Tag Archives: Fishing Report

We have open water in front of the lodge and Wheeler’s Point landing is open!

by

Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River
April 23, 2018

What a difference a few nice days make! All of the public boat landings are open on the river now. The current water temperature at our docks is 40 degrees. The water level is low. Birchdale will be closed April 24 for the day only. Wheeler’s, Timbermill, Vidas, Frontier and Birchdale are the landings near us. For a map, click here.

Sturgeon and pike fishing is going on now and walleye season opens back up May 12. Come get into some goooooood fishing and don’t forget to share or tag your pictures with us. We love to see and hear your fishing stories! You might even show up on our next fishing report.

Logan and Corey reeled in some nice sturgeon!

The bite should only heat up this week with many more fishing holes opening up. The weather forecast looks pretty great too!

Sturgeon are moving around in deep holes of the river bottom. Anchor up and rig your line with a few ounces of no roll sinkers, 4/0 or 5/0 hook tipped with a gob of minnows and shiner. Once one of these dinosaurs take a nibble, get ready for a heck of battle. The big sturgeon are known to wrestle for an hour or two.

Northern pike are another fun fish to target in the spring on Lake of the Woods. Lake of the Woods has an abundant trophy pike population. Whether you enjoy catch and release or keeping a few to bake or pickle, Lake of the Woods won’t disappoint. Shallow bays off the river and lake are great spots. Casting orange, red and flashy spinner baits with a slow retrieval works well in the spring along with a jigging presentation bouncing off the bottom with a spinner tipped with a shiner. Come have some fun! Guided trips available.

Fishing Seasons
Sturgeon catch and release now Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Northern Pike open year round
Walleye currently closed, reopening May 12

Spring Specials!
Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night now through April 23 and up to 20% off Charter Fishing packages May 12-23.

Book your trip today. Click here or call 800-862-8602.

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

The Rainy River is opening up more by the day and sturgeon fishing is heating up!

by

4/19/18

The Rainy River is opening up more by the day and sturgeon fishing is heating up!

We have open water up to a mile or so east of Baudette and open water spots in front of Timbermill landing on the east edge of Baudette. We expect to have open water at our docks within a few days. The weather is warming up.

Check out the latest…

Vidas Landing is open along with Birchdale and Frontier Landings.

Timbermill Park (East side of Baudette)

Boat Access Map
Click here for the Baudette Area Boat Access Map

What a catch! It’s time!!!

Ryan Shinabargar reeled in this monster 64 inch sturgeon yesterday in the river near Birchdale. 👍🏻🎣Nice catch Ryan!

Sturgeon fishing is heating up. More river holes are opening up by the day. 
A few ounce no roll sinker and 4/0 and 5/0 hooks tipped with a gob of minnows and a shiner is a good approach. Guided trips available!

Fishing Seasons
Sturgeon catch and release now Oct 1-April 23 and May 8-15
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Northern Pike open year round
Walleye currently closed, reopening May 12

Spring Specials!
Lodging starting at only $43* per person per night now through April 23 and up to 20% off Charter Fishing packages May 12-23.

Book your trip today. Click here http://sportsmanslodges.com/contact/ or call 800-862-8602. 

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

River Update!

by

River Update!

This morning, April 10, from Frontier and Birchdale Landings:

Yesterday afternoon, April 9, from Frontier and Birchdale Landings:

The river is open up to a few miles west of Frontier landing as of today. Approximately 15 miles west of Baudette. Weather forecast although not nearly as warm as last year at this time, is warming up. We will be doing another update Thursday. Stay tuned!

The River Bite
Some getting into a great bite with reports of 50+ fish in a few hours most ranging from 19″-30″ walleyes and 30″+ sturgeon to others struggling to get a dozen. Water is cool hovering around 33-35 degrees and the current is still slow. Walleyes – Gold, pink and orange jigs and plastics have been tackle of choice and shiners. Mix of vertical jigging vs dragging bottom depending on day. Some having the best luck drifting and others anchored. Sturgeon – Gob of worms, on a 4/0 or 5/0 hook and few ounces of no roll sinkers. An added shiner works sometimes too. Sturgeon are being found in deep holes and at the incline of holes along the river.

