Category Archives: Weekly South Shore Fishing Report

Lake of the Woods South Shore Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

January 2, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

January 2, 2014

Below Zero, anyone?

Lows below zero and highs in the low teens have made its way North. But when you fish with us, there is no need to fear the cold. We provide heated transportation to a heated fish house so you can stay warm from start to finish. History has shown that when the colder weather sets in, the fish go deep. The guides have been moving houses daily to find the best bite. We have houses in varying depths between 21′-28′ to keep on the best bite. The bite has been spotty, but they are out there. Hammered gold or pink jigs tipped with a minnow or shiner seem to be getting the bite from either saugers or walleyes. Keep the line active so you can get in on the action. Vexilars help your success and don’t be afraid to change up a jig now and then.

Nathan Kennedy, 23” walleye, released
December 2014

Ice Conditions
Ice conditions range anywhere from 18”-22”. We haven’t had but a dusting of snow in the last few weeks so we continue to make good ice.

Our report is based on the areas we travel and fish. Please keep in mind the entire lake does not freeze equally. If you venture out on your own, we urge you to follow marked trails and know the latest conditions. All of our fish houses are on groomed trails not accessible by wheeled vehicles. More peace and quiet and better fishing.

Joel Kuester with the Hannan Party
26 ½” walleye, released
December 20, 2014

Four Mile Bay Ice Road
The ice is around 20 inches plus thick so at this time, they are allowing most everything out on the lake. If you have an extreme oversize vehicle or wheelhouse, you will want to call and double check before heading out.

Trail Conditions

Lake Trails
The Lake Trails are all marked. Once there is enough snow, the trails will then be groomed.

Land Trails
Right now, it’s basically a waiting game for the snow to arrive so that the trails can be groomed. For the latest information, please click here.

7 New Villas are available now
!Check them out and make your reservations today! They are in high demand, so don’t wait too long!

The bite is getting better!

December 27, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

21’-28’ of water, a 50% walleye, 50% sauger mix has been found. A plain hook or orange and green jigs tipped with a minnow have worked best. Jigging is the key. You have to work at it. Dead sticking is not working right now. Once you feel a good bite, set the hook! Vexilars always seem to help angler’s success. Bring one along or reserve one at the front desk.

Jake Hayward, WI 27.5 inch walleye released

Ice Conditions
Currently we have 14-19 inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish. The week it was warm but we lost no ice. We only dealt with some slush and water on top of the ice. The good news is the temperatures today have dipped. Highs in the teens today and starting tomorrow along with the week ahead we are supposed to get lows below zero. Most of the slush and water has froze. We will make ice quick as we have no snow at this time. Ice fishing season is in full swing!

Sunnie, 26.5 inch walleye released

Trails
Lake trails from Baudette to Oak Island and Baudette to Warroad are marked. We have minimal snow so the trails are in poor condition. Also use caution when crossing pressure ridges as the fluctuation in the temperature will make these ridges move. The land trails are closed at this time due to lack of snow. Hopefully we will get some snow soon!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

December 19, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

December 19, 2014

Snow, Sun, Warm and Cold…

….we’ve had it all this past week. Ice Fishing has been spotty with some houses reporting great action while others have seen slower bites. We are moving houses shallow and some deep to try to get on the fish. Right now, we are anywhere between 18’ and 31’. Anglers have reported that the bite is mostly saugers at this time with some nice walleyes in the mix too. Gold jigs with some flash or some glow are the hot jigs this week. Afternoons are producing the best action at this time but the weather has also been tricky this week as well. The weather forecast through next Wednesday is all over the board again with varying temps from the low teen’s to the mid-30’s with a chance of snow leading up to Christmas.


Tom Frisch 27 ½” walleye December 2014	Kendall Simmons 26 ¼” walleye 28 ft with a gold/pink jig

Ice Conditions
Ice conditions range anywhere from 14’-17’. The warm up late last week made for a little slush but the cold temperatures the past few days have firmed it back up. It looks like the lows are going to be in the teens and twenties for the week ahead. We have a nice base of ice at this time.

