Spring Fishing is here on
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Category Archives: News
CATCH THE ACTION AT THE SPORTSMAN’S LODGE RAINY RIVER LOCATION THIS SPRING!
CATCH THE ACTION AT THE
SPORTSMAN’S LODGE
RAINY RIVER LOCATION THIS SPRING!
Spring Fishing Fever 2016
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| The extended walleye season we enjoy on the Canadian border allows for a phenomenon not available for much of the state. The warming weather and increased currents at the beginning of April work to open the Rainy River just as the walleyes are beginning their spring run. The action is fast, and the fish are huge, pulled up one after another. Most fishermen prefer jigging with minnows this time of year. Walleye season closes from mid-April to mid-May, giving anglers an opportunity to try their luck with Minnesota’s largest fish – the mysteriously prehistoric lake sturgeon and the frisky fighting northern pike. Lake of the Woods is proud to be one of the top ten lakes in Minnesota offering the best catch opportunity for you to catch a trophy sized sturgeon or pike in the whole state.
Spring Lodging Rates available March 14 – May 26
For our spring rates and packages Click here. |
Spring restaurant and bar hours at Sportsman’s Lodge. Great specials too!
Spring restaurant and bar hours at Sportsman’s Lodge. Great specials too!
Dockside Dining Room
Enjoy a delicious breakfast dockside.
Open March 22-May 8
Mon-Fri by reservation 7pm night prior
Sat & Sun 6:30am-10:30am
Closed Easter Sunday
May 6-8 6:30am-10am
Mother’s Day Brunch May 8 9am-2pm
Closed May 9-13
Open daily May 14 for the summer season 6:30am-10:30am
Click here to view menu.
Sandbar
Come watch the big game, try your luck at pull tabs, play a game of pool, enjoy good food, drinks and entertainment.
New 65 & 40 inch TV’s!
Daily Happy Hour & 1/2 Price Apps!
Open daily 11am – close. Serving drinks all day.
Serving pizzas Mon-Wed 11am-4pm, spring menu 4pm-9pm, drinks until close.
Thurs – Sun spring menu 11am-10pm, drinks until close.
Closed Easter Sunday & May 9-11
Open daily for the summer season My 12 11am-close, menu served 11am-10pm.
Daily Specials
Daily Happy Hour 3pm-6pm
$1 off domestic beer and rails
1/2 Price Apps Daily 3-6pm & 9pm-10pm
$2 Coors Light 16 oz taps during all MN Hockey Games
Watch the big game on 13 of our new 40 and 65 inch TV’s!
Try your luck at pull tabs, pool and arcade games. The Sandbar is a great place to meet up with friends, enjoy great food, cold drinks, musical entertainment & share fish stories.
Click here for our menu.
Musical Entertainment all year long! Check out who is playing this weekend here
Riverside Dining Room
Take in the view of the Rainy River while enjoy a delicious meal. The Riverside Dining Room proudly serves several walleye, steak, seafood, pasta and chicken dishes. We offer a full salad bar, wine, liquor and beer selection.
Closed March 20-May 25
Open daily for the summer starting May 26 5:30pm-10pm.
Click here to view our menu
Ask about our daily specials! Reservations suggested.
Great selections of steaks, walleye, seafood, full salad bar and more!
All boat landings now open from Birchdale to Wheeler’s Point
All boat landings now open from Birchdale to Wheeler’s Point
All boat landings are now open from Birchdale to Wheeler’s Point. Sturgeon fishing has been good! Anglers are finding some nice sturgeon in and on the incline of the deep holes of the Rainy River. 5/0 hooks 2-4 ounces of weight and a gob of night crawlers is working well. Reel in one of these huge dinosaurs!
The water temperature is currently 34.5 degrees. Water level is low and clarity is 6-12 inches and getting better by the day. Walleye bite has been sluggish but improving. Bite should get better in a few days. The current is fast. 1 oz gold or pink jigs tipped with a minnow works well.
Minnesota Lake of the Woods Fishing seasons:
-Walleye open until April 14 and re-opens May 14
-Pike – continuous – never stops!
