Tag Archives: Walleye Fishing Report

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report – 11/9/20

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Our 49th soft water season is coming to a close. We want to THANK EVERYONE who was able to visit us this season and to those who couldn’t, we can’t wait to see you soon. We are now sliding into “freezing season” and fall cleaning and projects for in full swing. If you are still interested in coming up and wetting a line or just relaxing in a cabin, we welcome you with lodging available. The public ramp will continue to be open as long as mother nature allows. Our dining rooms, guide service, bar, pool, and lodge rooms are closed until ice fishing season kicks off in December. For lodging reservations for fall or the upcoming seasons give us a call at 800-862-8602 or click here to contact us online.

The river bite has been hit and miss. It has been a different fall this year. Many reports of anglers seeing fish on the graphs in the river but a light bite. Anchored using a jig or minnow in 8’-25’ on the lake or river has been the go-to approach. Gold and pink have been the best-colored jigs.

For sturgeon, deep holes in the river and bays are good spots using a sturgeon rig tipped with crawlers and shiners. The best pike bite is in bays trolling along shorelines with a crankbait.

Thanks again for a great season! Good luck to all the hunters and we look forward to seeing you this winter! 

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 10/23/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Jig……set…….reeeeeeeeel!

Weather continues to be unseasonably cool.

Water temp has dipped down to high 30’s. River bite is getting better but outside the gap has been more favorable lately.   Jigging pink, green, or gold jigs tipped with a shiner in 7’-14’ and 17’-23’ have been good depths.

Some nice sturgeon are being found in deep holes of the river using a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, no roll sinker, gob of works and a shiner or two. Our sturgeon tournament is still on for next weekend. Openings are available. 

Friday 10/23/20 – no ice!

One more week left to sign up! Sturgeon Tournament on October 30 & 31
Cash and prizes! Prime Rib Dinner and lots of fun. Click here to learn more or call us at 800-862-8602.

Ice fishing on your mind? Make your winter reservations now.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Our island resorts are now closed for the season. See you this winter!
For winter and next summer, reservations give us a call at 800-772-8411 or contact us online.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 10/7/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Walleyes – Pike – Sturgeon – Bass
Take your pick or try them all. Water temp is now in the lower 50’s. The jig bite for walleyes is heating up more and more by the day in gaps, river, and bays. Anchored using glow in the dark, bright colored or gold jigs have been working the best in 8’-14’ and 20’-26’tipped with a shiner or chub. More shiners are running this week!

Large pike have been biting in the bays, some on walleye rigs, and reeled in by surprise. If you are looking to target pike, try trolling crankbaits around rocky points and cabbage weed bays. For sturgeon, holes in the river and bay are the place to be using a 5/0 circle hook, 3-5 ounce roll sinker, and a gob of minnows with a shiner or two. Don’t count out the smallmouth bass. There are thousands of rock reefs and rock piles in the lake and river where they like to be. Throw out a crankbait and give it a shot.

Midweek October Openings
Give us a call and come wet a line. Lodge Rooms only $89 per night for 2 people and up to 20% off summer lodging and charter packages.
*plus tax

Sign up for our Sturgeon Tournament October 30 & 31
Cash prizes!
Click here to learn more or call us at 800-862-8602.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Walleye for Dinner

Points, shorelines, and areas with current are the hot spots right now to reel in a nice limit of walleye. Anchored jigging gold, glow in the dark, and pink jigs tipped with a chub, shiner, or Gulp have been working. The last few days a morning, afternoon, and evening run have been prominent.

You still have time!

We are open for softwater fishing for a few more weeks. Openings available for lodging, guides, and the passenger service can get you here and back. Give us a call at 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/30/20

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Sportsman’s Rainy River

Walleye and Sturgeon Biting at the Line
The weather is cooling down again. A sure reminder October is just a day away. 

For walleyes, anchored with a gold, pink or red jig and a chub or shiner is working just outside of the gaps and bays 9’-15’ amd 21’-27’.  Varied sizes biting at the line.  Water temp in the mid 50’s.  The sturgeon bite has been good in areas of current and on the edge of a deep hole in the river using a 18″ snell made of 60 lb line, 5/0 circle hook, 3-5 ounce roll sinker and a gob of minnows with a shiner or two.  Today is the last day of keep season but you can catch and release these prehistoric monsters October through April 23.

Fall Midweek Special
Lodge Rooms only $89 per night for 2 adults plus tax through October.

Join us for our Fall Sturgeon Tournament October 30 & 31
Sign up for this fun event!  Our normally scheduled spring tournament is coming up this fall October 30 & 31.  We had rescheduled this year’s tournament due to COVID. Cash prizes! Check out the details online and give us a call 800-862-8602 to sign up.

