Category Archives: Weekly South Shore Fishing Report

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 10/14/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Catching Nice Walleyes

Check out the pictures of the week! The Schultz group had a great time catching some nice fish with Captain Brent and check out the pics from a group of Baseball Buddies who caught a 30 inch walleye! Nice fish guys! Thanks for coming!

A 3/8-1/2 oz jig and shiner or chub has been working well. Some anglers still catching some on spinners and a minnow. Water temp is slowly moving down, currently in the lower 50’s. Fishing has been good outside of the gap and getting better in the river. Notable depths have been 17’-21’ and 24’-27’ lately. Gold has been the hot color.

For sturgeon, holes in the river and bay are the place to be using a 5/0 circle hook, 3-5 ounce roll sinker, and a gob of minnows with a shiner or two. Areas with a little current along a hole are a good spot to try too. Sturgeon are catch and release now through April 23.

Fall Openings Available
Lodging is open year-round here at Sportsman’s, boat slips until ice starts to form. We close up our dining, bar, and pool for a short time late October through early December. Our charter trips are available until late October and Ice Fishing starts in early December. We still have some openings for a fall trip especially midweek and the last weekend in October through November. Give us a call at 800-862-8602.

The Annual Halloween Party is on October 30
Get in some fishing and stay for the party! Our annual parties are always a great time. Entertainment, food and drink specials, $200 CASH for best costume, and more.

Looking for a seasonal RV Spot for next summer?
Check out Bur Oak Campground just a short walk from the lodge. Ask about their fall preview specials and come check it out this fall.

Sportsman’s Oak Island

Last weekend until December here in the Islands.

A jig and minnow along shorelines, gaps, and areas with current have been good walleye spots. Water temp is in the lower 50’s. Crappies are hungry 24’-30’ in areas with structure with a small jig and minnow. Muskies are active in rocky weedy bays using spinnerbaits. We have some monster pike, jumbo perch, and smallmouth bass too. The lodge will close after this weekend and re-open on December 26. The office will continue to be open through the fall so you can make your winter and next summer reservations. Thank you for another great season!

Ice fishing season is not too far away. Click here to check out all of our winter options.

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 10/5/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River

What a catch!

Check out the pics from the Vikings Electric group who visited this past weekend. A whopper of a walleye, a 33 incher was caught by Bill Champion and several slots and eaters were caught by the group. Bill’s guide was Captain Joe. The 33” was released as well as all of the slot fish (19.5”-28”).

33″ Walleye!

The walleyes have been hitting on gold, pink and white colors this week. Anchored and jigging with a minnow and drifting with spinners using the same colors. 14’-17’ and 25’-28’ have been good depths outside of Pine Island, Zippel Bay, and Graceton Beach areas. The river bite has been getting better by the day. Water temp is now in the mid 50’s. Mornings and evenings have been cool and afternoons warming up to 60’s and 70’s.

Fall Openings Available
Lodging is open year-round here at Sportsman’s, boat slips until ice starts to form. We close up our dining, bar, and pool for a short time late October through early December. Our charter trips are available until late October and Ice Fishing starts in early December. We still have some openings for a fall trip. Give us a call at 800-862-8602.

The Annual Halloween Party is on October 30
Get in some fishing and stay for the party! Our annual parties are always a great time. Entertainment, food and drink specials, $200 CASH for best costume, and more.

Looking for a seasonal RV Spot for next summer?
Check out Bur Oak Campground just a short walk from the lodge. Ask about their fall preview specials and come check it out this fall.

Oak Island

Walleyes are Hungry

A good bite continues along shorelines and points for walleyes and saugers using gold, pink, glow and orange 3/8 oz jigs tipped with a minnow in various depths from 12’-16’ and 22’-26’. Plenty for a fish fry, a few slots, and throwbacks have been the norm this week.

Get to us by Boat or Air
Click here for all the info when planning your next trip.

Our fall season runs through October 17
Give us a call to make a last-minute trip. We are also taking reservations for winter and next spring, summer and fall. 800-772-8411

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 9/30/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge

The Bite

Walleyes are slowly moving into the river. The water temp is warmer than average, 58 degrees currently. Normally it is in the 40’s. The lake bite has been great especially on the rocks and areas with current. Anchored and jigging with a shiner or chub minnow or drifting with spinners tipped with a minnow has been working well. Gold, pink, and glow in the dark have been good colors in 17’-24’ and some having luck in deeper waters around 27’-29’.

