Category Archives: Weekly Oak Island Fishing Report

Weekly Oak Island Fishing Report

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 1/2/20

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Happy New Year from the Sportsman’s Lodge Family

We have been having fun over the holidays!

Nice eating size walleyes have been coming through the ice as well as several throwback size saugers, few nice size tullibee, sturgeon and pike this week. Guests have been having the best luck in 18’-28’ using pink, gold, green glo jigs, and lures tipped with a minnow or shiner. Some guests have had luck the best luck using a full minnow and others just a minnow head. Dead sticking one pole and jigging the other is working well. Electronics such as Vexilars help too. We have a few to rent at the lodge if you want to try one out. Be sure to call ahead to reserve, they go fast.

Ice & Snow
We have 18-20 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel right now. The forecast is calling for single digits and below zero temps next week. We received some snow last week but still just have 0-10 inches on the ice. Not nearly as much as the rest of the state. With cooler temps in the forecast, we should have 2 feet of ice in no time.

Snowmobile Trails
Snowmobile trails are being groomed. The lake trails from Four Mile Bay on the south side of the lake to Oak Island and Graceton Beach (south side of the lake) to Warroad are groomed. Conditions are improving after the recent snowfall but important not to veer off the trail as the ice is quite rough and ice chunks are sticking up off the trail. No travel is advised on the Rainy River yet until conditions in the current areas improve.Check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters and Northwest Angle Edge Riders for more trail reports.

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Guide Wack says the action has been good in the islands. A mix of saugers, walleyes and a few pike, perch and muskies have been caught this week. Yes! Muskie! In the islands, we have fantastic muskie fishing in the summer but we usually don’t see too many caught in the winter. A big surprise to a few anglers this week. The best fishing has been in 23’-24’ on the rocks for walleyes and off the rocks for other species. Watermelon color, gold, and glo jigs especially those with some rattle and noise to them have been working the best this week. Some anglers are swearing by just the minnow head instead of the full minnow especially on lures with a treble hook.

Ice & Snow
We have 16-18 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. 3-10 inches of snow.

Snowmobile Trails
The trail from Four Mile Bay to Oak Island is in decent shape, getting better but it is important to stay on the trail. With not too much snow base yet, there are ice chunks off the trail.Check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters and Northwest Angle Edge Riders for more trail reports.

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to the Lodge
Plowing and maintenance are in progress. It should be ready to go next week. Our signs will be up as soon as it is. For now, please give us a call and we will lead you out.

 

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 12/26/19

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Catching Fish
Mix of walleye and sauger, mostly sauger this week.  A few guests reeled in some real nice sturgeon up through the holes, 49″, 52” and 55″ and a few eelpout too. Glo green and red buckshots tipped with minnows are hot right now in 18′ – 26′ in the mud. Limits are being caught within 1-2 days of fishing.

Ice Conditions
We currently have 17”-20” of ice in the areas we fish and travel and little snow cover.

If you are headed out on your own.
Area roads are open. Here is a recent report from a few open roads near the lodge. Adrian’s out of Four Mile Bay is currently allowing 1/2 tons pulling up to 24′ houses and bigger pickups pulling up to 21′ houses. The road goes out about 3 1/2 miles past Pine Island. Morris Point is allowing up to 1/2 tons with no wheel houses yet but possibly very soon. Please remember to stay on the marked roads and trails, ice conditions vary on the lake.

Snowmobile Trails
Not much change in the trail conditions this week.  We have 0-4” of snow on the trails.  The lake trails are marked between Four Mile Bay to Oak Island and Graceton Beach to Warroad with black stakes.  Sounds like we have a chance for a few more inches of snow coming in on Thursday.  When you head out, watch for several bare ice spots as well as chunk ice sticking up. Grooming will begin as soon as we get more snow. No travel is advised on the Rainy River. Ice is inconsistent and not safe yet due to the current. For more information about the trails check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters and Northwest Angle Edge Riders updates. 

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

We open up Thursday, December 26!
The fish houses are ready!  The fish are biting!  Gold, red and orange are hot colored jigs right now.  Right now we have 10-16 inches of ice in the areas we travel.  Apps, pizzas, and cocktails will be available starting at 11 am today and the full dinner menu starting at 5 pm. We will start serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily starting Friday.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Road from Young’s Bay to the Resort
The main ice road from Young’s Bay to the island is not quite ready yet so we will be using an alternative route for now. Guests, please give us a call ahead of time to be led out.