Seasons
Walleye open through April 14, reopening May 12
Northern Pike open year round
Sturgeon catch and release open through April 23
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Catch & release May 8-15 & Oct 1 – April 23

Ice Fishing
Due to the cool spring, we still have lots of ice on the lake. Extensions are still needed. We don’t have any houses out but if you are interested in venturing out on your own, Morris Point road is open to ATV’s and snowmobiles. For the most to up to date conditions they can be contacted at  218-634-2570.

Join us this spring!
Openings available this weekend and throughout the spring. Lodging starting at $43* per person per night and guided trips available. Charter fishing packages up to 20% off May 11-23. Click here to learn more: www.sportsmanslodges.com/spring

*Plus tax. Minimum rates may apply.

River Update Coming Soon

by

River Update Coming Soon

 

Hey Everyone!

What a crazy spring so far. We have gone from two of the warmest spring season’s to now one of the coldest. I guess that is Mother Nature for you, unpredictable. We are going to head out this afternoon and tomorrow morning and snap some pictures of what the river looks like and how far it is open to share with you tomorrow morning. We also will post another update Thursday afternoon too.

Over the weekend, the morning bite on the river was a struggle.  Temps dipped down causing some of the accesses to freeze up and then thawing late morning/early afternoon.  Some anglers went ice fishing on the lake for morning and headed to the river for the afternoon/evening soft water bite.  Still lots of ice on the lake.   Although it doesn’t appear to be time to break out the shorts yet, the forecast does look warmer for this week.  Warmer temps should help navigating the river and the increase the bite for the last few days of walleye season. Walleye season runs through April 14, re-opening May 12. Spring sturgeon catch and release season runs through April 23 and May 8-15, keep one (within size limits) April 24-May 7. Pike season never ends.  If you haven’t experienced reeling in a monster sturgeon or trophy pike, spring is one of the best times to do it. It is a blast! Give us a call, lodging and guided trips are available. 

The bite over the weekend was hit and miss. Some of those who did the best were jigging with 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz jigs on the river and small jigs/spoons on the lake in 16′-24′ tipped with a minnow. Sturgeon anglers were using a gob of worms, on 5/0 hook and a few ounces of no roll sinkers in deep holes of the river.   Pike anglers using live suckers and big smelt in pre-spawn areas.  The current is slow right now. Stay tuned for more updates tomorrow and Thursday.

It’s Spring Fishing Time!

by
4/5
River Update
We snapped some pics of what the river looked like yesterday afternoon around the Birchdale and Frontier area.

Fishing has been decent despite the cool temps. Current temperature is 33 degrees, clarity is about 1-2 feet and current is slow. Some anglers doing better than others. Some having luck vertical jigging and others dragging the bottom using 3/8 oz jigs tipped with a shiner.

 

Ice Fishing
There is still quite a bit of good lake ice right now. We don’t have any houses out but if you are interested in venturing out on your own, Adrian’s and Morris Point roads are still open.

 

Adrian is allowing vehicles 3 miles past Pine Island, and Morris Point is allowing 4 wheelers, side by sides, and snowmobiles 5 miles out.

 

For more information about their roads call Adrian’s at 218-634-1985 and Morris Point at 218-634-2570.

 

Seasons
Walleye open through April 14, reopening May 12
Northern Pike open year round
Sturgeon catch and release open through April 23
Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and July 1 – Sept 30
Catch & release May 8-15 & Oct 1 – April 23

 

Join us this spring!

Openings available this weekend and throughout the spring. Lodging starting at $43* per person per night and guided trips available. Click here to learn more www.sportsmanslodges.com/spring

*Plus tax. Minimum rates may apply.

Few more days of ice fishing

by

Few more days of ice fishing
We have 40-50+ inches of ice on the lake in the areas we fish and travel right now.  Ice fishing trips available through Saturday.  Give us a call if you are interested in getting one last blast in! If you are planning on venturing out on your own, some of the public ice roads are getting pretty beat up so be sure to call ahead for current conditions. Adrian’s, Morris Point and Zippel are some of the ice roads near us.

