It has been a cool week so far, the change of the season is in the air. Yesterday we already had ice on some of the small bays!
Ice is starting to form!
If this keeps up it could be an early start again to ice fishing season. Last year we started on November 30 with plenty of safe ice for our rigs and fish houses.
Soft Water Fishing A few anglers are still out in boats chasing down the walleyes this week. The water remains high and current strong so a 1 oz jig has been key. Gold, pink or orange tipped with a chub or shiner has been hot just near the resort, Wheeler’s Point, Four Mile Bay, and the Lighthouse Gap in varying depths of 8’-22’ of water. Our boats are all put away and crews are busy working on fall projects and getting the fish houses ready but if you are looking to get in one last trip, we do have lodging available through the fall if you would like to bring your own boat.
Check out what this Father and Son reeled in! Lots of fun with Captain Ralph
Water temps have dropped to the mid 40’s in the past week, which has helped keep the fish hungry! Guides have reported having the most success in 17 to 27 feet of water, fishing the mud and sand. They are fishing from Zippel Bay to Babe Island using half ounce jigs (gold/pink/white), tipped with frozen shiners. Quite a few big fish have been caught and released this past weekend including 26”, 27”, 27 ½”, and 29” walleyes. The guests are even catching perch, sturgeon and a few eel pout. Fishing in the river continues to be a challenge with the high water. Our guides suggest spending at least half the day on the water to catch your limit of fish. Pro Tip of the week – Thump the bottom with your jig and stir it up!
Our Annual Halloween Party is this Saturday! Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Saturday, Oct 26 we will kick off our the festivities with 1/2 price select apps and $1 off domestic beers from 3pm-6pm. Then enjoy FREE witch’s brew from 7pm-8pm, entertainment starts at 9 along with more great specials throughout the night and don’t forget your costume! We will be giving away $200 cash for the best one! Book your lodging now $96 lodge rooms!! (Per night, plus tax and based on 2 adults)
Thanks, everyone for a great season! We had so much fun catching up with so many of you and meeting new friends. We look forward to seeing you this winter! Fall projects and cleaning are in full swing. Give us a call to make your winter reservations 800-772-8411 or click here to book on line.
The weather is shaping up for this upcoming weekend! A good bite out by Bridges Island at about 29 feet of water in the sand. Using pink, green, gold or blue 3/8 oz jigs tipped with frozen shiners (or even worms) has been successful. One guide reported catching a few 12” – 15” perch out by the islands and even a few eelpouts by the Gap. Water clarity in the lake is about 2 feet with the water temp around 50 degrees. Most guests are venturing out to Four Mile Bay, the Gap and just past Pine Island to fish, as the river continues to have a strong current and is a bit murky. The water level is high! Pro Tip of the week – You can’t catch fish if your line isn’t wet!
Our Annual Halloween Party is Oct 26! Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Saturday, Oct 26 we will kick off our the festivities with 1/2 price select apps and $1 off domestic beers from 3pm-6pm. Then enjoy FREE witch’s brew from 7pm-8pm, entertainment starts at 9 along with more great specials throughout the night and don’t forget your costume! We will be giving away $200 cash for the best one! Book your lodging now $96 lodge rooms!! (Per night, plus tax and based on 2 adults)
Last weekend until December We have some openings available for our last fall weekend, this weekend. Give us a call if you would like to get in one last trip before ice fishing.
Water temp continues to be in the lower 50’s and upper 40’s. We are looking for the sunshine this weekend! A jig and minnow along shorelines, gaps, and areas with current have been a good approach for catching walleye. Crappies are hungry 20’-25’ in areas with structure with a small jig and minnow. Muskies continue to be active too in rocky weedy bays using spinnerbaits. We have some monster pike, nice looking jumbo perch and smallmouth bass nibbling too. The lodge will close after this weekend and re-open December 26. The office will continue to be open through the fall so you can make your winter and next summer reservations.
