Tag Archives: Minnesota Fishing Report

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report September 9, 2016

September 9, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Fall Fishing has begun!
Anglers are finding some nice walleyes in 20’-25’ pulling gold spinners along the edges of points or on top of reefs this week tipped with a minnow or worm. Areas around the east side of Falcon Island have been good. Water temperature is currently 68 degrees.

Muskies, Pike, Bass
These fish are starting to move to the rocks but you can still find them in the weeds. So be sure to check out both of these spots right now. Throwing top water baits has been the ticket.

Crappies
Fall is one of the best times of the year to reel in these sweet flavored fish on Lake of the Woods. Once the water starts to dip in the next few weeks, we should start to see more of these fish bite. Using a small 1/4 ounce jig or smaller tipped with a minnow works well in areas with structure.

Not sure where to go?
Take a guide! Sit back relax and reel in the fish. For more information about our guided trips click here.

Fall is here!

September 9, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The fish are biting, the weather is beautiful, the leaves are changing and the fall specials are hot!
Now is the time to get to the lake! Check out the forecast and a few of the pictures from the week. If you have a picture from a recent stay please share them with us!

Trolling with crank baits has been the most successful approach this week to reel in some walleyes but bait fishing with a gold jig or spinner tipped with a worm has produced some nice fish as well. Depths on the reefs around Garden Island and Bridges in 12’-16’ and 25’-30’ or in the mud outside of Pine Island and Zippel Bay in 25’-30’ have been best. The water is at 69 degrees this morning. The famous aggressive Rainy River fall bite is just a few weeks away! Get your reservations in!

Syngenta Seeds group reeled in some nice fish this week with Captain Baihly

A double! Great way to kick off fall fishing! 28.75 inch walleye caught by Marcus Mara from Worthington MN and 24.5 inch walleye caught by Mary Collins from Minneapolis MN. Guided by Captain Mike Marquardt.

Sturgeon, Pike, Smallmouth Bass
Fall is a great time to reel in these species. Anglers are starting to see the bite pick up in the river and bays. For sturgeon a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, 2 oz. no roll sinker and a gob of minnows is the best approach. Anchored in or near a hole in the river bed or channel is a good spot to find them. To lure in the bass and pike, throwing out top water baits in weedy bays with some rock structure is good approach. There are hundreds of spots along the Rainy River and bays along the south shore to fish these fish. Not sure how to do it or don’t have the equipment? No problem! We have guided trips available via our 18’and 20’ boats, great for groups up to 4 plus the guide. For more information about guided trips click here.

Muskie fishing is heating up and walleyes are on the move

June 29, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Walleyes are on the move this week to the reefs. Anglers have been finding the best schools in 20’-30’ of water on the reefs using a 3/8 ounce gold and orange jigs and a minnow. Pulling gold spinners and bottom bouncers in the same depth outside of the reefs using crawlers or leeches has been working too. Areas around Big Narrows, Little Oak and east side of Falcon Island have all been producing lots of nice walleyes.

Kuechle Group guided by Captain Mike Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Muskie
We are starting to hear of more muskies being seen. Lots of picture snapping has been going on and stories to tell. Several measuring 40+ inches have been found lately. Top water and small baits have been the best in shallow weedy bays.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge Fishing Report May 3, 2016

May 3, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The ice is gone! We are looking forward to opening in a few weeks for walleye opener May 14! Get your reservations in now by calling 800-772-8411 or online by clicking here. We are looking forward to a great season!

Lake of the Woods & Rainy River Fishing Report April 20, 2016

April 20, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lake of the Woods & Rainy River
Fishing Report April 20, 2016

It’s Sturgeon & Pike time!

The sturgeon and pike fishing has been great!
The water temperature has warmed up 6 degrees this week. Current temperature is at 46 degrees today and the weather is holding steady. Anglers are finding lots of sturgeon and pike to bite this week. Lodging and guided trips are still available. Click here or give us a call 800-862-8602.

Sturgeon Bite
Lots of nice 30”-65” sturgeon have been found in Four Mile Bay, areas within of the river near the lodge, Clementson and Birchdale. Size 3/0 or 4/0 circle hooks and a 3 ounce no roll sinker tipped with a gob of crawlers and a frozen shiner has been working well. To keep the worms from sliding off a good tip is to use piece of a plastic grub at the end. Anchored at deep river holes or crevices with a little current are best. Catch and release is open now through April 23 and May 8-15. You can keep on within 45”-50” or over 75” April 24-May 7. They are a blast to reel in!

Northern Pike bite is heating up!
Tributaries along the river and Clementson Rapids are stacked with pike right now. Anchored and casting out a jig tipped with a shiner and bouncing off the bottom and rocky areas has been producing some huge pike.

Ryan 48 inch sturgeon, released. Way to go Ryan!

Mike reeled and released a 52 inch sturgeon! Nice one!

Now-thats-a-whopper-63-inch-sturgeon-caught-and-released-by-Michael-Daly

Forecast for the Week

Walleye Opener is May 14

Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages May 13-May 26 and lodging packages starting at only $40 per person per night now through May 26. It’s fishing time!

