Tag Archives: family vacation

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report May 26, 2016

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Great walleye bite!
Some nice 14”-16” walleyes are being found around points and shorelines in 14’-24’ of water.  Water temperature is 60 degrees.  Jigging with gold or orange jigs tipped with a minnow has been the most successful. Summer is here! Time to get out fishing, the guides are ready!  Anglers have found a few bass and pike as well. Pitching dead ciscos with a bobber on a quick strike rig on bottom or just 6 inches off bottom is working well to lure in these fish in shallow weedy bays.

Right off the dock! 5 year old Stellie with Grandpa Jerry at Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge!

Right off the dock! 5 year old Stellie with Grandpa Jerry at Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge!

 

Book your summer trip!
Lodging, boat rental and guides available! Escape to the lake!!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report 5-26-2016

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The Bite is on!
We have been enjoying great walleye fishing this past week.  Check out these pictures! Shorelines 12’-28’ have been producing well using a brightly colored jig and minnow.  Some anglers have been anchored and others drifting.  The water temperature is warming up. We have warmed up 7 degrees this week, currently sitting at 62 degrees.  The guides are hot on the walleye trail.

may26

 

100% Walleye Guarantee
Charter boats are the best way to navigate the south shore waters of Lake of the Woods and with our 100% walleye guarantee, no equipment or experience is required, how can you go wrong? Click here to learn more.

It's a double! Maria and Rod reel in nice walleyes at the same time. Guided by Captain Dave McDougall

It’s a double! Maria and Rod reel in nice walleyes at the same time. Guided by Captain Dave McDougall

25 inch walleye Dave from Dubuque IA 25 inch walleye released guided by Captain Mike

25 inch walleye Dave from Dubuque IA 25 inch walleye released guided by Captain Mike

Celebrate Father’s Day all month long
Packages and gift cards available.

Did you see what was caught at our Sturgeon Tournament this year?

Joe Anderson 70.5 inch, 28 inch girth lake sturgeon caught on the Rainy River Lake of the Woods, MN at Sportsman's Lodge 5-6-2016

Joe Anderson 70.5 inch, 28 inch girth lake sturgeon caught on the Rainy River Lake of the Woods, MN at Sportsman’s Lodge 5-6-2016

Current Ice Conditions

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11/25/2015

 

Happy Thanksgiving!
From our homes to yours, the staff at Sportsman’s Lodges wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Freezing Season!
The freezing season is in progress. Late last week small bays froze over including the Baudette Bay in Baudette and parts of Young’s Bay at the Northwest Angle near our Oak Island location. The forecast for the week ahead is calling for lows in the teens. We expect to see the bays continue to make ice and the big lake continue to cool down. Now all we need is the wind to keep calm and subzero temperatures and we will start to make some serious ice. It is crazy how fast the season can change. Once we get below zero we can make an inch or two a day! When we get 10-12 inches of safe ice, we are ready to roll! Stay tuned for updates. At this point an early December start date is in our sights.

Bays are making ice!
Bays are making ice!
Baudette Bay
Baudette Bay

Gift Cards Available
Looking for a great gift idea for the angler on your list? We have gift cards available. Always the right color, size and price! Click here to purchase online now.

Ice Fishing Packages starting at $166!
Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River Location
Hook this Hot Deal before it is gone!
1 night lodging in a room or cabin and 1 day ice fishing including the fish house warm and ready just off a quiet groomed trail, transportation to and from the fish house, use of jig sticks, jigs, bait and tackle.

Saturday, December 26, Wednesday, December 30 and Saturday, January 2

  • $166 per person
  • With breakfast, lunch and dinner $215

Wednesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 14

  • $142 per person
  • With breakfast, lunch and dinner $190

Rates quoted are price per person plus tax, based on double occupancy at the Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location. Upgrade to our new villas for an additional $18 per person. Click here to book now or call us at 800-862-8602!

Thanksgiving Day Office Hours
Our office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. We will re-open Friday at 8am.

