Tag Archives: fishing mn

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report June 8, 2016

June 8, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

GOOOOOOOOOOOD Fishing!

Check out this slideshow of all the great pictures from the past few days.

Walleyes are hungry and anglers are finding lots of nice fish. Depths between 16’-28’ drifting along Pine Island, Zippel Bay or the northern reefs have been good spots. Gold or shiny jig tipped with a minnow or spinner and 2-3 ounce sinker tipped with a leech or a worm are working best. Water temperature climbed a few degrees this week to 63.

Father’s Day is June 19
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. Sportsman’s Lodge 800-862-8602 Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge & Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411.

4^th of July Celebration
Sportsman’s Lodge and the Baudette area are great places to celebrate Independence Day. Check out all of the events and fun planned.

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!

Few days left of walleye season, bring on the dinosaurs & pike!

April 12, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

April 14 is the last day for walleye season until it re-opens May 14. The weather is warming up and the walleye bite is heating up. Lodging only $40* per person per night in our lodge rooms and cabins midweek. Guided trips, boat rental and dock slips available too! Give us a call!
*based on double occupancy and plus tax

Bring on the sunshine!

Walleye Bite
The past week has been tough, the weather was cool. The weather is warming up and we expect the last few days of the season to be much better. Jigging with long shank bright colored jig tipped with a shiner minnow or rainbow has been working the best in 14’-18’ and 22’-26’ of water around points and gaps with current. The current water temperature is 35 degrees but should warm up quite quickly with the forecast ahead.

24 inch Walleye Rich Chacich released

Its Sturgeon’s Time
Now through May 15 is one of the best times of year to reel in these prehistoric dinosaurs. The Rainy River is home to thousands of the shovel nosed species whom can live for over 100 years and have been recognized dating back to 136 million years ago. The largest sturgeon caught on record in Minnesota measured in at 180 inches in 1903 (MN DNR). The bite has been good! Many anglers have had great success finding several in the river bottom in deep holes and crevices. Some prefer areas with a little current. Anchor and set up your rig with a 2-4 ounce no roll sinker, 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook tipped with a gob of night crawlers and even a minnow or two. Sturgeon catch and release season is now through April 23 and May 8-15. You can keep one April 24-May 7 between 45”-50” or over 75”. Remember to purchase a sturgeon tag if you plan on harvesting a sturgeon. They are $5 and can be purchased at the lodge, online or anywhere that sells Minnesota fishing licenses.

Charlie Borak 66 inch sturgeon! (released)

50 and 63 inch sturgeon Daly Group pic 2

50 and 63 inch sturgeon Daly Group

One of the Best Lakes in the State for Trophy Pike
Lake of the Woods has an incredible habitat for northern pike and is one of the top five lakes in Minnesota to reel in a trophy. Spring is one of the best times of year to reel in these fish. Just when the weed growth starts in the bays, they are great spots. Throw a dare devil or shiny shad rap in their direction and get ready for the action. The weather is getting warmer, we expect in a week the bite should really get going. There are several bays along the river to try; along with Four Mile Bay and Zippel Bay.

Experience a great day of fishing!
Guided trips available! No hassles with the boat, motor, no fish to clean, poles to buy or bait to pick up. Your biggest worry of the day is what snacks to bring. We offer spring guided outfitter trips aboard an 18 or 20 foot boat, guide, bait, use of poles and fish cleaning provided through late May. We offer charter trips aboard our 27’ charter boats equipped with an onboard restroom, use of poles, bait, tackle and fish cleaning starting May 14 through late October. It’s the way to go!

Who’s Hungry?
The Sandbar is open daily at 11am and breakfast is available by reservation the night prior Monday through Friday and anytime 6:30am-10:30am Saturday & Sunday. For more information and our current specials, click here.

The Dock Cam is back up! Check out the view!

Current Ice Conditions

November 25, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

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!

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

November 19, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

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 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!