Ice is building and the weather forecast looks good! We have a few inches of ice in the area now. Stay tuned for more updates this week!
Ice! Ice! Ice! We are making progress! Lake of the Woods
Ice! Ice! Ice! We are making progress!
Lake of the Woods, MN
12/8/2016
Ice Update
We are making progress! Bobbie’s Bay the bay that is in front of our Sportsman’s Oak Island location on Oak Island near the Northwest Angle of Minnesota iced over yesterday and today we have some ice on Four Mile Bay. Four Mile Bay is the bay near Wheeler’s Point that we use to access the lake in the winter time. The channel in the bay still has open water but this is progress and we like progress! The wind is supposed to die down tonight and below zero temperatures are in the forecast for the weekend. No safe is yet, but we like what we see! We are moving in the right direction. Get your reservations in!
Bobbie’s Bay in front of Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge
Lake of the Woods
www.oakislandlodge.com 12-8-2016
Four Mile Bay Lake of the Woods near Wheeler’s Point.
Ice Forming 12-8-2016
Ice Condition Report 12/7/2016
Here it comes!
The thermometer is dropping and the landscape is about to change! Ice making is happening now! Stay tuned, we should have lots to report next week! For now, get your reservations in and put that new line on your favorite rod you have been thinking about doing for the last two months! Lodging and ice fishing openings available through late March. Get your gang together and make plans! It’s almost fishing time!
It’s getting colder!
Make it a New Year’s Eve to remember.
What a better place to ring in the new year than at Sportsman’s Lodges on beautiful Lake of the Woods. Ice fishing, snowmobiling, indoor pool, 3 restaurants, bar with entertainment, game room and more! Sportsman’s Lodge will be featuring many dinner specials, musical entertainment, party favors, champagne and lots of holiday cheer. Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge will be featuring dinner specials, party favors, a midnight wine toast and lots of fun island style. Reservations required. Space is limited. Book your trip today!
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Cold weather is headed in our direction! Woohoo!
It looks like we should start to make some decent ice starting next week! Bring it on! A good week of cold temperatures and light wind is what we need! A lot can happen in a week. Get your fishing buddies together and make your plans, ice fishing season is coming soon!
Ice fishing season runs longer on Lake of the Woods than most lakes in Minnesota. It starts in December and we have to pull our houses off by March 31. Openings available, give us a call Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River/Baudette 800-862-8602, Sportsman’s Sleepers 218-634-1589 and Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge/Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411 or email us by clicking here.
Hungry for more updates? Like us on Facebook.
Check out our winter musical entertainment schedule.
Sportsman’s Lodges Report
Ice is Forming in the Bays!
Cool temperatures have moved into our region this week with lows in the teens. The water temperature has taken a dive and we have taken the first step in making ice for the season. The forecast is calling for lows in the 20’s this week. We will be hoping for it to only continue to cool down more next week and really kick off the freezing. History tells us it only takes a few weeks to make a good base of ice once Mother Nature decides to cool off. Stay tuned to our reports. We are excited to get the season off to a start but safety first! We will start pulling houses out once we have 8 inches of good ice.
Young’s Bay at the NW Angle
Baudette Bay
Our front desk will be closed on Thanksgiving but we will open back up Friday morning. Give us a call to make your winter reservation at 800-862-8602 or email us anytime! Many dates are starting to fill up! Happy Thanksgiving from the Sportsman’s family to your family!
25% off Ice Fishing Special at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location!
Click here for available dates! These specials won’t last forever!
FREE ICE FISHING TRIP!
Who wants a free ice fishing trip? Click here to enter our contest now for a chance to win a day of ice fishing for you and 3 friends! Contest ends soon!
Dipping below freezing
Let’s cool things down and make some ice! The forecast is looking more promising. History has told us it doesn’t take long for the weather to change and for ice to build. Stay tuned to reports here and on our Facebook page and gets your reservations now for the best selection of dates. Many weekends are filling up fast!
No Equipment Required!
Ready to go ice fishing but don’t have the equipment? No problem! We supply the fish house warm and ready with your holes drilled. Jig sticks, assortment of jigs and bait is waiting for you. Hungry for lunch? We can deliver that too and clean your fish. So what are you waiting for? Give us a call to book your winter ice fishing trip today 800-862-8602 or contact us online.
FREE ICE FISHING TRIP!
