Tag Archives: Fishing Report

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/18/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge Fishing Report

Fall Patterns
The week started out up and down but the bite is getting better and we are seeing more shiners in the river. Fall patterns are taking shape. The current water temp has decreased and is in the upper 50’s.

Walleyes are starting to move into shallower depths and to the river. Some of the best techniques to getting a nice stringer of walleyes have been anchored using a jig tipped with a chub or shiner or drifting with a spinner tipped with a minnow or crawler along shorelines 11’-16’ and out deeper in the mud in  22’-28’.  Gold, glow in the dark and orange have been popular colors. 

  • Josh 28.5″ walleye caught on jig/shiner. Guide Captain Landon
  • Dick 28 3/4″ walleye. Guide Captain Mike Marquart
  • Mike Lanier 22″ walleye. Guide Captain Mike Cline
  • Mike Lanier with a young sturgeon. Guide Captain Mike Cline

Looking for more species to fish?

Sturgeon
Sturgeon are being reeled in in the deep holes of the bays and river bottom using a 4/0 hook, few ounce no roll sinker, a gob of crawlers, and topped with a shiner.

Pike & Smallmouth Bass
Give jerk baits a try when fishing for pike in the fall in cabbage weeds adjacent to rock structure. Pike often hang out on the fringe of cabbage weeds. Start at 10’-12’ and work to deeper water off reefs and points using a spinnerbait or a jig and a minnow. 

Great Fall Rates
Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter packages and lodging starting at just $89 a night for two people now through Oct 31, 2020. Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us for a rate quote and availability. *Plus tax

Fall Sturgeon Tournament Openings
October 30 & 31 Cash prizes! Always a fun event! Check out the details online and give us a call 800-862-8602 to sign up.

Oak Island

Jigging
Similar to the south end of the lake, jigs and spinners are working right now. Jigging getting better by the day. A gold or orange jig tipped with a minnow or hammered gold spinner tipped with a minnow or crawler in 10’-15’ and 21’-27’ on or around structure and shorelines. Crappies are hitting on small jigs on structure 15’-30’. Muskies and pike are hot after the topwater baits in the weedy bays.

Check out our Great Fall Rates. Openings are available!
Click here or call 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/9/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Water temp is falling and leaves are changing. Currently, the water temperature is sitting around 59-62 degrees and some shiners are starting to show up in the river.

Walleyes are being caught on a variety of methods right now. Drifting with pink, orange, and hammered gold spinners and a crawler in 11’-16’ and 26’-36’ as well as on crankbaits with some shimmer and rattle in the mud 26’-36’. Some dabbling with the jig and a minnow or shiner but most are finding the spinners and cranks are working the best. Areas outside Lighthouse Gap, Zippel Bay, and Garden Island have been good. It won’t be long and anchored with a jig/minnow method will start to take precedence, so be ready!

Great Fall Rates
Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter packages and lodging starting at just $89 a night for two people now through Oct 31, 2020. Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us for a rate quote and availability. *Plus tax

Fall Sturgeon Tournament Openings
October 30 & 31 Cash prizes! Always a fun event! Check out the details online and give us a call 800-862-8602 to sign up.

Oak Island

Variety of Methods
Fall is in the air and that means it is time to start thinking about changing up methods to stay on the walleye bite. Jigs, spinners, and crankbaits are methods of choice right now but the jig and minnow will start to be the go-to soon. Drifting with gold and pink spinners tipped with a crawler in 15’-28’ on rock structure, trolling with shad raps in 26’-36’ in the mud and anchored jigging a minnow or shiner in 11’-15’ and 20’-26’ on or around structure has been working the best. Water temp is in the lower 60’s now.

Looking for some crappies? Crappies are biting on small jigs and a minnow in 10’-30’.

Check out our Great Fall Rates. Openings are available!
Click here or call 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 8/27/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Leaves are starting to Change
Pulling spinners and trolling with cranks continue to work the best for walleyes. Some anglers finding fish in 12’-16’ and others in deeper waters 28’-36’. Pink, silver, and gold for colors. The leaves are starting to change, fall is just around the corner and so is the shiner run. Once the shiners start run the river, we know it won’t take long for the walleyes to follow.

Anglers fishing the river are reeling in some nice sturgeon. Anchored in a deep hole or along the incline above the deep hole has been good. A sturgeon rig tipped with a gob of crawlers works well. Lots of species and miles of water to explore. Charter trips available through late October. Give us a call 800-862-8602.

Sturgeon Tournament October 30 & 31
Cash prizes! Openings are available. Call up some fishing buddies and join us.
Click here to learn more and to sign up.

Fall Openings
Lodging starting at only $89* per night in lodge rooms and up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages Sept 8-Oct 31. Check out our packages and make plans to visit us, call 800-862-8602. *plus tax and based on 2 adults

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Trolling
Trolling in 24’-28’ using spinners with a minnow, crawler harness or crankbaits in the mud and around structure has been working for walleyes. Gold, red, pink, and yellow tackle have been good options.