A mix of walleyes, saugers, and a few perch have been biting. If you are after sturgeon, fall fishing is a great time to hook into them. Bays and the river are the best places to find sturgeon in deep holes using a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, a few ounces no roll sinker, and for bait, a gob of worms, and even a shiner in the mix.

Fall Season
Lodging is open year-round here at Sportsman’s, boat slips until ice no longer allows. We close up our dining, bar, and pool for a short time late October through early December. Our charter trips are available until late October and ice fishing starts in early December. We still have some openings for a fall trip. Give us a call at 800-862-8602.

The Annual Halloween Party is on October 30
Get in some fishing and stay for the party! Our annual parties are always a great time. Entertainment, food and drink specials, $200 CASH for best costume and more.

Looking for a seasonal RV Spot for next summer?
Check out Bur Oak Campground just a short walk from the lodge. Ask about their fall preview specials and come check it out this fall.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Eagle Ridge

Walleyes & Crappies

It has been a good jig bite for walleyes and crappies in the islands. 3/8 oz gold, pink, and glow in the dark for walleyes and smaller 1/16-1/4 oz gold, green and orange jigs for crappies. Walleyes 18-27’ mix of structure and sand, crappies, areas with structure 25’-30’.

Don’t count out the muskie, pike, bass, and perch.

Fall is an excellent time to get into some good fishing for a variety of species in the islands here at the Northwest Angle. Rocky points in cabbage bays are hot spots using crank and jerk baits for muskie and pike. Cranks for pike and for perch, a jig and a minnow in 8’-15’. 

Get to us by Boat or Air
Click here for all the info when planning your next trip.

Our fall season runs through October 17
Give us a call to make a last-minute trip. We are also taking reservations for winter and next spring, summer and fall. 800-772-8411

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 9/21/21

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Sportsman’s Rainy River

Fall Jig Bite is Starting.
Anglers are starting to do some jigging and the fall colors are incredible right now. Shiners are showing up more by the day and the water temperature is in the lower 60’s. The air temp has been bouncing up and down lately. Looks like the forecast is calling for warm temps for the next few days and then cool off for the weekend.

Best depths have been 14’-17; and 22’-30’. As we transition into cooler weather, a mix of jigging with a 3/8 oz jig tipped with a minnow, drifting with spinners tipped with a crawler or minnow, and trolling with crankbaits are good techniques to try. A variety of walleyes and sauger sizes are being caught.

Sturgeon season runs through Sept 30 and then switches to catch and release starting October 1 through April 23. Nice sturgeon have been caught recently in the river. Anchored in a hole or around a hole where their is some current using a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, a few ounces no roll sinker, and a gob of worms is a good approach.

Fall Lodging starting at only $95 a night plus tax for 2 people now through October. Don’t miss our Annual Halloween Party on October 30. $200 CASH for best costume, entertainment, specials, and lots of fun. Give us a call at 800-862-8602.

Oak Island

The Mornings are Cool
A pattern of 40’s in the morning has begun. The leaves are changing, it is an awesome site right now fishing amongst the fall scenery. Water temp has been bouncing around in the upper 50’s to lower 60’s. Orange and gold jigs tipped with a minnow or spinners with crawlers have been working to get the attention of the walleyes and saugers along reefs and shorelines. The best depth has been 13-24’ and 27’-30’. The crappie bite has been good jigging with a gold or bright colored 1/16-1/4 oz jig and a minnow in 25’-32’ around structure. Muskies mania! Trolling and casting shiny crankbaits baits have been hot.

Fall Openings
We have some openings available here and there from Sunday, Sept 26 through October 17. Give us a call at 800-772-8411.

Border Crossing Information
Click here for more information and many answers to FAQs.

If you prefer not to drive up to the Northwest Angle, you can get to us by Boat or Plane
Lake of the Woods Passenger Service and Lake Country Air Service to the Northwest Angle and Islands. These routes stay in the U.S. the entire time with no border crossing required. To schedule a trip, go to www.lowpassenger.com or www.beaverairtours.com The area has an abundance of fishing and sightseeing spots on the Minnesota side to enjoy if you choose not to venture to the Canadian side.

