Tag Archives: fishing minnesota

Lake of the Woods South Shore Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by
02/25/2015


Reeling in the fish!
It has been a decent week of fishing here on Lake of the Woods. Anglers are catching more walleyes than saugers in a variety of sizes. Best depth has been 25’-32’ of water right now. We have some houses located right outside Pine Island a short 15 minute ride and some farther north on the reefs about a 45 minute ride.  We scatter the houses to find the best fishing for you! That is our goal! Popular tackle has been macho minnows, gold and chartreuse jigs tipped with a minnow. Vexilar users tend to do better than those who do not use them.  Rentals are available at the front desk.  Weather forecast is calling for a cool start to our week below zero and single digits but the weekend looks warmer in the twenties above zero.

26 inch walleye released
sleeper house


Fish Houses available until March 31!
We can have our fish houses out until March 31 mother nature willing and at this point with over 38 inches of ice, it is looking pretty promising! Give us a call 800-862-8602 to make your late season hard water trip.

22 inch walleye released
Sleeper house


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

Trail Conditions
The trail conditions have really improved the past week. We received a little more snow and the groomers are out. Snowmobilers are smiling! Take a ride!

18th Annual Mardi Gras Party March 28!
Come for the fishing and stay for the party! Entertainment, drink and food specials, free hurricanes 8pm-9pm, crowning of the king and queen, beads, beads and more beads! Always a good time! Don’t forget your costume!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by
02/19/2015


Fishing Action….
Anglers have been enjoying some pretty good fishing action this week.  Jigging and using a vexilar using spoons, gold and glow in the dark jigs are working well tipped with a minnow or minnow head.  The best fishing have been found deep in the 25’-34’ range. Nice healthy sized walleyes 14”-18” and 25”-30” along with a mix of saugers and perch have been reeled in. Houses are scattered outside of Pine Island right now. The guides continue to move houses to get you the best fishing action. The ride out to the houses takes anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes depending on the house location. Weather forecast is calling for temps below zero for the week ahead and a possible up to an inch of snow on Friday.

Mike Sartori
25.5 inch walleye, released
 
Another nice catch!
30.5 inch walleye

 

Hook it up
Time to check those hooks.  As move towards the tail of the season, now is a good time to check through your favorite hooks you have been using over the winter to be sure they haven’t dulled. Another good tip is to do a little hook bending to increase your hooking power. Bending the hook out to give it an offset and up to increase the hook gap. This will increase your hooking power and help you to miss fewer fish.

A look ahead….March = More Sun, Less Snow & Active Walleyes!
Don’t forget we ice fish until March 31 on Lake of the Woods and March fishing usually is one of the best times of the year!  March has a track record of being an awesome month for walleyes.  Warmer temps and more sun really seem to rev up the fishing action.  We still have openings, so give us a call to get in on some late season hard water fishingbefore it ends!

Ice Conditions
We are currently maintaining 36”-38” of ice on the lake right now in the areas we travel andfish.  The weather forecast continues to look cool for optimum ice making.

Trail Report
Lake trails are in good shape. Land trails are hit or miss. Where is all of the snow?  The snowmobile trails continue to be groomed weekly and as needed.

Mardi Gras Party is March 28!
Join us for our end of the season bash. Enjoy entertainment, food and drink specials, lodging and fishing package deals, beads, beads and more beads.  Book your stay today!

Oak Island Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by
02/19/2015

The Fishing Scoop
The guides on the island report a nice mix of walleyes and saugers and good catch rates lately.   We are currently seeing the best results along some structure in depths between 20’-26’ of water just outside of Oak Island. The best presentation has been gold, pink and orange jigs tipped with a chub minnow. Jigging and feeling for the optimum time to set the hook is the trick!

Bob Anderson from Bloomington MN
39 inch northern pike caught and released this on his 67th birthday
Way to go Bob! What a nice birthday surprise!
Biggest fish he has ever caught.


Hot Lunch delivered to you
We may be on an island, but we don’t believe in “roughing it”. Ask how you can enjoy a hot lunch prepared and brought right to your fish house midday when you join us for your nextfishing trip.

The fun hasn’t stopped, it has really just begun! March is usually one of the best times for ice fishing! Warm weather, lots of sun and walleyes! Come on up! We are open until mid-March.

Ice Condition Report
We currently have 3 feet of ice, plenty of ice for lots of winter fun.

Snow & Trail Report
We received six inches of snow this week.  Lake trails from Baudette to Oak Island & ice road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island are in good shape.  Take a cruise out!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by

2/11/2015

Mix of 10”-15” saugers and 12”-18” and 28”+ walleyes along with a few perch this week.
A plain hook tipped with a minnow has been one of the most successful approaches. Spoons, gold and glow in the dark jigs have also worked well.  Best depth has been in 25’-34’ of water both in the mud and on structure. Vexilars seem to help angler’s success rate.  We received a few inches of snow yesterday, temperature in the 20’s. Tomorrow it is supposed to start cooling off for the weekend, overcast skies.  No precipitation is in the forecast at this time.