Nice pike and muskies have been reeled in. Several 30”+ pike right off the dock. Muskies have been hitting on topwater baits and blades in weedy bays and rock points. Pike mainly in deep water with rocks using spinnerbaits. Crappies are hungry using small jigs and a minnow 10’-30’ on structure.

The Canadian border remains closed at this time but the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service is available to get you to the island. For fall and winter trips, give us a call 800-772-8411 or contact us online.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 8/20/20

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Combination of Techniques
A combination of eaters, small fish, and nice trophies are being reeled in.

Pulling spinners with a minnow, crawler harnesses , and pulling crankbaits on a slow drift or troll continue to be the go-to methods in the deep mud 27’-36. Gold, glow, and anything shiny is popular tackle colors. Warm weather continues with highs in the 70’s and 80’s this week. Water temp is in the lower 70’s.

Fall is just around the corner
Lodging starting at only $89* per night in lodge rooms and up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages Sept 8-Oct 31. Check out our packages and make plans to visit us 800-862-8602. *plus tax and based on 2 adults

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Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Spinners, Cranks and & Jigs
Rock reefs and points in 18’-30’ using red/white and gold 3/8 oz. jigs tipped with a minnow or a spinner with a nightcrawler has been a successful method for reeling in the walleyes. Pulling crankbaits in the deep mud is also a great method. Water temp is in the lower 70’s.

Muskies and Pike
Working point to point in weedy bays with structure using topwater and jerk baits are luring in the muskie and pike.

Fall is just around the corner
We have some openings for September and October. Give us a call 800-772-8411 or contact us online here for availability.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 7/15/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge South End Fishing Report

The Bite

Drifting with hammered gold spinners tipped with a crawler, leech or minnow and 1-2 ounces of weight and has been luring in the walleyes in 15’-25’ this week areas along the south shore and northern islands. A mix of good eaters and trophy walleyes. Water temp in the mid ’70s.

Fall & Winter Fishing

It is not too early to think about making fall and winter reservations. The fall bite can be incredible and ice fishing here on Lake of the Woods is one of a kind. Check out our fall and winter packages and contact us today.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

For the walleye bite, rock structure in 23′-29’ and in the sand 12’-23’ using hammered gold and orange crawler harnesses tipped with a crawler or using 3/8 oz jigs tipped with a minnow has been bringing in some nice walleyes and saugers. Smallmouth bass has been found around rock reefs in the islands in 5’-12’ using crankbaits or lipless cranks bounced off the bottom. Pike have been biting along rocky shorelines and weedy bays throwing out flashy daredevils and bucktails. Muskies are biting trolling in deep bays and rocky points using bucktails and topwater lures. Water temp is in the mid-’70s.

Cedar Cabin Special
July 24-August 8 Stay 3 nights and get the 4th night FREE!
Call to book this cabin 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 6/25/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge South End Fishing Report

Lots of Sun in the Forecast

Looks like it is going to be a nice week to be out in the boat. Bring on the walleyes! Drifting with gold and glow in the dark spinners and a few ounces of weight has been working well tipped with a leech or crawler. Water temperature is in the mid 60’s and warming up by the day. The best depth has been 25’-31’ outside of the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, and north. The walleyes are waiting.

4th of July is next week
Come enjoy some lake time!

We have some openings available. Lodging, guided trips, lake tours, indoor pool, a nearby beach, and golf course. Dynasty DJ takes the stage July 3 & 4 and a fireworks display is planned in Baudette. Something for everyone, come have some fun.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Walleye, Pike, Bass….lots of options

Gold, pink or orange jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow or crawler has been working well to lure in the walleyes along shorelines in 8’-14’ and 26’-28’ of water around structure and the sand. Water temperature is in the mid 60’s.

Pike & Smallmouth Bass
Northern pike and bass have been found in shallow weedy bays. We have hundreds of bays just waiting for you. Successful anglers are using small spinners and spoons.

4th of July week openings available. Give us a call at 800-772-8411.
Passenger service is available from Sportsman’s Lodge to the island. No border crossing required.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report & Oak Island Update – 5/12/20

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Sportsman’s Rainy River

Opening weekend weather was cool but some nice walleyes were caught.

Check out some of the pics.

It sounds like the weather is going to warm up as the week goes on. Mid 60’s this weekend!

We are open for lodging, dock slips, curbside, and on-property food delivery. Lodging starting at $89 through May 20. COVID safety measures and extra cleaning protocols are being practiced and we look forward to opening more services as soon as we can.

A decent bite has been found in 12’-18’ along the sandbars jigging with a chub or a shiner. Gold and pink were notable colors. Water temperature is in the mid 40’s.

Sturgeon season winds down May 15 and reopens July 1.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

We open this weekend!
Lodging, dock slips, and food delivery to your cabin or dockside will be available. We will start cooking Friday at 11:30, open until 8:30 pm and daily starting Saturday, 7:00 am – 8:30 pm. We look forward to opening more services as the Governor lifts restrictions. COVID safety measures and extra cleaning protocols are being practiced. The Canadian border is currently still closed until May 20. You can reach us by passenger service or boating across the lake at this time.