Trail from Four Mile Bay/Sportsman’s Lodge
The lake trails are marked with black stakes from Four Mile Bay near Sportsman’s Baudette location to Oak Island and Young’s Bay at the angle to the lodge.  We don’t have much snow, 0”-6” right now, so if you head out, be sure to watch for bare spots and ice chunks. The Lake of the Woods passengers Service will be running from Sportsman’s Lodge to Oak Island starting December 26.

Happy Holidays from the Sportsman’s Family to yours!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge opens up Thursday, December 26!

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge opens up Thursday, December 26!
The fish houses are ready! Tim and Josh fished for a few hours yesterday afternoon and kept some nice fish for supper and caught a northern too. Gold, red and orange are hot colored jigs right now. Right now we have 10-16 inches of ice in the areas we travel. Apps, pizzas, and cocktails will be available starting at 11 am Thursday and the full dinner menu starting at 5 pm. We will start serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily starting Friday. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Road from Young’s Bay to the Resort
The main ice road from Young’s Bay to the island is not quite ready yet so we will be using an alternative route for now. Guests, please give us a call ahead of time to be led out.

Trail from Four Mile Bay/Sportsman’s Lodge
The lake trails are marked with black stakes from Four Mile Bay near Sportsman’s Baudette location to Oak Island and Young’s Bay at the angle to the lodge. We don’t have much snow, 0”-6” right now, so if you head out, be sure to watch for bare spots and ice chunks. The Lake of the Woods passengers Service will be running from Sportsman’s Lodge to Oak Island starting December 26.  

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Sportsman’s Family to yours!

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 12/18/19

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12/18/2019

Good start to the season!
Most people are catching their limits in a day, two. There seems to be an even divide between walleyes and saugers, with a mix of whitefish and eel pout. Few pike and sturgeon caught too! Check out these pictures!

Current ice depth is between 15-16 inches in the areas we fish and travel. We have minimal snow, 0-4” on the lake right now and not much more on land. We are making ice! Some of the best fishing has been in 18’-22’ in the mud lately dead sticking and jigging are both working, using charmers, Buck-Shots, gold or other bright colored jigs and minnows or shiners.

If you are headed out on your own.
Area roads are open. Here is a recent report from a few open roads near the lodge.  Morris Point is only allowing ATV’s, snowmobiles and side by sides and announced earlier this week they are opening their road to small vehicles like jeeps and small pickups on Friday, December 20. Adrian’s out of Four Mile Bay is currently allowing small to mid-size vehicles out not pulling any houses. ATV’s, side by sides and snowmobiles can pull out houses up to 18’ long. Have fun and please remember to stay on the marked roads and trails, ice conditions vary on the lake.

Snowmobile Trails
We need more snow! Right now the lake trails have 0”-4” of snow and land trails not too much more. The lake trail from Four Mile Bay to Oak Island is now marked. 10”-14” of ice is reported on this trail right now. Watch for several bare ice spots as well as chunk ice sticking up. Grooming will begin as soon as we get more snow. The trail from Graceton Beach to Warroad is planned to be checked and marked if all goes well Friday, December 20.  If you are out and about, please stay on the marked trail as ice conditions vary off of it.  No travel is advised on the Rainy River. Ice is inconsistent and not safe yet. For more information about the trails check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters and Northwest Angle Edge Riders updates. 

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

12/18/2019

We are looking forward to opening December 26!
The guides have been checking ice and getting fish houses ready.   We are looking forward to opening next week.  Right now out at the resort and in the areas we will start fishing we have 10-12 inches of ice.
Road from Young’s Bay to the Resort
Between Young’s Bay to the resort,  ice is building but due to the high water and current in those areas it is taking a little longer to build some good ice,  some spots currently have 3-6” and others 9”+.  The ice road is plowed out to Mergans Point right now. We will be monitoring these conditions and planning an alternative route if we need to for  guests to get out to the island from Young’s Bay for the first week or so after opening. The snowmobile trail from Young’s Bay to the resort is staked with black stakes and open for snowmobile traffic now, 5”-14” of ice reported as of Monday. Snow is minimal 0”-6” so watch for bare spots and ice chunks.