Four Mile Bay Ice Road
The cool down from the warm spell did not cause any cracks on the road. They are now letting ¾ ton trucks pulling up to 22 ft long wheel houses out as well. The ice is about the same thickness as last week which was around 15-16 inches on the bay and 16-18 inches on the lake just outside of Pine Island.

Trail Conditions

Lake Trails

The Lake Trails are all marked. Work is being done to smooth the trails as best as possible. Once there is enough snow, the trails will then be groomed. When traveling please watch for the pressure ridges and use caution especially when their is a drastic change in the air temperature.

Land Trails

Groomers for the land trails report that they have been working on clearing the trails. It was slow going earlier as there was no snow thus wheeled vehicles were used and this was making the progress slow. After the snow the pace was improved. No other information was given at this time as to the progress but there is not enough snow for packing or grooming. You can find the latest information by clicking here.

7 New Villas are available now!
Check them out and make your reservations today! They are in high demand, so don’t wait too long!

New Year’s Eve Party!
Join us for live entertainment, one night only exclusive menu, party favors, champagne toast and a whole lot of fun! Make your reservations now.

Ice Conditions

December 12, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

Ice Conditions
We have 15-17 inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish. Great start to the year! All of our houses are just off groomed trails. We currently have 3-5 inches of snow.

Plowed Road out of Four Mile Bay (near Wheeler’s Point)

15-16 inches of ice on the bay and 16-18 inches of ice on the lake just outside of Pine Island. Now and through the weekend, half ton vehicles are allowed out not pulling wheel houses. Wheel houses can be pulled out by smaller vehicles or ATV’s. The road is plowed four miles past Pine Island.

FISHING!
Lots of action especially in the 10”-14” size right now. 50/50 walleye, sauger mix. Jigging with a gold jig in 19’-25’ of water just off bottom with your jig tipped with a minnow is working well. Vexilars/Fish Finders always help your success rate! Vexilars are available for rent at the lodge.

Snowmobile Trails
Lake Trails – All lake trails are staked except Driftwood Point to Warroad. Oak Island to Driftwood is staked. Grooming will start next week.

New Year’s Party!
Make your reservations now for dinner and lodging. Live Entertainment, specials, party favors, champagne toast and a whole lot of fun is planned! Click here to make reservations today.

Ice Update

December 4, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

12-4-2014

Ice update!!!

The crews have worked hard all week and have made some nice smooth trails to and from the fish houses. There is 16″ of ice on the lake and 14″ on Four Mile Bay (the bay we access early in the season to get to the lake). The cracks have mostly healed and things have come together nicely for our opening weekend of ice fishing. The rainy river has 8″-10″ of ice.

The snowmobile trail to Oak Island will be marked next Tuesday or Wednesday with the trail to Warroad and the Rainy River to Baudette trail being marked the day after the oak trail. We are very excited about the ice thickness and the upcoming season. The guides have done some scout fishing and report good water clarity and some hot action. Please remember that it is still early and there may be thin weak spots of ice yet. At this time there are no full size vehicles allowed. Please call ahead or check our website to find out the latest ice report. Also remember we only report on the areas we travel and fish and the entire lake is certainly not treated equally. Safety first! Good luck fishing! For reservations contact us online or call 800-862-8602. Bring on the season!!!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report

December 2, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

12/2/2014

Ice Fishing Season begins Friday!!!!!!

The ice has come along nicely but we must stress safety and for people venturing out on your own, follow the resorts marked trails…if there isn’t a resort trail it is a no go area. Any place there is current is still going to be thin ice. Thin spots of ice remain and with the new dusting of snow it is tough to see different areas of ice. With all that said we have a strong 11″-12″ in the Four Mile Bay and 12″-13″ on the lake. We have checked ice all the way out to 26′ of water. Water clarity is good and there are have been quite a few small to nice eating fish being caught in 22′ and some slot fish being caught in shallow in the morning and evening. The ice is rough and we will be spending the beginning of the week grooming and making trails and the most importantly checking and rechecking the ice thicknesses.

