The lodge is closed during break up but we are still here to take your call. Now is the time to book your spring and summer trip. We will be opening up in May. Check out our spring deals! 800-772-8411.
For trips in April check out our sister resort, Sportsman’s Lodge located on the Rainy River.
Six landings now open! Wheelers, Timebermill ( Baudette), Vidas, Frontier, Birchdale and Pelland. We have water at our docks and the forecast looks warm for the week, perfect for spring fishing! Lodging and guided trips available now. Dock slips and boat rental available within a few days as soon as the shore ice is gone from the docks. Click here for a Rainy River boat landing map.
The bite has been great! Check out the pics of the week!
Water temperature has been hovering between 36-38 degrees the past few days. Clarity is an excellent 4’-6’. Drifting with current in 12’-22’ using pink and gold ½-3/4 oz. jigs has been working well tipped with a rainbow or shiner minnow. Anglers are reeling in lots of nice walleyes (50-100 fish days) 14”-30”+ and some lunker sturgeon. Sturgeon anglers have been anchored in or near river bed holes using 1-2 oz. no roll sinker, size 5 hook and a gob of minnows.
Open season dates
Walleye now through April 14, reopening May 13
Pike season open all year. With more bays opening up the soft water bite is really going to get good. Ice anglers the past few weeks have been killing it!
Sturgeon catch and release open now through April 23, keep one within size limits season is April 24-May 7 and catch and release again May 8-15 before the season closes for a short time May
-June 30.
Spring Specials
$99 Lodge Rooms & 20% off cabins/villas now through the end of March.
Lodging starting at $42 per person per night April 1 –May 24 and up to 20% off lodging/charter packages May 12-May 24. Click here to book now or give us a call 800-862-8602!
*plus tax and based on double occupancy
Hungry? Thirsty?
Food & drinks available 7 days a week.
Click here for our current hours.
Our ice fishing season has ended for the year but we are already gearing up for spring. Our spring specials start in early May and run through May 25 including lodging starting at $60 per person per night and 10% off summer packages. If you are looking to get into a boat in April be sure to check out our sister resort, Sportsman’s Lodge. The Rainy River is opening up and the walleye, pike and sturgeon bite is on fire! For reservations for Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge click here or call 800-772-8411. For Sportsman’s Lodge click here or call 800-862-8602.
The latest from Sportsman’s Lodge……
I saw a Facebook post today that said Mother Nature has gone bipolar. I believe that is correct! It has been quite the week. A few days of warm weather, a few days of gusts of wind up to 48 mph and now back to winter weather, below zero temps. What a week! The good news is we still have 27-30 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel and there is some good ice fishing going on. The guides check ice daily and we plan to keep fishing in our day houses until Mother Nature decides she is ready to warm up. Our sleepers last day will be Monday, March 13.. The ice has minimal snow cover right now so we suggest bringing ice cleats or traction shoes with you when you visit.
Ice Conditions
We have 27-30 inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish. We do not maintain a public road. If you are looking to venture out on your own we strongly encourage you to check with local resorts or outfitters for current conditions and information on what they are allowing out on their road before going out. We suggest, Adrian’s Resort 218-634-1985 who maintains a road that goes out on Four Mile Bay. Always stay on marked roads or trails. The entire lake never freezes equally even in the coldest of winters. Stay safe and call ahead!
The Bite
The best bite has been found in 27’-33’ 6-10 miles out of Pine Island. Chubs and shiner minnows on a glow pink or gold jig or plain hook with a few split shots has been working well. We supply the chubs with our fish house rentals; local bait shops have shiners if you are interested in trying a few. Lots of suspended walleyes in varying depths showing up so electronics really help. Saugers are hugging closer to bottom. Try jigging and dead sticking for the best results to see what works for you. A few eelpouts, perch and pike have also been biting. 36 Days of walleye season left on Lake of the Woods!
Trail Report
Minimal snow cover on the ice right now.
25% off Ice Fishing March 19-31
Hook a hot deal! 25% off ice fishing at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location.
Book your trip today 800-862-8602
Spring River fishing is just around the corner!
Walleye season continues on Lake of the Woods until April 14, reopening May 13 and lake sturgeon and northern pike fishing heats up in April and May. Guided trips available, lodging starting at $42 per person per night and up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing trips available. Get your reservations in now. Click here for more information and make plans to reel in some monster fish!
The afternoons have been favoring the mornings this week. Gold and pink jigs and spoons have been working well tipped with a minnow. Anglers have been having good luck in 23’-29’ on and off the reefs. It has been a 60% walleye/40% sauger bite. If you are looking to increase your catch rate we highly recommend using a fish flasher. They really help you pin point at what depth the fish are at. If you don’t have one, call us ahead of time to reserve one to rent.