Fishing continues to be hot, even as the weather fluctuates. The water temp has dropped to about 51 degrees, which has helped make the fish hungry! Guests and guides continue to jig with minnows and shiners. Any bright colored jig has been successful, such as gold, pink and orange. Water level is up and current is moving quick so heavier jigs of an ounce in size are best if you are planning on fishing in the river or bays. This time of year, the fish can be found in a wide range of depths, from 18 ft to 28 ft of water. There are a variety fishing spots that have been producing many walleyes, such as Four Mile Bay, 2 miles past Pine Island, Zippel Bay, Graceton Beach and even up by Knight and Bridges Islands. Pro tip of the week – bring enough bait for those hungry fish or take a guide!
Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Saturday, Oct 26 we will kick off our the festivities with 1/2 price select apps and $1 off domestic beers from 3pm-6pm. Then enjoy FREE witch’s brew from 7pm-8pm, entertainment starts at 9 along with more great specials throughout the night and don’t forget your costume! We will be giving away $200 cash for the best one! Book your lodging now $96 lodge rooms!! (Per night, plus tax and based on 2 adults)
There’s still time to get in some end of season fishing before we make the switch to winter. Fall is always some of the best fishing of the year, come see why for yourself!
LODGING STARTING AT $43 PER PERSON PER NIGHT
Openings available October 9-16 and 21-November 30 at Rainy River and now through October 20, 2019 starting at $59 at Oak Island.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.UP TO 20% OFF SUMMER LODGING & GUIDED FISHING PACKAGES
Through Oct. 26, 2019 at Rainy River and up to 10% off through Oct. 20, 2019 at Oak Island.100% WALLEYE LIMIT GUARANTEE
Fish on one of our charter boats for a minimum of 2 full days. We guarantee you will take your limit of walleyes home with you or we will pay you $10 per walleye short of your limit. Fish eaten during your stay count towards your limit.
For more about all of our fall packages click here.
Lake of the Woods Oak Island & the Northwest Angle
Hungry Walleyes
It has been a good bite this week. Water temps are in the lower 50’s and upper 40’s. Jig and minnow has been the hot approach to landing a nice stringer of walleyes. Gold, pink, orange and glow in the dark have been good colors. Points and shorelines in 12’-25’ have been good spots. Crappie fishing continues to be hot and we don’t expect that to slow anytime soon. Usually the cooler it gets, the better it gets. 20’-32’ holes with structure using a jig and minnow works well. Muskies also active. Try some trolling in bays with a mix of rocks and weeds casting using heavy duty rods and reels with line up to 100 lb test, topwater baits, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Lake of the Woods is home to thousands of bays and an abundantmuskie population.Few More Weeks of Fall Fishing
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge has openings now through Oct 20. Give us a jingle for one last soft water trip!
Don’t let the weather fool you – fishing has been awesome! Many groups are only spending a few hours on the water and coming in with their limits of walleyes and saugers. The best walleye fishing has been between 20-30 ft of water, not too far out from Pine Island in the mud. Jigs tipped with shiners or minnows have been the preferred method this past week as the water temp hovers around 54 degrees. Pro Tip of the week – if the water is muddy, use a brighter colored jig!
Lodging and Charter Fishing packages starting at $207 per person for 2 nights and a day or if you prefer to bring your own boat, we have great lodging deals starting at only $86 for a lodge room midweek and $92 weekends for up to 2 adults and 4 kids. Charter packages available through late October and fall lodging specials available throughout November. Come have some fun this fall!
*Plus tax, packages based on double occupancy and kids rates ages 17 and under.
Bring your costume Our annual Halloween party is on Saturday, Oct 26. Always a great time! It pays to dress up, $200 cash will be awarded for best costume, awesome drink specials $2 beer and more, 1/2 price select apps 3pm-6pm, entertainment and more!
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
Falling Temps Water temp is hovering in the lower 50’s, dropping quickly this week. Jig and a shiner or chub minnow in areas where bait gathers especially in current areas have been good walleye spots, 12’-25’. Soldier’s point, Deep Water Bay and small islands just south of Oak have been good. Gold, pink and glow in the dark are hot colors to try. We have lodging and guided trips available at Oak Island through Oct 20.
