Last week in the Islands!

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Check out the pictures of the week!

Last week in the Islands
This weekend will be our last weekend at Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge for this ice fishing season. Our sister property, Sportsman’s Lodge will be have ice fishing available for a few more weeks. Thanks everyone who visited us this season. We always enjoy seeing old friends and making new ones.  Soft water fishing is just around the corner, we hope to see everyone again soon.

The Bite
This week depths in 21’-27’ around structure using plain hooks, gold jigs, Glo Shots and small spoons tipped with a minnow has been the best approach for catching walleyes and saugers.  Guests have also been catching an occasional perch, tullibee, perch, pike and eelpout. The most aggressive bite has been between 8am -10am and 2pm-4pm.  Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking. Electronics help!

Ice Conditions
We have 40+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Trail Report
For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The ice road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Time to book your spring and summer trip.
Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action.
Spring lodging specials available May 11-25! Contact us today.

Fishing Away!

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Check out the pictures of the week!

The Bite

Single red hooks,  gold jigs, pink/blue Clam rattle spoon and red Glo Shots tipped with a minnow or two some guests said worked well for them mainly dead sticking was the best approach this week.  Although, I wouldn’t count out jigging.  It is always a good idea to do a mix of jigging and dead sticking and see what works for you.  Lots of saugers,  nice 15”+ walleyes, few eelpout, perch and more tullibees and pike this week than we have been seeing in previous weeks.  Best depth has been 17’-30’. The guides have been running and gunning chasing after active schools.  Electronics help!  This is the last weekend for our sleepers but we will continue to have day houses out for a few more weeks, give us a call 800-862-8602.

Walleye season is open through April 14 on Lake of the Woods. Once we end our ice fishing season we will be getting ready to hop in boats on the river. During the time walleye season is closed, there is an abundant amount of trophy size lake sturgeon and northern pike moving around in the river and bays. Fun time of year!

Ice Conditions
We lost some snow this week, but not changes in the ice conditions. We have 40-50 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. We run off of our private access.  If you are looking to venture out on your own, there are a number of plowed roads in the area. Be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check current conditions with the road maintainer before venturing out, conditions vary.

Trail Report
For more information check out these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

21st Annual Mardi Gras Party is March 24
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, lip sync and costume contest win $100 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

25% off all Lodging March 25-31
Give us a call 800-862-8602 or click here to book.

Spring River Fishing
It’s just around the corner. Lodging specials and guided trips available.
Click here to learn more.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge – Better bite this week

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Check out the pictures of the week!

Better bite this week

Depths in 22’-28’ around structure using gold and pink jigs, Glo Shot spoons, Buckshots, Charmers and flashy small spoons tipped with a minnow has been working to catch the attention of the hungry walleyes and saugers this week.  Some guests have reeled in a limit by noon. Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking. Lots of good ice on the lake and according to the forecast we will have plenty for a while. We will be open through March 18 here and Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River will have ice fishing trips available through March 31. So if you are looking to make one more trip, give us a call! March is a fun time to be out!

Ice Conditions
We have 40+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Trail Report
We have 18-24 inches of snow in the area right now.  Grooming continues. For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The ice road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.  The gravel road to the Northwest Angle has been a little sloppy. Use caution.

Time to book your spring and summer trip.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip!  Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 11-25! Contact us today.

Lots of ice, ice fishing trips available through March!

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Check out the pictures of the week!

The Bite

Sporadic fishing this week. Some doing better than others. Mix of sizes. Walleyes, saugers, few perch and pike coming up the holes.  Best bite has been using electronics and mix of jigging and dead sticking using pink glow, green/glow and gold jigs and small spoons tipped with a chub minnow in 19’-26’ of water. Hugging bottom or reeling up just a few inches and jigging have been a successful approach.   As we move closer to spring, the warming weather should only heat up the bite!

Walleye season is open until April 14 on Lake of the Woods and we have ice fishing trips available until March 31. Come see us! Lodging and fishing packages starting at only $215 per person.

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

Ice Conditions
No changes in the ice conditions, lots of ice. We have 40-50 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel on the groomed trails at this time. Forecast says the freezing will continue.  If you are looking to venture out on your own, there are a number of plowed roads in the area. Be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check with local resorts before going out.

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. For more information check out these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

21st Annual Mardi Gras Party is March 24
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, lip sync and costume contest win $100 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

25% off all Lodging March 25-31
Give us a call 800-862-8602 or click here to book.

Days are getting longer! Bring on March fishing!

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Check out the pictures of the week!

March sunshine usually means more fishing action and with 40-50 inches of ice, we should have a solid month left of ice fishing! Anglers are finding walleyes and saugers in 18′-32′ using Glo Shots, green and yellow Buckshots, bubble gum spoons, gold and orange jigs and pink hooks tipped with a chub minnow. Some anglers having success with a minnow head, some with a full minnow and some prefer 2! Have some fun, try some new tactics. Despite the stained waters of Lake of the Woods, many guests have had good luck using underwater cameras this year. If you have one, bring it along! Vexilars/Fish Finders are popular amongst Lake of the Wood’s anglers too and we do usually see a higher catch rate with those anglers who use them. Vexilar rentals are available at the lodge but be sure to call ahead, they go fast.

