Tag Archives: oak island

NW Angle & Oak Island Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Walleye Opener 2016

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NW Angle & Oak Island Lake of the Woods Fishing Report Walleye Opener 2016

5/10/2016

Walleye opener is this weekend!

The docks are getting hooked up and the last minute spring projects are being completed. We are ready to start fishing!

We are looking forward to another great season. The walleyes are going to be found in shallow this weekend around points and shorelines around Oak Island, Little Oak Island and Flag Island drifting in 8’-20’ of water using jigs or spinners and a minnow.  Water temperature is currently 53 degrees.  Lodging, guided trips and boat rentals available! Give us a call 800-772-8411 or online here.Oak weather report 5-10-2016

Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Sportsman's Oak Island Lodge

Getting the docks ready!



Spring projects are in full swing and we are taking reservations for summer!

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Spring projects are in full swing and we are taking reservations for summer. We are eager to get the spring projects done and start our summer season in May.  We offer some great spring deals in May. Click here for more information and make plans to visit us this summer.

A reminder to guests visiting us this year. U. S. citizens and permanent residents crossing into Canada to travel to the Northwest Angle or fishing in Canada.  If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must carry proof of citizenship such as a passport, birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization, a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, or a Certificate of Indian Status along with photo identification. If you are a U.S. permanent resident, ensure you carry proof of your status such as a U.S. Permanent Resident Card. For more information click here.

The warm summer breeze, the evening campfire, the views of the northern lights and days of catching fish are soon here.  Time to book your spring, summer and fall trip! www.oakislandlodge.com 800-772-8411.

Oak Island View

Sturgeon fishing is hot, Walleyes are starting to bite!

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Logan and Luke reeled in 15 sturgeon on Sunday! Way to go guys! 2Logan and Luke reeled in 15 sturgeon on Sunday! Way to go guys!

 

Logan and Luke reeled in 15 sturgeon on Sunday! Way to go guys!

It's a double! 48 inch and 57 inch by the Eklund's from Bemidji, MN

 

It’s a double! 48 inch and 57 inch by the Eklund’s from Bemidji, MN

The sturgeon bite has been hot this week. Circle 3/0 and 4/0 hooks, 2-4 ounces of weight and a gob of night crawlers works best. Anchor up in or just near a hole in the Rainy River. Once you get a bite, be ready for a fight! Some monsters take up to an hour to reel in! Sturgeon fishing is catch and release now through April 23. Keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and catch and release again May 8-15. Don’t have a boat or haven’t taken it out yet? We have guides available!

Water is clearing up!
The water is clearing up we have gained about 6 more inches of clarity. Reports of 8-18 inches of clarity have been found, much better than last week. Keep in mind, Lake of the Woods and Rainy River always have stained look. It is never a clear lake by any means. Jigging with a gold 1 oz. jig tipped with a shiner has been working. The water temperature is 35.5, water level is low and the current has slowed some but is still moving pretty quick. Debris has cleared up considerably, we are not seeing much anymore. Walleye season is open through April 14.

Open Water
All boat ramps along the river are open to all boats. The entire river is open and Four Mile Bay. We have open water about 75 yards out of the Light House Gap on the lake right now.

Let us guide you to the catch!
We have guides available for spring walleye, sturgeon and pike fishing. $450 for the day aboard an 18’-20’ boat. The trip includes up to 4 passengers plus the guide, bait, use of poles, and fish cleaning. Book your spring trip today.

Still a few rooms, cabins and villas open for the weekend!
Lodging starting at only $40* per person per night midweek and $45 weekend! *plus tax and based on double occupancy. To reserve click here or call 800-862-8602.

Get away from it all at Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge

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Get away from it all at Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge

Relax on beautiful Oak Island on Lake of the Woods just 9 miles from the Northwest Angle of Minnesota. Look out your window and yes you can see Canada, you are that close.  This beautiful lake home is set in a pristine area but still has the comforts of home to keep you connected and just a stone throw away from Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge for guided fishing, dining, gas and bait.

Learn more about Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge by clicking here.