Check out these pictures!

The Bite
Not too many changes from last week. Mix of jigging and dead sticking in variety of depths between 16’-31’ using gold and pink jigs,  Glo Shots, red hooks, Buckshots tipped with a minnow has been working the best for walleyes and saugers. Big pike are coming up the holes in shallow waters on the lake and bays using live suckers.  Log Cabin Bait just a mile away from us has suckers for sale.

Ice Conditions
We have  40-50+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. We run off of our private access.   If you are looking to venture out on your own, there are a number of plowed roads in the area. Be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check current conditions/what they are allowing out with the road maintainer before venturing out.

Walleye season is open through April 14 on Lake of the Woods.
When walleye season closes for a few weeks, pike and sturgeon fishing heats up in the river and bays. The Rainy River and Lake of the Woods is home to an abundant amount of trophy size lake sturgeon and northern pike.

River Report
We have plenty of ice on the lake to keep us fishing safely for the next week and there will probably be quite a bit of ice on the lake for a while after March 31 this year.  Despite the cool temps there are signs of spring popping up.  The Rainy River is starting to open up to tour east.  Currently the river is open at Birchdale 36 miles east of us and the Birchdale landing opened yesterday for boats.  Frontier landing will be the next landing to open. I would expect that to open within the next week at this rate, then Vidas Landing near Clementson (6 miles east of Baudette (18 miles east of us)) Timbermill in Baudette and then Wheeler’s Point shortly after. Click here for more information about spring river fishing and stay tuned for updates.

Spring Specials
Lodging starting at $43 per person per night and guided river trips available April 1-May 23! Come see us!

*plus tax and based on double occupancy

7 Days left!

by

7 Days left!
The ice is good on the lake, 40-50+ inches in the areas we fish and travel right now.  We have just lost snow up to this point and evening temps remain below freezing.  Guests have been catching some nice fish. We have some openings available this week. Come have some fun!

Check out the pictures of the week!

The Bite

Mix of jigging and dead sticking in variety of depths between 17’-31’ using Hyperglides, gold jigs, Glo Shots, red hooks, glow green  and glow red Buckshots have been catching some walleyes and saugers this week. A lunker 15lb eelpout was caught on a buck tail. Big pike are coming up the holes in shallow waters on the lake and bays using live suckers.   Electronics help catch rates! Bring them a long or call ahead to rent.

Ice Conditions
We lost some snow this week, but not changes in the ice conditions. We have 40-50+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. We run off of our private access.   If you are looking to venture out on your own, there are a number of plowed roads in the area. Be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check current conditions with the road maintainer before venturing out, conditions vary.

Trail Report
Zero to a foot of hard packed snow is on the ice right now, more the farther north you go and varied amounts on the land trails.

For more information check out these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

Walleye season is open through April 14 on Lake of the Woods.
Once we end our ice fishing season we will be getting ready to hop in boats on the river for a few weeks of walleye fishing. When walleye season closes, pike and sturgeon fishing heats up in the river and bays. The Rainy River and Lake of the Woods is home to an abundant amount of trophy size lake sturgeon and northern pike.

River Report
We have plenty of ice on the lake to keep us fishing safely for the next week and there will probably be quite a bit of ice on the lake for a while after March 31 this year.  Despite the cool temps there are signs of spring popping up.  The Rainy River is starting to open up to tour east.  Currently the river is open to nearly Birchdale, 38 miles from the lodge and 26 miles east of Baudette.  I would suspect in a few days the first boats will start sliding over the ice chunks into the water. After Birchdale, it will only be a matter of days before the rest of the landings start to open up.   There is a public landing at Birchdale, two between Birchdale and Baudette, a couple in Baudette and one at Wheeler’s Point.  Click here for more information about spring river fishing and stay tuned for updates. We will start checking landings on a regular basis next week and post updates on our website and Facebook pages. Stay tuned!

