Tag Archives: fishing minnesota

August is a great month to bring kids!

August 3, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The weather is great, the fishing is great and no equipment is required. Any month is a good month to bring young anglers but August is one of the best. With a mix of bait fishing and trolling with crank bait methods working, anglers get a chance to have a pole in their hand and/or just reel in the fish using the trolling for crank baits method using down riggers. No equipment or experience is required. The charter holds up to 6 passengers plus the guide. It has an onboard restroom, fully equipped with poles, bait, tackle, assortment of water and pop, the guide will clean and deliver your fish to your room, box lunch or a shore lunch option available or bring your own. We will also fry up some of your fresh fish in the bar for free if you would like. For more information or a quote click here.

What a catch, Logan! 27 inch walleye! released

The Scoop
Fishing has been great! Anglers are reporting lots of nice walleyes between 16”-25”. Gold or pink spinners, 1-2 ounces of weight tipped with a leech or minnow has been working well for bait fishing in 24’-30’ outside of Zippel Bay. Trolling with crankbaits near Garden Island in 26’-32’ and in the northern reefs using white and silver has been good as well. The water temperature is currently a warm 77 degrees.

Don’t take it from me; hear the latest fishing report from these junior guides!

Reel in some Hot Summer Deals
Email or call us today 800-862-8602!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report July 6, 2016

July 6, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lots of Options
Stock up your tackle box or leave the hassle to a guide. The fish flies have hatched and the weather is warming up which means the best way to lure in some walleyes is changing. The best method right now is using a few methods. Drifting or trolling with a gold and pink spinner tipped with a night crawler or leech is one method. Drifting and jigging with a 3/8 oz. flashy colored jig and a minnow is another option. The third option anglers are just starting to use is down rigging with rapalas. The walleyes are starting to go deeper. 20’-32’ outside of Zippel Bay and on the northern reefs have been hot spots. It has been a beautiful week of weather here this week. The water temperature has warmed up to 70 degrees now, up 5 degrees this week. Don’t let summer pass you by! Get out and enjoy it!

Billy Hedtke reeled in a nice 27 inch walleye! (released)

2nd time fishing and she reels in a 27 inch walleye! Nice job Chris from Sleepy Eye MN! (released) Guided by Captain Mike

SUMMER HOT DEALS! SUMMER HOT DEALS!
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100% Walleye Guarantee!
Yes you heard it right! Click here for more information.

66 years of fishing Lake of the Woods!

June 22, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Check out one of our long time guests, Fran 90 years young. Fran has been coming to Lake of the Woods since 1950 and to Sportsman’s since it was built in 1971. Her first trip was on her honeymoon. Fran doesn’t miss her annual fishing trip with guide Tony Beckel and she still has the touch to real in the walleyes. We can’t wait to see you again next year. Nice catch Fran!

The bite on Lake of the Woods continues to be good despite a few storms that passed through last week. The current water temperature is 66.5 degrees. Drifting with a spinner and 2-3 ounce sinker in 18-26 feet of water around Garden Island and Graceton Beach has been good. Plenty of 17-19 inch walleyes are being caught along with some larger walleye. Worms are being favored but leeches and minnows are not a bad idea to bring along too depending on the day. Guided trips available. Enjoy your summer and wet a line today.

Rob Close from Ellsworth WI reeled in a nice 23 inch walleye released. Guided by Captain Cam

Fran Wittfoth from Holland, MN 27 inch 8.5 lb walleye released Captain Tony Beckel

SUMMER HOT DEALS! SUMMER HOT DEALS!
The weather is warming up and so is the hot deals! Sign up here to receive hot deals right to your inbox.

4th of July Celebration
Walleyes, Fireworks, Parade, Entertainment and Summer Fun!
Click here to read all about the activities planned.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report June 8, 2016

June 8, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

We are known for walleyes, muskies, crappies and pike but check out what the Thillman Frasco Group and Guide Eric Grundahl reeled in! They headed out on a ninety minute cruise, enjoyed beautiful scenery and excellent trout fishing.

