Lake of the Woods Satellite Picture Update 5-10-2018
Check out the latest satellite picture from today compared to Mondays!
Big changes happening here the past few days! We have not been across the lake to check it out yet, so please use caution when venturing out. It sure looks like the ice is disappearing quickly.
Opener forecast is looking good! Woohoo! Let’s go fishing!
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5/8/2018
4 Days until walleye opener. Let’s go fishing!!
With the cool spring and late spawn, walleyes should be stacked up in the shallows, bays and river. The fishing should be fantastic! The Rainy River is open, many bays and outside Pine Island/Lighthouse Gap up to a few miles right now has open water and we expect the lake to open up more in the next few days. Lots of fishable areas open for opener.
Remaining ice is looking more gray every day!
We are getting some rain today (forecasting ¼ inch) and winds gusting up to 20 mph. The rest of the week looks dry but gusts up to 20mph tomorrow too. This should do some well needed damage to the ice. Opener forecast is looking good, calling for highs in the mid 60’s, partly cloudy and light and variable wind. Water level is low and clarity this weekend was about a foot in the river. Water temperature today is 54 degrees and current is slower than average.
Rigging Up
A jig and a shiner or chub are a good choice for Saturday. Do a little bouncing off bottom in shallow waters, river and bays. Start off your weekend early with pike and sturgeon fishing. Pike season is open all year on Lake of the Woods and sturgeon season catch and release is open now through May 15. Pike are hitting on jigs with a smelt sitting on the bottom or crankbaits in the shallow bays. Sturgeon are being found in the deep holes of the river and bays using a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, 2-4 ounce no roll sinker, gob of worms and a little something for smell like a shiner or two. Lots of fishing opportunities abound.
2018 Sturgeon Tournament was a hit!
We enjoyed another fun tournament this past weekend. Like our Facebook page and check out all of the highlights on our page.
1st place winners of day 1 and day 2 taking home $2,280 each. Jake Waldo from Bovey 63.5 inch and 22 inch girth and Tony Klaers
Walleye Opener – Few rooms and guided spots left!
Two nights lodging and 1 day charter fishing (all equipment included) packages starting at only $207 per person. Give us a call, space is limited. 800-862-8602.
5/8/2018
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
Yippee! We have open water!
Just in time for the Minnesota walleye opener, we now have open water from Young’s Bay to the lodge. The mail came out by boat for the first day since November yesterday. Check out the video on our Facebook page.
We expect fishing to be great in shallow. Jig and minnow should be all you need to reel in supper. Water temp is currently 52 degrees. The weather forecast is looking good.
We still have ice to our south but the warm temps in the forecast, wind and rain should chew up the ice fairly quickly.
Remaining ice is looking more gray every day!
Lots of areas to fish this week and next week Ontario walleye season opens up on May 19. Openings still available Memorial Weekend and throughout the summer.
Give us a call 800-772-8411 or email us to start planning your getaway. Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River
5/2/2018
The sturgeon are biting! Check out what the Johnson Group reeled in with Captain Wes yesterday!
Bill reeled in a 60” and 52” and Vance, a 50”. All fish were released.
We are warming up!
Slow but sure, the ice is melting. The Rainy River is completely open and there is open water just past the gap right now on the lake. We received a little shot of rain early this week but could use a good rain to soften more ice up, nonetheless there are over 40 miles of fishable river and bays right now and more warm weather in the forecast. Current river temp is 47 degrees, the water level is low, not much debris but it is dirty, clearing more by the day. It should be cleared up nicely by walleye opener. Luckily, the sturgeon feed by smell in the dirty water so it doesn’t have much of effect on the sturgeon fishing going on now. The current is average speed. For more information about the river or if you like to keep tabs on it, click here for water data. This data is measured right off our dock.
The Best Sturgeon bite has been in the deep river bottom holes. Two to four ounce no roll sinker, 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook tipped with a gob of night crawlers and a few shiners works well. Spring is prime time catching time. Come enjoy the weather and reel in some monsters!
Did you know? Lake Sturgeon can live to be more than 100 years old and exceed more than 150 pounds!
Pike
Bays and creeks and the river are hot spots. Smelt lying on the bottom works well. Make sure to hook all the way through the body of the bait to keep it nice and secure. Long shaft jigs work the best.
Walleye Opener is next weekend, May 12.
It has been a slow warm up this spring. Predictions are the river and bays will be full of walleyes on opener.
