The bite is on in the Rainy River!

October 20, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The best action for nice 15+ inch walleye is around Wheeler’s Point, Wabanica Church, and Clementson as well as areas on the lake just outside Pine Island and around the Morris Point Washout area. Water temperature is 51 degrees. The best depth is approximately 13-18 feet, but fish are being caught anywhere from 12 – 24 feet of water. Jigging with a 1 oz. jig tipped with a shiner minnow using colors gold, pink, white and glow in the dark. Guides available!

Pike a plenty!
Check out these whoppers caught by a group this week guided by Captain Travis Madrazo. Crankbait and large dead bait is working well.

Aggressive Sturgeon action
24 Sturgeon in two days including a double, 41 inch and 55 inch! That was the report from a group that was here and fished with Captain Travis Madrazo this week. Deep pockets in the river are holding the sturgeon. (This group also caught 42 walleyes and 26 northerns!   ) Fall fishing is hot! Book your guided fall trip today! 800-862-8602

Dock Cam
Our dock cam is back up and working! Check it out!

Winter Specials
Get in on the early bird deals! 25% off Ice Fishing & Double Reward Points. These specials won’t last long!
Click here for more information.

Openings available this weekend! Kids 17 and under stay free!
Kids 17 and under stay free with 2 adults in lodge rooms. Indoor pool, live entertainment, restaurant, game room and incredible fishing! Escape to the lake! 800-862-8602

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report October 12, 2016

October 12, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Reeling in fish
The bite in the islands this week has been great! Lots of nice walleyes, saugers, crappies, pike, bass and muskies have been reeled in. Jigging with a minnow in 10’-15’ and 22’-26’ has been good for walleyes and saugers around shore lines. Soldier’s Point and McPherson Island have been notable hot spots. Crappies have been found in 24’-30’ using smaller jigs with a minnow in areas with structure but we have also seen plenty caught were the walleyes are targeted too. Bass, pike and muskie fishing has been best trolling using spinner or jerk baits around points and areas with current. Casting around rocks has been successful too.

Few days left
Just a few more days left of our fall season. Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Eagle Ridge’s season is winding down. The last day for lodging reservations is Saturday, Oct 15 and the restaurant and bar’s last day will be Oct 16. Thanks for another great season! We are taking reservations for winter and next summer. We look forward to starting our winter season mid-December. Book your stay today for an ice fishing adventure! Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location remains open year round so if you are looking for a great place to visit after this weekend and get into more fall fishing action, give them a call 800-862-8602 or click here.

Here they come! River fishing is heating up!

October 12, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

We have seen a real big change this week in the movement of the walleye schools. We are seeing more walleyes in shallower, in Four Mile Bay, Lighthouse Gap and the Rainy River. The shiners are pushing through and the walleyes are chasing! Anglers have found a really hot bite this past week in 16’-24’ using bright colored 3/8 oz-1/2 oz. jigs tipped with a shiner minnow. Many boats reported a very aggressive bite and anglers have been enjoying hours of catch and release action or a limit in just a few hours. The water temperature has dropped 7 degrees this week, currently at 53 degrees.

One of the nice fall walleyes caught recently. 23 inch walleye caught and released by Joy

More than just walleyes
A good northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake sturgeon and perch bite have also been a hot topic this week. Pike and bass are in good supply in the river and bays in cabbage weeds adjacent to rock structure. Jerk or spinner baits or a jig and a minnow starting 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. Mixed into where the walleyes have been found, a large amount of sweet jumbo perch have as well. Lots of fishing action! We have lodging and docking available through freeze up and guided trips and boat rentals available through October.

Crappies! A few of our guides went out the other day and brought in a nice bunch!

Halloween Party is Oct 29!
Throw your costume in the tackle box and join us for our annual Halloween party 7pm-1am. $200 Cash prize for best costume, free witch’s brew 7pm-8pm, $3 shots, $2 can beer, entertainment and much more! Lodging specials starting at $45 per person per night! Click here
*plus tax and based on double occupancy

Ice fishing season is less than 2 months away!
We offer no equipment required, hassle free ice fishing trips.
Check out our Sportsman’s Lodge & Sleeper House packages here.
For our island locations on Oak Island, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge click here.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report October 3, 2016

October 5, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Fall Fishing
Water temperature has dipped a few more degrees to 57-58 degrees. Walleyes are biting this week in varying depths between 18’-28’ of water using brightly colored jigs tipped with a minnow on the outsides of points. Soldier’s Point, south shore of Oak Island, Massacre Island and the east side of Falcon Island have been hot spots.
Muskies & Northern Pike
Trolling using spinner jerk baits around points and areas with current have been good as well as casting around rocks.

Crappies are biting
Cooler the water gets the better the bite gets! Areas with structure in 20’-30’ are the key. Jigging using pink, gold and orange colors tipped with a minnow works best. The guides have been finding some goooooood spots! Guided trips available!

Ice Fishing is just around the corner!
A few more months and we will be pulling out fish houses and drilling through the ice. Woohoo! Give us a call to book your trip!

Rainy River Fall Walleye Fishing

October 5, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The water temperature is now 58 degrees and the forecast is cooling down. We expect to see a sizeable dip in the temperature this week which means better fall fishing! More and more shiners are showing up in the river every day and the walleyes are starting to chase after them. Right now the best fishing has been outside of the Lighthouse Gap, Zippel Bay and Graceton Beach in 21’-26’ of water anchored using gold and orange 3/8-1/2 oz. jigs tipped with a shiner minnow. The sturgeon bite has been good in deep pockets of the Rainy River and Bays using 4/0 hook, 1-2 oz. no roll sinker tipped with a gob of worms and a few minnows. Get into some great soft water fall fishing action now through early November!

