Category Archives: News
Sweet Summertime ~ Lake of the Woods, MN
6/12/2013
Aaaahhhh! The warmth of summer is finally upon us. The sparkling waters of the lake are dancing with delight today. Hope you can come visit us soon!
We have lots of activity going on at the lodge today. The painters just finished painting the entire outside of the lodge. It looks great with a fresh coat of new paint. We also added a brick accent along the dockside and roadside of the lodge along the lodge rooms. Fishing has been great! Lots of nice walleyes are being found this week. The guides are hot on the walleye trail. Check out more information in our fishing report section.
Our entertainment line-up is in full swing in the Sandbar. Thunderfoot is entertaining now followed by musical entertainment, mostly live bands every weekend through September. The bands play 9pm-1am. We also have pull tabs, daily drink and food specials and a great view of the Rainy River to watch the boats come in. Guests have been enjoying the pool and hot tub this week too. The pool depth ranges from 3 feet to 9 feet. Lots of room to swim and relax. The gals in the gift shop just stocked some more souvenirs and clothing this morning. Stop on by for a hot piece of tackle, a walleye whistle, sunglasses, souvenirs and our new summer wear.
When you are in the area, be sure to check out Willie the Walleye, our two ton walleye statue along Hwy 11 in the middle of Baudette. Also enjoy in Baudette, souvenir shops, county museum, the views from the Baudette Bay, the weekly Saturday Farmer’s Market, a movie at the Grand Theater, a coffee at the Smiling Moon coffee shop and Timbermill Park. Venture east six miles along Hwy 11 and check out the Clementson Rapids and then venture north on Hwy 172 12 miles and 5 miles west on County Rd 8 to Zippel Bay State Park. Zippel Bay Park has a vast swimming beach and nature trails to enjoy. Our area also has an 18 hole golf course, thousands of acres of water for boating, fishing and relaxing and much more. Check out all the fun things to do at Lake of the Woods here.
Walleye Opener Results Lake of the Woods 5/13/2013
5/13/2013
Walleye Opener Weekend 2013 Results are in! Walleye Opener 2013 was a cool and windy one, giving anglers a challenge, but some nice ones were found! Check out this nice 25 inch walleye Kelly Moore caught guided by Captain Alan “Flip” Phillippe! Sunday, the weather cleared with 5-15 mph winds and sunny. Still a cool 55 degrees but much nicer and boy did Captain Alan “Flip” Phillippe and his crew get into the walleyes! His group caught a 30”, 27”, and a 28” for big walleyes along with 18 other slot fish (19.5”-28”) and lots of good eater size. What a day! Check out the pictures! It is walleye time!
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| Jim Jorissen from Little Canada, MN pictured with his 28 inch walleye he caught and released 5-12-2013. Guided by Captain Flip. | James Jorissen from Little Canada, MN pictured with his 27 inch walleye he caught and released 5-12-2013. James also caught a 30 inch walleye too! Guided by Captain Flip. |
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| Kelly Moore reeled in a nice 25 inch walleye opening day! Guided by Captain Flip | Lake Satellite picture 5-12-2013 |
Anglers are finding some nice walleyes in 12’-16’ of water right now along shorelines and areas with some current. The technique of choice has been anchoring and jigging with a 3/8 oz jig tipped with a minnow. The lake ice is starting to disappear more and more. More hot fishing spots are opening up daily. Check out the latest satellite picture.
Get in on the spring bite. We have a spring lodging special that runs through May 23. Lodging rates starting at only $39 per person per night. Don’t miss out on our Memorial Day Special too! Stay 3 nights and get the 4th night FREE! This offer won’t last long. www.sportsmanslodges.com Give us a call today 800-862-8602!
7th Annual Sportsman’s Lodge Sturgeon Tournament Day 2 Results 2013
5/4/2013
Day 2 Winners of the 7th Annual Sportsman’s Lodge Sturgeon Tournament are:
#1$ 1900 Cash – Hunter Deziel from Grand Forks, ND with a 58 1/2 inch length and 24 inch girth
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#2 $820 Cash – Tommy Riggs from Shevlin, MN with a 56 1/2 inch length and 21 3/4 inch girth
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#3 Custom Rod – Nick Simonson from Marshall, MN 56 inch length and 21 1/2 inch girth
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Thanks to all of the particpants! We look forward to seeing you again next year! May 2 & 3, 2014
October Happenings at Sportsman’s Lodges
| Fishing Report 10/1/2012 South Shore The Bite NW Angle & Islands Walleyes, Muskies, Crappies, Pike, take your pick!
You’re Invited to Sportsman’s Halloween Party! The annual “Nightmare on Bur Oak Rd” Halloween party at Sportsman’s is always a frightfully good time! Come on out for the party, wear your best costume for a chance to win spooktacular prizes – including $200 cash for the best costume, enter contests and take part in other fun and competitions! Drink specials all night! Spooktacular Prizes! Contests! Fun & Competitions! What would a party be without great entertainment? $5 Cover Charge – FREE if you arrive before 8pm! Halloween Stay & Play Packages – Limited supply! Only 50 available! One Night Package Includes one night lodging, cover charge, drink coupons, Party gear, breakfast, dinner, gift shop coupon and a Stay 2 nights get the 3rd night free coupon for our Mardi Gras Party Weekend March ’13. One Night Package with a day of Charter Fishing Includes everything from the package above plus an all day trip 8am-5pm, guide, use of poles, bait, tackle and fish cleaning. Two Night Package Includes two nights lodging, cover charge for the party,drink coupons for Friday & Saturday, party gear, dinner on Friday & Saturday, lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Saturday & Sunday, gift shop coupon and a Stay 2 nights get the 3rd night free coupon for our Mardi Gras Party Weekend March ’13. Two Night Package including a full day of Charter Fishing Includes everything in the package above plus an all day trip 8am-5pm, guide, use of poles, bait, tackle and fish cleaning.