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 9/13/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Beautiful Fall Weather
Looks like it is going to be a nice week to be out and enjoy the great outdoors. Leaves are changing and the fishing has been good. The forecast is calling for highs in the 60’s few 70’s and cooling off in the evenings with lows in the 40’s and 50’s.

The spinner and crankbait bite continues, but it won’t be long before the jig bite starts firing up. The first signs of shiners have been seen this week in the river. For now, drifting with a gold, silver, pink, orange or any bright colored spinner that can catch the eye of the walleye tipped with a crawler or minnow is a good technique to try or trolling with crankbaits in depths of 13’-18 and 24’-32’ reefs and mud. Water temp is bouncing around in the upper 50’s to lower 60’s.

Fall Specials
Contact us to book your fall trip at 800-862-8602 or by clicking here. Lodging starting at $95 per night for 2 adults and lodging/charter packages starting at only $232 per person. *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Annual Halloween Party is set for Saturday, October 30.
Make plans to attend this fun annual event! $200 Cash for best costume, lots of drink and food specials, lodging special, entertainment, and a whole lot of fun.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Muskies
Guests have been reeling in some really nice 35”+ muskies recently. Weedy bays with rocks are good places to try in the fall. Double blade spinners and topwater baits using the figure eight method can really lure them in.

Walleye Bite
The weather is cooling and fall patterns are starting. Jigging 3/8 oz gold, pink, yellow or orange jig tipped with a minnow on the Minnesota side and Gulp minnows on the Canadian. (No live bait allowed in Canada right now.) Points and 12’-17’, as well as 25’-30’, have been good depths. Some anglers doing well drifting with spinners in Little Traverse tipped with a minnow or crawler. The Water temp is in the upper 50’s.

Crappies
Crappies are hitting on small jigs with a minnow on structure 15’-30’.

October Specials
Check out our packages
and give us a call at 800-772-8411 or contact us online here for availability.

Border Crossing Information
Click here for more information and many answers to FAQs.

Other Ways to get to the Angle
Lake of the Woods Passenger Service and Lake Country Air Service to the Northwest Angle and Islands. These routes stay in the U.S. the entire time with no border crossing required. To schedule, a trip go to www.lowpassenger.com or www.beaverairtours.com The area has an abundance of fishing and sightseeing spots on the Minnesota side to enjoy if you choose not to venture to the Canadian side.

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 9/1/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Happy Labor Day Weekend

From the Sportsman’s family to your family we hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday weekend! Good luck fishing and thank you for another great summer. We are looking forward to the fall season ahead. If you didn’t get a chance to join us this summer or are thinking another trip would be just what you need, give us a call. We have fall openings available and some great discounted rates too!

The Bite

Drifting or trolling with a hammered gold, silver, orange, or yellow spinner tipped with a crawler or minnow continues to work well for walleyes and saugers. Many anglers are also having lots of success trolling with crankbaits.  The weather can dictate which spot you can get to  for the day but overall the bite has been good. Depths of 11’-17’ and 26’-34’ in the mud, sand, and reefs have been producing some nice walleye and saugers.

Get ready for the jig bite coming up next.
As the water cools and walleyes start moving in shallower the jig bite heats up on Lake of the Woods. Jigging popular LOW colors gold, pink, orange, and glow in the dark tipped with a chub or a shiner is definitely an approach you are going to want to try.

Sturgeon anyone?
Sturgeon fishing in the river and bays in the late summer through fall and spring can produce some monster fish.  Fish so big, many are larger than a human, measuring 60”+. Anchored along and in holes using a heavy rod, 18″ snell made of 60 lb line or leader attached to a 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook, 2-5 ounces of weight and gob of worms is a great method. Sturgeon “keep” season is running now through Sept 30. 1 per calendar year can be kept. Fish must be 45″-50″ inclusive or over 75″. The fall and winter catch and release season kicks off October 1 and runs through early Spring, April 23.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Eagle Ridge

Comfortable Temps
Highs in the 60’s and 70’s this week. Jigging with a 3/8 oz jig and minnow on the Minnesota side and using Berkley power bait minnows, Northland impulse smelt and good old Gulp minnows on the Canadian side in 29’-33’ seems to be working the best.

