Tag Archives: Fishing Report

Cold weather is headed in our direction! Woohoo!

November 30, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

It looks like we should start to make some decent ice starting next week! Bring it on! A good week of cold temperatures and light wind is what we need! A lot can happen in a week. Get your fishing buddies together and make your plans, ice fishing season is coming soon!

Ice fishing season runs longer on Lake of the Woods than most lakes in Minnesota. It starts in December and we have to pull our houses off by March 31. Openings available, give us a call Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River/Baudette 800-862-8602, Sportsman’s Sleepers 218-634-1589 and Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge/Eagle Ridge 800-772-8411 or email us by clicking here.

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Check out our winter musical entertainment schedule.

Dipping below freezing

November 16, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Let’s cool things down and make some ice! The forecast is looking more promising. History has told us it doesn’t take long for the weather to change and for ice to build. Stay tuned to reports here and on our Facebook page and gets your reservations now for the best selection of dates. Many weekends are filling up fast!

No Equipment Required!
Ready to go ice fishing but don’t have the equipment? No problem! We supply the fish house warm and ready with your holes drilled. Jig sticks, assortment of jigs and bait is waiting for you. Hungry for lunch? We can deliver that too and clean your fish. So what are you waiting for? Give us a call to book your winter ice fishing trip today 800-862-8602 or contact us online.

FREE ICE FISHING TRIP!
Who wants a free ice fishing trip? Click here to enter our contest now for a chance to win a day of ice fishing for you and 3 friends! Contest ends soon!

Here they come! River fishing is heating up!

October 12, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

We have seen a real big change this week in the movement of the walleye schools. We are seeing more walleyes in shallower, in Four Mile Bay, Lighthouse Gap and the Rainy River. The shiners are pushing through and the walleyes are chasing! Anglers have found a really hot bite this past week in 16’-24’ using bright colored 3/8 oz-1/2 oz. jigs tipped with a shiner minnow. Many boats reported a very aggressive bite and anglers have been enjoying hours of catch and release action or a limit in just a few hours. The water temperature has dropped 7 degrees this week, currently at 53 degrees.

One of the nice fall walleyes caught recently. 23 inch walleye caught and released by Joy

More than just walleyes
A good northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake sturgeon and perch bite have also been a hot topic this week. Pike and bass are in good supply in the river and bays in cabbage weeds adjacent to rock structure. Jerk or spinner baits or a jig and a minnow starting out in 10’-12’ and working deeper have been the best approach. Lake sturgeon are roaming in the deep pockets of the river and bays where there is current. A 4/0 hook, 2 oz. no roll sinker and a gob of worms topped off with a minnow or two is working well. Right now lake sturgeon is catch and release through April 23. Mixed into where the walleyes have been found, a large amount of sweet jumbo perch have as well. Lots of fishing action! We have lodging and docking available through freeze up and guided trips and boat rentals available through October.

Crappies! A few of our guides went out the other day and brought in a nice bunch!

Halloween Party is Oct 29!
Throw your costume in the tackle box and join us for our annual Halloween party 7pm-1am. $200 Cash prize for best costume, free witch’s brew 7pm-8pm, $3 shots, $2 can beer, entertainment and much more! Lodging specials starting at $45 per person per night! Click here
*plus tax and based on double occupancy

Ice fishing season is less than 2 months away!
We offer no equipment required, hassle free ice fishing trips.
Check out our Sportsman’s Lodge & Sleeper House packages here.
For our island locations on Oak Island, Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge click here.

Hot Summer Walleye Fishing

August 3, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Anglers are reeling in some nice walleyes in 20’-30’ of water jigging on the reefs with a 3/8 ounce blue or gold jig tipped with a minnow or leech and using gold or blue spinners with a few ounce sinker tipped with a minnow or a worm on the edge of the reefs. Areas around the east and northern side of Falcon and Massacre Islands have been hot spots. The water temperature is 78 degrees.

Muskies & Pike
Top water spinners and jerk baits have been working the best in bays of 7’-15’ with a fast tapering bottom. Working point to point is a good method to find the sweet spot!

Fall Rates start September 15.
Great walleye, muskie, pike, crappie and bass fishing, incredible scenery and great rates! Click here for more information.

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!

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report July 6, 2016

July 6, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Hit or Miss
The fishing has been hit or miss this week. The best tip is if one method doesn’t work try another. We are also getting to the end of the fish fly hatch so that should help the bite as well. The best approach has been using 3/8 oz. gold jigs tipped with a minnow or gold and pink spinners and a few ounce sinker tipped with a night crawler or leech in 20’-30’ of water on the reefs. Anglers are also find a few pulling crankbaits in shallow bays as well. The current water temperature is 68 degrees.

Muskies & Northern Pike
The bite was a little slow last week with the cold snap but the weather the past week has warmed up nicely and the bite has started to pick up. Shallow weedy bays using small baits are working well. Guide tip is to slow down your retrieval. As we move into late July we expect the bite to really get good!

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

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

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report June 22, 2016

June 22, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Walleye Bite
Not too many changes this week. Anglers using jigs tipped with a chub minnow are having luck along shorelines in 8’-14’ and 26’-28’ of water. Gold jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow or worm is the best approach. Water temperature is holding steady at 66 degrees.

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

Muskie season is open!
Some success was had this week with several nice follows and a few nice ones reeled in. South facing shallow bays with a soft bottom in 4’-10’ of water using a buck tail are good spots this time of year. Buck tails are a great early season lure to start with. Interested in learning more about the best technique? Ask about our guided trips. Our experienced knowledgeable guides are available to teach you more about the sport and the Lake of the Woods area. Trips available through October.

The view from our front window

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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

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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.