23 inch walleye caught by the Prudhomme Group Sportsmans Oak Island Lodge
Kevin Coye 23.5 inch walleye caught on a gold jig and minnow Sportsmans Oak Island Lodge
Ice Conditions
Currently we have 20-24 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. We run a groomed trail to our houses. Forecasted highs this week are a little warmer than we like to see this time of year but with the lows below freezing we should only lose some snow. I am sure Mother Nature will be blowing in some subzero temps again soon.
Trail Report
Area lake and land trails are being groomed weekly. For more information on the NW Angle & Islands area click here. For the Baudette area click here. The NW Angle club will be hosting their annual Snowmobile Rally March 4 in the NW Angle area. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
Ice Road
The ice road is open. Take the 9 mile drive out from Young’s Bay to the lodge. Signs are posted.
Glow jigs, plain hooks tipped with a minnow and Vexilars, Marcums or whatever fish flasher flavor you like are the hot tips this week. Anglers using these tactics in 23’-33’ of water along with a mix of jigging and dead sticking realized an increase in their catch rate. Many reports of nice walleyes and saugers being found all over the water column 4-6 inches, 2’, sometimes 8’-10’ off bottom. If you don’t have a flasher and would like to give one a try, we have a few for rent. They do go fast so it is a good idea to call ahead to reserve. Travel time to the fish houses is about 30 minutes. The guides are moving houses daily to stay on the best bite. What are you waiting for? Come get your fish on. Ice fishing trips available through late March!
Ice Conditions
We have 22”-25” of ice in the areas we travel and fish right now.
Trail Report
Area lake and land trails are being groomed weekly. We received about four more inches of snow this week. We have 16-24 inches of snow on the ground. For more information about the trails click here for the Baudette area or here for the NW Angle & Islands. The NW Angle club will be hosting their annual Snowmobile Rally March 4 in the NW Angle area. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
25% off Ice Fishing trips March 19-31
Hook a hot deal! 25% off ice fishing at Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location.
Treat your sweetie to a couple days of fishing this Valentines Day.
Two nights lodging in a lodge room or cabin and one day ice fishing $196 per person. Fish, relax and enjoy three nights of Valentine’s Day dining specials Feb 12-14.
*plus tax and based on double occupancy.
Set the hook!
24-28 feet of water jigging with a gold jig, small silver spoon or buckshot tipped with a minnow has been successful this week. Mostly walleyes, several saugers, few perch and northern pike have been caught. Mix of dead sticking and jigging is the best approach. Vexilars really help the catch rate as some schools of fish are being found suspended 2-8 feet off bottom. Get into the action. We have fish house rentals available until late March. Give us a call 800-772-8411 or reserve online.
Caught 1-24-2017 by Eric Loverude 23 inch walleye. Eric was using a slender green glow red tiger gold spoon.
Ice Conditions
Currently we have 20 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel. The lake got pretty sloppy last week after the 4-5 day stretch of warm temps but that has hardened up now and we did not lose any ice. Forecast looks cool and we are back to ice making weather.
Trail Report
Nice base of snow on the trails right now, groomers are out, come take a ride. The area lake and land trails are being groomed weekly. For more information on the NW Angle & Islands area click here. For the Baudette area click here
Ice Road
The ice road is open. Take the 9 mile drive out from Young’s Bay to the lodge. Signs are posted.
Reeling in fish
The bite in the islands this week has been great! Lots of nice walleyes, saugers, crappies, pike, bass and muskies have been reeled in. Jigging with a minnow in 10’-15’ and 22’-26’ has been good for walleyes and saugers around shore lines. Soldier’s Point and McPherson Island have been notable hot spots. Crappies have been found in 24’-30’ using smaller jigs with a minnow in areas with structure but we have also seen plenty caught were the walleyes are targeted too. Bass, pike and muskie fishing has been best trolling using spinner or jerk baits around points and areas with current. Casting around rocks has been successful too.
Few days left
Just a few more days left of our fall season. Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge and Eagle Ridge’s season is winding down. The last day for lodging reservations is Saturday, Oct 15 and the restaurant and bar’s last day will be Oct 16. Thanks for another great season! We are taking reservations for winter and next summer. We look forward to starting our winter season mid-December. Book your stay today for an ice fishing adventure! Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location remains open year round so if you are looking for a great place to visit after this weekend and get into more fall fishing action, give them a call 800-862-8602 or click here.
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.
Fall Fishing
Water temperature has dipped a few more degrees to 57-58 degrees. Walleyes are biting this week in varying depths between 18’-28’ of water using brightly colored jigs tipped with a minnow on the outsides of points. Soldier’s Point, south shore of Oak Island, Massacre Island and the east side of Falcon Island have been hot spots.
Muskies & Northern Pike
Trolling using spinner jerk baits around points and areas with current have been good as well as casting around rocks.
Crappies are biting
Cooler the water gets the better the bite gets! Areas with structure in 20’-30’ are the key. Jigging using pink, gold and orange colors tipped with a minnow works best. The guides have been finding some goooooood spots! Guided trips available!
Ice Fishing is just around the corner!
A few more months and we will be pulling out fish houses and drilling through the ice. Woohoo! Give us a call to book your trip!