Muskies
Bucktails along weed beds in sandy bays are catching the eye of these feisty fish this time of year.

October Specials
Check out our packages 
and give us a call at 800-772-8411 or contact us online here for availability.

Border Crossing Information
Click here for more information and many answers to FAQs.

Bait in Canada
Something new has come up with the border opening. No live or dead bait is allowed to cross the border at this time. Artificial only.

Other Ways to get to the Angle
Lake of the Woods Passenger Service and Lake Country Air Service to the Northwest Angle and Islands. These routes stay in the U.S. the entire time with no border crossing required. To schedule, a trip go to www.lowpassenger.com or www.beaverairtours.com The area has an abundance of fishing and sightseeing spots on the Minnesota side to enjoy if you choose not to venture to the Canadian side.

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 8/26/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Summer Methods Continue but the Weather is Changing
Spinners and crankbaits continue to be the go-to method but the cool mornings in the 50’s are definitely a sign that fall is around the corner.

Trolling or slow drifting in the deep mud 28’-34’ and around and on reefs with spinners tipped with a crawler or minnow or trolling with crankbaits is the suggested method for a few more weeks. As we move into mid to late September and the weather starts to cool, sharpen your jigs. Jigs tipped with chubs or shiners is the go-to method for the fall run. A variety of walleye and sauger sizes continue to nibble at the hook this week. Check out the pictures of the week.

Hey Gals, Grab your Girlfriends for Fall Midweek Getaway
Stay midweek (Sun – Thurs) and enjoy 2 nights in a lodge room, a fun full day of charter fishing for walleye and sauger aboard a 27′ boat with a guide, use of poles, bait and tackle, an assortment of pop and water, and fish cleaning all provided, 5 meals, 2 drink tokens and a souvenir gift pack valued up to $25! Only $317 per person, a $348 value! Make plans to visit us by clicking here or giving us a call at 800-862-8602. *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Lodging Available Labor Day Weekend
Lodging starting at just $109 a night in our lodge rooms for 2 adults and 4 kids plus tax.

Contact us today at 800-862-8602.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Not too many changes this week
Rock reefs and points 18’-27’ drifting or slow trolling using gold, orange, and white spinners tipped with minnow or crawler is a good option. Some anglers are doing best using 3/8 oz. jigs tipped with a minnow and others are pulling crankbaits in the deep mud 28’-34’. Give one method a try or try them all.

Muskies and Pike
Weedy bays with structure using topwater and jerk baits are luring in the muskie and pike.

October Specials
Check out our packages
and give us a call at 800-772-8411 or contact us online here for availability.

Border Crossing Update
Going pretty well so far. Click here for more information and many answers to FAQs.

Bait in Canada
Something new has come up with the border opening. No live or dead bait is allowed to cross the border at this time. Artificial only.

Other Ways to get to the Angle
Lake of the Woods Passenger Service and Lake Country Air Service to the Northwest Angle and Islands. These routes stay in the U.S. the entire time with no border crossing required. To schedule, a trip go to www.lowpassenger.com or www.beaverairtours.comThe area has an abundance of fishing and sightseeing spots on the Minnesota side to enjoy if you choose not to venture to the Canadian side.

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 8/20/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge

End of the 90’s?
Looks like we might get a break from the heat starting tomorrow.

70’s sound good to me! A good walleye and sauger bite continues. A wide mix of eaters size, throwbacks, and nice trophies are being reeled in. Pulling spinners with a minnow or crawler and pulling crankbaits on a slow drift or troll continue to be the go-to methods in the deep mud 27’-34’ and around and on top of reefs in various depths. Gold, glow, and anything shiny is popular tackle colors.

Fall is just around the corner
Lodging starting at only $95* per night in lodge rooms and lodging/charter packages starting at only $232* per person Sept 7-late October. Check out our packages and make plans to visit us 800-862-8602. *plus tax and based on 2 adults

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Spinners, Cranks and & Jigs
Rock reefs and points 19’-27’ using gold 3/8 oz. jigs tipped with a minnow or a spinner with a nightcrawler have been successful methods for reeling in the walleyes. Pulling crankbaits in the deep mud is also producing some nice fish 28’-34’.

Muskies and Pike
Working point to point in weedy bays with structure using topwater and jerk baits are luring in the muskie and pike.