Trail from Four Mile Bay/Sportsman’s Lodge
The lake trail from Sportsman’s Lodge on the south end of the lake to Oak Island is currently marked with black stakes and open for snowmobile travel. 10”-14” of ice is reported.  We could use more snow, so if you head out, be sure to watch for bare spots and ice chunks. The Lake of the Woods passengers Service will be running from Sportsman’s Lodge to Oak Island starting December 26.  For more information about the trails check out the Northwest Angle Edge Riders and Lake of the Woods Drifters updates. 

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 10/22/19

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Thump the Bottom!

Water temps have dropped to the mid 40’s in the past week, which has helped keep the fish hungry! Guides have reported having the most success in 17 to 27 feet of water, fishing the mud and sand. They are fishing from Zippel Bay to Babe Island using half ounce jigs (gold/pink/white), tipped with frozen shiners. Quite a few big fish have been caught and released this past weekend including 26”, 27”, 27 ½”, and 29” walleyes. The guests are even catching perch, sturgeon and a few eel pout. Fishing in the river continues to be a challenge with the high water. Our guides suggest spending at least half the day on the water to catch your limit of fish. Pro Tip of the week – Thump the bottom with your jig and stir it up!

Guided trips available through October 26. Lodging available throughout the fall. Come wet a line!

Our Annual Halloween Party is this Saturday!
Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Saturday, Oct 26 we will kick off our the festivities with 1/2 price select apps and $1 off domestic beers from 3pm-6pm. Then enjoy FREE witch’s brew from 7pm-8pm, entertainment starts at 9 along with more great specials throughout the night and don’t forget your costume! We will be giving away $200 cash for the best one! Book your lodging now $96 lodge rooms!! (Per night, plus tax and based on 2 adults)

Ice fishing on your mind? Make your winter reservations now.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
That’s a Wrap

Thanks, everyone for a great season! We had so much fun catching up with so many of you and meeting new friends.  We look forward to seeing you this winter!  Fall projects and cleaning are in full swing.  Give us a call to make your winter reservations 800-772-8411 or click here to book on line.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 10/16/19

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Book While You Can!

The weather is shaping up for this upcoming weekend! A good bite out by Bridges Island at about 29 feet of water in the sand. Using pink, green, gold or blue 3/8 oz jigs tipped with frozen shiners (or even worms) has been successful. One guide reported catching a few 12” – 15” perch out by the islands and even a few eelpouts by the Gap. Water clarity in the lake is about 2 feet with the water temp around 50 degrees. Most guests are venturing out to Four Mile Bay, the Gap and just past Pine Island to fish, as the river continues to have a strong current and is a bit murky. The water level is high! Pro Tip of the week – You can’t catch fish if your line isn’t wet!

Guided trips available through October 26. Lodging available throughout the fall. Come wet a line!

Our Annual Halloween Party is Oct 26!
Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Saturday, Oct 26 we will kick off our the festivities with 1/2 price select apps and $1 off domestic beers from 3pm-6pm. Then enjoy FREE witch’s brew from 7pm-8pm, entertainment starts at 9 along with more great specials throughout the night and don’t forget your costume! We will be giving away $200 cash for the best one! Book your lodging now $96 lodge rooms!! (Per night, plus tax and based on 2 adults)

Ice fishing on your mind? Make your winter reservations now.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Last weekend until December
We have some openings available for our last fall weekend, this weekend. Give us a call if you would like to get in one last trip before ice fishing.

Water temp continues to be in the lower 50’s and upper 40’s. We are looking for the sunshine this weekend! A jig and minnow along shorelines, gaps, and areas with current have been a good approach for catching walleye. Crappies are hungry 20’-25’ in areas with structure with a small jig and minnow. Muskies continue to be active too in rocky weedy bays using spinnerbaits. We have some monster pike, nice looking jumbo perch and smallmouth bass nibbling too. The lodge will close after this weekend and re-open December 26. The office will continue to be open through the fall so you can make your winter and next summer reservations.

