Willie Walleye Day is this Saturday, June 2 in Baudette
Willie Walleye Day is a fun family event hosted by the Baudette/Lake of the Woods Chamber and area businesses. Most events are free.
Some of the events include a 5K Run/Walk, Community Wide Rummage Sale, Kids Games & Inflatables, Vendors, Entertainment and much more. For the complete schedule check it out here.
For lodging, camping, dining and fishing give us a call we still have a few openings!
Summer is here! We are in full swing here at Sportsman’s Lodges. The weather is warming up and the fish are biting.
We have had many new things take place here at the Rainy River location this spring. Our pool floor got redone. Giving it a new facelift. A new playground was installed near the cabins. A new state of the art geo-thermal unit was installed. The geo-thermal unit took about 2 years of planning, we are excited to see it up and running. The unit of course had some very high initial costs but in the long run it should save money and provide a better green enviroment for all. Over the last 3 years we have seen our energy bill jump nearly 30%. It only made good business sense to start looking into alternatives. After the initial costs are paid for we look forward to putting more money towards improvements of the lodge.
The cabins and lodge rooms are spruced up, the campsites are ready and our New Villa is in high demand. The new villa was available starting in December of 2011 and guests are loving it! Five Bedrooms, 4 Baths, kitchen, living area, loft and a breathtaking view of the River. Check out some of the pictures here. Whether you are looking to rent or check into our ownership opportunities of our new development give us a call! Gregg would be happy to discuss all of the options.
We are looking forward to another fun summer! Hope you can join us!
Imagine spending the day bobbing along the waves; just you and five of your favorite friends, soaking up the sun, spending a summer day in style on a charter out of Sportsman’s Lodge on Minnesota’s Lake of the Woods. Nothing can compare to Minnesota fishing, with Walleyes, Saugers, and Lake Sturgeon a plenty!
For more information on all the various species, click here now! Minnesota licenses are available on line by clicking here or at our front desk, but don’t forget to bring your ID and Social Security number.
Not sure when you want to book a charter? Choose by our seasonal guide on fishing, where you can learn more about migration, patterns, and conditions during all the different seasons. Click here now to view our best fishing by season!
• No experience or equipment required!
• Rods, reels, bait, tackle, and 12 pack assorted pop and water are provided.
• Fish cleaning is also provided for your convenience and they are delivered right to your room.
• Comfortable 27′ Sportscraft with on board restroom, cabin cutty and covered top.
This is no guessing game . . .
Experienced Coast Guard Licensed Guides will be in charge of your journey. Click here to meet our guides now!
When you hit the lake with the Sportsman’s guides service, you’re benefiting from over 200 years of combined experience. The Sportsman’s Guides know where to find the fish on Lake of the Woods, and they know how to navigate the sometimes tricky waters of the big lake. And with over 14,500 islands, 65,000 miles of shoreline, and nearly one million acres of water, it’s a good idea to have someone on board who knows where they’re going on the international waters of Lake of the Woods.
Click here to view our latest fishing and outdoor report.
The Vessel
A 27′ Sportscraft is the boat of choice for your chartered fishing tour.
Groups less than 6, most guests prefer and we recommend the Private Charter option, for an additional charge of $75 per slot you can have the boat to your group exclusively! It’s the way to go! More choices, more freedom to do what you want on your vacation. Should you choose not to buy out your boat, other parties will be added to you crew to fill the boat at our discretion.
Hold up to 6 passengers (Coast Guard Regulations)
Equipped with an onboard restroom
Choose from Full Day or Half Day Trips
Full Day 8am – 5pm – most popular and best value!
Half Day 8am – noon or 1pm – 5pm
Lunch Options
Sack Lunch or Shore lunch available
Sack Lunch
Ham, Turkey or Roast Beef Sandwich (cook’s choice)
Salad
Chips
Cookie
Fruit or Veggies
Have a Shore lunch…The ultimate experience!
Enjoy your morning catch fresh for lunch over an open fire. Enjoy watching your guide cook your fresh Walleye over an open fire. Accompanied by potatoes, beans, bread and cookies for dessert.
Enjoy your fresh fish in our dining room or bar after a day’s trip. If you fish on one of our guide boats, we will prepare you fish for free!
And if that isn’t enough, you can even experience two properties & two totally different experiences in one trip with our Adventure Packages or try one of our new half or full day lake tours.
Click Here to request more information about chartered fishing at Sportsman’s Lodge or click here now to view our rates. Call us today at (866) 533-8998.
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We are enthusiastically waiting for Walleye Opener 2012! Opener this year is Saturday, May 12. We have had very good fishing the past three years and are looking forward to once again another excellent year here on Lake of the Woods. The DNR has done a great job at maintaining and growing our fishery over the years. Many long time guides continue to say they have not seen the fishing like this in years if ever. The walleye and sauger population is in great shape and continues to thrive. The large lake specialist, Tom Heinrich from the DNR said in a recent St Cloud Times article that the sturgeon population in his estimation is one of the largest in the country. We also have one of the highest trophy pike populations in the state as well. We are very happy with where the fishery is at and headed at this time and are looking forward to another great summer!