 

James and Cassandra Baas
27 inch walleye, released
Caught on a plain hook and minnow rig on bottom
Jodi Wilburn
27.5 inches, released, 2-7-2014
Caught on a firetiger buckshot lure

 

Ice Conditions
Currently we have 36-38 inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish right now. Lots of ice to get us through March!

Trail Conditions
Lake trails are groomed, packed well and in decent shape. Land trails could use some more snow but are open.

Make your Valentine’s Day Dinner Reservations
Check out specials and make your dinner reservations today.  Snuggle up early; we have lodging and fishing packages available Feb 11, 12 & 13.

Spring and summer are just around the corner!
Check out our spring and summer packages. Spring rates start at only $40 per person per night! *plus tax based on double occupancy.

Oak Island Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by

2/11/2015

Mixed bag
Variety of walleyes, saugers, perch and pike have been caught this week. Jigging with plain hooks or glow in the dark jigs right on bottom has worked best. It has been a light bite so make sure you are jigging and set the hook!  Best depth has been in 23’-29’. Vexilars really help the success rate.

Ice Conditions
Currently we have three feet of ice in the areas we fish and travel

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape.  Take a drive out!

Trail Conditions
Lake trails are groomed, packed well and in decent shape.

Check out our new lake home available to rent!
Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, awesome views, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, private dock, full kitchen and wrap around deck.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by

2/4/2015

Mid-Season is here
Still plenty of fishing time left. We can have our houses out until March 31!  The bite has been mainly saugers this week along with some healthy sized walleyes, 16-25 inches in length. Many of the walleyes are being found suspended up to 15 feet off bottom.  The best depth has been anywhere from 24’-34’. Gold jigging spoons like buck shots, red and gold jigs and plain hooks tipped with a full or half a minnow with a bobber have been doing well. Weather has been below zero the past week. Forecast is calling for a warm up in the teens and twenties and a chance of snow starting today and through the week ahead.

chris2
Chris Getchel
22 inch walleye released
Sportsmans Sleepers
todd
Todd Mengelt from Janesville WI
29 inch walleye caught on a pink charmer

 

Ice Conditions
36 inches of ice and making more daily in the areas we travel and fish!

Trail Conditions
Lake trails are groomed, packed well and in decent shape. Land trails could use some more snow but are open.

Spend Valentine’s Day Week at Sportsman’s!
Cuddle up with your sweetheart at Sportsman’s Lodge. Lodging, fishing, live entertainment, dining, indoor pool and hot tub.  Check out our packages and Valentine’s Day Specials. Make your reservations today.

Spring and summer are just around the corner!
Check out our spring and summer packages.

Oak Island Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by

2/5/2015

Walleyes, Saugers and Perch
50% Walleyes, 40% saugers and 10% perch are the species coming through the holes this week including many nice 15-16 inch walleyes. Jigging a white jig with red eye tipped with a minnow continues to be the hot piece of tackle.  On the clear days, shallower depths 23’-26’ have been producing better and on the cloudy days 27’-30’.

Ice Conditions
Currently we have three feet of ice in the areas we fish and travel

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The road is in good shape.  Take a drive out!

Trail Conditions
Lake trails are groomed, packed well and in decent shape. We have 10-12 inches of snow on the ground right now.

Spend Valentine’s Day Week at Sportsman’s!
Cuddle up with your sweetheart at Sportsman’s Lodge. Lodging, fishing, live entertainment, dining, indoor pool and hot tub.  Check out our packages and Valentine’s Day Specials. Make your reservations today.

Spring and summer are just around the corner!
Check out our spring and summer packages.

Oak Island Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

by
January 2, 2014

Anglers have been reporting catching their limits in depths around 24’. Pink, white or green jigs tipped with minnows or shiners have been getting results. The morning bite or right before dark is bringing anglers their best success.

Ice Road is open!
The ice road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island is plowed and open.

Snowmobile Trails
Lake Trails – All lake trails are staked except The Angle to Warroad. The snowmobile trail has been moved and marked around the cracks around Garden Island and Knight Island. If you venture off the trail, be advised there are some pressure ridges around the lake. Grooming is dependent upon snow.

Did you know?

by

Walleye Facts

Walleye is the largest member of the perch family and has been known to reach 25 pounds.  North of the border, the walleye is more commonly known as pickerel. Its name comes from the fact that the fish’s eyes point outward, as if looking at the walls.  They also have huge marble-like eyes, which feature a layer of reflective pigment, which means that the walleye can see quite well in dim light.  The most common prey is the yellow perch which lacks this ability to see well in low light.  This trait alone has made the walleye a successful predator.

Walleye are among the most popular of all game fish. Each year, Minnesota anglers keep roughly 3.5 million walleyes totaling 4 million pounds.

The walleye is the state fish of Minnesota and South Dakota and the official fish of Saskatchewan. More walleye is eaten in Minnesota than in any other state of the United States. Locally, Baudette is known as the “Walleye Capital” of the World”. You can see the 40 foot statue of Willie Walleye at the corner of Highway 11 and International Drive in Baudette. Make sure to bring your camera! www.sportsmanslodges.com