’. Jigging with a 3/8 oz jig tipped with a minnow has been working best for walleyes.

Muskies
Several areas around Falcon Island have been phenomenal for some good muskie fishing. The guides have some awesome spots that have been producing consistently. Double cowgirls and Danny Bait lures have been working the best.

No passport needed…
Take advantage of our boat passenger service from our Sportsman’s Rainy River location and head to the island. You will stay in Minnesota the whole time and enjoy great views to boot. Click here for more information.

Fall is just around the corner
Get into the Fall action!

Summer Loving – Sparkling waters, blue skies, good fishing and great memories. Does it get any better than this?

August 2, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

Check out some of the recent pictures of the fun we have been having!
We always love to see your pictures. If you have recently fished on Lake of the Woods, please send your pictures to [email protected] and you might see your picture in the next fishing report!

Tim Stewart 31 inch walleye, released

6 yr old Wyatt reels in a nice walleye

Monster Sturgeon!
When you’re fishing for walleyes on Lake of the Woods, sometimes you just never know what you might reel up! Check out this monster sturgeon that 16 year old Steven Lasser from Roseville caught on a gold spinner and a night crawler while targeting walleyes aboard a Minnesota charter fishing boat when staying at Sportsman’s. After over an hour’s struggle he got it in the boat for a picture before releasing it. It was a heck of fight. The sturgeon measured 60 inches long. They were not able to weigh it before releasing it, but according to DNR sizing charts, they figured it weighed in at approximately 67 lbs. What a trip to remember!

You never know what you might reel up when you’re fishing for walleyes! 16 year old catches 67 lb 60 inch sturgeon!!

The Scoop
Best walleye bite has been found trolling with crank baits this week in 30’-32’ of water in areas around Garden and Knight Islands. Nice 14”-22” and 27”-30” walleyes have been found. Some anglers are also having some luck drifting using hammered gold spinners and crawlers on reefs in 18’-25’ of water.

100% Walleye Limit Guarantee!
We are guaranteeing you will leave or eat your limit of walleyes if you fish on one of our guide boats for two days or better or we will pay you $10 per fish short! Don’t miss out, click here to book your trip today.

Affordable Family Fun!
Get in on our 20/20 Special and take advantage of up to $40 in savings per person on select dates when your stay includes a 2 night/2 day fishing package or better Aug 18-31.

Walleye & Musky Fishing Continue to be Very Good

July 26, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

July 26, 2013

Walleyes are biting good on hammered gold and red spinners tipped with a chub just off the reefs near Little Oak, Four Blocks and the west side of Falcon Island in 18’-25’ of water. The muskies continue to be very aggressive in the bays using cow girls and danny baits.

Fall Fishing
It won’t be long and we will be smack dab in the middle of fall. Do you have your reservations in yet?

41.5 inch Muskie Lynne Kinney North Liberty and guide Joe Cooper

Late Summer Lunkers

July 26, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

July 26, 2013

Late July and August on the south shore of Lake of the Woods is known for its lunker walleyes and that is just what has been going on! The fishing has been good. Several slot fish and larger as well some nice 14”-18” walleyes for shore lunch or to take home too. Trolling with crank baits using controlled depth methods just off the rock reefs in 28′-32′ and in the mud in 30′-34′ have been working very well. Red and white crank baits have been hot the past few days. Areas around Knight & Bridges have been good spots. Drifting and bait fishing with crawlers or leeches in 29’-31’has brought in some nice ones too. If you like the thrill of reeling in a 20+ inch walleye now is the time! We have some openings left in August. Give us a call to book your last minute summer trip!

Dianne Streiff 28 inches red shad rap released Captain Dave

100% Walleye Guarantee
Our guarantee to you continues to the end of our season, Oct 31, 2013! Book a 2 day fishing trip on one of our charter boats and we guarantee you will leave with or eat your limit of walleyes or we will pay you $10 per fish short!

Kelly Haberling Miller, SD 28 inch walleye Guided by Captain Dave

50% off Camping this Fall
Take advantage of our 50% off camping site offer when you book a two night or better stay for dates of Sept 2-Oct 16 or Oct 20-31 by Aug 15. Don’t delay this offer only lasts until Aug 15!

80’s Party & Labor Day Special
This Labor Day Weekend we will be holding our 2nd Annual 80’s party! Throw your Zubaz in your tackle box, feather your hair and get ready for a whole lot of fun! Specials, Entertainment, Games, Costume Contest and much more planned. Check out our website for more information by clicking here. We will also be offering a stay 3 nights, get the 4th night free special that weekend as well. Give us a call today 800-862-8602 to book your lodging reservations.

Walleye Fishing Remains Steady on the North End

July 19, 2013 by Sportsman's Lodges

Walleye fishing remains steady on the rocks along the north end of the Big Traverse. Nice walleyes have been located in 8’ to 11’ of water on top of shallow rock piles and rocky windblown shoreline areas. Deeper rock structure also has its share of nice walleyes, most of the active fish have been located on the top of rock.

Pulling spinners over the top of the shallow rock with crawlers and leeches has been very productive. A wide variety of colors have been working, gold and orange are good starters. A jig and minnow is a good alternative in 1/4 to 3/8 ounce, vertically jigged over top of the rock structure. Gold, orange, and chartreuse are always good.