Who wants a free ice fishing trip? Click here to enter our contest now for a chance to win a day of ice fishing for you and 3 friends! Contest ends soon!
Walleyes are biting and the weather if finally starting to cool again. We are ready to freeze up the lake!
A strong walleye bite in the river has been going on this week. A jig and a shiner minnow around Wheeler’s Point, front of the lodge, Baudette Airport and Clementson have all produced nice walleyes. If you still have the itch and a boat to throw in, come on up! Lodging is available starting at only $40* per person per night! *plus tax and based on double occupancy
Check out this picture and this fun video from a recent catch a young angler got this week. So much fun!
Nice fall walleye! 26 inch caught and released by Marc Jaffe
A good 10 days of lows in the single digits is all we need to make 8-10 inches of ice and start our season. We are looking forward to ice fishing season 2016-2017 to kick off in early December. Now is the time to get your reservations in! Click here
Looking for a gift idea or place to hold your holiday party?
Gift cards available and we have lots of options for your holiday get together. Try something different this year like a day of ice fishing, a weekend getaway or a cocktail party at Sportsman’s Lodge. Click here to learn more about all of our holiday options and here to purchase gift cards online.
Few Weeks Left of Soft Water Fishing
Walleyes, pike and sturgeon bite is hot. Guided trips, boat slips and lodging available for one last blast.
Water temperature has dipped to 46 degrees and we are setting the stage for the big freeze! Fishing has been great. Walleye action in the Rainy River in varying depths 12’-26’ using a 3/8-1 oz. orange, pink or glow in the dark jig and a shiner minnow is good. Many points have been good, Wheeler’s Point, Anchor Bay and Clementson. Just outside the gaps and bays Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point and Zippel Bay in 14’-18’ using the same tackle and bait has been very good too. The sturgeon bite is on fire. Deep pockets of the river using 4/0 hook, 1-2 oz. no roll sinker and a gob of worms is the ticket. The pike has been hitting on dead bait in the bays.
All the way from Madrid Spain to Lake of the Woods to catch his first walleye! Nice catch Luis
Ice fishing season is only 35 days away!
Check out our full service trips and 25% off special. Now is the best time to make your winter reservations. Planning a holiday party this year? We have lots of options!
Click here or call 800-862-8602.
Looking for a Christmas gift idea?
Sportsman’s gift cards available! Always the right color, size and price! Order yours online here or call 800-862-8602.
The shiners keep coming
The bite is on! Shiners keep moving in the river and the walleyes are following. Water temperature is down 6 more degrees this week sitting at 47 degrees now. Vertical jigging 3/8 oz-1oz gold, glow in the dark and bright colored jigs tipped with a shiner is working well. Areas outside of Pine Island, Four Mile Bay, and many points in the Rainy River from Wheeler’s Point to Clementson have been good. Once you find the school of walleyes, it’s game on! Morning and evening has been the best time. We have guided trips available in our 18’-20’ outfitter boats for a few more weeks, great for a group up to 4 people and charters available for groups up to 6 per boat through the weekend. Dock slips and boat rentals available too.
Check out some of the latest catches and the shiners!
28.5 inch walleye Berdan Group Guided by Travis Madrazo
Guide Travis Madrazo 27.75 inch walleye released
Shiners in the Rainy River. Picture courtesy of Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau
Fall Walleye
Sturgeon & Pike are popping too!
The fall transition has got the fish moving and aggressive. Pike are in good supply in the river and bays in cabbage weeds adjacent to rock structure. Jerk, spinner baits or dead bait out in 10’-12’ and working deeper have been the best approach. Lake sturgeon are roaming in the deep pockets of the river and bays where there is current. A 4/0 hook, 2 oz. no roll sinker and a gob of worms topped off with a minnow or two is working well. Right now lake sturgeon is catch and release through April 23. Pike limit is 3. Only 1 over 40″; all northern pike from 30″ through 40″ must be immediately released.
Ice Fishing Season is soon here. Do you have your reservations in?
25% off ice fishing on select dates, double reward points if you pay in full by November 1 and a No worries ice guarantee! Click here to learn more.
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report October 20, 2016
Thank you for a great summer! The lodge is now closed until December. Make your winter reservations now by calling 800-772-8411 or clicking here. For fall fishing action check out our location on the south end of Lake of the Woods, Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River. They have some fantastic fall deals!