Tag Archives: fishing package

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!

Lake of the Woods Current Ice Conditions Report

November 11, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

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!

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

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report

November 4, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

11/4/2015

Few more weeks of fishing in boats
Anglers are still launching boats and reeling in some walleyes. A few more weeks of fishing in boats and then we should start seeing some ice forming to get us ready for an early December ice fishing start. We start ice fishing with 10-12 inches of safe ice. Our typical start date of our winter ice fishing season is by the first or second week in December. The ice can form quickly when the temperatures cool down. Once we get down to zero degrees or less we can make an inch of ice a day.

This week’s bite has been good and the cooler it gets the better we expect it to get.
Current water temperature is 43 degrees. The best bite has been outside the Light House Gap and Morris Point Gap in 22’-26’ of water using pink and gold jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow. In the Rainy River the best bite has been at first light in the morning for a few hours and just a few hours in the evening before dark in 14’-19’ using pink and gold jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow. Wheeler’s Point, Wabanica Bay, just out in front of Anchor Bay Trailer Park about 3 miles west of Baudette, in front of the Baudette airport just on the west edge of Baudette and Clementson Rapids area have all produced some nice walleyes. Our guide boats are all put away for the season but lodging and docking is available if you would like to go out on your own.

This week’s forecast

Fall Lodging Specials through November 30!
Take advantage of our fall lodging as low as $40* per person per night. Our restaurant, bar and pool are now closed until December but lodging remains open through November! Click here to learn more. Book your stay today! *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Ice fishing season is just around the corner.
Book your stay now for the most options and availability.

You Still Have Time!

October 28, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

10/28/2015

You still have time!
Water temperature is 46 degrees. Walleyes are biting and it looks like the weather is going to allow us at least a few more weeks of soft water fishing. Lodging rates as low as $40 per person per night! Give us a call to reserve your stay.

Check out this video report from our good friend Joe Henry from Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau.

Grouse Season moving into peak

The leaves continue to fall and the birds are in abundance. Come and explore the Beltrami Island State Forest right out of our back door! Over 66,000 acres to explore! http://sportsmanslodges.com/rainyriver/activities/hunting/

Hot Fall Deals at Sportsmans!

Starting at $40 per person per night Lodging Special through Nov 30!

Winter is just around the corner! Do you have your reservations in yet?
Ice Fishing starts in 40 days!

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report

October 21, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

10/21/2015

October Walleye Fishing
The current water temperature is 48 degrees. The best approach to reeling in some nice walleyes has been jigging with gold, orange or any bright colored jig or spinner tipped with a minnow. The river is picking up more and more each day. A good bite still continues in the Light House Gap, Morris Point Gap, just outside of Pine Island and Morris Point in 22’-28’ of water.

Fall Lodging Specials through November 30!
Take advantage of our fall lodging as low as $40* per person per night and guided and lodging fishing specials as low as $201* per person for 2 nights and one day. Lodging specials available through November 30 and guided fishing through October. We offer guided charter fishing, guided 18’-20’ outfitter fishing, dock rental, boat rentals, lodging, restaurant, indoor pool, bar and more! Click here to learn more. Book your stay today! *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Sportsman’s Annual Halloween Party is this Saturday, Oct 24!
Throw your costume in your tackle box and join us for a fun weekend! $200 Cash Prize for Best Costume, Great drink specials like FREE Witch’s Brew 7pm-8pm and $2 Can Beer, $45* per person Lodging Specials, Entertainment and a whole lot of fun! Click here to learn more and book your stay. *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Fall Dining & Bar Hours
Breakfast will be available through Sunday, Oct 25 and re-opening in early December. The Sandbar will be open this week Thur-Sun 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM and Mon-Wed 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. The week of Oct 26^th The Sandbar will be open daily 4pm-10pm. Lodging is available anytime

Ice fishing season is just around the corner.
Book your stay now for the most options and availability.

Excellent Fishing

October 16, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

Walleyes are active this week! Anglers have been finding a good bite in 22’-26’ of water and 15’-18’ around points. Soldier’s Point, Massacre Island, points around Falcon Island and Little Oak Island has been good. Average size has been 16”-17” in length. Gold jigs tipped with a minnow are working best! Water temperature is 51 degrees.

Crappie Bite
Crappie bite has been best around structure and points of 20’ and 30’-40’ in depth. The cooler it gets the better the bite should get. Average size has been between 12”-16”. Pink and gold jigs tipped with a minnow have been working well. Looking for a hot bite? We suggest taking a guide, they know just where to find them!.

Muskie & Northern Pike
Trolling is picking up. Still getting a few fish casting but trolling has been best. Average size has been 32”. Points and gaps with current have been good spots to find them. Trolling with 8”-14” plugs is the best approach.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge fall season is coming to a close. We will be closing Oct 18 and re-opening in December for ice fishing. The office will be open to take your calls and winter reservations. Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location near Baudette will have the dining and bar available until Oct 26 and lodging available any time. Book your winter reservation today!

Walleyes are biting in the river!

October 16, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

Water temperature has cooled down a few more degrees this week. Currently we are sitting at 53 degrees. Weather forecast is looking like a typical October week.

Lighthouse Gap, Wheeler’s Point, Wabanica Bay, Baudette Airport, Clementson Rapids area and just outside of Pine Island in 17’-21’ and 26’-30’ have been hot spots. Gold or a brightly colored jig or spinner tipped with a minnow is working well. Anglers are catching some nice 15”-22” walleyes with an occasional walleye over 22”. Northern Pike have been also biting well in areas with current. Weedy bays up river casting with a shad rap or dare devil has been producing some nice pike too. Between now and freeze up, Lake of the Woods hosts some of the best fall fishing!

Fall Loding Specials

Take advantage of our fall lodging and guided fishing specials. We offer guided charter fishing, guided 18’-20’ outfitter fishing, dock rental, boat rentals, lodging, restaurant, indoor pool, bar and more! Click here to learn more. Book your stay today!

Annual Halloween Party is Oct 24!
Throw your costume in your tackle box and join us for a fun weekend! $200 Cash Prize for Best Costume, Great drink specials, $45* per person Lodging Specials, Entertainment and a whole lot of fun! Click here to learn more and to book your stay! *plus tax and based on double occupancy.

Fall Dining & Bar Hours
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks will be available until Sunday, Oct 25. After that we will be closed except for private parties until early December when ice fishing season begins. Lodging is still available and the front desk will be remaining open daily through the ice freezing season.

Ice fishing season is just around the corner.
Book your stay now for the most options and availability.