Category Archives: Weekly Oak Island Fishing Report

Weekly Oak Island Fishing Report

Starting to Pick Up

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The bite has started to pick up in the islands this week. Guests have been getting some nice fish with the good old jig stick, pink, glow or gold jig tipped with a minnow head or full minnow in 26’-29’. Vexilars are certainly helping too.  Change it up! The best technique can vary day by day. Try some light vertical jigging, hard jigging and dead sticking and make sure your hooks are sharp! That favorite jig may have brought you previous luck, but it may also have dulled, so always a good thing to double check. The days are getting longer, come enjoy some winter fun with us!

Ice Conditions
We have 29”-34” of ice in the areas we fish and travel. Looking good to bring us right through late March! Come see us!

Trail Report
For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Spring is just around the corner.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip!  Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 11-25! Contact us today.

“We had another excellent trip up at Oak Island”

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We had another excellent trip up at Oak Island on Jan. 25-28, 2018. Wack and all the guys took great care of us, getting on the fish and cleaning them for us. We sure appreciate their hard work. The meals at the Lodge were fabulous as always.

Each of us caught some nice note-worthy fish.

Group: Kusilek
Name: Mike DeMarce
Fish: 22.5” Walleye
Date: 1/27/2018

Group: Kusilek
Name: Mark Stenseth
Fish: 20” Walleye
Date: 1/27/2018

Group: Kusilek
Name: Chad Young
Fish: 18.5” Walleye
Date: 1/27/2018

Group: Kusilek
Name: John Balk
Fish: 13.5” Perch
Date: 1/26/2018

Group: Kusilek
Name: Jim Kusilek
Fish: 13” Perch
Date: 1/26/2018

We hope to make it back up again next year, and look forward to seeing you all then.

Thanks.
Kusilek Group

Word of the week….YOYO

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Fishing has been much like a yoyo this week, up and down.  Flurry of activity…..quiet……few bites…..quiet…quiet…..a nice one……quiet…flurry…..nibbles….nice one…. So the tip of the week, is…..if you aren’t getting a bite, change up your approach or just sit back and enjoy good friends and family for a bit because just about the time you think today isn’t your day, you might just reel in a beautiful walleye.  A mix of jigging and dead heading right off bottom with a 1/8-3/8 oz. bright fluorescent jig tipped with a minnow or minnow head has been a good choice in 24’-29’ of water.

Ice Conditions
We have 27”-32” of ice in the areas we fish and travel. Looking good to bring us right through late March! We have some openings Feb 13-17 and March 9-late March as I write this. Come see us!

Trail Report
We have about 8-12 inches of snow in our area. Less to the south. We could use another shot or two. For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Going Deep

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Fish are on the move.  Guides are busy moving and grooving to 25’-29’ of water. Gold and pink jigs and buck-shot rattling spoons tipped with a minnow have been good tackle along with a plain hook this week. A combo of dead sticking and jigging is the best approach. Electronics definitely help! Bring your own or call ahead to reserve. Mix of walleyes, saugers and an occasional pike or perch have been coming up the holes this week.

Ice Conditions
24-30 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. Walleyes season is open until April 14 on Lake of the Woods. Looking good for ice fishing right through late March. March trips are available!

Trails
Grooming away! Groomers caution riders to stay on the trails especially this year with how rough the lake froze; there are a lot of ice chunks sticking up off the trail.  Click below for the latest conditions and more information about the Lake of the Woods area trails.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road
The ice road from Young’s Bay to the lodge is in good shape! Come on out!

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall we have a fishing adventure for you!
Check out our packages for every season and make plans to escape to Oak Island this year.

 

The bite

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The bite has been heating up this week. We are seeing lots of nice 18”-19” walleyes and a number of 19”-25” as well. Best depth has been 19’-23’. Gold and glow jigs tipped with a minnow has been working well. A combo of dead sticking and jigging is the best approach.

Ice Conditions
23-26 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. Making more by the minute! Walleyes season is open until April 14 on Lake of the Woods. Looking good for ice fishing right through late March. March trips are available!


Trails
Groomers are out! Groomers caution riders to stay on the trails especially this year with how rough the lake froze; there are a lot of ice chunks sticking up off the trail. Click below for the latest conditions and more information about the Lake of the Woods area trails.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road
The ice road from Young’s Bay to the lodge is in good shape! Come on out!