Check out the fishing action on our Dock Cam!

Photo Contest!
Submit your summer photo from a trip to Sportsman’s, tell your friends to vote and you could win a free night lodging at Sportsman’s Lodge! Click here.

Walleye season open through April 14

April 6, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

You still have time to reel in some walleyes before the season closes for 30 days. The Rainy River and Lake of the Woods offers a unique season running through April 14. What happens after walleye closes? Monster sturgeon and aggressive northern pike cranks up! Sturgeon catch and release is now through April 23. You can keep one within 45”-50” or over 75” April 24-May 7. Many people catch and release but they are a very good smoked fish too. May 8-15 is catch and release again. Northern Pike season never closes. We have guides and boats available and ready to give you a fun fishing experience. Give us a call 800-862-8602 or click here to book online.

Walleye Bite
This week has been a cool one but the bite is picking up. Water clarity is decent. Anglers are catching some 14”-21” and a few 25”-32”. Pitching long shank jigs tipped with a rainbow in varying depths has been working, the fish are scattered. Let the current do the work. Half ounce or less gold or pink jigs in the bays and three quarter or one ounce in the river. Four Mile Bay, outside Lighthouse Gap, areas in the Rainy River including Wabanica Bay and around the Baudette airport have been decent spots. Water temperature is currently 35 degrees. Guided trips, lodging and dock slips available.

Thanks Guide Bryan Beef Sathre on the tip where to go Saturday evening. Finally got a few keepers in the livewell and this 29 inch fatty! Caught by Jake Neu

Oelrich Party guided by JP Tessier. Caught on a jig and a minnow

Sturgeon are active
Anglers are finding lots of sturgeon lately. Sizes between 25-70 inches in length are common. These prehistoric bottom feeders swim the bottom of the river and are usually found in deep holes and areas where there is current. The best approach is to anchor and use a 2-4 ounce no roll weight, 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook tipped with a gob of night crawlers and even a minnow or two.

57 inch lake sturgeon caught by Guide, Mike Marquardt

69 incher!!!!! What a catch Melissa Schibonski Denning!!

Spring Pike Bite is soon here
Did you know Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River is one of the top 5 lakes in Minnesota to catch a trophy pike? The nearly one million acres of border waters offers an enormous habitat for these fish. The bite will really start to pick up in the next few weeks when the weed growth starts. Casting shiny and glittery dare devils and rapalas catch the eye of these aggressive fish in the bays of the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

Tips for Lifting Big Fish
When lifting a big fish, try and grab the sturgeon by the tail and support the fish under its mid-section. Holding a large fish vertically can actually tear its internal organs and gill plates, eventually leading to mortality.

$40 Lodging & Guided Trips Available
Lodging starting at only $40* per person per night now through May 26. Guided trips available aboard an 18’-20’ boat, bait, use of poles and fish cleaning provided $450 for a full day trip for up to 4 people. Charter trips available starting May 14. Up to 20% off lodging and charter fishing packages May 14-26.*plus tax and based on double occupancy. Book your trip online now or by calling 800-862-8602.

Open Water
The Rainy River is open from Birchdale to Lake of the Woods. All boat ramps are open. Lake of the Woods is open a few hundred yards outside of Pine Island.

Oak Island Ice, Fishing & Trails Report

January 20, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

1/20/2016

Mix of Walleyes & Saugers
Anglers reeled in a mix of walleyes and saugers this week. Mostly 11-18 inch but a few nice slot size walleyes too. (19.5-28 inches). On Lake of the Woods all walleyes between 19.5-28 have to be thrown back and one over 28 inches may be kept. Plain hooks tipped with a minnow head in 20’-26’ of water has been working well. A combination of dead sticking and jigging the bottom and up to 6-8 inches off bottom is your best bet. If you have a vexilar, that helps. If you don’t, we have a few to rent. Give us a call ahead of time to reserve.

Ice Road
The ice road is open to vehicles from Young’s Bay to Oak Island. Conditions are good.

Ice Conditions
We have 10-15 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel right now.

Snowmobile Trail Report
The snowmobile trail on the lake from Pine Island to Oak Island is marked and groomed. Another fresh grooming will be done before the weekend. The trail from Pine Island to Warroad is marked and being maintained as best as possible. The crew is checking ice tomorrow to see if heavier equipment can be used yet for grooming. These trails are marked with black stakes.

For the NW Angle and Islands land trails – check with the Northwest Angle Edge Riders Club

For land trail updates for the south shore, check with the Lake of the Woods Drifters Club

Lake of the Woods Ice, Fishing & Trails Report

January 20, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

1/20/2016

Fishing Report
Fishing has been up and down this week. The cold snap we have been experiencing for the past week is moving out. That should help! The forecast is calling for temperatures between the single digits and in the twenties for the next week ahead.

The best presentation has been gold, pink and orange 1/8-1/4 oz. jigs, buckshots, demons, forage minnows tipped with a minnow or just a plain minnow tipped with a minnow head. Jigging 4″-6″ off bottom using a vexilar has been working well in depths between 22′-29′. Mix of walleyes, saugers, a few 23″+ walleyes and tullibees have been coming up the holes. We are having fun!

