Category Archives: Weekly Oak Island Fishing Report

Weekly Oak Island Fishing Report

Sportsman’s Lodges Report

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Ice is Forming in the Bays!
Cool temperatures have moved into our region this week with lows in the teens. The water temperature has taken a dive and we have taken the first step in making ice for the season.  The forecast is calling for lows in the 20’s this week. We will be hoping for it to only continue to cool down more next week and really kick off the freezing.  History tells us it only takes a few weeks to make a good base of ice once Mother Nature decides to cool off.  Stay tuned to our reports. We are excited to get the season off to a start but safety first! We will start pulling houses out once we have 8 inches of good ice.

Young's Bay at the NW Angle

Young’s Bay at the NW Angle

Baudette Bay

Baudette Bay

Our front desk will be closed on Thanksgiving but we will open back up Friday morning.  Give us a call to make your winter reservation at 800-862-8602 or email us anytime!  Many dates are starting to fill up! Happy Thanksgiving from the Sportsman’s family to your family!

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25% off Ice Fishing Special at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location!
Click here for available dates! These specials won’t last forever!

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FREE ICE FISHING TRIP!
Who wants a free ice fishing trip? Click here to enter our contest now for a chance to win a day of ice fishing for you and 3 friends! Contest ends soon!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report October 12, 2016

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Reeling in fish
The bite in the islands this week has been great! Lots of nice walleyes, saugers, crappies, pike, bass and muskies have been reeled in.  Jigging with a minnow in 10’-15’ and 22’-26’ has been good for walleyes and saugers around shore lines.  Soldier’s Point and McPherson Island have been notable hot spots.  Crappies have been found in 24’-30’ using smaller jigs with a minnow in areas with structure but we have also seen plenty caught were the walleyes are targeted too.  Bass, pike and muskie fishing has been best trolling using spinner or jerk baits around points and areas with current.  Casting around rocks has been successful too.

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Few days left
Just a few more days left of our fall season. Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Eagle Ridge’s season is winding down. The last day for lodging reservations is Saturday, Oct 15 and the restaurant and bar’s last day will be Oct 16. Thanks for another great season!  We are taking reservations for winter and next summer. We look forward to starting our winter season mid-December. Book your stay today for an ice fishing adventure!  Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location remains open year round so if you are looking for a great place to visit after this weekend and get into more fall fishing action, give them a call 800-862-8602 or click here.

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report October 3, 2016

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Fall Fishing
Water temperature has dipped a few more degrees to 57-58 degrees.  Walleyes are biting this week in varying depths between 18’-28’ of water using brightly colored jigs tipped with a minnow on the outsides of points.  Soldier’s Point, south shore of Oak Island, Massacre Island and the east side of Falcon Island have been hot spots.
Muskies & Northern Pike
Trolling using spinner jerk baits around points and areas with current have been good as well as casting around rocks.

Crappies are biting
Cooler the water gets the better the bite gets! Areas with structure in 20’-30’ are the key. Jigging using pink, gold and orange colors tipped with a minnow works best. The guides have been finding some goooooood spots! Guided trips available!

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Ice Fishing is just around the corner!
A few more months and we will be pulling out fish houses and drilling through the ice. Woohoo! Give us a call to book your trip!

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report September 27, 2016

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Fall Fishing
Walleyes are biting this week in varying depths between 20’-30’ of water using brightly colored jigs tipped with a minnow on the outsides of points.  Little Oak island, Soldier’s Point, Massacre Island and Deep Water Bay have all produced some nice walleyes. Water temperature is currently 61 degrees.  We have openings available now through mid October and for the winter season.

Muskies & Northern Pike
September and October are some great months for active muskie and pike fishing on Lake of the Woods. Trolling using spinner jerk baits around points and areas with current have been getting good as well as casting around rocks.

Crappies are biting
Cooler the water gets the better the bite gets! Areas with structure are the key. Jigging using pink, gold and orange colors tipped with a minnow works best. Areas around Falcon Island have been great as well as points 20’-30’.

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Winter is just around the corner time to get your reservations in!
It won’t be long and the bombardiers will be running the ice, the fish houses will be placed and we will be reeling in walleyes through the ice. Now is the best time to get your reservations in for the best options of dates and accommodations. Reserve online here or give us a call. Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River 800-862-8602, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411 and Sportsman’s Sleeper House Division 218-634-1589.

