Tag Archives: baudette minnesota

NW Angle/Oak Island Lake of the Woods, MN Fishing, Trail & Ice Report 1-11-2017

January 11, 2017 by Sportsman's Lodges

Great bite!
We are seeing lots of nice 15”-16” walleyes along with a few saugers. Jigging about a pop can length off bottom with gold, pink or macho minnow #29 in 22’-29’ of water has been the ticket tipped with a minnow. Anglers have also had success dead sticking. We recommend trying a little of each and don’t forget your vexilar or reserve one from us. They really help your success! Great fishing is only a few miles from the lodge. Choose our meal plan or order a lunch the night prior for a hot lunch delivered right to your house. It’s prime time ice fishing time! Give us a call to reserve your trip now through late March.

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The ice road is in great shape and marked. Watch for our signs. Take the 9 mile venture out and come for a visit.

Snow & Trail Report
Currently we have 14-18 inches of snow in the area. The lake trails are being maintained weekly and the heavier groomers will be out as soon as we get more ice. The trail from Oak Island to Baudette is marked with black stakes.

We ice fish until late March!
Make your reservations today 800-772-8411 www.oakislandlodge.com

Sportsman’s Lodge South Shore Lake of the Woods Fishing, Trail & Ice Report 1-11-2017

January 11, 2017 by Sportsman's Lodges

Bouncing off Bottom
Guides report it has been a good bite for the 11”-17” walleyes and saugers this week. A few big walleyes and another large eelpout were reeled in too. Varying depths between 19’-26’ jigging Rapala slab raps, gold and pink jigs, silver blade spoons and flutter spoons have been working well. Dead sticking a rock and roll jig or a red has also proved to be successful. Anglers found that bouncing off the bottom to churn up some lake bottom to get the attention of the fish at least 4-6 inches and sometimes even up to 2’ was a successful approach. Chub or shiner minnows are the live bait of choice.

Another big eelpout! The Albiston Group a group of 4 gals reeled in this 12lb and 30 inch eelpout while fishing in the Sportsman’s Sleepers. What a fish!

Doug Loos caught this 25.5 in walleye just over 7lb on a Gold Rapala Slab Rap guided by Troy. Doug and his son Dan caught over 90 fish on their recent trip to Sportsman’s!

What a nice walleye!

Ice Depth
17-20 inches of ice on the lake in the areas we fish and travel right now. The bombardiers are ready to bring you out fishing!

Adrian’s Ice Road
If you are planning to go out on your own, Adrian’s ice road out of Four Mile Bay near Wheeler’s Point 12 miles north of Baudette is a good option. As of Jan 1, they were allowing ½ ton trucks pulling up to 17’ wheel house and smaller vehicles pulling up to 21’ houses. ¾ ton and 1 ton trucks can drive out not pulling houses.

Trail Conditions
We have 15”-20” of really nice snow in the area. The lake trails are in good shape and being maintained weekly. As soon as we get more ice the heavier groomers will be out. The trails are staked across the lake with black stakes from Baudette to Oak Island and Wheeler’s Point to Warroad. Come enjoy our over 100 miles of lake trails and 500 miles of land trails! For area land trail information click here to contact the Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club.

Ice fish with us until March 31!
Ice fishing packages available through March 31. Click here to learn more and book your trip today.

Short on time? Take a quick trip!
One night/one day trips available including lodging, ready to go fish house, transportation to and from the fish house, use of jig sticks, jigs bait and fish cleaning starting at only $144* per person. One day fishing only trips $115* per person. Available: Jan 12, 18, 19, 22, 26, 29, Feb 1, 8,12,16,19 & 22.
*plus tax and based on double occupancy.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Ice Conditions Report 12/12/16

December 12, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

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 Condition Report 12/7/2016

December 7, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

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!
Check us out on Facebook
For ice condition updates, fishing pictures, hot deals and contests like us on Facebook.

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 9, 2016

September 9, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Fall Fishing has begun!
Anglers are finding some nice walleyes in 20’-25’ pulling gold spinners along the edges of points or on top of reefs this week tipped with a minnow or worm. Areas around the east side of Falcon Island have been good. Water temperature is currently 68 degrees.

Muskies, Pike, Bass
These fish are starting to move to the rocks but you can still find them in the weeds. So be sure to check out both of these spots right now. Throwing top water baits has been the ticket.

Crappies
Fall is one of the best times of the year to reel in these sweet flavored fish on Lake of the Woods. Once the water starts to dip in the next few weeks, we should start to see more of these fish bite. Using a small 1/4 ounce jig or smaller tipped with a minnow works well in areas with structure.

Not sure where to go?
Take a guide! Sit back relax and reel in the fish. For more information about our guided trips click here.

Fall is here!

September 9, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The fish are biting, the weather is beautiful, the leaves are changing and the fall specials are hot!
Now is the time to get to the lake! Check out the forecast and a few of the pictures from the week. If you have a picture from a recent stay please share them with us!

Trolling with crank baits has been the most successful approach this week to reel in some walleyes but bait fishing with a gold jig or spinner tipped with a worm has produced some nice fish as well. Depths on the reefs around Garden Island and Bridges in 12’-16’ and 25’-30’ or in the mud outside of Pine Island and Zippel Bay in 25’-30’ have been best. The water is at 69 degrees this morning. The famous aggressive Rainy River fall bite is just a few weeks away! Get your reservations in!