Nice walleye caught by a member of Hank Specialities Group. Guided by Captain Dave

Fall Fishing Hanks Specialities Group Guided by Captain Dave M.

Winter Ice Fishing Deals!!
Limited Time Deals! 25% off ice fishing and Double Rewards! Click here to learn more and to book your trip today!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report September 27, 2016

September 27, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Fall Fishing
Walleyes are biting this week in varying depths between 20’-30’ of water using brightly colored jigs tipped with a minnow on the outsides of points. Little Oak island, Soldier’s Point, Massacre Island and Deep Water Bay have all produced some nice walleyes. Water temperature is currently 61 degrees. We have openings available now through mid October and for the winter season.

Muskies & Northern Pike
September and October are some great months for active muskie and pike fishing on Lake of the Woods. Trolling using spinner jerk baits around points and areas with current have been getting good as well as casting around rocks.

Crappies are biting
Cooler the water gets the better the bite gets! Areas with structure are the key. Jigging using pink, gold and orange colors tipped with a minnow works best. Areas around Falcon Island have been great as well as points 20’-30’.

Winter is just around the corner time to get your reservations in!
It won’t be long and the bombardiers will be running the ice, the fish houses will be placed and we will be reeling in walleyes through the ice. Now is the best time to get your reservations in for the best options of dates and accommodations. Reserve online here or give us a call. Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River 800-862-8602, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411 and Sportsman’s Sleeper House Division 218-634-1589.

Water temperature is down a few more degrees and more shiners are showing up

September 27, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The water temperature dipped a few more degrees this week to 61 right now. We are seeing more shiners in the river every day. The big walleye schools are moving but not quite to the river yet. The best fishing continues to be in 22’-26’ of water outside of Pine Island, Graceton Beach and on the northern reefs. It won’t be long and the walleyes will be moving into the bays and river. Jigging with a gold or pink ¼-1/2 oz. jig tipped with a shiner or gold spinner, 1-2 oz. sinker and a night crawler is working well.

22 inch walleye caught and released by the Lyman Group. Guided by Captain Travis M

26 inch walleye caught and released by the Lyman Group. Guided by Captain Travis M

Sturgeon- The sturgeon bite continues to be good in deep holes of the river and bays where there is current. A 4/0 hook, 2 ounce no roll sinker and a gob of minnows works well.

Time to start thinking winter reservations!
For the best dates and accommodations, book your winter trip now! 800-862-8602 or online here.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report September 21, 2016

September 21, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Large schools of fish
A sure sign of fall is when we start to see fish start group together in large schools. That has certainly been the case this week. Walleyes are biting using jigs and shiners and spinners and night crawlers in 18’-24’ of water around Deepwater Bay, Massacre Island, south shore of Oak Island and Little Oak Island. Water temperature is 63 degrees.

One of the 60 fish caught by this group, Saturday and Sunday. 24.75 inch walleye caught and released by Jenny Johnson, east Grand Forks, MN

Pike
Pike have been found along weed and reed lines and along shorelines. Areas with submerged trees are especially good spots to try. Throwing spinnerbaits with a worm or twister tail on the end has worked well.

Bass
Smallmouth Bass are starting to move deeper. Best approach has been starting at 10’-12’ and work to deeper water off reefs and points using a spinnerbait or a jig and a minnow.

Muskies
Top water baits and large crankbaits around rocks is where anglers are finding the muskies.

Crappies
A few more crappies have been found this week using a small 1/4 ounce jig or smaller tipped with a minnow in areas with structure. The cooler it gets the better the fishing will be!

We Have Shiners!

September 21, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

We are starting to see some shiners in the river! The leaves are changing and the walleyes, saugers, sturgeon, pike and bass are biting. The water temperature has held steady this week at 64 degrees but based on this week’s forecast it looks like it is going to start dipping again. Fall fishing is here!

Where, What, How

Walleyes – The best fishing this week has been jigging using shiners outside of Pine Island 7-9 miles out in 22’-26’ feet of water as well as outside of Graceton Beach and Zippel Bay areas. Gold and pink ¼-1/2 ounce jigs have been working best.

Nice walleye! Guided by Captain Travis M

Sturgeon- The sturgeon bite has really picked up in the deep holes of the river and bays where there is current. A 4/0 hook, 2 ounce no roll sinker and a gob of minnows works well. Some anglers also swear by adding a minnow or two.

Art Kaunonen from Braham, MN 57 inch sturgeon released. Guided by Captain Mike

Pike & Smallmouth Bass- Give a jerk bait a try when fishing for pike in the fall in cabbage weeds adjacent to rock structure. Pike often hang out on the fringe of cabbage weeds. Bass are starting to move deeper. Best approach has been starting at 10’-12’ and work to deeper water off reefs and points using a spinnerbait or a jig and a minnow.

Winter Forecast
According to the 2017 Farmer’s Almanac winter 2016-2017 predictions for our area and areas from North Dakota to Maine will have below normal temps. Ice fishing season is 75 days away. Now is the best time to make your reservations to get your pick on dates. Click here to check availability now.

Cooling off!

September 14, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Cooling off!
A good walleye bite has been found in 18’-24’ jigging with gold or orange jigs tipped with a chub or shiner minnow. On top of reefs has been good and areas in Deep Water Bay, south side of Oak Island and Little Oak Island. Water temperature is currently 65 degrees.

Muskies, Pike, Bass
More fish are showing around rocks than weeds this week. Throwing top water baits and large crankbaits of shiny colors have been working well.

Crappies
A few crappies are being found, the cooler the water gets the better it will get. Using a small 1/4 ounce jig or smaller tipped with a minnow works well in areas with structure.