Ice fishing season is not too far away. Click here to book your winter getaway.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 10/9/19

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Lake of the Woods South Shore & Rainy River
Bring enough Bait!
Fishing continues to be hot, even as the weather fluctuates. The water temp has dropped to about 51 degrees, which has helped make the fish hungry! Guests and guides continue to jig with minnows and shiners. Any bright colored jig has been successful, such as gold, pink and orange. Water level is up and current is moving quick so heavier jigs of an ounce in size are best if you are planning on fishing in the river or bays. This time of year, the fish can be found in a wide range of depths, from 18 ft to 28 ft of water. There are a variety fishing spots that have been producing many walleyes, such as Four Mile Bay, 2 miles past Pine Island, Zippel Bay, Graceton Beach and even up by Knight and Bridges Islands. Pro tip of the week – bring enough bait for those hungry fish or take a guide!
Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Saturday, Oct 26 we will kick off our the festivities with 1/2 price select apps and $1 off domestic beers from 3pm-6pm. Then enjoy FREE witch’s brew from 7pm-8pm, entertainment starts at 9 along with more great specials throughout the night and don’t forget your costume! We will be giving away $200 cash for the best one! Book your lodging now $96 lodge rooms!! (Per night, plus tax and based on 2 adults)
There’s still time to get in some end of season fishing before we make the switch to winter. Fall is always some of the best fishing of the year, come see why for yourself!
LODGING STARTING AT $43 PER PERSON PER NIGHT
Openings available October 9-16 and 21-November 30 at Rainy River and now through October 20, 2019 starting at $59 at Oak Island.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.UP TO 20% OFF SUMMER LODGING & GUIDED FISHING PACKAGES
Through Oct. 26, 2019 at Rainy River and up to 10% off through Oct. 20, 2019 at Oak Island.100% WALLEYE LIMIT GUARANTEE
Fish on one of our charter boats for a minimum of 2 full days. We guarantee you will take your limit of walleyes home with you or we will pay you $10 per walleye short of your limit. Fish eaten during your stay count towards your limit.

For more about all of our fall packages click here.
Lake of the Woods Oak Island & the Northwest Angle
Hungry Walleyes
It has been a good bite this week. Water temps are in the lower 50’s and upper 40’s. Jig and minnow has been the hot approach to landing a nice stringer of walleyes. Gold, pink, orange and glow in the dark have been good colors. Points and shorelines in 12’-25’ have been good spots. Crappie fishing continues to be hot and we don’t expect that to slow anytime soon. Usually the cooler it gets, the better it gets. 20’-32’ holes with structure using a jig and minnow works well. Muskies also active. Try some trolling in bays with a mix of rocks and weeds casting using heavy duty rods and reels with line up to 100 lb test, topwater baits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Lake of the Woods is home to thousands of bays and an abundantmuskie population.Few More Weeks of Fall Fishing
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge has openings now through Oct 20. Give us a jingle for one last soft water trip!

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 10/2/19

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Sportsman’s Lodge South End Fishing Report

Use Those Shiners!

Don’t let the weather fool you – fishing has been awesome! Many groups are only spending a few hours on the water and coming in with their limits of walleyes and saugers. The best walleye fishing has been between 20-30 ft of water, not too far out from Pine Island in the mud. Jigs tipped with shiners or minnows have been the preferred method this past week as the water temp hovers around 54 degrees. Pro Tip of the week – if the water is muddy, use a brighter colored jig!

Fall Specials continue but they won’t last long!

Lodging and Charter Fishing packages starting at $207 per person for 2 nights and a day or if you prefer to bring your own boat, we have great lodging deals starting at only $86 for a lodge room midweek and $92 weekends for up to 2 adults and 4 kids. Charter packages available through late October and fall lodging specials available throughout November. Come have some fun this fall!
*Plus tax, packages based on double occupancy and kids rates ages 17 and under.

Bring your costume
Our annual Halloween party is on Saturday, Oct 26. Always a great time! It pays to dress up, $200 cash will be awarded for best costume, awesome drink specials $2 beer and more, 1/2 price select apps 3pm-6pm, entertainment and more!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Falling Temps
Water temp is hovering in the lower 50’s, dropping quickly this week. Jig and a shiner or chub minnow in areas where bait gathers especially in current areas have been good walleye spots, 12’-25’. Soldier’s point, Deep Water Bay and small islands just south of Oak have been good. Gold, pink and glow in the dark are hot colors to try. We have lodging and guided trips available at Oak Island through Oct 20.

Crappies
Crappie fishing has been on fire! 20’-32’ holes with structure using a 1/16-3/8 ounce jig, size depending on the current and a minnow.

Muskies
Trolling using spinner jerk baits around points and areas with current have been working best. Fall is a great time of year to find an aggressive muskie bite.

Ice fishing season is just around the corner do you have your reservations in?