Crappies Crappie fishing has been on fire! 20’-32’ holes with structure using a 1/16-3/8 ounce jig, size depending on the current and a minnow.
Muskies Trolling using spinner jerk baits around points and areas with current have been working best. Fall is a great time of year to find an aggressive muskie bite.
Variety of Methods Jigs tipped with a shiner or a chub minnow and spinners tipped with a shiner or chub minnow or crawler is working to lure in the walleyes. Best depth has been 14’-18’ and 27-30’ along shorelines and points. The shiner run has been spotty this week, cooler temps should help fire it up again. River level is up right now and the water temperature is in the lower 60’s/upper 50’s. Catching some nice sturgeon by accident on walleye rigs and using 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook with a few ounces of weight and gob of crawlers along the river bed bottom especially the holes. Dan Williams, one of our staff members caught a 50 incher this week! Sturgeon keep season runs a few more days until the 30th and catch and release season begins Oct 1 through April 23. Fall openings available! Lodging and guided trips.
Oak Island
Incredible fall scenery right now.
The leaves are just gorgeous. Anglers have been catching some nice walleyes around Little Oak Island as well as points and gaps. Water temperature is in the upper 50’s .Red, orange and gold jigs tipped with a minnow or spinners with crawlers have been working. Best depth 15-24’. The crappie bite has been on fire!! Jigging with a minnow in 25’-32’ around structure. Small 1/16-1/4 oz gold, bright yellow and pink has been hot tackle colors. Muskies mania! Trolling and casting shiny crankbaits baits are luring these aggressive fish in..
Fall Openings
A couple of two bedroom open this weekend and more openings Sept 29-Oct 20. Come wet a line! www.oakislandlodge.com
Fall fishing is HOT right now! The guides are alternating between drifting with spinners or anchoring and jigging with minnows to lure in the walleye. Jigging is hot in about 35 feet of water, using gold rattle jigs. Success with using spinners was best on the sand bar from 11 to 20 feet this past week. Many slot walleyes, 17” – 18” eaters and big walleyes have been reported, including a 26”, 27” and 29” by the same group! Check out these pictures!
Sturgeon!
The sturgeon are biting too! 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 is working well. Check out the pictures from the Tierney group! Nice fish guys! Sturgeon keep one season continues through Sept 30 and catch and release season starts Oct 1 through April 23. Smoked sturgeon is delicious!
River Report
Over the weekend, shiners in the river were becoming more active as water temperature kept dropping. (58 degrees) However, like many parts of the midwest, we are experiencing warmer than normal temps this week so we expect the water temperature to tick up a few degrees before going back down.
Of course, we all know this will be short-lived, fall-like temps will be back next week, shiners will get active again and the walleyes will be close behind them moving into the river. Temperature changes up or down, there is lots of good fishing to be had in the area right now. Try the lake and bays, spinners and even crankbaits should be a good to approach if the jigs aren’t working for you. Nearly one million acres to explore on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, no shortage of great fishing spots. Come have some fun and enjoy the summer-like temps. Pro Tip of the week – You can’t catch the fall fishing fever if you don’t book your trip!
Phone Outage
Due to construction in the area installing the central sewer system we are experiencing a temporary phone outage. We hope to have them back today! Please contact us via email or call us back soon! We thank you for your patience.
Great Fall Fishing Deals Lodging and Charter Fishing packages up to 20% off now through late October & Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night through Nov 30! Click here now to start planning your trip.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.
Oak Island
Summer is back! Just when we started settling back into wearing sweatshirts and jeans again, we are getting another shot of summer. Not all bad, not all bad. Forecasted temps in the 70’s this week here in the islands. The fishing remains good.