Lodging is available now. The Sandbar and Riverside Dining Room opens Friday, Dec 5 serving lunch, dinner and drinks. The Dockside Dining Room serving breakfast opens Saturday, Dec 6.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report

November 25, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

November 25, 2014

Rainy River

Ice update! Due to the warm temps and winds this past weekend the lake went backwards in the ice making preparation. There is about 3″ of ice off of birch beach and a little further out the ice is moving with the wind. Morris point had a large hole open up. Four mile bay where we access the lake remains good and has about 9-10 of ice now. There are 2 cracks right now to watch for. With the forecasted weather for today and tomorrow We will not be checking any until Wednesday. With the look of the extended forecast we are still skeptical that we will be able to start fishing by a week from today. It’s early, lots of time left. Safety first! Click here to view the River from our dock cam.

Fall projects are in full swing! We look forward to seeing you in December! Do you have your reservations in yet? www.sportsmanslodges.com

Contest! Free Trip Giveaway!
Click here to enter for you chance to win!

Christmas gift idea!
Always the right size color and price! Sportsman’s Lodges gift certificates. Purchase yours online today!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report

November 20, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

November 20, 2014

The cold and ice have made their appearance in Northern MN. The weather forecast looks like it’s bringing the cold and snow again after a slight warm-up over the weekend (nothing over freezing, though!!). The Rainy River has a layer of ice on it but still has some open spots. Reports are saying that the Lake is frozen over in spots as well but we have not yet ventured out. The water temperature has dropped to 32.2 degrees. Click here to view the River from our dock cam.


The view of the International Bridge from Peace Park in Baudette.	From the Sportsman’s Docks looking out toward the Gap.

Wheeler’s Point Launch

Fall projects are in full swing! We look forward to seeing you in December! Do you have your reservations in yet? www.sportsmanslodges.com

Contest! Free Trip Giveaway!
Click here to enter for you chance to win!

Christmas gift idea!
Always the right size color and price! Sportsman’s Lodges gift certificates. Purchase yours online today!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report

November 12, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

November 12, 2014

I realize this is the fishing report but let’s face it…everyone had hunting on their mind this past weekend. Did you have success??

Thank You

Another great season is in the books! To all of you who visited this past summer, thank you. If we missed you this season, we sure hope to see you soon. The bar, dining room, many lodge rooms and pool are currently closed. Fall projects are in full swing as we get ready for our winter season. Cabins and villas are available to rent through November. The reservation desk is open year round. Make your winter reservations now online or by calling 800-862-8602! We have the first week in December in our sights to start our winter season mother nature willing! Stay tuned!

Also, it looks like the cold and snow are on their way. The high temps might get close to the freezing mark and the lows are dipping down into the low teens. The water temp has dropped below 40 degrees; it currently sits at 34.1. Before you know it, ice will be here and we will be fishing again!!

The Baudette Bay is completely frozen! Ice-making weather is here!

Winter is just around the corner! Have you made your reservations yet?

www.sportsmanslodges.com

Contest! Free Trip Giveaway!
Click here to enter for you chance to win!

Christmas gift idea!
Always the right size color and price! Sportsman’s Lodges gift certificates. Purchase yours online today!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report

November 5, 2014 by Sportsman's Lodges

November 5, 2014

River fishing has not disappointed the anglers this week. It seems as if anywhere from the International Bridge to the Gap has produced limits of walleyes and saugers. Depths from 18’-20’ have been producing the most using green, orange or gold jigs tipped with a frozen shiner. Fishing up north has been producing too. Areas by Garden Island in 20’-25’ depths have given anglers their limits as well. Weather-wise, it looks as if we are coming into a cool down. Highs will be in the high-20’s to low-30’s and lows will be dipping down into the mid-teens. The water temperature is currently at 41.9 degrees.

Chuck and Heather Fowler 30.5 in, 26 in and 21 in walleye Guided by Captain Mike