Fishing for walleyes has been good in shallow 10’-16’ along shorelines using a jig and a minnow. Vertical jigging gold has been hot. You don’t have to go far to catch a nice limit. Pike fishing is also excellent in the spring. Bays and creek openings to the lake are a great place to check out. Casting artificial baits or using smelt or large sucker minnows on a hook and a bobber.

Weekly Specials
Starting at just $2,195 for a 3 bedroom cabin in a quiet area just 1/4 mile from the main lodge at Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge. Check it out for your spring, summer, fall or winter getaway.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report & Oak Island Update – 5/6/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Minnesota Walleye Opener is this Saturday, May 9
The Minnesota walleye fishing holiday and long-standing tradition is finally here! Fresh walleye for supper on Saturday night can’t come soon enough.

The ice as far as we can see is gone and the big pond is ready to go. The weather is looking fair, a little on the cool side but common for the big day. Wind 5-12 and partly sunny. So where is the best place to find the early season walleye on Lake of the Woods? Shallow sandbars are usually a good place to start. 12’-20’ on the windward side. Rig up a jig and shiner minnow or a chub and do some jigging.

After a day of walleye fishing, don’t count out the sturgeon. Sturgeon “catch” season is going on now through May 7 and you can enjoy catch and release May 8-15 before closing for 6 weeks. Deep holes in river and bay are usually great spots to reel in one of these monsters. Drop a 4/0 or 5/0 hook with a gob of worms and a no-roll sinker to the bottom and give it a try. Check out some of the photos from this past weekend.

Rooms Available
We have a few rooms available for the weekend. Give us a call 800-862-8602.

Our Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge location opens May 15 for the season. For summer reservations call 800-772-8411.

The staff has been busy deep cleaning and increasing cleaning protocols as well as practicing and implementing new social distancing to serve you. We will kick off our new online food ordering option at our Rainy River location on Friday too for curbside pick up and delivery to your room, cabin, or villa until we can open for dine-in. We look forward to having you visit. Good luck fishing everyone!

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 3/11/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge
3/11/2020

 

Cool temps! 20 days of ice fishing left, you still have time!

A decent bite this week. Catching a variety of walleyes, saugers, and few eelpouts. Anglers trying some different things if the bite isn’t hot for them are getting the best results like different lures, jigging speed, dead sticking, on bottom vs a few inches off the bottom, minnow head vs full minnow and using electronics like a Vexilar. The bite continues to be in 29’-34’ out about 45-55 minute ride from the lodge. Hot jigs have been 1/4 oz gold, pink or chartreuse or a plain hook tipped with a minnow. Come have some fun!

If the weather starts to warm up we will be moving our houses to stay away from the slush and to allow a longer season with safe ice. With the bombardiers and groomed trails, we have many areas to fish. Check out the pictures of the week and make plans to come wet a line.

Trail Report
Trails are open. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

23rd Annual End of the Season Mardi Gras Party is March 28
Our end of the season bash is coming up! Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, costume contest win $200 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Fishing Away

This week depths in 22’-27’ around structure using plain hooks, gold jigs s and small spoons tipped with a minnow has been the best approach for catching walleyes and saugers. An occasional perch, tullibee, perch, pike, and eelpout too. A mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking has been the best approach and electronics help! We have 30-32 inches of ice.

Trails
The trails are open. Click the links for the latest reports.

South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The ice road is open. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Time to book your spring and summer trip.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip! Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 8 -25! Contact us today 800-772-8411.

Sportsman’s Ice Fishing Update – 3/4/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge
3/4/2020

March Fishing is in Full Swing

Walleyes, saugers, and a few perch, pike, eelpout and tullibee have been caught this week. Walleyes and saugers predominately but it’s March, which means a greater chance to catch a variety of species. The best bite continues to be 29’-34’ using a combination of dead sticking and jigging. Hot tackle has been plain hooks and jigs/small spoons colored green glo and pink tipped with a minnow.

We are still out about a 45-55 minute ride to the fish houses and have over 3’ of ice. The ice is in good shape and no slush. When the weather starts to warm up we will be moving our houses to stay away from the slush and to allow a longer season with safe ice. With the bombardiers and groomed trails, we have many areas fish. Check out the pictures of the week and make plans to come wet a line.

Trail Report
Trails are open. For more information check out these links.
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

23rd Annual End of the Season Mardi Gras Party is March 28
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, costume contest win $200 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

 

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge 

Glow in the dark is hot!
Jigging glow in the dark jigs and small spoons have been hot this week tipped with a minnow. A mix of walleye, saugers, and a few perch and pike are being caught in 22’-30’ of water around structure. We have 30-32 inches of ice and plan to keep fishing through the 22nd here in the islands at this point.

Trails
The trails are open. Click the links for the latest reports.

South Shore Lake of the Woods
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
The ice road is in good shape. Follow the signs and take a ride. It is about 10 miles out.

Time to book your spring and summer trip.
It is never too early to start planning your spring trip! Come visit the islands this spring and get into some hot soft water action. Spring lodging specials available May 8 -25! Contact us today 800-772-8411.