Tag Archives: family fishing

Happy New Year! We can build a snowman now!

January 4, 2017 by Sportsman's Lodges

Good ol’ Mother Nature decided we needed more snow so she threw down 12 inches the past few days J. The guides have the bombardiers out in full force getting guests to the fish houses, moving houses and chasing down the best bite. We aren’t slowing down…..just another day in the north land. Come see us!

The latest bite
What a great start to the year! 14lb walleye, a few 50”+ sturgeons, 19.67 lb. eelpout and many other nice fish caught.

We are seeing many nice pails of walleyes and saugers and a few nice 25”+ walleyes this week. Jigging pink, gold or red glow 1/8-3/8 oz. jigs tipped with a minnow head or full minnow has worked well. Some anglers are finding the smaller jig and minnow head is working best to entice the fish and set the hook with better success. The bite is on the move deeper, 18’-29’now. Check out some of the pictures.

winter-2016-2017-collage

Ice Conditions
Current ice conditions are 17-20 inches in the areas we travel and fish. We run a private groomed trail. If you looking to venture out on your own, check out Adrian’s Road report below.

Adrian’s Road Four Mile Bay near Wheeler’s Point Access
As of January 1, ½ ton trucks pulling up to 17’ wheel houses and smaller vehicles pulling up to 21’ wheel houses are allowed out. ¾ ton and 1 ton trucks can drive out but cannot pull a wheel house.

Trail Report
Lake trails are marked from Baudette on the Rainy River all the way around Wheeler’s Point to Lake of the Woods and 40 miles north across the lake to Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge. The trails are also marked from Wheeler’s Point to Warroad. The crew is dragging the trails now and as soon as we get a few more inches of ice they will start grooming. This new snow has really improved trail conditions. The land trails are being groomed often. For more information about the land trails check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club.

Lake Sturgeon
Anglers have been reeling in a few lake sturgeons lately. Most sturgeon have been caught on a jig and minnow while targeting walleyes however this has raised several questions I thought I would take the time to address. Can I target sturgeon now? Can I use the same large hook, sinker and worm method as I do in the spring? Does Sportsman’s have fish houses available that target sturgeon? Yes, you can target sturgeon anytime July 1-May 15. The season to keep one is April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30. The rest of the season is open to catch and release. The only time you cannot target sturgeon is when the season is closed May 16-June 30. Yes, you can use the same method to catch sturgeon in the winter as you do in the summer using a large 4/0 or 5/0 hook, no roll sinker and a gob of minnows however worms can be hard to come by this time of year so many people use shiners. Sportsman’s does not have houses that we use to primarily target sturgeon but as we know the sturgeons are out in our fishing areas and it is not that uncommon to sIf you are looking for a soft water trip to target these prehistoric dinosaurs, our guides would love to take you out. Click here for more information.

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Ice fishing is here! Book your trip today!
Lodging & fishing packages starting at only $191 per person. Click here to learn more.
*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!

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.

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!

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.

Cooling Off and Catching Fish

September 14, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Temperature dipped down to 37 degrees here this morning. Fall is here! Water temperature has dipped 5 degrees this week down to 64. We expect to start seeing some shiners show up in the river within the next week. Once the shiners start to run the walleyes are soon to follow and it makes for some great fall fishing on the Rainy River! Fall soft water fishing is typically really good right until freeze up.

Good fishing this week!
Check out some of the pics from Captain Travis Madrazo this week! Guided charter (27’ boat holds up to 6 passengers plus guide) and guided outfitter trip (18’-20’ boat holds up to 4 passengers plus guide) are still available through late October. We have some great fall deals going on too! A mix of bait fishing using gold jigs and shiners and trolling with crank baits has been the best approach this week although the guides are starting to remove the downriggers and turning over to only bait fishing. Nice walleyes are being found along shore lines and on the reefs in varying depths along Pine Island, Long Point and Bridges.

Sturgeon, Bass & Pike
The sturgeon bite has been really picking up this week in the Rainy River and Four Mile bay. A gob of worms on a 4/0 or 5/0 hook and 2 oz. no roll sinker works best. Deep holes in the river where current is found are hot spots for sturgeon. Throwing top water baits for smallmouth bass and northern pike in the bays has been the best approach to lure in these fish. We have a rental boat and guided trips available now through late October.

Ice fishing season is 82 days 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 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!