Category Archives: Weekly South Shore Fishing Report

Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River Fishing Report – 12/19/2016

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Here we go!
The season has started out great! We have a good ice base and active fishing, what more can a person ask for? We currently have 10-13 inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish and making more by the minute.

Several groups enjoyed great fishing over the weekend and with the warmer weather moving in we expect it to get even better this week. Anglers are seeing more walleyes than saugers of varying sizes. An early morning and late afternoon bite in 16’-23’ has been best using small gold or pink jigs and glow buckshot rattle spoons tipped with a minnow or minnow head jigging 6-8 inches off bottom. Dead sticking produced good results as well. The guides suggest to try one rod jigging and one rod dead sticking and see what works best for you. The ride is just 20 minutes to the fish house!

Our ice report is for the areas we travel and fish. Our houses are on a private groomed trail. If you are venturing out on your own, we encourage you to check with the outfitter or resort that maintains the road for the most up to date conditions and stay on the road as conditions differ in different areas of the lake.

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Adrian’s public ice road Four Mile Bay access near Wheeler’s Point
Currently they are reporting 13 inches of ice on Four Mile Bay and 10-14 inches on the lake. They are allowing mid-size SUV’s, mini vans and cars. Four wheelers and UTV’s are allowed to pull wheel houses out up to 17’ long. No ½ ton trucks. The road is marked 1.5 miles past Pine Island.

 

Trail from Wheeler’s Point to Oak Island
The crew plans on checking ice and marking this trail later in the week.

 

25% off Ice Fishing this week Dec 21-23*!
The fishing is great! Click here to contact us now or call 800-862-8602.
*Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location day houses

 

New Year’s Eve Party
Join us for our annual New Year’s Eve Party! Entertainment, food and drink specials, champagne toast, party favors and a whole lot of fun! Make your dinner reservations now 800-862-8602.

 

Sportsman’s is now on SnapChat!
Add us: sportmanslodge
Sportsman's Lodges Snapchat

We had a great weekend of ice making!

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The guides were out today checking ice. We found 4″-7″ of ice on Four Mile Bay, the bay by Wheeler’s Point that we use to access the lake and 5″-6″ on the lake. Now keep in mind this is where we travel and fish. The entire lake is not treated equally. Conditions are different in different areas. Safety first! We think this is a great start and we will continue to check daily but safety is our #1. As for an exact start date, we can’t make that decision yet but it we can tell you it looks like it will be soon! More to come tomorrow!

Ice! Ice! Ice! We are making progress! Lake of the Woods

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Ice! Ice! Ice! We are making progress!
Lake of the Woods, MN

12/8/2016

Ice Update
We are making progress! Bobbie’s Bay the bay that is in front of our Sportsman’s Oak Island location on Oak Island near the Northwest Angle of Minnesota iced over yesterday and today we have some ice on Four Mile Bay.   Four Mile Bay is the bay near Wheeler’s Point that we use to access the lake in the winter time.  The channel in the bay still has open water but this is progress and we like progress! The wind is supposed to die down tonight and below zero temperatures are in the forecast for the weekend. No safe is yet, but we like what we see!  We are moving in the right direction. Get your reservations in!

Bobbie's Bay in front of Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge Lake of the Woods www.oakislandlodge.com 12-8-2016

Bobbie’s Bay in front of Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
Lake of the Woods
www.oakislandlodge.com 12-8-2016

Four Mile Bay Lake of the Woods near Wheeler's Point. Ice Forming 12-8-2016

Four Mile Bay Lake of the Woods near Wheeler’s Point.
Ice Forming 12-8-2016

 

Ice Condition Report 12/7/2016

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Here it comes!
The thermometer is dropping and the landscape is about to change! Ice making is happening now! Stay tuned, we should have lots to report next week!  For now, get your reservations in and put that new line on your favorite rod you have been thinking about doing for the last two months! Lodging and ice fishing openings available through late March.  Get your gang together and make plans!  It’s almost fishing time!

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It’s getting colder!

 

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Make it a New Year’s Eve to remember.
What a better place to ring in the new year than at Sportsman’s Lodges on beautiful Lake of the Woods. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, indoor pool, 3 restaurants, bar with entertainment, game room and more! Sportsman’s Lodge will be featuring many dinner specials, musical entertainment, party favors, champagne and lots of holiday cheer. Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge will be featuring dinner specials, party favors, a midnight wine toast and lots of fun island style. Reservations required. Space is limited. Book your trip today!
Check us out on Facebook
For ice condition updates, fishing pictures, hot deals and contests like us on Facebook.

Cold weather is headed in our direction! Woohoo!

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It looks like we should start to make some decent ice starting next week!  Bring it on!  A good week of cold temperatures and light wind is what we need! A lot can happen in a week.  Get your fishing buddies together and make your plans, ice fishing season is coming soon!

Ice fishing season runs longer on Lake of the Woods than most lakes in Minnesota.  It starts in December and we have to pull our houses off by March 31.  Openings available, give us a call Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River/Baudette 800-862-8602, Sportsman’s Sleepers 218-634-1589 and Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge/Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411 or email us by clicking here.


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Hungry for more updates? Like us on Facebook.

Check out our winter musical entertainment schedule.

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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!

Dipping below freezing

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Let’s cool things down and make some ice!  The forecast is looking more promising. History has told us it doesn’t take long for the weather to change and for ice to build.  Stay tuned to reports here and on our Facebook page and gets your reservations now for the best selection of dates.  Many weekends are filling up fast!

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No Equipment Required!
Ready to go ice fishing but don’t have the equipment? No problem! We supply the fish house warm and ready with your holes drilled. Jig sticks, assortment of jigs and bait is waiting for you. Hungry for lunch? We can deliver that too and clean your fish. So what are you waiting for? Give us a call to book your winter ice fishing trip today 800-862-8602 or contact us online.

contest-time-winter

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!

Walleyes are biting and the weather if finally starting to cool again. We are ready to freeze up the lake!

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A strong walleye bite in the river has been going on this week. A jig and a shiner minnow around Wheeler’s Point, front of the lodge, Baudette Airport and Clementson have all produced nice walleyes. If you still have the itch and a boat to throw in, come on up! Lodging is available starting at only $40* per person per night! *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Check out this picture and this fun video from a recent catch a young angler got this week. So much fun!

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Nice fall walleye! 26 inch caught and released by Marc Jaffe

Ice Fishing will be here before we know it!
A good 10 days of lows in the single digits is all we need to make 8-10 inches of ice and start our season. We are looking forward to ice fishing season 2016-2017 to kick off in early December. Now is the time to get your reservations in! Click here

Looking for a gift idea or place to hold your holiday party?
Gift cards available and we have lots of options for your holiday get together. Try something different this year like a day of ice fishing, a weekend getaway or a cocktail party at Sportsman’s Lodge. Click here to learn more about all of our holiday options and here to purchase gift cards online.