Current Ice Conditions

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Weather is cooling down!
We are starting to see the temperature dip. Snow and lows in the teens is in the forecast today and for the rest of the week! We are ready to get this water cooled down and make some ice. Current water temperature is 37 degrees.  Fall projects are in full swing and we are doing our ice dance! Who is with us?

Once we get the our first blast of cold air we just need zero degrees or colder for 10 days and we will have 10-12 inches of safe ice to start our season.  It doesn’t take long once we start freezing.  Get your reservations in now. Many dates are filling up fast!

ice-slIce Fishing season is soon here!

Stay tuned for updates. We are looking to another fun year!

For reservations click here to book now or call us at
Baudette/Rainy River Location: 800-862-8602
Oak Island & Eagle Ridge Location 800-772-8411

Who wants a FREE ICE FISHING TRIP this year?  Click here to enter for your chance to win!

Lake of the Woods Current Ice Conditions Report

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11/11/2015

 

Happy Veteran’s Day!
Thank you to all the great men and women who have served! Our hats are off to you!

Ice Fishing starts in less than a month
The stage is starting to be set for the 2015-2016 ice fishing season! Water temperature is on the decline, air temperature is in the 30’s and 40’s and snow is in the forecast. We are busy working on fall projects an tuning up equipment. It has been a beautiful fall but we are ready for ice fishing! It is amazing how fast it can turn. Once we get the blast of cold air we just need zero degrees or colder for 10 days and we will have 10-12 inches of safe ice to start our season. Get your reservations in now. Many dates are filling up fast!

Shannon Blomquist
Who is ready for some ice fishing fun?


Stay tuned for updates. We are looking forward to another fun year!

For reservations click here to book now or call us at
Baudette/Rainy River Location: 800-862-8602
Oak Island & Eagle Ridge Location: 800-772-8411

 

 

Top Ten Reasons to visit Sportsman’s this August!

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Looking for the perfect vacation destination? Here are the top ten reasons to visit Sportsman’s this August!

1.  Excellent fishing and no equipment or experience required!

From the beginner to the seasoned pro, Sportsman’s located in the heart of the walleye capital of the world offers the best fishing around. If you like catching big walleyes, July & August are the best months to find catch big walleyes!

2. New VillasSportsmans Lodge Lake of the Woods

And with a multitude of accommodation options to choose from, including charming lodge rooms, well-equipped cabins, and our new private villas, you’re sure to love everything about Sportsman’s!  Rent these accommodations by the night or the week.

3. Entertainment

Enjoy our live musical entertainment in our bar and restaurant,

4. Indoor Pool 

Stroll along the beach at neartby Zippel Bay State Park, or relax at Sportsman’s indoor pool or hot tub.

5. Awesome Views

Let your worries drift away as you take in the beautiful views and rich history of the area on one of our lake tours.

6. Three Locations

Three locations to choose from: Sportsman’s Lodge located 12 miles north of Baudette, MN, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge located on Oak Island near the Northwest Angle of Minnesota.

7. Game Room

Walleye Sportsman’s Lodge Lake of the Woods

Both youth and adults will enjoy our game rooms that feature a variety of games.

8. Three Dining Venues

Great food with great prices, sample all the menus in our 3 dining venues.

9. Area Activities

Whether you are looking to spend time on the water, enjoy a great game of golf, stroll along the beach at the Zippel Bay State Park or shop in local Baudette, there is something for everyone at Sportsman’s Lodges.

10. Lodging and fishing packages starting at only $232 per person! 

So, what are you waiting for? Give us a call at 866-998-7280 or click here to book online.