Fall is just around the corner
Give us a call at 800-772-8411 or contact us online here for availability.

Border Crossing Update
Going pretty well so far. Click here for more information and many answers to FAQs.
Also, COVID PCR Test machines have arrived at the angle. We are expecting them to be running soon.


Bait in Canada

Something new has come up with the border opening. No live or dead bait is allowed to cross the border at this time. Artificial only.

Other Ways to get to the Angle
Lake of the Woods Passenger Service and Lake Country Air Service to the Northwest Angle and Islands. These routes stay in the U.S. the entire time with no border crossing required. To schedule, a trip go to www.lowpassenger.com or www.beaverairtours.com The area has an abundance of fishing and sightseeing spots on the Minnesota side to enjoy if you choose not to venture to the Canadian side.

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 8/11/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River

Catching Some Nice Fish

Late summer techniques continue to work the best. Drifting or trolling with spinners tipped with a minnow or crawler and trolling with crankbaits. Orange, silver, hammered gold and white continue to do well for colors in the deep mud 28’-34’ and 18’-30’ off and around reefs. Lots of variety of sizes of walleyes are being caught from throwbacks to good eaters to slot fish and beyond. The protected slot on Lake of the Woods is 19.5”-28” for walleyes. All of the fish caught in those sizes must be immediately released and only one over 28” may be kept per angler. Along with the walleyes, anglers also are reeling in several saugers to fill their day.

Get your Labor Day Weekend Reservations In
www.sportsmanslodges.com

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

The Border is open!
Anglers have started to now drive up to the angle and get to us by the 9 mile boat ride. Fishing is also open on the Canadian side. Click here for the latest information and requirements.

Anglers are finding the walleye and saugers using crankbaits, jigs, and spinners. Trolling or drifting with jigs and spinners and trolling is the way to go with crankbaits. Jigs and spinners are being tipped with minnows or worms. 17’-23’ for jigging and spinners and 30’-34’ for crankbaits have been best in the mud and rocky areas. You can’t go wrong with gold, silver, and orange right now.

Pike, Bass & Muskies
Weedy bays and rock points are the places to go. Bucktails for pike and bass and jerk baits for muskies.

For more ways to get to the island….
Check out Lake of the Woods Passenger Service & Lake Country Air Service.

Catch a great deal in October
The walleye, muskie, bass, sauger, perch, crappie, and pike bite can be absolutely phenomenal and we have some great fall discounts too.

Sportsman’s Fishing Report – 8/4/21

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Rolling into August
A good bite has been going on this week for walleye and sauger.

Drifting or trolling with spinners tipped with a crawler or minnow and trolling with crankbaits in the mud 28’-34’ and 17’-23’ off the south shore. Silver, pink, hammered gold, white and red have all been good colors.

Get your Labor Day Weekend Reservations In
www.sportsmanslodges.com

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Warm Weather Continues On
Another warm week is ahead of us this week. Water temperature is sitting in the mid-’70s. Drop a line with a spinner, ounce or two of weight, and a minnow in 17’ – 23’ in the rubble rock and mud to find the walleyes and saugers. There is a lot of baitfish getting out offshore so look for those clouds of baitfish on your electronics. Pull spinners through these areas and you should find some fish.

Walleyes, Saugers, Muskie, Pike, Crappie, Perch, and Bass have been the catch of the day. Lots of species in the islands to go after. Check out some of the variety in the pictures of the week. You can find the pike, bass, and muskie in the weedy bays and rock points. Go deep for the best bass fishing. Spinnerbaits spoons and bucktails work well for pike and bass. Muskies are hot after topwater and jerk baits. Good luck fishing!

Canadian Border Opens to American Travelers August 9
Progress is being made. Travelers must have a negative PCR COVID test less than 72 hours old and be fully vaccinated. At this time, we believe fishing in Canadian waters may not be allowed until a later date but traveling to the Northwest Angle to get to us will be. Please keep in mind, we do not have any COVID tests available at the Northwest Angle or Island. For more information about the current guidelines click here.

For more ways to get to the island….
Check out Lake of the Woods Passenger Service & Lake Country Air Service.

Catch a great deal in October
The walleye, muskie, bass, sauger, perch, crappie, and pike bite can be absolutely phenomenal and we have some great fall discounts too.