Walleye, sauger, pike, bass, muskie, perch and crappie all nibbling this week. Anglers are using spinners, jigs, and crankbaits to lure in the walleyes and saugers. Mudflats 15’-24’ and 19’-26’ around reefs. Spinners and jigs tipped with a minnow or worm have been working. Water temperature is sitting around 59-60 degrees. The crappie bite has been found jigging with a minnow in 23’-30’ around structure. Gold, bright yellow and pink has been hot tackle colors. Muskies are hot after the top water baits in the weedy bays.
Fall openings still available! Come have some fun!
9/11/19 Sportsman’s Lodge South End Fishing Report
Follow the Shiners!
Our guides are moving all over the place this week! They have been fishing from the Gap to Garden Island in 7 to 20 ft water in the sand and mud. Drifting with spinners (gold/pink/white/orange) tipped with crawlers or minnows has been the most popular technique. Guests are reporting many eating sized fish as well as some big walleyes! The water temp is still hovering around 63 degrees. Pro tip of the week – Find the shiners and you will find the walleyes!
Fall Specials
Openings available this fall through late October. Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages! Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us for a rate quote and availability today.
Oak Island
Cool Week
It has been rainy and cool this week with highs in the 50’s. Forecast says a warm up in the 60’s and lower 70’s is coming our way starting Saturday. Pulling spinners with a minnow or crawler on rocky structures and flats have been good. Crankbaits have also been a good method. A variety of depths are hitting right now but 12’-23’ especially. Water temperature continues to be in the lower 60’s.
Catching some nice crappies in 20’-30’ using a small jig and a minnow. Muskie fishing continues to be good using blades and topwater baits around rock points and weedy bays.
The shiners have started to move, so fish are following them closer to the river! Guides have been having success in the 24’-32’ range, drifting with spinners (gold, pink, silver and orange) tipped with minnows, crawlers or leeches. Many slot fish have been reeled up along with some nice size walleye. One guide reported a 27 ¼” walleye and a 29” northern caught and released by the same group. The surface temperature is starting the cool down at 67 degrees. Pro tip of the week – hang on tight to your fishing rod!
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge NW Angle Fishing Report
Leaves are starting to change
The first leaves are starting to change from green to yellow and orange hues this week and high temps have been in the 60’s. Water temperature has dipped into the upper 60’s too. Walleyes have been biting in 22’-28’ trolling using brightly colored spinners with a minow or crawlers or crankbaits in the mud and around reefs. In the coming few weeks it will start to transition to a jig and minnow method as the walleye start to school up tighter and move to points and areas with current.
Muskie, Pike, Bass, Crappie
One of the cool things about Oak Island is the multiple species of fish in the area. Not only is walleye fishing good but so is muskie, pike, bass, crappie and some perch. Muskie, pike and bass fishing are real good right now and crappies are starting to bite. The muskie bite has been good using blades and topwater baits in the weedy bays and rock points. Silver, black and white have been popular colors. Nice pike have been found in rock spots close to deep water 30’+ feet deep using spinnerbaits and buck tails. Smallmouth bass have been hitting on crankbaits on 5’-18’ reefs and crappies are biting on small jigs and a minnow in 10’-30’. Crappies are on the move to structure and the bite will really heat up late September and October.Come have some fun this fall! Openings available at Oak Island Sept 2-4, 16-21, 24-October 20.
Trolling or drifting with spinners tipped with leeches or crawlers in 16-19 feet of water has proven hot this week! Colors that work well include pink/gold, green/gold and orange/gold. The surface water temp continues to hover around 70 degrees. Many fish between 15” – 17” have been caught along with some big trophy walleyes! Pro
Tip of the week – secure your footing before netting a fish!
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
Fall is around the Corner
The air is starting to cool down especially in the mornings and evenings. The best walleye bite has been in a combination of shallow depths, 16’-21’ areas and deeper 25’-30’ in the mud and around reefs. Orange and gold spinners or jigs have been working well using crawlers or minnows. The guides have been finding lots of nice fish. Water temp has cooled off to the lower 70’s.
Muskies have been biting in the bays using top water baits. Good luck fishing!