Oak Island

Rig up a jig
Jigs and a minnow is reeling the walleyes and crappies. Shorelines and points with current 8’-24’ have been good for walleyes and areas around structure 15’-30’ hot for crappies.  Gold, pink, bright green and glow in the dark have been good colors. Muskes and pike are hitting in areas of rocky points and cabbage weed bays trolling with crankbaits or casting with jerkbaits.  Not sure where to go? Ask about booking a gudie.  You still have time for one last soft water blast. The passenger service is still running to get you from Sportman’s Lodge to Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge. Give us a jingle and enjoy the peaceful island atmosphere.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/18/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge Fishing Report

Fall Patterns
The week started out up and down but the bite is getting better and we are seeing more shiners in the river. Fall patterns are taking shape. The current water temp has decreased and is in the upper 50’s.

Walleyes are starting to move into shallower depths and to the river. Some of the best techniques to getting a nice stringer of walleyes have been anchored using a jig tipped with a chub or shiner or drifting with a spinner tipped with a minnow or crawler along shorelines 11’-16’ and out deeper in the mud in  22’-28’.  Gold, glow in the dark and orange have been popular colors. 

  • Josh 28.5″ walleye caught on jig/shiner. Guide Captain Landon
  • Dick 28 3/4″ walleye. Guide Captain Mike Marquart
  • Mike Lanier 22″ walleye. Guide Captain Mike Cline
  • Mike Lanier with a young sturgeon. Guide Captain Mike Cline

Looking for more species to fish?

Sturgeon
Sturgeon are being reeled in in the deep holes of the bays and river bottom using a 4/0 hook, few ounce no roll sinker, a gob of crawlers, and topped with a shiner.

Pike & Smallmouth Bass
Give jerk baits a try when fishing for pike in the fall in cabbage weeds adjacent to rock structure. Pike often hang out on the fringe of cabbage weeds. Start at 10’-12’ and work to deeper water off reefs and points using a spinnerbait or a jig and a minnow. 

Great Fall Rates
Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter packages and lodging starting at just $89 a night for two people now through Oct 31, 2020. Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us for a rate quote and availability. *Plus tax

Fall Sturgeon Tournament Openings
October 30 & 31 Cash prizes! Always a fun event! Check out the details online and give us a call 800-862-8602 to sign up.

Oak Island

Jigging
Similar to the south end of the lake, jigs and spinners are working right now. Jigging getting better by the day. A gold or orange jig tipped with a minnow or hammered gold spinner tipped with a minnow or crawler in 10’-15’ and 21’-27’ on or around structure and shorelines. Crappies are hitting on small jigs on structure 15’-30’. Muskies and pike are hot after the topwater baits in the weedy bays.

Check out our Great Fall Rates. Openings are available!
Click here or call 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/9/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Water temp is falling and leaves are changing. Currently, the water temperature is sitting around 59-62 degrees and some shiners are starting to show up in the river.

Walleyes are being caught on a variety of methods right now. Drifting with pink, orange, and hammered gold spinners and a crawler in 11’-16’ and 26’-36’ as well as on crankbaits with some shimmer and rattle in the mud 26’-36’. Some dabbling with the jig and a minnow or shiner but most are finding the spinners and cranks are working the best. Areas outside Lighthouse Gap, Zippel Bay, and Garden Island have been good. It won’t be long and anchored with a jig/minnow method will start to take precedence, so be ready!

Great Fall Rates
Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter packages and lodging starting at just $89 a night for two people now through Oct 31, 2020. Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us for a rate quote and availability. *Plus tax

Fall Sturgeon Tournament Openings
October 30 & 31 Cash prizes! Always a fun event! Check out the details online and give us a call 800-862-8602 to sign up.

Oak Island

Variety of Methods
Fall is in the air and that means it is time to start thinking about changing up methods to stay on the walleye bite. Jigs, spinners, and crankbaits are methods of choice right now but the jig and minnow will start to be the go-to soon. Drifting with gold and pink spinners tipped with a crawler in 15’-28’ on rock structure, trolling with shad raps in 26’-36’ in the mud and anchored jigging a minnow or shiner in 11’-15’ and 20’-26’ on or around structure has been working the best. Water temp is in the lower 60’s now.

Looking for some crappies? Crappies are biting on small jigs and a minnow in 10’-30’.

Check out our Great Fall Rates. Openings are available!
Click here or call 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 9/3/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Cooling Down
Feels like fall. Lows in the 40’s and highs in the ’50-’70s lately.

Water temp is down to 65 and likely to dip lower this week. Currently, anglers are pulling spinners with a crawler or trolling with a shad rap for the best luck. It won’t be long and the jig and a minnow will start to take the stage. For spinners, anything glow, hammered gold or anything in the orange/red/gold color family has been good. For shad raps, shiny and noticeable is key. In the stained waters of Lake of the Woods, a little more shimmer, rattle, or bright color never hurts to try. Best depths have been in 11’-17’ along shorelines and 28’-36’ in the mud. Come have some fun.

Have you tried to call?
Yesterday afternoon until today around noon we suffered a phone outage at the lodge and in the area due to some local construction going on. Just wanted to let you know we are back up! Sorry for the inconvenience, give us a call 800-862-8602.

Let’s go Fishing!
Openings available this fall. Give us a call 800-862-8602 or email us for a rate quote and availability.