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report September 21, 2016

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Large schools of fish
A sure sign of fall is when we start to see fish start group together in large schools. That has certainly been the case this week.  Walleyes are biting using jigs and shiners and spinners and night crawlers in 18’-24’ of water around Deepwater Bay, Massacre Island, south shore of Oak Island and Little Oak Island. Water temperature is 63 degrees.

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One of the 60 fish caught by this group, Saturday and Sunday. 24.75 inch walleye caught and released by Jenny Johnson, east Grand Forks, MN

 

Pike
Pike have been found along weed and reed lines and along shorelines. Areas with submerged trees are especially good spots to try.  Throwing spinnerbaits with a worm or twister tail on the end has worked well.

Bass
Smallmouth Bass are starting to move deeper.  Best approach has been starting at 10’-12’ and work to deeper water off reefs and points using a spinnerbait or a jig and a minnow.

Muskies
Top water baits and large crankbaits around rocks is where anglers are finding the muskies.

Crappies
A few more crappies have been found this week using a small 1/4 ounce jig or smaller tipped with a minnow in areas with structure. The cooler it gets the better the fishing will be!

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Cooling off!

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Cooling off!
A good walleye bite has been found in 18’-24’ jigging with gold or orange jigs tipped with a chub or shiner minnow.  On top of reefs has been good and areas in Deep Water Bay, south side of Oak Island and Little Oak Island. Water temperature is currently 65 degrees.

Muskies, Pike, Bass
More fish are showing around rocks than weeds this week.  Throwing top water baits and large crankbaits of shiny colors have been working well.

Crappies
A few crappies are being found, the cooler the water gets the better it will get.  Using a small 1/4 ounce jig or smaller tipped with a minnow works well in areas with structure.

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report September 9, 2016

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Fall Fishing has begun!
Anglers are finding some nice walleyes in 20’-25’ pulling gold spinners along the edges of points or on top of reefs this week tipped with a minnow or worm. Areas around the east side of Falcon Island have been good.  Water temperature is currently 68 degrees.

Muskies, Pike, Bass
These fish are starting to move to the rocks but you can still find them in the weeds.  So be sure to check out both of these spots right now.  Throwing top water baits has been the ticket.

Crappies
Fall is one of the best times of the year to reel in these sweet flavored fish on Lake of the Woods. Once the water starts to dip in the next few weeks, we should start to see more of these fish bite.  Using a small 1/4 ounce jig or smaller tipped with a minnow works well in areas with structure.

Not sure where to go?
Take a guide! Sit back relax and reel in the fish.  For more information about our guided trips click here.

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report August 31, 2016

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Here Fishy Fishy
Walleyes are biting in 18’-26’ and 11’-14’ around Little Oak and north side of Falcon Island. Jigging with red/white or gold 3/8 ounce jig tipped with a minnow or spinner and 1 ounce sinker tipped with a worm has been the best approach.  Water temperature is starting to cool. Today we are sitting at 70 degrees.

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Muskies….Crappies….Pike…Bass
Casting top water baits for muskies, pike and bass has been working well.  Working point to point in weedy bays with some rock structure is working well. We are starting to see the crappies bite around and on structure in varying depths. Jigging ¼-3/8 oz. jigs tipped with a minnow.

 

Have you visited us recently and have a picture to share?

We love to see your pictures. Send them to [email protected] or share them on Facebook or Instagram #sportsmansoakislandlodge You might even see them in the next fishing report!

Fall is a great time for fishing!
Check out our fall specials here.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report August 23, 2016

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Walleyes….
We have seen nice eater size walleye between 14”-18” caught lately in 20’-26’ jigging with minnows along points and reefs. The best presentation has been gold or orange 3/8 oz jigs tipped with a minnow. The reefs around Tug Channel, Skeet and French Portage have good fishing holes. Water temperature is 73 degrees.

Muskies…Pike…and Smallmouth Bass
Top water baits like cow girls, jerk baits and mud puppies have been working well. Weedy bays 7’-15’ with some rock structure has been best.

Best Equipment for walleyes?
The guides favor St Croix, Fenwick, Gloomis or 13 Fishing rods combos, medium fast action 6’-7’. They like a 10lb braid line, 3/8 ounce jig or 1-1.5 ounce sinker/spinner combination.

Fall is just around the corner
Fall foliage, hunting seasons, and excellent walleye, crappie fishing will soon be upon us too. Make your reservations now and fall into walleyes with our great fall rates!

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