-Sturgeon – catch & release until April 23, keep 1 (within size limits) April 24-May 7, catch & release May 8-15
Limits:
Walleye & Sauger
Rainy River & Four Mile Bay
(Four Mile Bay is the SE bay of Lake of the Woods near Wheeler’s Point)
March 1, 2016-April 14, 2016
Limit of 2 Walleye 19 ½” and larger must be immediately released.
May 14, 2016-Nov 30, 2016
Limit of 6
Not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28″; walleye 19 ½” through 28″ must be immediately released.
Lake of the Woods
Dec 1, 2015-April 14, 2016
Limit of 8
Not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28″; walleye 19 ½” through 28″ must be immediately released.
May 14, 2016-Nov 30, 2016
Limit of 6
Not more than 4 can be walleye; only 1 walleye over 28″; walleye 19 ½” through 28″ must be immediately released.
Northern Pike
Limit 3
Only 1 over 40″; all northern pike from 30″ through 40″ must be immediately released.
Lake Sturgeon
October 1 – April 23
Catch & release only
April 24 – May 7
One per calendar year. Fish must be 45″-50″ inclusive or over 75″. Immediately upon reducing a fish to possession, you must validate and attach your sturgeon tag. Harvested sturgeon must be registered within 48 hours.
May 8 – May 15
Catch & Release Only
May 16 – June 30
Closed
This information has been taken from the Minnesota Fishing Regulations information printed by the DNR and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Regulation books are available at the lodge for your convenience or can be viewed online here. Border Waters information starts on page 44,
Minnesota Fishing licenses are available at Sportsman’s Lodge or by purchasing online here
For more information about spring fishing and our great lodging and guided fishing rates click here
Open water channel through Four Mile Bay is getting wider!
Open water channel through Four Mile Bay is getting wider!
The Rainy River is wide open all the way from Birchdale to Wheeler’s Point now. An open water channel through Four Mile Bay to Lake of the Woods is widening by the minute.
All boat ramps from Birchdale to Wheeler’s Point are now open to all boats.
Walleye season runs until April 14. Sturgeon season is catch and release now through April 23. Keep one sturgeon within 45″-50″ or over 75″ is April 24-May 7, be sure to pick up a $5 tag at the lodge or anywhere where you can buy a Minnesota fishing license. May 8-15 is catch and release again. Northern pike season is always open. Lake of the Woods is home to some beautiful walleyes, huge sturgeon and one of the top 5 lakes in Minnesota to catch a trophy pike. Get your fish on! Spring fishing is here!
Lodging starting at only $40 per person per night and guided trips available! Click here
The river is open in front of the lodge!
3/21/2016
The river is open in front of the lodge!
What a year! The river opened quickly! Over the weekend the Rainy River opened in front of the lodge. It is now wide open to Wheeler’s Point and there is a channel open through Four Mile Bay that is within ½ mile of Lighthouse Gap where Lake of the Woods starts. All boat ramps on the Rainy River are to all boats except for Wheeler’s Point. Wheeler’s Point has about 15 feet of shore ice this morning but we expect that to be gone in a couple of days.
Wheelers Point Access 3-21-2016 Shore ice should be gone in a few days! All other ramps on the Rainy River between Birchdale and the lodge are open to all boats now.
View from the lodge looking onto the Rainy River 3-21-2016
Looking towards Wheeler’s Point on the Rainy River from Wheeler’s Point Public Access 3-21-2016
Last week the tributaries opened up and muddied up the water making the walleye bite tough. The water is starting to clear and should be much better by this weekend. Jigging with 3/4-1 oz ounce jigs tipped with a chub or shiner minnow does the trick! In the meantime the sturgeon bite is good! Anglers have been reeling some nice 30”-65” monster sturgeons. Anglers are anchored in deep holes around current using a size 5/0 hook, 2-3 ounces of weight and a gob of worms. Sturgeon catch and release season is open until April 23. April 24-May 7 you can keep one within 45”-50” inclusive or over 75” with a sturgeon tag. Sturgeon tags are $5 and available online or at the lodge. May 8-15 is catch and release again. The season is closed May 16-June 30.
