Category Archives: Weekly South Shore Fishing Report

Walleyes and a Muskie!

August 23, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

A good bite this week and a surprise! A group was down rigging with crankbaits this week in the mud targeting walleyes and reeled in to their surprise a 41 inch muskie! The northern islands are known for excellent muskie fishing but this was an unusual area to find this guy. What a fun experience!

41 inch Muskie caught by Mike Westerberg while targetting walleyes. Guided by Captain Mike

Water temperature is starting to cool. We are down a few more degrees this week to 72 degrees. Trolling with crank baits in 11’-18’ in the mud and along the northern reefs has been good. Drifting with spinners or anchored and jigging tipped with a minnow or worm has been fair too in 24’-32’ of water. Go to spots have been outside Zippel Bay, Lighthouse Gap and Little Oak Island. Gold, orange and silver have been the hot colors. August & fall lodging and guided trips still available!

22.5 inch walleye caight by Josh Westerberg. Guided by Captain Mike

21 inch walleye caught by Mike Westerberg. Guided by Captain Mike

Welch Group Guided by Captain Mike

Rainy River
The fall river bite is only a few weeks away. Small mouth bass and a few sturgeons have been hitting lately. Walleyes and a stronger sturgeon bite are just around the corner. Sturgeon “keep” season is now open until Sept 30. We have guided outfitter trips available great for river fishing. Give us a call 800-862-8602.

Fall is around the corner
We are roughly 4 weeks out from the legendary “Emerald Shiner Run” which normally occurs in late September on the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay. This event normally brings in thousands of walleyes to the Rainy River as they chase the shiners upstream. Get your reservations in now and take advantage of lodging starting at only $40 per person lodging. Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages too! Good fishing, good food, guided outfitter trips, guided charter trips, dock slips, boat rental, indoor pool, hot tub and entertainment await you.

Minnesota Fall Hunting Seasons announced
Beltrami State Forest is just out our back door with over 67,000 acres of land along with one million acres of Lake of the Woods to explore. Come enjoy some great hunting for bear, small game, goose, grouse, waterfowl, whitetail deer, fox and much more. This is a hunter’s paradise.

Dog Days of Summer are producing a hot walleye bite!

August 19, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Northern reefs anywhere from 10’-14’ and 24’-28’ along with areas in the main basin 28’-32’ are hot! hot! hot! Trolling with crank baits has been showing the most action but bait fishing with a minnow and a worm is getting a few too. A mix of 14”-22” walleyes along with a few smaller and a few larger has been the average lately. Anglers have also been reeling in an occasional smallmouth bass, perch and northern pike too. Water temperature is currently 75 degrees. We are starting to see a few leaves change. It won’t be long and fall will be here.

August trips still available & Fall specials start Sept 6

Live Band this weekend!
Dark Horse entertains this Friday, Aug 19 and Saturday Aug 20, 9pm-1am

Warm Water Walleyes

August 10, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lake of the Woods is at its peak temperature for the year right now. The temperature is between 74-78 degrees. Where is the best place to find the walleyes? Deep! Depths between 28-32 feet have been best. Anchored jigging and pulling spinners tipped with a leech or minnow has been producing some eyes and saugers but the most action has been using the controlled depth approach pulling crank baits. Red, gold, white and silver have been hot colors. Anglers are reporting several healthy sized walleyes and saugers. Some anglers have also been finding some nice perch, crappies and smallmouth bass fishing in the river using jigs and buck tails. Lots of fishing opportunities going on!

Stefanich Group with Captain Ralph

Stefanich Group with Captain Ralph. August 2016

Logan and some nice perch!

Crappies right off the dock

Bryan “Beef” Sathre found some nice smallies this week

Fall Fishing is just around the corner
A few more weeks and we will start to see fall creep in. Fall fishing is phenomenal on Lake of the Woods, walleyes, saugers, sturgeon, bass, crappies, pike, perch and muskies abound. Boat rentals, dock slips and guided trips available through late October. Click here to learn more.

August is a great month to bring kids!

August 3, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The weather is great, the fishing is great and no equipment is required. Any month is a good month to bring young anglers but August is one of the best. With a mix of bait fishing and trolling with crank bait methods working, anglers get a chance to have a pole in their hand and/or just reel in the fish using the trolling for crank baits method using down riggers. No equipment or experience is required. The charter holds up to 6 passengers plus the guide. It has an onboard restroom, fully equipped with poles, bait, tackle, assortment of water and pop, the guide will clean and deliver your fish to your room, box lunch or a shore lunch option available or bring your own. We will also fry up some of your fresh fish in the bar for free if you would like. For more information or a quote click here.

What a catch, Logan! 27 inch walleye! released

The Scoop
Fishing has been great! Anglers are reporting lots of nice walleyes between 16”-25”. Gold or pink spinners, 1-2 ounces of weight tipped with a leech or minnow has been working well for bait fishing in 24’-30’ outside of Zippel Bay. Trolling with crankbaits near Garden Island in 26’-32’ and in the northern reefs using white and silver has been good as well. The water temperature is currently a warm 77 degrees.