Bill Petersen 1-19-2016
30 inch walleye caught and released
plain hook, fat head minnow and a bobber

Jeremy and Austin McMannes
26.25 inch walleye released
caught on a dead stick

Ice Conditions
In the areas we fish and travel we are finding on the bay/trail 9-18 inches and 9 inches off the trail. On the lake 13-17 inches. We use a private road.

On the public roads nearby us maintained by local resorts, this is what they are finding and allowing as of this morning.

Adrian’s Road out of Four Mile Bay
13 1/2- 15 1/2 inches of ice on the road. Allowing 1/2 ton pickups but not pulling wheeled houses. Wheeled houses up to 16′ are allowed to be pulled by light vehicles, ATV’s and snowmobiles.

Morris Point road out of Morris Point
Allowing ATV’s and snowmobile only and wheeled houses less than 16′.

The ice is inconsistent this year so it is important to stay on the roads and trails and know where you are going. We suggest checking with the local resort who maintains the road before venturing out. No travel is advised on the Rainy River; it is iced over but varies in ice depth.

For land trail updates for the south shore, check with the Lake of the Woods Drifters Club

For the NW Angle and Islands – check with the Northwest Angle Edge Riders Club

Oak Island Ice, Fishing & Trails Report

January 15, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Walleyes, Saugers, Pike & Tullibee Oh My!
We have been seeing a mix of walleyes, saugers, northern pike and tullibee this week. Walleyes and saugers have been in the 12”-15” size and a few larger walleyes 20”-25”. Some real nice northern pike 20-45 inches in length and a pile of tullibees have also come through the holes this week. The best depth has been 18’-26’. Anglers have had the most luck jigging with one pole and dead sticking with the other. Gold, pink and orange jigs tipped with a minnow. Vexilars definitely help too. We are reeling in some fish and having a good time! You can’t beat that!

Check out this mix of fish!
Peter Krueger Group Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Ice Conditions
We have 10-15 inches of ice in the areas we fish and travel right now.

Ice Road
The ice road is now open to vehicles! From Young’s Bay to Oak Island opened Wednesday, Jan 13. Signs are being put up now.

Passenger Service from Sportsman’s Lodge, Baudette
The service is now available. For availability and rates go tolakeofthewoodspassengerservice.com or call the lodge at 800-862-8602.

Ice Fishing until late March
Lodging and fishing packages available until late March! Give us a call 800-772-8411 or log on to www.oakislandlodge.com

Lake of the Woods South Shore Ice, Fishing & Trails Report

January 15, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Fishing Away
We have been seeing some nice fish caught this week. Mainly saugers but a nice mix of walleyes especially 18”+ too. Gold and pink ¼ oz. jigs, glow buckshot rattle spoons and stop sign lures have been working well tipped with a minnow. The best depth has been in 22’-29’. Drop your line down to bottom and jig up 4”-8”, you will find them! Vexilars help too.

Check out some of these fishing stories & pictures

Jake Steivang, 49 inch sturgeon released
caught on a red hook and minnow


29 inch walleye caught by Sam Ingemansen of Bismarck	Doug Loos, 12 in perch Dan & Doug caught 60 fish in 3 days walleye, sauger, tullibee, 1 perch, and of course eelpout

Ice Conditions
We have 10”-14” of ice in the areas we fish and travel right now. It is a slow ice making process this year. Usually by this time we have at least a couple of feet of ice but I guess Mother Nature is in charge so that is the way it goes. The good news is we have enough good safe ice to get out and do some fishing!

More Fishing Tips

Trails
The snowmobile trails from Pine Island to Warroad and Pine Island to Oak Island are marked with black stakes. The trails continue to be dragged on a regular basis until there is enough ice for groomers to get out. To get to Pine Island, take Adrian’s road from Four Mile Bay by Wheeler’s Point. The ice conditions do vary off the trail so check ice often if you decide to go off the trail. For land trail conditions contact the Lake of the Woods Drifters Snowmobile Club for the latest conditions.

If you decide to venture on your own
We use a private road but here is the latest information about two of the public roads in the area.

Adrian’s road at Four Mile Bay is reporting 9 ½-10 ½ inches of ice in Four Mile Bay alongside the trail and 11-14 inches on the lake. They are allowing small to mid-size vehicles to drive out but not pulling wheeled houses. Wheel houses up to 16’ can be pulled out using ATV’s or UTV’s. No full size vehicles.

Morris Point road out of Morris Point is reporting 12.5 inches of ice on average. They are allowing ATV’s and snowmobiles and up to 16’ wheeled houses at this time. No trucks.

Rainy River & High Current Areas
The Rainy River and high current areas have much less ice right now and are not advised to travel on. We suggest checking with local resorts or bait shops before going out.

Lodging & Ice Fishing Packages available until March 31!
Packages available starting at only $193 per person plus tax for two nights lodging and one day of ice fishing including the fish house, transportation to and from the house, use of jig sticks, jigs, bait and fish cleaning. Book your trip today!www.sportsmanslodges.com 800-862-8602