Walleyes are hot!
Depths of 16-22 feet of water during the day and in shallow 8-12 feet in the evening have been hot spots along rocky points and mud jigging with shiny jigs and a minnow. Pulling plugs in the evening along shorelines has also been good. Guide tip: Work the points and shorelines. If you aren’t finding them try a different depth.

Trophy Pike
Lots of huge pike swim in the waters of Lake of the Woods. Rocky points in 2-10 feet of water and weedy shallow bays are great spots to find these fish this time of year. Spinners, spoons and plugs are working well. The smaller the tackle the better is the best approach.

Smallmouth Bass
Rock points and shallow weedy bays in 2’-20’ are the best spots to find bass. Spinners, spoons and plugs are the best approach. A sweet spot is a rock pile in front of a weedy area. If you can cast over the rock pile and get into those weeds you should find some good action.

Muskie season opens June 18.
The spawn is almost over and the season opens up soon!

It looks like summer! Current water temperature is 61 degrees.

Summer Trips Available
Lodging and guided trips available through October.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report June 1, 2016

June 1, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Jigging for walleyes
Anglers continue to fish in close to Oak Island and the surrounding islands mainly on the Minnesota side. Jigging with an orange or green ¼ ounce jig tipped with a chub minnow in 20’-25’ of water seems to be bringing in the best results. Water temperature is hovering around 60 degrees. The catch has been mainly 13”-17” walleyes and a few saugers in the mix.

The muskies are getting frisky!
A couple of anglers were out casting for northern pike this past week and a few muskies took a nibble. Muskie season opens June 18, and it sounds like they are hungry! Give us a call and we will set you up with a professional guide that knows all of the best bait, tricks, tips and places to go.

School is out! Fishing time!

Book your Summer Trip
Lodging and guided trips available through October.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report June 1, 2016

June 1, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Summer is here!
Summer fishing has kicked off and the guides are hot on the walleye trail. Soft water guided trips are available through October. Walleyes are hugging rock edges in 15’-26’ right now. Anglers are having the best luck anchored or slow drifting using a 3/8 oz. jig and a minnow or 2-3 ounce sinker and spinner tipped with a crawler or leech. Gold is always a go to color on Lake of the Woods. Other colors that are working well are pink and orange. The current water temperature is 61 today. Water temperature spiked to 66 a few days ago but has been averaging around 62 the past week.

Look at this Walleye! Jason Parker 27 inch released. Guided by Captain Dave McDougall

It’s a double! Denny & Mike 28.25 and 28.5 inch walleyes. Guided by Captain Mike Marquardt

Berry Picking, Golfing, Live Entertainment, Beaches, Lake Tours and Much more!
Check out all of the things to do in the Lake of the Woods area.

Father’s Day just around the corner!
Don’t forget about dad! We have gift cards and lodging/fishing packages available starting at just $247 per person all month long. Click here to order your gift card or here to book your reservation. Prefer to call? Sportsman’s Lodge 800-862-8602 Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411.

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

May 26, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

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!

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

May 26, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

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.

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

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

Lake of the Woods & Rainy River Fishing Report May 3, 2016

May 3, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Few more weeks of sturgeon fishing, 10^th annual tournament is this weekend!
Water temperature continues to warm up. We are currently at 49 degrees today and the week’s forecast looks beautiful and much warmer!

Sturgeon Fishing
It was a breezy weekend and the bite dipped this past weekend. Some anglers say that your bait must stay in the same spot without any movement to entice these bottom feeders to go to the smell. Some movement by the sway of the boat can confuse them. That could have been the reason for the dip in the catch rate this weekend. Anglers still caught some nice 40”+ sturgeon. The successful anglers also noted they used 2 anchors, set up in or near a hole in the river bottom in current, added a shiner to their gob of worms for some added smell hooked into their 3/0-4/0 circle hook and 3-4 ounce no roll weight and did not try a new spot until at least an hour had gone by. There is a lot of fish moving around, give these tips a try and give it a shot. When you reel in a 65 inch prehistoric dinosaur it will all be worth it!

Check out this video for more sturgeon fishing tips!

The guys from The Simple Outdoorsman joined us last week. Check out a few of their pics. These guys got into some nice fish. Be sure to check them out on facebook and like their page.

Check other their video below!