Don’t take it from me; hear the latest fishing report from these junior guides!

Reel in some Hot Summer Deals
Email or call us today 800-862-8602!

Kids love fishing!

July 31, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Kids love fishing!

Enjoy the beautiful weather and awesome fishing at Sportsman’s Lodges in August.

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Sportsman’s Lodge 7-29-2016

July 30, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Sportsman’s Lodge

7-29-2016

Beautiful Weather & Beautiful Walleyes
I just love this time of year. Warm weather, light breeze and lots of walleye action. We continue to do a mix of bait fishing and trolling with crank baits. We expect to continue this approach through August for sure and probably until mid-September. About mid-September is when we usually see the walleyes start to move. Mid basin of Big Traverse has been a hot spot in 28’-32’ as well as the northern reefs in 26’-32’. White/silver, Red/white and gold/red have been good lure colors. A spinner, a couple of ounces of weight and tipped with a worm or leech or the same color crank baits have been working the best. A few anglers have also switching spinners on and off with 3/8 ounce gold jig tipped with a minnow and having some luck in the same areas. The water temperature is currently 77 degrees.

Finding some nice fish!

Bass? Yes, two nice smallmouth bass right off our dock! You just never know what you might reel in! Lots of good fishing this time of year!

Beautiful Weather!

A nice bunch of 16 – 18 inch walleyes are being taken and make great appetizers with a cool beer on the side in the Sandbar after a day on the lake.

We still have openings in July and August
Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us for a quote [email protected]

Get your family fishing trip planned before summer is gone for another year!

July 25, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Get your family fishing trip planned
before summer is gone for another year!

Great time with the Manuel boys and Captain Dave! www.sportsmanslodges.com

Fishing is great!

July 22, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lots of nice walleyes have been caught this week. Guests going out on charters have been enjoying good fishing action with a mix of 12”-28” walleyes. A mix of bait fishing and trolling for crank baits has been working well! If you jump on a charter, no equipment is required. We will take care of the bait, poles, tackle, get you on the fish and clean your fish too. It has been a warm few days with highs in the upper 80’s, great weather to be floating around and reeling in walleyes. Water temperature is currently 73 degrees. Gold, orange, silver/white and white/red have been popular colored tackle. Bait fishing has been best using a spinner, 1-2 ounces of weight and tipped with leech or crawler. Hot spots have been out in the mud along the south shore of Lake of the Woods or further north up on the reefs in 26’-32’.

Groups of 1+ welcome!
We welcome groups from 1+. Charter trips include the guide, aboard a 27’ Sport Craft boat, onboard restroom, use of poles, bait, tackle, assortment of water and pop and fish cleaning. Box lunches and shore lunches available for an additional fee. Give us a call and pack the camera! July & August trips still available!

Check out some of the fishing action this week from guides Wes, Travis & Mike!

Blue Skies & Walleyes are in the Forecast

July 15, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The past week the weather has been up and down but it looks like starting tomorrow the forecast is shaping up! We still have openings for the summer and fall season. Come enjoy some summer fun!

The Scoop
The water temperature is holding stable at 70-72 degrees. A bunch of really nice fish have been reeled in this week. Check out these pictures! The best technique has been mixed. Some anglers are doing really well with white/silver and red spinners, 1-2 ounces of weight and tipping it with a leech or minnow. Other anglers are finding that trolling with crank baits is working the best. Outside of Zippel Bay, Graceton Beach and the northern reefs in Big Traverse have all been hot spots in 26’-32’. Our guides always want to give you the best experience but if you prefer one approach over another we are happy to accommodate. Charter trips include a guide aboard a 27’ Sport Craft boat with onboard restroom, use of poles, bait, tackle, assortment of pop and water and fish cleaning. Shore lunches and box lunches available too.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report July 6, 2016

July 6, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lots of Options
Stock up your tackle box or leave the hassle to a guide. The fish flies have hatched and the weather is warming up which means the best way to lure in some walleyes is changing. The best method right now is using a few methods. Drifting or trolling with a gold and pink spinner tipped with a night crawler or leech is one method. Drifting and jigging with a 3/8 oz. flashy colored jig and a minnow is another option. The third option anglers are just starting to use is down rigging with rapalas. The walleyes are starting to go deeper. 20’-32’ outside of Zippel Bay and on the northern reefs have been hot spots. It has been a beautiful week of weather here this week. The water temperature has warmed up to 70 degrees now, up 5 degrees this week. Don’t let summer pass you by! Get out and enjoy it!

Billy Hedtke reeled in a nice 27 inch walleye! (released)

2nd time fishing and she reels in a 27 inch walleye! Nice job Chris from Sleepy Eye MN! (released) Guided by Captain Mike

SUMMER HOT DEALS! SUMMER HOT DEALS!
The weather is warming up and so are the hot deals! Sign up here to receive hot deals right to your inbox.

100% Walleye Guarantee!
Yes you heard it right! Click here for more information.