IMG_20141029_162614627_HDR IMG_20141029_162735251_HDRFish House 1111

Current Ice Conditions

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11/25/2015

 

Happy Thanksgiving!
From our homes to yours, the staff at Sportsman’s Lodges wishes you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Freezing Season!
The freezing season is in progress. Late last week small bays froze over including the Baudette Bay in Baudette and parts of Young’s Bay at the Northwest Angle near our Oak Island location. The forecast for the week ahead is calling for lows in the teens. We expect to see the bays continue to make ice and the big lake continue to cool down. Now all we need is the wind to keep calm and subzero temperatures and we will start to make some serious ice. It is crazy how fast the season can change. Once we get below zero we can make an inch or two a day! When we get 10-12 inches of safe ice, we are ready to roll! Stay tuned for updates. At this point an early December start date is in our sights.

Bays are making ice!
Bays are making ice!
Baudette Bay
Baudette Bay

Gift Cards Available
Looking for a great gift idea for the angler on your list? We have gift cards available. Always the right color, size and price! Click here to purchase online now.

Ice Fishing Packages starting at $166!
Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River Location
Hook this Hot Deal before it is gone!
1 night lodging in a room or cabin and 1 day ice fishing including the fish house warm and ready just off a quiet groomed trail, transportation to and from the fish house, use of jig sticks, jigs, bait and tackle.

Saturday, December 26, Wednesday, December 30 and Saturday, January 2

  • $166 per person
  • With breakfast, lunch and dinner $215

Wednesday, January 6 and Thursday, January 14

  • $142 per person
  • With breakfast, lunch and dinner $190

Rates quoted are price per person plus tax, based on double occupancy at the Sportsman’s Lodge Rainy River location. Upgrade to our new villas for an additional $18 per person. Click here to book now or call us at 800-862-8602!

Thanksgiving Day Office Hours
Our office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. We will re-open Friday at 8am.

Current Ice Conditions

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Weather is cooling down!
We are starting to see the temperature dip. Snow and lows in the teens is in the forecast today and for the rest of the week! We are ready to get this water cooled down and make some ice. Current water temperature is 37 degrees.  Fall projects are in full swing and we are doing our ice dance! Who is with us?

Once we get the our first blast of cold air we just need zero degrees or colder for 10 days and we will have 10-12 inches of safe ice to start our season.  It doesn’t take long once we start freezing.  Get your reservations in now. Many dates are filling up fast!

ice-slIce Fishing season is soon here!

Stay tuned for updates. We are looking to another fun year!

For reservations click here to book now or call us at
Baudette/Rainy River Location: 800-862-8602
Oak Island & Eagle Ridge Location 800-772-8411

Who wants a FREE ICE FISHING TRIP this year?  Click here to enter for your chance to win!

Lake of the Woods Current Ice Conditions Report

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11/11/2015

 

Happy Veteran’s Day!
Thank you to all the great men and women who have served! Our hats are off to you!

Ice Fishing starts in less than a month
The stage is starting to be set for the 2015-2016 ice fishing season! Water temperature is on the decline, air temperature is in the 30’s and 40’s and snow is in the forecast. We are busy working on fall projects an tuning up equipment. It has been a beautiful fall but we are ready for ice fishing! It is amazing how fast it can turn. Once we get the blast of cold air we just need zero degrees or colder for 10 days and we will have 10-12 inches of safe ice to start our season. Get your reservations in now. Many dates are filling up fast!

Shannon Blomquist
Who is ready for some ice fishing fun?


Stay tuned for updates. We are looking forward to another fun year!

For reservations click here to book now or call us at
Baudette/Rainy River Location: 800-862-8602
Oak Island & Eagle Ridge Location: 800-772-8411

 

 

Lake of the Woods Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

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3/11/2015

Is spring coming early or are we just being teased?
Like much of the state we have received some warm weather this week too. What does this mean for ice fishing?  Safety first!  At this point we have only lost snow. We still have 33 inches of ice on the river, 38 inches on Four Mile Bay and nearly 4 feet on the lake. The forecast is calling for highs in the forties through the weekend and lows in the upper twenties/lower thirties. Mostly overcast skies (this helps!). Next week’s forecast cools down with highs in the thirties and lows in the lower twenties. We see no problem fishing through this weekend and possibly next week. It all depends on how much sun and warm temperatures we get through this weekend.   We check ice conditions daily and will keep you updated! Daily reports can be found on our Facebook page here.