Call 866-998-7280 to book your Halloween Stay & Play Package today or visit www.sportsmanslodges.com! Limited Supply! *All packages rates are plus applicable state and local tax.
Fall lodging starting at just $39 per night, click here! Now’s your opportunity to book our most popular fall packagewhile the best dates are still available! 3 nights lodging, 2 days charter fishing and 8 meals Only $424 per person* That’s three nights in your choice of a lodge room or cabin, two full days of guided walleye charter fishing including the use of poles, bait, tackle and fish cleaning and 8 meals! We have the best meal plan on the lake. Hands down. Dig in to hearty meals and several different selections. Enjoy three dinners choosing from many delicious Enjoy a hearty breakfast before each day of fishing and the day you depart. Indulge in your choice of egg dishes, pancakes, skillets and more. For lunch bring a group of 6 and choose our shore lunch where the guide will cook up your morning catch along with potatoes, beans, bread and dessert or if want to get the most fishing in you can, we will be happy to prepare a sack lunch for you to enjoy on the water. Enjoy some excellent fall fishing the Lake of the Woods and Rainy River have to offer along with the backdrop of the fall foliage. Lake of the Woods is great place to get away from it all! Sportsman’s has a lot to offer including: Lodge Rooms Cabins Villas Camping Bar with Weekend Entertainment Restaurant Indoor Pool Gift Shop Dock Rental Boat Rental Guided Year Round Fishing Trips Conference & Group Facilities Game Room And, don’t forget, we’re located in some of the best fishing in the world! Call us a call at 866-998-7280 to book your fall stay now orclick here for complete fall rates. *Plus tax based on double occupancy
Book & pay for your winter trip for dates between Dec. 1 – March 31 in full by Oct. 15 and receive Double Sportsman’s Loyalty Points. *Double reward points will be given for all services paid for at any of the Sportsman’s Lodge locations upon check out of your reservation. Excludes tax and gratuity.
Bur Oak Villa #426 is now for sale!
The first villa was built last year and has been an incredible addition to Sportsman’s! These beautiful villas will replace all of the exsisting cabins on our Rainy River property.
Click here for information about owning a Villa at Sportsman’s!
Lake of the Woods Legend, Kit Bickel Celebrates 50 YEARS of Guiding! What an accomplishment! Sportsman’s is proud to have Kit Beckel, a true veteran guide on our guide roster. Kit has grown up on Lake of the Woods and has enjoyed every bit of it, all 50 years. Kit loves his job and has devoted his life to the resort and fishing industry, and at this point has no plans on changing it! We think this accomplishment is worth cheering about. Have you fished with legendary guide Kit Beckel over the years? In celebration of his 50 years of guiding, we are putting together a book of stories, pictures and memories to commemorate his years on the lake and would like your help! Please help us bysubmitting to this site. We would love to hear from you! Please submit your information by Nov 1, 2012 by adding a story, picture and/or video. |
Zippel Bay this week. Anglers have had good luck in 15′-24′ of water using chub and shiner minnows. Gold and bright orange jigs have been the hot tackle. Brenda Pickle joined the 10lb club this weekend. Brenda reeled in a real nice 10lb, 30 inch walleye while fishing with Captain Alan “Flip” Phillippe. Some real nice walleyes, a few northern pike and nice jumbo perch were also found. Check out the pictures! The current water temperature is in the mid 50’s right now. Cool weather is in the forecast so we should see this water temperature rapidly decrease in the week ahead and start heating up the river bite.
If you like to switch it up and fish for many different species, now is the time to get to the island. We have been seeing some nice varieties of fish caught right now. Walleyes have been found in 12′-20′ along structure near west side of Falcon Island, south side and northwest side of Oak Island using minnows and a gold or pink jig. Crappies have been found in deeper depths between 30′-40′ using minnows and bright colored jigs. Pike and muskies have been found deep in the bays using spoons and buck tails. Lots of good fishing going on!
selections off our Fall Menu – steaks, walleye, sandwiches, you name it!
Now is the time to own your slice of heaven!
Walleye Opener 2012 in 9…8….7…. days and counting!
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!
100% Ice Guarantee – Sportsman’s Lodge
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.
Henry from the Bergstrom group with a nice catch (even though he lost his IPOD touch down the hole,oops! I hear it was worth it). The Annual Bergstrom Family vacation at Sportsman’s has a touching story along with it http://www.for-petes-sake.org/# A reminder to all of us how precious family is.
Island Fish Fry Experience
Island Fish Fry Experience
An island fish fry, an experience in itself during a day of fishing. If your looking to catch a nice mess of good eating fish that is certainly not hard to come by right now too. Fishing continues to be very good and there is nothing better than enjoying authentic island fish fry midday during a day of fishing. Ask about booking a shore lunch when you book your next trip. Your guide will prepare your fresh catch over an open fire including all of the fixings, fried potatoes, beans, bread and cookies to top it off after enjoying a hearty lunch all while you take in the beautiful scenerythat surrounds you. For more information about Sportsman’s fishing experiences click here.
The Hunt is on!
Lots geese and bear seen in the Lake of the Woods area this year
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