21st Annual Mardi Gras Party is tomorrow night!
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, lip sync and costume contest win $100 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

Reel in a deal 25% off all Lodging March 25-31!
Give us a call 800-862-8602 or click here to book.

Fishing Away!

by

Check out the pictures of the week!

The Bite

Single red hooks,  gold jigs, pink/blue Clam rattle spoon and red Glo Shots tipped with a minnow or two some guests said worked well for them mainly dead sticking was the best approach this week.  Although, I wouldn’t count out jigging.  It is always a good idea to do a mix of jigging and dead sticking and see what works for you.  Lots of saugers,  nice 15”+ walleyes, few eelpout, perch and more tullibees and pike this week than we have been seeing in previous weeks.  Best depth has been 17’-30’. The guides have been running and gunning chasing after active schools.  Electronics help!  This is the last weekend for our sleepers but we will continue to have day houses out for a few more weeks, give us a call 800-862-8602.

Walleye season is open through April 14 on Lake of the Woods. Once we end our ice fishing season we will be getting ready to hop in boats on the river. During the time walleye season is closed, there is an abundant amount of trophy size lake sturgeon and northern pike moving around in the river and bays. Fun time of year!

Ice Conditions
We lost some snow this week, but not changes in the ice conditions. We have 40-50 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. We run off of our private access.  If you are looking to venture out on your own, there are a number of plowed roads in the area. Be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check current conditions with the road maintainer before venturing out, conditions vary.

Trail Report
For more information check out these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

21st Annual Mardi Gras Party is March 24
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, lip sync and costume contest win $100 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

25% off all Lodging March 25-31
Give us a call 800-862-8602 or click here to book.

Spring River Fishing
It’s just around the corner. Lodging specials and guided trips available.
Click here to learn more.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge – Better bite this week

by

Check out the pictures of the week!

Better bite this week

Depths in 22’-28’ around structure using gold and pink jigs, Glo Shot spoons, Buckshots, Charmers and flashy small spoons tipped with a minnow has been working to catch the attention of the hungry walleyes and saugers this week.  Some guests have reeled in a limit by noon. Mix of vertical jigging and dead sticking. Lots of good ice on the lake and according to the forecast we will have plenty for a while. We will be open through March 18 here and Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River will have ice fishing trips available through March 31. So if you are looking to make one more trip, give us a call! March is a fun time to be out!

Ice Conditions
We have 40+ inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel.

Trail Report
We have 18-24 inches of snow in the area right now.  Grooming continues. For more information about the trails click on these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

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.  The gravel road to the Northwest Angle has been a little sloppy. Use caution.

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 11-25! Contact us today.

Lots of ice, ice fishing trips available through March!

by

Check out the pictures of the week!

The Bite

Sporadic fishing this week. Some doing better than others. Mix of sizes. Walleyes, saugers, few perch and pike coming up the holes.  Best bite has been using electronics and mix of jigging and dead sticking using pink glow, green/glow and gold jigs and small spoons tipped with a chub minnow in 19’-26’ of water. Hugging bottom or reeling up just a few inches and jigging have been a successful approach.   As we move closer to spring, the warming weather should only heat up the bite!

Walleye season is open until April 14 on Lake of the Woods and we have ice fishing trips available until March 31. Come see us! Lodging and fishing packages starting at only $215 per person.

*Plus tax and based on double occupancy.

Ice Conditions
No changes in the ice conditions, lots of ice. We have 40-50 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel on the groomed trails at this time. Forecast says the freezing will continue.  If you are looking to venture out on your own, there are a number of plowed roads in the area. Be sure to stay on marked trails and roads and check with local resorts before going out.

Trail Report
Trails are groomed and staked. For more information check out these links:
Northwest Angle Lake of the Woods
South Shore Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods Trail Information

21st Annual Mardi Gras Party is March 24
Visit us for great fishing and a whole lot of fun! Entertainment, beads, free hurricanes, food and drink specials, lip sync and costume contest win $100 CASH and much more. Click here to check out all of the fun we have planned and book your stay and play package today!

25% off all Lodging March 25-31
Give us a call 800-862-8602 or click here to book.