24 inch walleye caught and released by a Garrett Rohwedder 25 inch walleye released caught on a red buckshot spoon in one of the sleeper houses

24 inch walleye
Caught & released by a member
of the Rohwedder group, caught on
a chartreuse swedish pimple

Garrett Rohwedder
25 inch walleye, released
Caught on a red buckshot spoon
in one of the sleeper houses
A good day! Pink was the hot color! Sent in by Travis Campbell
A good day! Pink was the hot color!
Sent in by Travis Campbell

 

How’s fishing?
We have a variety of houses in the mud and reefs in 25-32 feet of water. The ride out to the fish houses takes anywhere from 15-45 minutes.  If we had it our way, the shorter the ride the better however, the fish aren’t agreeing this year.  That’s fishing!  Our goal is to give you the best fishing experience possible so we go where the fish are.  A mix of walleyes, saugers, tulibees, a few perch and pike have been reeled in this week. Bright colored jigs orange, pink and gold have been working well tipped with a minnow. Buck shots have also done well. A little jigging and using a vexilar helps your fishing success!

Walleye fishing open until April 14, re-opening May 9. Limit change on the Rainy River and Four Mile Bay March 1-April 14. Pike season never closes and sturgeon fishing is catch and release now through April 23, keep one within size limits April 24-May 7 and catch and release again May 8-15.

Trail Report
Grooming has ended for the year. Trails are being maintained by local resorts with drags. Use caution around the pressure ridges. Pressure ridges pull apart and push together when the temperature warms and cools.

River Fishing
Won’t be long and we will be back in the boats. The river is open 58 miles east of the resort right now. The first landing near us that will open will be at Birchdale, 38 miles away. When? Good question? My guess is 10-14 days at this point. Lots of factors come in to play of course, stay tuned!  Lodging rates as low as $40 per person per night (plus tax based on double occ) April 1-May 20! Get your reservations in now!

Oak Island Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

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3/11/2015


Fish On!
Warm weather has been in the area, but we are still freezing at night and the 10 day forecast is calling for much of the same. We have lost some snow but ice is good, no loss. As long as we don’t get a stretch of nights not freezing we see no problem continuing to ice fish through our season. Here at Oak Island we will be for ice fishing through March 21 and the lodge open through March 22. The main lodge near Baudette does not close during ice out.

Anglers have been reeling in 30% walleyes, 60% saugers and the balance in perch and northern pike. The catching success has increased over the past week.  Depths ranging from 17’-27’ have been doing the best. As far as big fish, a few nice 38” and 41” pike have been caught as well as some nice walleyes in the 22”-27” range. A good run from 8am-10am and 2pm-5pm have been the most aggressive times of the day.  Gold jigs tipped with a minnow are the hot ticket and keeping your jig really tight to bottom.

Grant

Grant with one of his nice walleyes he caught!
Way to go Grant!
Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

 

Ice Conditions
38+ inches of ice in the areas we travel and fish.

Ice Road from Young’s Bay to Oak Island
Open and in good shape.  This could change based on the weather conditions so please call before coming out.

Trail Report
Trails are in fair condition. A little slushy depending on the daily temperature.

Summer is just around the corner!
Get your reservations in now! 800-772-8411 or click here.

Lake of the Woods Ice Conditions & Fishing Report

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3/5/2015

Last month of ice fishing
Here we are in the last month of the season. More sun, warmer days and active walleyes are what we have in our sights. It will be a fun month of fishing!  Currently we have houses scattered anywhere from 25’-31’ in the mud and on the reefs, 5 to 18 miles away.  The action has been hit and misses. Some days the catching is real good and the others a little less, all in all the fishing is good. Vexilar/Fish Finder users tend to have the best success. The good old gold jig, chartreuse jig and spoons with some shine to them tipped with a minnow are doing the best right now. Vertical jigging a few inches off bottom is a good approach. We are seeing a 75% sauger, 25% walleye mix this week. The walleyes are nice size and many 20” plus.

Ice Conditions
We have 38 inches plus of ice right now in the areas we travel and fish. Nice week of weather in the forecast. Highs in the teens early in the week and 30’s by the weekend. Lows in the single digits to keep our ice nice and safe.

Trail Conditions
Trails are in the best shape they have been in all winter. Grooming continues weekly and as needed.

Late season openings
We still have openings in March. Come on up and get your fish on! www.sportsmanslodges.com 800-862-8602

Sturgeon, Pike & Walleye Soft water Fishing Anyone?
April is just around the corner and that means excellent river and bay fishing. Walleye season is open until April 14, reopening May 9. Pike season never closes and sturgeon season is open until May 15. Spring fishing is action packed! You won’t want to miss it! Lodging, Guided Trips, Boat Slips, Boat Rental, Restaurant, Indoor Pool, Camping available. Lodging as low as $40 per person per night! *plus tax based on double occupancy.