Does your Mom like to fish or relax? Treat her to a trip to Sportsman’s Lodge Mother’s Day and Walleye Fishing Opener Weekend, May 11-13. Walleye Opener is Saturday, May 12 and Mother’s Day is Sunday May 13. Enjoy walleye fishing, food, entertainment, indoor pool, hiking, relaxing, boating, shopping and our Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch on Sunday, May 13.
It’s Sturgeon Time! Limited Time Only! Only 20 days left! Don’t miss out!
Check out this picture of one of the healthy sized ones caught recently. Riley Tarsi guided by Captain Keith reeled in and released a nice 61 inch sturgeon this past weekend.
Check out this entertaining video of the sturgeon action Jake & Aaron from Bemidji Outdoors had recently.
The details…..
Areas from one mile up river from the lodge through Four Mile Bay have been producing some nice sturgeon. Quite a few are being caught right out in front of the lodge. It is a blast watching from our front window these prehistoric monsters being caught daily. The water temperature has come up a little bit over the past week; we are sitting around 45 degrees right now, typical for this time of year. Even though it was a early spring the weather the past few weeks overall has been quite cool keeping the temperature water low.
The depth to hook into one of these monsters is all over the board really 16′, 21′ and 40′. Depth doesn’t seem to be the biggest factor, than finding a hole in the river bottom is. Sitting at the edge of a hole so the current will pull your hook into the hole where the sturgeon lurk seems to be a successful approach. If after a half hour or so you are not getting anything adjust your anchor by moving closer or further away, even sometimes 3 feet can make all of the difference. Once you hook into a good one you better have ate your Wheaties, they will fight you for it, sometimes up to 1-2 hours. Size 5-6 circle hooks and a 2 oz no roll weight works best tipped with night crawlers work best to lure them in. Only 20 days left of the spring season, April 24-May 7 you can harvest one within size limits if you purchase a sturgeon tag (only $5) along with your Minnesota fishing license and May 8-15 you can catch and release before the season ends for a month and half time reopening July 1 again. We anticipate the bite to be good right through to the end of the season. We still have some openings for lodging, camping and guided trips too! Give us a call! 800-862-8602 or contact us online here.
Check out the recent article in the St. Cloud Times more about the phenomenal sturgeon we have here. According to local DNR Large Lake Specialist, Tom Heinrich, in his estimation Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River has one of the largest sturgeon populations in the country!
Read all about it here….
Pike Bite
The best pike bite continues to be in the Zippel Bay & Four Mile Bay area lately. Anchored with dead bait has been best.
6th Annual Sturgeon Tournament is next weekend!
May 4 & 5 is our annual sturgeon tournament. One boat spot remains available. Give us a call to book your spot. Entry fee is only $70 per person and includes a prime rib awards banquet dinner. Live Entertainment and prizes up to $4800 in mostly cash will be given away over the two days. Always a great time!
Sat March 31
Mardi Gras ~ Sportsman’s Style
Beads, Games, Contests, Food & Drink Specials, Entertainment and a whole lot more!
VIP Packages
Sportsman’s Lodge
Baudette, MN
For more information click here http://www.mardigras.sportsmanslodges.com
See you at the party!
Book an ice fishing package at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location for dates thru March 31, 2012 and we will guarantee we will have good ice for ice fishing or we will not charge you for ice fishing and discount your lodging 50%!. No Worries! If we don’t have ice you get to come and stay for 50% off. Relax, eat, drink, enjoy the hot tub and pool, sight see, hike and enjoy the area.
No two special offers may be combined. Fishing package must be reserved with full deposit before the final date of the season is announced. Sportsman’s Lodge determines the last day of fishing for the guarantee. Not valid at the Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge, Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge or Sportsman’s Sleeper Division.
Looking for something different to do this Valentines Day? How about snuggling up with your best guy or gal and heading to Sportsman’s Lodges where you can enjoy lodging, food, live entertainment, dancing, indoor pool and hot tub and excellent winter ice fishing? Sound sweet to you? We have fishing packages available starting at $180 per person that includes 2 nights lodging and 1 day full service ice fishing, you do not have to bring a piece of equipment. Poles, bait, tackle and fish cleaning are provided. Transportation to and from will also be provided and the holes will be drilled and the house nice and cozy warm when you arrive or your day of fishing. We can also provide you with a delicious hot lunch midday delivered right to your house if you choose too! So do something different this Valentines Day and make plans to visit us at Sportsman’s Lodges 800-862-8602.
Can’t decide on the dates yet? How about a gift certificate? Available to purchase online.
Sportsman’s Rainy River will be offering dinner specials for 5 nights Sun Feb 12 – Thurs Feb 16. Check out the specials and more sweet deals here.