5/8/2019
Sportsman’s Lodge 

Walleye Opener is this Saturday!!!!
Who’s ready to get out and catch some walleyes??? I have been dreaming about the taste of fresh walleye this week. Yummmmm, looking forward to Saturday!  It shaping up to look like it is going to be a great weekend for fishing!   Lots of walleyes should still be in the river, bays and shallow shorelines of the lake due to the cool spring.  Current water temperature is hovering in the mid 40’s and there still is some ice on the lake floating around although it is dissipating more and more by the day.   A popular opener approach is going to be in 8’-18’ of water anchored, using a gold or brightly colored jig and chub or shiner minnow.  The current in the river is moving pretty good right now so be sure to bring a few jig sizes up to 1 ounce.

Sturgeon and Pike are options too
After you get your limit of walleyes or just want to try something different. Sturgeon catch and release season continues through May 15 and pike season never closes. This is a perfect time of year to reel in monster sturgeon and pike. Try the incline of deep river or bay hole using a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook, 3-5 ounce no roll sinker and a gob of worms.   Pike, fishing with dead bait in the bays has been hot.  Lots of great fishing opportunities abound.

Spring Specials
Get in on some great specials! Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter packages and lodging as low as $43 per person per night now through May 23.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

Oak Island

It’s Prime Time Walleye Time!
We still have  some rooms available if you haven’t made plans yet. Lodging starting at only $49 per person per night including free docking. Give us a jingle! Minnesota Opener is this Saturday, May 11 and Ontario opens up Saturday, May 18.

Shoreline structure and points is going to be a great place to start using a jig and minnow this weekend.   The walleyes should be hungry after spawning.  Water temp is hovering around the mid 40’s right now. Several areas to fish between Oak and the Northwest Angle right now.  Still ice floating around especially south of Oak Island but it is pretty mushy and continues to disappear more by the day.

Rainy River Fishing Report
5-1-2019

Another great week of sturgeon and pike fishing!

Water temp continues to hover in the mid 40’s. Melting continues, more bays are open including Zippel Bay and the lake ice continues to deplete.  It has been a cloudy week so I couldn’t grab a recent satellite photo to share but stay tuned to our Facebook page. We will post one as soon as we can.  Sturgeon fishing continues to be good.   We will be hosting our 13^th Annual Sturgeon Tournament this weekend. For more information about the tournament click here and be sure to tune into our Facebook page all day Friday and Saturday for leaderboard updates.

What are they biting on?
Deep river bed holes and in bays where a little current is present 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 a good go to sturgeon approach.  Pike fishing has been good too in bays using dead baits, spinnerbait, spoon or crankbaits.

Spring Happenings
-Main Lodge, Sportsman’s Rainy River is open. Our bar and kitchen will be closed briefly after breakfast, May 5 until 10:30am Friday, May 10 as we finish up our spring cleaning. Lodging will remain available during that time.
-Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge open May 10
-Sturgeon Season going on now through May 7 and catch and release May 8-15
-Pike season is open all year.
-Minnesota Walleye nearly a week away, Saturday, May 11
-Ontario Walleye Opener is Saturday, May 18
-Mother’s Day Brunch is May 12
-Spring Specials going on now.  Lodging starting as low as $43* per person per night through May 22.
-Summer Kick off Memorial Weekend is just around the corner too, May 24-27. Kids stay free in lodge rooms with 2 adults and Oak Island has some great getaway options too!
*plus tax and based on double occupancy

Oak Island Fishing Report
5-1-2019

More melting continues. More bays and channels continue to open by the day. Our bay still has mostly ice but we think that is going to change over the next few days. Stay tuned for updates! Walleye openers are just around the corner.  Give us a call to get in on the spring bite. We have some great spring deals starting at only $49 per person per night lodging including FREE docking 800-772-8411! Minnesota’s walleye opener is May 11 and Ontario’s opener is May 18.

*plus tax and based on double occupancy, 4 person minimum $49 and 2 person $59.

Rainy River Fishing Report
4-25-2019

Sturgeon Extravaganza
Check out these pics!

What a day! Tanner 47″, Kamin 69″ and Trevor 55″!!!  