The current water temperature is a cool 33 degrees. The current is quick and the water level is low.
Check out this dinosaur! Lake Sturgeon caught and released this past weekend. Guided by JP Book your spring guided walleye, sturgeon and northern pike trip today!
Monster Sturgeon being caught! Guided by JP. released
Lodging, Guided trips & Dock Slips available!
Lodging starting at only $40 per person per night plus tax Sun-Thurs and $45 on weekends in our lodge rooms and cabins. $59 in our new villas. Guided trips for up to 4 people including guide, boat (18’-20), use of poles, bait and fish cleaning is $450 per day. Dock slips $10 per night. Book by calling 800-862-8602 or book online here.
The lodge will be closed Easter Sunday but lodging is still available!
Book by calling 800-862-8602 or book online here.
Lake of the Woods Fishing Seasons
Walleye open through April 14. Reopening May 14
Northern Pike – always open
Sturgeon catch and release open now through April 23. Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7, catch and release May 8-15. Closed May 16-June 30. Keep one within size limits July 1-Sept 30. Catch and release Oct 1-April 23. For limits and more information click here.
Check out the cool drone footage from Bryan “Beef” Sathre from Fathead Guide Service shot on March 19!!
Spring is here! Time to get your fish on!
Rainy River Open Water Update! 3-16-2016
Rainy River Update!
Vidas landing (8 miles east of Baudette) and Birchdale landing (30 miles east of Baudette) are now both open. Frontier has about 30 feet of shore ice so that will be a few more days. The river is open shore to shore 5 miles east of Baudette and open spots showing up 2 miles east. At this rate we should have open water at our docks with the week.
Vidas Landing 3-16-2016
Angler’s are catching some nice fish on jigs and minnows. Water temperature is 36.5 degrees.
Check out some of the nice walleyes the Lyman Group caught 3-15-2016. Guided by JP
Lodging available $40-$59 per person per night! (plus tax and based on dbl occupancy)
Guided trips available too!
Time for spring fishing! www.sportsmanslodges.com 800-862-8602
Bar and Reataurant is open! Mardi Gras Party Saturday!
19th Annual Sportsman’s Lodge Mardi Gras Party is this Saturday, March 19!
19th Annual Sportsman’s Lodge Mardi Gras Party
is this Saturday, March 19!
Jazz up your winter with the 19th Annual Mardi Gras Party at Sportsman’s Rainy River. There will be lots of activities including music, games, contests, and more. All the fun starts at 8pm so grab your mask and let the beads fly! *Cover charge only $5! (Must be 21 to attend).
*All Lodging guests receive free cover charge
March 19th Mardi Gras Activities Include:
- Entertainment
- Wear your favorite costume
- Good Times
- 1/2 Price Appetizers 3pm-6pm & 9pm-10pm
- $2 Beer & Shot Specials
- Lots of Fun
- Get the most beads and become the king or queen of mardi gras!
- FREE HURRICANES 8pm-9pm
- Stay & Play Packages
- Drink Specials
- Beads, Beads & More Beads
- Must be 21 years or older to attend.
Stay and Play Packages — Limited availability — Book yours today!
Stay two or more nights and receive valuable coupons!
Stay two or more nights including the night of March 19, also receive a 25% off gift shop coupon to use all weekend long and a stay 2 get 3rd night free coupon for a lodge room or cabin stay for our Halloween Party weekend, Oct 29, 2016!
So if you’re 21 years or older make plans to attend the can’t miss event of the year! Call (800) 862-8602 or click here to book your stay today!
Special Spring rates start now!
Get in on some great spring deals!
Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River Location
Lodging starting at only $40* per person per night March 14-May 26.
Up to 20% off Summer Lodging & Charter Fishing packages May 14-26.
Click here for more information.
Click here to book online or call 800-862-8602.
*plus tax and based on double occupancy
The fish are biting! River fishing 2016 has begun!
26 inch walleye caught by Todd Labine 3-14-2016. Guided by Shane.
27.75 inch walleye caught and released by Andy Labine. Guided by Shane. Nice catch!
Sturgeon are biting too!