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/27/19

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Sportsman’s Lodge Fishing Report

Variety of Methods
Jigs tipped with a shiner or a chub minnow and spinners tipped with a shiner or chub minnow or crawler is  working to lure in the walleyes. Best depth has been 14’-18’ and 27-30’ along shorelines and points. The shiner run has been spotty this week, cooler temps should help fire it up again. River level is up right now and the water temperature is in the lower 60’s/upper 50’s. Catching some nice sturgeon by accident on walleye rigs and using 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook with a few ounces of weight and gob of crawlers along the river bed bottom especially the holes.  Dan Williams, one of our staff members caught a 50 incher this week! Sturgeon keep season runs a few more days until the 30th and catch and release season begins Oct 1 through April 23. Fall openings available! Lodging and guided trips.

 

Oak Island 

Incredible fall scenery right now.
The leaves are just gorgeous. Anglers have been catching some nice walleyes around Little Oak Island as well as points and gaps. Water temperature is in the upper 50’s .  Red, orange and gold jigs tipped with a minnow or spinners with crawlers have been working. Best depth 15-24’. The crappie bite has been on fire!! Jigging with a minnow in 25’-32’ around structure. Small 1/16-1/4 oz gold, bright yellow and pink has been hot tackle colors. Muskies mania! Trolling and casting shiny crankbaits baits are luring these aggressive fish in..

Fall Openings
A couple of two bedroom open this weekend and more openings Sept 29-Oct 20. Come wet a line!
www.oakislandlodge.com

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/17/19

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Rainy River Fishing Report

Get Fishing!

Fall fishing is HOT right now! The guides are alternating between drifting with spinners or anchoring and jigging with minnows to lure in the walleye. Jigging is hot in about 35 feet of water, using gold rattle jigs. Success with using spinners was best on the sand bar from 11 to 20 feet this past week. Many slot walleyes, 17” – 18” eaters and big walleyes have been reported, including a 26”, 27” and 29” by the same group! Check out these pictures!

Sturgeon!
The sturgeon are biting too! Deep river bed holes and in bays where a little current is presents using a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook, 4-5 ounce no roll sinker, 18” sturgeon rig tipped with a gob of crawlers and a shiner or two is working well. Check out the pictures from the Tierney group! Nice fish guys! Sturgeon keep one season continues through Sept 30 and catch and release season starts Oct 1 through April 23. Smoked sturgeon is delicious!

River Report
Over the weekend, shiners in the river were becoming more active as water temperature kept dropping. (58 degrees) However, like many parts of the midwest, we are experiencing warmer than normal temps this week so we expect the water temperature to tick up a few degrees before going back down.

Of course, we all know this will be short-lived, fall-like temps will be back next week, shiners will get active again and the walleyes will be close behind them moving into the river. Temperature changes up or down, there is lots of good fishing to be had in the area right now. Try the lake and bays, spinners and even crankbaits should be a good to approach if the jigs aren’t working for you. Nearly one million acres to explore on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, no shortage of great fishing spots. Come have some fun and enjoy the summer-like temps. Pro Tip of the week – You can’t catch the fall fishing fever if you don’t book your trip!

Phone Outage
Due to construction in the area installing the central sewer system we are experiencing a temporary phone outage. We hope to have them back today! Please contact us via email or call us back soon! We thank you for your patience.

Great Fall Fishing Deals
Lodging and Charter Fishing packages up to 20% off now through late October & Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night through Nov 30!
Click here now to start planning your trip.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

 

Oak Island 

Summer is back!
Just when we started settling back into wearing sweatshirts and jeans again, we are getting another shot of summer. Not all bad, not all bad. Forecasted temps in the 70’s this week here in the islands. The fishing remains good.

Walleye, sauger, pike, bass, muskie, perch and crappie all nibbling this week. Anglers are using spinners, jigs, and crankbaits to lure in the walleyes and saugers. Mudflats 15’-24’ and 19’-26’ around reefs. Spinners and jigs tipped with a minnow or worm have been working. Water temperature is sitting around 59-60 degrees. The crappie bite has been found jigging with a minnow in 23’-30’ around structure. Gold, bright yellow and pink has been hot tackle colors. Muskies are hot after the top water baits in the weedy bays.

Fall openings still available! Come have some fun!

This weekend, Sept 20 & 21 we have openings and Sept 30-Oct 20. Check out our great fall deals!

Ice Fishing on your mind?
A little over 2 months and we will be drilling holes and putting fish houses out.
Do you have your reservations in yet?