Lots going on this Spring in our Neck of the Woods

-Main Lodge, Sportsman’s Rainy River is open throughout the spring for lodging, guided fishing, indoor pool, food and drinks.
-Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge open May 10
-Sturgeon Season going on now through May 7 and catch and release May 8-15
-Pike fishing heating up – More bays are opening up by the day
-Minnesota Walleye Opener is 2 weeks from Saturday, May 10
-Ontario Walleye Opener is May 18
-13th Annual Sportsman’s Sturgeon Tournament is next weekend, May 3 & 4
-Mother’s Day Brunch is May 12
-Spring Specials going on now.  Lodging starting as low as $43* per person per night through May 22.
-Summer Kick off Memorial Weekend is only a month away May 24-27. Kids stay free in lodge rooms with 2 adults.

The Bite
I think we finally have spring! Woohoo!  Water temp is 45 degrees today. Melting continues. The river, 4 mile bay, several small bays and a just outside of Pine Island on the lake side is open. More iced over areas continue to open up more and more by the day.  

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for a new satellite picture of the melting progress coming soon. The sturgeon bite has been good, lot of 45”+ being caught. 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.  We are gearing up for our sturgeon tournament May 3 & 4. Pike anglers are starting to have more open water opportunities. Four Mile Bay and several small bays are open. Zippel Bay should soon be open too. Dead baits, spinnerbait, spoon or crankbait are all working well.

Before and After a Day on the Lake, Stop in
Food and Drinks available daily.
Click here for our current specials, hours and more.

Catch a big fish? We love to see and share your fish and vacation photos!
Tag us, Text us 218-395-0042 or email [email protected]

*plus tax and based on double occupancy      

Oak Island Fishing Report
4-25-2019

Melting Continues
We hope to have an open water pic for you next week. Spring is in the air and we are gearing up for walleye opener! Give us a call to get in on the spring bite. Minnesota’s walleye opener is May 10 and Ontario’s opener is May 18. We have some great spring specials going on. Give ChiChi a call 800-772-8411.

Rainy River Fishing Report

4-18-2019

Get out the sturgeon & pike rods
It’s that time of year.  While the walleye season closes for a few weeks, it’s time to get into those river bed holes and bays and get on the hunt for the sturgeon and pike. More tributaries and bays have been opening up this week.  The lake has started to open up just outside of Pine Island and the river is open all the way to the lake. The river is pretty dirty right now due to the tributaries letting loose but the sturgeon are active. Sturgeon are bottom feeders and rely more on smell vs sight to feed so the water clarity doesn’t affect them as much as the walleye and saugers. What’s the best approach to reel in one of these prehistoric fish? Check out this video for some great tips and come join us this spring!

Mike Knoop reeled in a awesome 61 inch sturgeon while jigging for walleye last week. Nice catch Mike!

Pike
Four Mile Bay is open now and several other bays shortly behind. The warm weather forecasted for the week ahead should really help open more areas up. Dead baits, spinnerbaits, spoons or crankbaits are all going to be good options to start with.

We love to see and share your fish and vacation photos.
Tag us, Text us 218-395-0042 or email [email protected]

Oak Island Fishing Report
4-18-2019

Ice Melt
We are starting to see some open water around points and areas with current. The bay in front of the lodge is still all ice but it won’t be long with the warm temps in the forecast.  We are looking forward to the open water and spring fishing! If you haven’t made your spring, summer or fall reservations yet, give us a call 800-772-8411 and be sure to ask about our spring deals going on May 10 through May 25!

4/9/2019
Sportsman’s Rainy River

The river is open in front of the lodge and all public boat landings on the river are open.Over 40 miles of fishable water is now open from Wheeler’s Point to Birchdale and beyond. Four Mile Bay is still pretty locked up today but it won’t be long before it starts breaking up.

Fishing has been great! Anglers have been reeling in nice walleyes and sturgeon this week along with a few suckers and saugers too. Best depths for walleyes have been 16′-22′ holding tight to rocks. Trolling slowly into current jigging a 1/2 oz. gold, pink or bright jig tipped with a live fathead or shiner. Some are doing well trolling with crankbaits too.For sturgeon, a heavy rod and tackle that can withstand a fish of 100lbs, #4 or #5 circle hook, no roll sinker and a gob of worms anchored in or near a hole in the river are producing.

More bays should start opening up this week. Water clarity remains good and water temp is 37 degrees.

Spring Specials & Guided Trips Available

Lodging starting at only $43 per person per night through May 22.
Give us a call 800-862-8602 or contact us online.

*plus tax and based on double occupancy

Walleye catch and release season remains open through April 14. For more information about sturgeon and pike, limits. season dates and more, click here. 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Lots of melting going on but still mostly ice in the islands right now. We expect to see more water this week.  It is a good time to make plans for summer. We have some great spring deals May 10-25. Check us out and give us a call 800-772-8411.