Here Fishy Fishy…..

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Decent bite this week, morning and late afternoon bite continues to be the strongest. We are seeing mainly walleyes coming through the holes along with some sauger and the occasional perch and pike.  Jigging and dead sticking with gold and/or pink jigs, plain hook or macho minnow #29 has been working well in 20’-26’ of water.   Electronics help too! Rentals available, call to reserve ahead of time.

Ice Conditions
Currently we have 20-24 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.  If you venture out on your own, be sure to stay on marked trails and roads. The ice is rough this year! Lots of ice chunks sticking up.

Ice Road
The ice road from Young’s Bay to the resort is plowed and it good shape! Come on out!

Snowmobile Trail Conditions
The trails are marked and grooming is in full swing.  We received a few inches of snow last night. Windy day today but it sounds like it is going to start settling down later in the day.  The south shore has several spots of bare ice and anywhere from 0”-10” of snow on the ice, more snow in our area of the lake.  The lake froze pretty rough this year so we strongly encourage riders to stay on the trails, go slow and use caution. Lots of ice chunks sticking up off the trails. For more information about the trails click here or contact: Lake of the Woods Drifters and the Northwest Angle Edge Riders.

We ice fish until late March!
Make your reservations today 800-772-8411 www.oakislandlodge.com

Happy New Year!

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Gold is hot! Gold jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow is the hot ticket this week.  We are seeing some nice walleyes, several 20”+ and a few saugers, perch and pike.  The best depths have been between 20’-24’. Mornings and late afternoons have been best. Electronics help too! If you would like to give one a try, give us a call to reserve one to rent. We have openings available through late March, more options during the week than weekends. Give us a call for winter fun 800-772-8411.

13 inch perch caught by Carment Sportsmans Oak Island Lodge My lucky lure was a pink and gold Demon

Ice Conditions
Currently we have 18-20 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.  If you venture out on your own, be sure to stay on marked trails and roads. The ice is rough this year! Lots of ice chunks sticking up.

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Ice Road
The ice road from Young’s Bay to the resort is plowed and it good shape! Come on out!

Snowmobile Trail Conditions
Lake trails are all marked from Wheeler’s Point to Warroad, Warroad to Oak Island and the Northwest Angle, and Oak Island all the way to Baudette. Up in the islands we have a about a foot snow on the lake and land trails. The south shore currently has several spots of bare ice and anywhere from 0”-8” of snow.  The lake froze pretty rough this year so we strongly encourage you to stay on the trails, go slow and use caution. Lots of ice chunks sticking up off the trails. Grooming is in progress.  For more information about the trails click here or contact: Lake of the Woods Drifters and the Northwest Angle Edge Riders.

 

We are off and running!

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The season has started and anglers are reeling in some nice fish!  Gold and pink have been hot jig choices tipped with a minnow. Electronics help! Find bottom, give your rod a crank up about 4-6 inches and do some jigging.  One rod dead sticking with a bobber is not a bad idea either. Best depth has been between 16’-26’. The guides are ready to take you out! Contact us to book your winter trip 800-772-8411.

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Ice Conditions
Currently we have 13-17 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. Weather is below zero this week so we are making more ice quickly! If you decide to venture out on your own, we urge you to check with local resorts or guides before doing so as the ice never freezes equally in all areas of the lake and conditions change.

Ice Road
The ice road is plowed out to the lodge now. A nice wide lane out to the north side of the island and one pass so far in from the north side to the lodge.   We expect the road to widen all the way to the lodge today or tomorrow.

Trail Conditions
The lake trail from Wheeler’s Point to Oak Island is marked and is being traveled on.  15-17 inches of ice is reported on the trail.  Grooming will hopefully start tomorrow from Wheeler’s Point to Oak Island and from Wheeler’s Point to Warroad next week based on conditions. Due to how the lake froze this year, there are lots of ice chunks sticking up. Crews have been working to make the trail itself smoother but off the trail it is very rough. The trail also has lots of turns in it right now so we encourage you to use caution and stay on the trail. The land trails are being groomed and are shaping up. For more information about the trails click here or contact: Lake of the Woods Drifters and the Northwest Angle Edge Riders.