No Fishing License Required

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No Fishing License required during Take-A-Kid Fishing Weekend June 5-7, 2015 in Minnesota.
This is a great time to teach a kid a sport he or she can enjoy for a lifetime!
Minnesotans 16 or older who take a child 15 or younger fishing don’t need a license that weekend. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/seasons.html
Check out our kids two nights lodging and one day guided charter fishing packages starting at only $172 plus tax. http://sportsmanslodges.com/rainyriver/rates/summer/

 

Wyatt

Lake of the Woods Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

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3/11/2015

Is spring coming early or are we just being teased?
Like much of the state we have received some warm weather this week too. What does this mean for ice fishing?  Safety first!  At this point we have only lost snow. We still have 33 inches of ice on the river, 38 inches on Four Mile Bay and nearly 4 feet on the lake. The forecast is calling for highs in the forties through the weekend and lows in the upper twenties/lower thirties. Mostly overcast skies (this helps!). Next week’s forecast cools down with highs in the thirties and lows in the lower twenties. We see no problem fishing through this weekend and possibly next week. It all depends on how much sun and warm temperatures we get through this weekend.   We check ice conditions daily and will keep you updated! Daily reports can be found on our Facebook page here.

24 inch walleye caught and released by a Garrett Rohwedder 25 inch walleye released caught on a red buckshot spoon in one of the sleeper houses

24 inch walleye
Caught & released by a member
of the Rohwedder group, caught on
a chartreuse swedish pimple

 Garrett Rohwedder
25 inch walleye, released
Caught on a red buckshot spoon
in one of the sleeper houses
A good day! Pink was the hot color! Sent in by Travis Campbell
A good day! Pink was the hot color!
Sent in by Travis Campbell

 

How’s fishing?
We have a variety of houses in the mud and reefs in 25-32 feet of water. The ride out to the fish houses takes anywhere from 15-45 minutes.  If we had it our way, the shorter the ride the better however, the fish aren’t agreeing this year.  That’s fishing!  Our goal is to give you the best fishing experience possible so we go where the fish are.  A mix of walleyes, saugers, tulibees, a few perch and pike have been reeled in this week. Bright colored jigs orange, pink and gold have been working well tipped with a minnow. Buck shots have also done well. A little jigging and using a vexilar helps your fishing success!

Walleye fishing open until April 14, re-opening May 9. Limit change on the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay March 1-April 14. Pike season never closes and sturgeon fishing is catch and release now through April 23, keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and catch and release again May 8-15.

Trail Report
Grooming has ended for the year. Trails are being maintained by local resorts with drags. Use caution around the pressure ridges. Pressure ridges pull apart and push together when the temperature warms and cools.

River Fishing
Won’t be long and we will be back in the boats. The river is open 58 miles east of the resort right now. The first landing near us that will open will be at Birchdale, 38 miles away. When? Good question? My guess is 10-14 days at this point. Lots of factors come in to play of course, stay tuned!  Lodging rates as low as $40 per person per night (plus tax based on double occ) April 1-May 20! Get your reservations in now!

Oak Island Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

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3/11/2015


Fish On!
Warm weather has been in the area, but we are still freezing at night and the 10 day forecast is calling for much of the same. We have lost some snow but ice is good, no loss. As long as we don’t get a stretch of nights not freezing we see no problem continuing to ice fish through our season. Here at Oak Island we will be for ice fishing through March 21 and the lodge open through March 22. The main lodge near Baudette does not close during ice out.

Anglers have been reeling in 30% walleyes, 60% saugers and the balance in perch and northern pike. The catching success has increased over the past week.  Depths ranging from 17’-27’ have been doing the best. As far as big fish, a few nice 38” and 41” pike have been caught as well as some nice walleyes in the 22”-27” range. A good run from 8am-10am and 2pm-5pm have been the most aggressive times of the day.  Gold jigs tipped with a minnow are the hot ticket and keeping your jig really tight to bottom.

Grant
Grant with one of his nice walleyes he caught!
Way to go Grant!
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

 

Ice Conditions
38+ inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish.

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
Open and in good shape.  This could change based on the weather conditions so please call before coming out.

Trail Report
Trails are in fair condition. A little slushy depending on the daily temperature.

Summer is just around the corner!
Get your reservations in now! 800-772-8411 or click here.