Water Temperature Has Dipped

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The water temperature has dipped into to a cool 40 degrees this morning. We even had a skiff of ice on a few of the shallow bays. Big walleyes are on the move in the river and the shiner run continues to be significant. Anglers are getting some nice walleyes in the river around Wabanica Church, Wheeler’s Point, Baudette Airport and Clementson. Anchored with a half-ounce jig has been successful. We expect to see good soft water fishing right up until freeze up.

Halloween Party is Saturday!
Pack your costume in your tackle box and join us for our annual Halloween Party Saturday, Oct 26! 7pm-1am. $200 cash for the best costume. Drink and food specials, entertainment, contests, prizes and a whole lot of fun!  Click here for more information and to book your lodging reservations.

Lodging
Lodging will continue to be open through freeze up. Many of our amenities will be closed, but if you are looking for good fishing and peace and quiet, late October and November are great times to come relax in the north woods. Our pool is currently closed until December. Our restaurants and bar will close after Saturday, Oct 26. Lodging as low as $30 per person. Call for details and availability 800-862-8602 or online.

Winter Trip
Prime winter dates are booking up! Give us a call Sportsman’s Lodge 800-862-8602, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge or Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411 or book online today!

Fishing Has Been INCREDIBLE & AMAZING Lately!

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This is no fish story! Large schools of walleyes have been found just outside Lighthouse Gap and Morris Point Gap in huge numbers. Reports of a limit and some incredible fishing have been found in a couple hours of time lately.  Anchored in 23’-26’ of water and jigging with chubs or shiners is working the best.

10 Day Forecast

River Report
Currently, we are seeing some action in the river but the best action is still outside of the gaps and four mile bay. We expect this to change as soon as the water temperature dips down 8-10 more degrees.  Current water temperature is 54 degrees right now. We are expecting cool weather for the next 10 days; it shouldn’t take long to dip down, maybe 3-4 days.  The shiners continue to run and boy, are they plentiful! River fishing is going to be good right up until freeze up!

Justin McClay with 31.5 inch walleye Victoria, MN pink jig Oct 2013

Justin McClay with 31.5 inch walleye
Victoria, MN pink jig Oct 2013

22 and 24 inch double Matt and Sam with Captain Mike on 10-12-2013

22 and 24 inch double Matt and Sam
with Captain Mike on 10-12-2013

Matt 41 inch sturgeon - largest of 5 as of 2pm for the day 10-15-2013

Matt 41 inch sturgeon – largest of 5
as of 2pm for the day 10-15-2013

Chris reels in a nice pike!

Chris reels in a nice pike!

Guided Trips Available
Guided trips are still available for another few weeks. We have 18’-20’ outfitter boats and 27’ sportscraft boats to guide you to your catch. Equipment, bait, tackle, guide, and fish cleaning all provided!

Come for the Fishing and Stay for the Party!
Annual Halloween Party is Saturday, Oct 26! $200 Cash for best costume. Entertainment, contests, drink and food specials and a whole lot of fun!  Book one of our Stay and Play packages and get lots of free goodies! Limited supply, so book today!

Island Action

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The fishing action has been good this week. Crappies, Walleyes, Muskies, Bass, Pike, you name it we have been enjoying it. Our island hideaway will be open until Oct 13. Give us a call at 800-772-8411 to make a last minute trip before the snow flies. We will then re-open for winter ice fishing mid-December. Sportsman’s Lodge on the Rainy River will not close for freeze up and will have lodging available right through the fall.

Walleyes
Nice healthy 16”-18” walleyes have been fruitful around points especially on the west side of Falcon Island, Deep Water Bay and Soldier’s Point just a hop, skip and a jump from the lodge. Jigging with a minnow works well.

Crappies
Anglers enjoyed another great week of crappie fishing. Points in 33’-35’ of water has been good, with a jig and minnow.

Muskies
Fall is a great time! Trolling in 8’-10’ along shorelines has worked well this week. Triple D’s, Grandma’s and Jake lures have been hot.

Pike
Nice 25”+ pike have been found in the same areas muskies have been lurking, 8’-10’ along shorelines.

Bass
Casting cowgirls along shorelines has been the most successful approach.

Book your winter trip! Online or call 800-772-8411 today!

Fall Fishing Update

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Fishing has been hot! Large schools of walleyes are being found just outside Lighthouse Gap and Morris Point. They are ready for the big push to the river very soon. Water temperature decreased 7 degrees this week. We are sitting at 54 degrees right now. Frost was reported in parts of our area yesterday morning. We are looking forward to the cooler temperatures to help push the walleyes to the river soon. Anchored and jigging with gold or pink/gold/white combination has worked well in 23’-28’ of water. The best bait has been chub or shiner minnow. We still have some openings for fall fishing. Give us a call at 800-862-8602 or book online here. Lodging and charter/lodging trips are still available.

10 Day Forecast 

weather_10-8_to_10-17-2013

Newly engaged Ryan and Kenzie fell in love with fall fishing. They enjoyed a great day on the water with friends and family!

Newly engaged Ryan and Kenzie fell in love with fall fishing. They enjoyed a great day on the water with
friends and family!