Syngenta Seeds group reeled in some nice fish this week with Captain Baihly

A double! Great way to kick off fall fishing! 28.75 inch walleye caught by Marcus Mara from Worthington MN and 24.5 inch walleye caught by Mary Collins from Minneapolis MN. Guided by Captain Mike Marquardt.

Sturgeon, Pike, Smallmouth Bass
Fall is a great time to reel in these species. Anglers are starting to see the bite pick up in the river and bays. For sturgeon a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, 2 oz. no roll sinker and a gob of minnows is the best approach. Anchored in or near a hole in the river bed or channel is a good spot to find them. To lure in the bass and pike, throwing out top water baits in weedy bays with some rock structure is good approach. There are hundreds of spots along the Rainy River and bays along the south shore to fish these fish. Not sure how to do it or don’t have the equipment? No problem! We have guided trips available via our 18’and 20’ boats, great for groups up to 4 plus the guide. For more information about guided trips click here.

Walleyes Are Biting!

August 31, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lake of the Woods continues to have a great summer season. Walleyes are biting from Long Point to Zippel Bay in 29-32 feet of water. Anchored and jigging with worms or trolling with crank baits have been working well. Hot tackle colors have been silver, white, red and orange. Around Pine Island in 25-30 feet of water is another hot spot. For those anglers heading to the north end of the lake, Garden Island and Little Oak are still producing nice limits of fish. The current water temperature is down a few more degrees from last week at 71. The forecast looks great so now’s the perfect time to visit.

49 inch sturgeon caught by Larry Deacon. Guided by Travis M

28 inch walleye caught by Molli Burns and guided by Captain Matt

Openings still available for this weekend!
If you are looking for a place to relax this weekend, give us a call! Lodging, Camping, Guided Fishing Trips and dock rental available. [email protected] or call 800-862-8602

Sturgeon & Bass
The sturgeon are starting to bite. Holes in the river bottom anchored using a 5/0 size hook, 1-2 ounce no roll sinker and a gob of minnows has been working good for sturgeon. The bite should only get stronger as the water starts to cool. Keep one season runs until Sept 30 and Oct 1-April 23 is catch and release season. Guided trips available! The smallmouth bass bite has been good around shallow rocks casting spoons in the river and around reefs.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report August 23, 2016

August 23, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Walleyes….
We have seen nice eater size walleye between 14”-18” caught lately in 20’-26’ jigging with minnows along points and reefs. The best presentation has been gold or orange 3/8 oz jigs tipped with a minnow. The reefs around Tug Channel, Skeet and French Portage have good fishing holes. Water temperature is 73 degrees.

Muskies…Pike…and Smallmouth Bass
Top water baits like cow girls, jerk baits and mud puppies have been working well. Weedy bays 7’-15’ with some rock structure has been best.

Best Equipment for walleyes?
The guides favor St Croix, Fenwick, Gloomis or 13 Fishing rods combos, medium fast action 6’-7’. They like a 10lb braid line, 3/8 ounce jig or 1-1.5 ounce sinker/spinner combination.

Fall is just around the corner
Fall foliage, hunting seasons, and excellent walleye, crappie fishing will soon be upon us too. Make your reservations now and fall into walleyes with our great fall rates!

Walleyes and a Muskie!

August 23, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

A good bite this week and a surprise! A group was down rigging with crankbaits this week in the mud targeting walleyes and reeled in to their surprise a 41 inch muskie! The northern islands are known for excellent muskie fishing but this was an unusual area to find this guy. What a fun experience!

41 inch Muskie caught by Mike Westerberg while targetting walleyes. Guided by Captain Mike

Water temperature is starting to cool. We are down a few more degrees this week to 72 degrees. Trolling with crank baits in 11’-18’ in the mud and along the northern reefs has been good. Drifting with spinners or anchored and jigging tipped with a minnow or worm has been fair too in 24’-32’ of water. Go to spots have been outside Zippel Bay, Lighthouse Gap and Little Oak Island. Gold, orange and silver have been the hot colors. August & fall lodging and guided trips still available!

22.5 inch walleye caight by Josh Westerberg. Guided by Captain Mike

21 inch walleye caught by Mike Westerberg. Guided by Captain Mike

Welch Group Guided by Captain Mike

Rainy River
The fall river bite is only a few weeks away. Small mouth bass and a few sturgeons have been hitting lately. Walleyes and a stronger sturgeon bite are just around the corner. Sturgeon “keep” season is now open until Sept 30. We have guided outfitter trips available great for river fishing. Give us a call 800-862-8602.

Fall is around the corner
We are roughly 4 weeks out from the legendary “Emerald Shiner Run” which normally occurs in late September on the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay. This event normally brings in thousands of walleyes to the Rainy River as they chase the shiners upstream. Get your reservations in now and take advantage of lodging starting at only $40 per person lodging. Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages too! Good fishing, good food, guided outfitter trips, guided charter trips, dock slips, boat rental, indoor pool, hot tub and entertainment await you.

Minnesota Fall Hunting Seasons announced
Beltrami State Forest is just out our back door with over 67,000 acres of land along with one million acres of Lake of the Woods to explore. Come enjoy some great hunting for bear, small game, goose, grouse, waterfowl, whitetail deer, fox and much more. This is a hunter’s paradise.