Mix of dead sticking and vertical jigging is the best approach. When jigging, usually reeling up a 3-4 inches and jigging is a good approach. If that isn’t working for you, try hug bottom and jig. You never know what might get you hooked on dinner!

Walleye season is open until April 14 on Lake of the Woods and we have ice fishing trips available until March 31. Come see us! Lodging and fishing packages starting at only $215 per person.

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

Ice Conditions
We have 40-50 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel at this time. Yes! You read that right, 4+ feet. You should see the augers the guides have been using! We run a groomed trail. There are a number of plowed roads in the area, if you decide to venture out on your own, as always be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check with local resorts before going out.  Remember, the entire lake never freezes equally.

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. For more information check out these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

21st Annual Mardi Gras Party is March 24
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, lip sync and costume contest win $100 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge – 2/28/2018

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Check out the pictures of the week!

Afternoons have been the most favorable lately for catching walleyes and saugers. The best bite has been in 26′-31′ right now using Buckshots, Glo Shot spoons, yellow and gold jigs tipped with a chub minnow. Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach. Got an underwater camera? Bring it along and have some fun.

Ice Conditions
We have 38+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Trail Report
Grooming continues!  For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Spring is just around the corner.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip!  Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 11-25! Contact us today.

Spring Break in the Islands!

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Check out the pictures of the week!

Who needs the tropics when you can come to Oak Island and enjoy peace and quiet and ice fishing?  Need a break? Come see us! We have some openings March 12-18.

The best bite has been in 25’-31’ right now using Glo Shot spoons, small spoons and jigs in the colors of gold and pink tipped with a chub minnow. Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach. Vexilars are certainly helping too.  Anglers are reeling in a mix of walleyes and saugers with an occasional northern pike or perch.

Ice Conditions
We have 36+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Trail Report
Grooming continues!  For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Spring is just around the corner.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip!  Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 11-25! Contact us today.

Ice Fishing is Going Strong!

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Check out the pictures of the week!

The Bite
Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking in 17’-31’ using Buckshots, Glo Shots, green, gold and yellow jigs and orange and green glow spoons tipped with a chub minnow have been bringing in some fish.  Few nice fish suspended 3’-12’ off bottom too.  Mix of walleyes, saugers, northern pike, tullibee and jumbo perch coming up through the holes.  We have had lots of weather fluctuations again this week.  It looks like the forecast for the week ahead is going to stabilize. That should help the bite!  We consistently see Vexilars or Fish Finders of your choice help catch rate.   Rentals are available if you would like to try one, be sure to call ahead to reserve.

Walleye season is open until April 14 on Lake of the Woods. We plan to have our day houses out until March 31.  You still have time!

Ice Conditions
We have 40+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel at this time.  If you decide to venture out on your own, as always be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check with local resorts before going out.  The entire lake never freezes equally. Stay safe and have fun!

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

21st Annual Mardi Gras Party is March 24
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, lip sync and costume contest win $100 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

Loving that walleye

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Some of us have lovers and some don’t but I think we can all agree we all LOVE fishing!  It’s always a great day to go fishing!!


Best bite continues to be deep 26’-30’ right now using glo shot spoons, gold, white and pink jigs or a plain hook tipped with a minnow. Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach. Vexilars are certainly helping too.

Ice Conditions
We have 36+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. Looking good to bring us right through late March! We have openings after March 12th.

Trail Report
Currently we have 12-24 inches of snow in the islands. For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Spring is just around the corner.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip!  Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 11-25! Contact us today.

45 Days Left of Ice Fishing!

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It has been a fun year so far! Lots of fishing time yet. Come see us!

Check out the bite this week!

Anglers have been catching mix of walleyes and saugers in 16’-30’ lately using bright orange, pink/glow jigs or small spoons, Northland Tackle’s glo shot spoons and a plain hook. A chub minnow is bait of choice. Some are having good luck with just minnow head, some with a full minnow and some with a combo of both. Mix of light jigging and dead sticking is working the best. Vexilars and Fish Finders of your choice help catch rate.  Rentals are available if you would like to try one, be sure to call ahead to reserve.  Lots of 10”-18” walleyes and saugers this week with a few big daddies mixed in.

Ice Conditions
We have 40+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel at this time.  If you decide to venture out on your own, as always be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check with local resorts before going out.  The entire lake never freezes equally. Stay safe and have fun!

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Snuggle up with our sweetie in February at Sportsman’s!
Lodging & Fishing Packages starting at $215 per person and two nights of dining specials Feb 14 & 15.
Sportsman’s gift cards make great gifts!  Click here