Book online now or call 800-862-8602. 

Anyone Have a Fever?
Have you heard? A bad case of ice fishing fever has started to rock the fishing world! In 60 days or less, the good times in the fish house will roll. Join us for a fun, relaxing winter adventure. (Fishing trips make great Christmas presents too!) Book and pay in full for your winter fishing trip at any of the three Sportsman’s locations (excluding the sleeper division) by Oct 25, 2013 and receive DOUBLE Sportsman’s reward points. Click here to sign up and book your trip today!

Halloween Party
Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Throw the gorilla costume in the tackle box and join us for our annual Halloween Party, Saturday, Oct 26.  It is always a fun time and great prizes too! $200 cash for the best costume! That is like us paying you to come fishing! We will also have drink and food specials and great entertainment too. Book one of our Stay & Play packages for the best value and free stuff!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report

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Good walleye fishing this week has been found in 26’-28’ of water along rocky shorelines. Jig tipped with a minnow is working well.

Crappies were a little tougher to find this week, but the cool weather coming in should help get these fish active again. 30’-35’ around structure using a jig and minnow is a perfect place to find them.

Fall is a super time of year to get into good muskie fishing. Rocky areas are the place to find them.

Sportsman’s Oak Island and Eagle Ridge locations will be open through Oct 13 for the season. Give us a call to make a last minute trip.

Ready for winter? We are now taking reservations for the winter season. Give us a call 800-772-8411 to book your ice fishing trip or reserve online.

Shiner/River Fishing Update

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The weather forecast is looking cool. Good news! That should kick the river fishing into high gear! Walleyes are schooled up just outside the gap right now. The cool weather and shiners should start pushing them up river soon. Current water temperature is 61 degrees.

10 Day Forecast

10 Day Forecast

50 fish in 3 hours
You don’t have to wait for the river fishing to get into some good fishing!  Sunday afternoon, the crew pictured went out for 3 hours just outside the gap anchored in 27’ of water and reeled in fish after fish. They sorted fish and kept a limit in no time. Jigging with red/white/gold and sparkly gold jigs tipped with a minnow was the hot ticket.

3 hours Turner-Hennum-Vig crew

3 hours Turner-Hennum-Vig crew

6-year-old Jameson and 6-year-old Wyatt catching their 8th fish of the day!

6-year-old Jameson and 6-year-old Wyatt catching
their 8th fish of the day!

Fall foliage is at peak right now. Come enjoy the beautiful views, crisp air and incredible walleye fishing!

Halloween Party
Sportsman’s Annual Halloween Party is Saturday, Oct 26. Come for the fishing and stay for the fun! $200 cash prize for best costume! Entertainment, contests, prizes, drink and food specials are being planned. Book one of our Stay and Play packages for the best value. Only 50 are available.

Restaurant & Bar will be open until Oct 26/27. Lodging will remain open through the fall. Come and enjoy peace and quiet this fall.

Book your winter trip today!
**SPECIAL** Book your trip by Oct 25 at any of the 3 Sportsman’s locations and pay in full for winter dates and receive DOUBLE Sportsman’s Loyalty points! Reserve online or call 800-862-8602 today.

Multi-Species Mecca

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Fall fishing is in full swing in the Islands of the Northwest Angle and Canadian waters nearby!  Whether you are fishing for walleyes, muskies, crappies, bass or pike fall is a fantastic time of year.

Crappies & Walleyes
Jigging in deep water – 25 to 28 feet along the rocky shorelines has been best with a 3/8 oz jig and minnow.

Muskies
Rocky areas surrounded by deep water have been great. Bright chartreuse or orange bladed or black on black cowgirl lures have been working fantastic.

Northern Pike
Trolling along outside edges of bays using stick baits, Rapala super shad or small jigs have been working great.

Small Mouth Bass
#5 Rapalas along rocky shorelines have been producing very well. Nice sized, 16”-18” have been very consistent.

Shiners Are Running!

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We are starting to see quite a stream of shiners the past few days in the river. Water temperature is falling, currently at 61 degrees this morning, down 5 degrees this week. The stage is getting set for the walleyes to start pushing up river soon!

Currently the best bite is in 25’-30’ outside Pine Island, Long Point and Zippel Bay. Crank baits or jigging with spinners or jigs tipped with a minnow have been equally successful.  The Lighthouse Gap has been a good place too, especially late afternoon and evening.

Bernie Jilek 26 inch walleye with Captain Flip

Bernie Jilek 26 inch walleye with Captain Flip

Bob Meyer 27.5 inch walleye with Captain Flip

Bob Meyer 27.5 inch walleye with Captain Flip

Fall Specials
Lodging as low as $39* per person per night and lodging and fishing packages as low as $188 per person. Reel in some walleyes and enjoy the view today. Reserve online now.
*Plus tax based on double occupancy.

Halloween Bash
Sportsman’s annual Halloween Bash is Saturday, Oct 26. $200 cash for best costume! Contests, entertainment and a whole lot of fun! Reserve one of our Stay and Play packages today. Two night package is only $169 ($363 value). Packages are available to the first 50 people. Reserve yours today!