Seasons
Sturgeon – Keep one within size limits going on now, April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30, catch and release Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Northern Pike open year round
Walleye currently closed, reopening May 12
Our 12th Annual Sturgeon Tournament is this weekend
Stay tuned to our Facebook page Friday & Saturday for some great action. We will be posting leaderboard results and pictures. The tournament is currently full for this year, but there are still lots of fun that can be had watching the action. The tournament runs 8:30am-4pm Friday and 8:30-3pm Saturday wrapping up with a banquet Saturday night. All of the fishing takes place in front of the lodge. So, grab a chair and watch the excitement right from the bar and dock. Join us! Happy hour and dinner served in the Sandbar.
Come have some fun this spring. Spring Specials!
Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night now through May 23. Guided Sturgeon and pike trips going on now and up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages May 11-23. Click here to start planning your trip.
*plus tax and based on double occupancy
5/2/2018
We are starting to see more signs of spring and more warm weather in the forecast, finally!
Young’s Bay has opened up; there is open water in the channels amongst the islands, and quite a bit of open water on the north side of the island. Between the temps and the wind we expect see quite a few more areas opening up this week in time for opener. The shallow bite should be hot!
Seasons
Minnesota
Walleye Opener May 12
Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie & Perch open all year
Sturgeon keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Sturgeon catch and release Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Muskie opens June 17
Ontario
Walleye Opener May 19
Sturgeon closed
Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie & Perch open all year
Muskie opens June 16
May Specials
May 11-25
Lodging starting at $62 per person per night and lodging and guided fishing packages starting at $381 per person.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.
It’s time to make spring, summer and fall reservations. Click here to learn more about Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge or give us a call 800-772-8411.
Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River
April 23, 2018
What a difference a few nice days make! All of the public boat landings are open on the river now. The current water temperature at our docks is 40 degrees. The water level is low. Birchdale will be closed April 24 for the day only. Wheeler’s, Timbermill, Vidas, Frontier and Birchdale are the landings near us. For a map, click here.
Sturgeon and pike fishing is going on now and walleye season opens back up May 12. Come get into some goooooood fishing and don’t forget to share or tag your pictures with us. We love to see and hear your fishing stories! You might even show up on our next fishing report.
Logan and Corey reeled in some nice sturgeon!
The bite should only heat up this week with many more fishing holes opening up. The weather forecast looks pretty great too!
Sturgeon are moving around in deep holes of the river bottom. Anchor up and rig your line with a few ounces of no roll sinkers, 4/0 or 5/0 hook tipped with a gob of minnows and shiner. Once one of these dinosaurs take a nibble, get ready for a heck of battle. The big sturgeon are known to wrestle for an hour or two.
Northern pike are another fun fish to target in the spring on Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods has an abundant trophy pike population. Whether you enjoy catch and release or keeping a few to bake or pickle, Lake of the Woods won’t disappoint. Shallow bays off the river and lake are great spots. Casting orange, red and flashy spinner baits with a slow retrieval works well in the spring along with a jigging presentation bouncing off the bottom with a spinner tipped with a shiner. Come have some fun! Guided trips available.
Fishing Seasons
Sturgeon catch and release now Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Northern Pike open year round
Walleye currently closed, reopening May 12
Spring Specials!
Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night now through April 23 and up to 20% off Charter Fishing packages May 12-23.
Book your trip today. Click here or call 800-862-8602.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
April 23, 2018
We are starting to see some signs of spring in the islands. Water is opening up around the points. The weather forecast looks warm!
We are excited to see the ice move away. Summer dates are starting to book up. Give us call 800-772-8411 or email to make your plans!
View from Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge 4-23-2018 Points are starting to open up. Bay is pretty locked up still but the warmer temps should break this up this week.
May Specials
May 11-25
Lodging starting at $62 per person per night and lodging and guided fishing packages starting at $381 per person.
*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.
We have open water up to a few miles west of Baudette now on the Rainy River.
Timbermill, Vidas, Frontier and Birchdale landings are all open!
Timbermill Landing
Vidas Landing 4-21-2018
Timbermill Park and boat landing is located on the east edge of Baudette. Baudette is located 12 miles from the lodge. Currently Birchdale, Frontier and Vidas landings are all open. Timbermill will be next and then Wheeler’s Point. Based on the forecast, we should have water at our docks in a few days! Spring is finally here!