Right now through May 7, you can keep one sturgeon within 45”-50” or over 75” with a Minnesota fishing license and $5 sturgeon tag. Sturgeon tags can be purchased at the lodge, online or anywhere that sells Minnesota fishing and hunting licenses. May 8-15 is catch and release. The season closes May 16-June 30. These fish are fun to catch and release or very tasty smoked. Lodging, Guided Trips, Boat & Dock rentals available.

10^th Annual Sportsman’s Sturgeon Tournament is this weekend!
Fifty boats and over 100 contestants will battle it out over this two day event. We usually see over 100 fish caught and released over the two days including winners in the 65”+ range. The tournament runs Friday, May 6 8:30am-4pm and Saturday, May 7 8:30am-3pm. The bar is a great place to stop by after the tournament to hear about the action, grab a beer, food and listen to musical entertainment. The tournament is full for 2016 but lodging is available starting at only $45* per person per night. If you have never fished for sturgeon or just would like to learn more, stop by the bar. Most anglers in this tournament have been doing it for 7+ years. They have a lot of good tips and great stories to share. The weather is looking great and we are excited for our 10^th year! Good luck anglers! It is going to be a fun weekend!

*plus tax and based on double occupancy

Northern Pike bite is heating up!
Tributaries and bays along the river are great spots. Anchored and casting out a jig tipped with dead bait and bouncing off the bottom has been producing some huge pike. Some anglers are having great success trolling with crankbaits too. Lodging and guided trips are still available. Click here or give us a call 800-862-8602.

Walleye Opener is May 14
Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages May 13-May 26 and lodging packages starting at only $40 per person per night now through May 26. It’s fishing time!

Check out the fishing action on our Dock Cam!

Photo Contest!
Submit your summer photo from a trip to Sportsman’s, tell your friends to vote and you could win a free night lodging at Sportsman’s Lodge! Click here.

Lake of the Woods & Rainy River Fishing Report April 26, 2016

April 26, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Sturgeon and pike fishing is hot, hot, hot!

We are seeing big numbers of sturgeon and pike being caught this week. Now is the time to get into a great spring bite. Lodging, Guided Trips and Boat Rentals available. Make plans to visit us today!

The current water temperature is 41 degrees down from 47 on Friday. Forecast is calling for highs in the 50’s this week and warming up next week. Water clarity is decent.

Sturgeon
The sturgeon are moving around. Anglers have not just been finding them in the holes of the river bottom but also sitting along break lines along the bank. We even had 10 caught right off our dock this weekend. A 3-4 oz. no roll sinker, 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook tipped with a gob of night crawlers and a shiner works perfect. Anglers are also finding the sucker and the eelpout bite has been crazy!

Check out some of the action!
Check out these sturgeon! 67, 58, and 60 1/2 inch. Caught by Nick Emanuel, Aaron Garrelts, Brian Clusiau and Nick Emanuel. The bite is on!
www.sportsmanslodges.com

Pike
The pike bite really heated up this past weekend! Creeks and the river are hot spots. One group landed over 10 pike over 35 inches. Dead smelt lying on the bottom has been working well. Make sure to hook all the way through the body of the bait to keep it nice and secure. Long shaft jigs work well.

Cayla Bendel with a nice nothern pike photo courtesy of The Simple Outdoorsman

Drew Selvestra with a nice pike! Photo courtesy of The Simple Outdoorsman

Our 10^th Annual Sturgeon Tournament is May 6 & 7
The tournament is full but lodging is still available. Join us to learn more about sturgeon fishing with some of the pros that have been doing it for years. The tournament runs 8:30am-4pm Friday, May 6 and 8:30-3pm Saturday, May 7. All of the fishing takes place in front of the lodge so lots of excitement can be seen right from the lodge windows and dock. Happy hour and dinner served in the Sandbar as well as nightly musical entertainment. Join us!

Spring Specials!
Lodging starting at only $40* per person per night now through May 26 and up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages May 14-26. *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Win a free night lodging with your photo!
Do you have a photo from a recent summer trip to Sportsman’s Lodge? Submit it here and tell your friends to vote. You could win a free night lodging this summer!