Fall Sturgeon Tournament Openings
October 30 & 31 Cash prizes! Always a fun event! Check out the details online and give us a call 800-862-8602 to sign up.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Drifting Away in the Islands
Drifting with gold and orange spinners tipped with a minnow or crawler has been working well for walleyes in 15’-26’. Trolling with shad raps and anchored with a jig/minnow combo also getting some nice ones. Water temp is down to mid-’60s. Muskies are hitting on blades and topwater baits in weedy bays and rock points. Crappies on small jigs in 10’-30’. We received some cancellations for Sept 9-13, so now have openings for that time and have openings available here and there throughout fall. Give us a call at 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 8/27/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge

Leaves are starting to Change
Pulling spinners and trolling with cranks continue to work the best for walleyes. Some anglers finding fish in 12’-16’ and others in deeper waters 28’-36’. Pink, silver, and gold for colors. The leaves are starting to change, fall is just around the corner and so is the shiner run. Once the shiners start run the river, we know it won’t take long for the walleyes to follow.

Anglers fishing the river are reeling in some nice sturgeon. Anchored in a deep hole or along the incline above the deep hole has been good. A sturgeon rig tipped with a gob of crawlers works well. Lots of species and miles of water to explore. Charter trips available through late October. Give us a call 800-862-8602.

Sturgeon Tournament October 30 & 31
Cash prizes! Openings are available. Call up some fishing buddies and join us.
Click here to learn more and to sign up.

Fall Openings
Lodging starting at only $89* per night in lodge rooms and up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages Sept 8-Oct 31. Check out our packages and make plans to visit us, call 800-862-8602. *plus tax and based on 2 adults

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Trolling
Trolling in 24’-28’ using spinners with a minnow, crawler harness or crankbaits in the mud and around structure has been working for walleyes. Gold, red, pink, and yellow tackle have been good options.

Nice pike and muskies have been reeled in. Several 30”+ pike right off the dock. Muskies have been hitting on topwater baits and blades in weedy bays and rock points. Pike mainly in deep water with rocks using spinnerbaits. Crappies are hungry using small jigs and a minnow 10’-30’ on structure.

The Canadian border remains closed at this time but the Lake of the Woods Passenger Service is available to get you to the island. For fall and winter trips, give us a call 800-772-8411 or contact us online.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 7/21/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge South End Fishing Report

Lots of slots
It has been a good bite this week, lots of slot fish and plenty to fry up. A slot walleye is a walleye 19.5”-28” in length that must be released after catching. Check out the lunkers in the pictures of the week. Many long time guests have been saying this summer, “Fishing has been some of the best they have ever experienced!”

What’s working? Drifting with hammered gold or bright colored spinners, 1-2 ounces of weight tipped with a crawler. Some anglers are now trying their luck at trolling with shad raps and having good luck too. Water temperature is 74 degrees.

Best depth has been 18’-27’. Tip of the Week: Keep your line tight and your drag light to bring in those trophy fish. Don’t let summer pass you by. Midweek guided trips available over the next few weeks. Weekends available late August and through the fall. Lodging available, midweek most anytime the rest of the season and weekends after July 25.

Fall Discounts Sept 8-Oct 31
Up to 20% off summer lodging and charter fishing packages. Check out our packages here and make plans to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Sturgeon Tournament
Our spring tournament was rescheduled to October 30 & 31. Openings are available. Click here to learn more about this popular tournament and sign up today.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Walleye, it’s what’s for Dinner
12’-23’ in the sand and 23’-29’ in our around rocks continues to produce results when going after walleyes. Drifting with a spinner, ounce or two of weight and a crawler has been working well. Trolling with shad raps has been worth a shot too. Deep bays and rocky points are hot spots for muskies right now using bucktails and topwater lures. The water temperature is 74 degrees.

Openings available
Sportsman’s Oak Island: July 27/28, August 2-6, 9-11, 16-17, 23-26, 30-Sept 1, 7-9, 14, 15, 20-23, 27-Oct 18

Sportsman’s Eagle Ridge Cedar Cabin – Stay 3 nights and get the 4th night free: July 24-30, Aug 2-5, 15-21, 30-Sept 23, 27-Oct 18.

Call to book this cabin 800-772-8411.

Canadian Border Update
Unfortunately, we have once again been notified that the Canadian government has extended its border closure to August 21, 2020, at this time. The good news is, you still have options to come and enjoy some island time! The Lake of the Woods Passenger continues to provide service to and from the island from Sportsman’s Lodge in Baudette and has follow boat options. No border crossing required. For any questions or reservation changes, please contact us here or by calling 800-772-8411.

Lake of the Woods South Shore & Oak Island Fishing Report – 6/25/20

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Sportsman’s Lodge South End Fishing Report

Lots of Sun in the Forecast

Looks like it is going to be a nice week to be out in the boat. Bring on the walleyes! Drifting with gold and glow in the dark spinners and a few ounces of weight has been working well tipped with a leech or crawler. Water temperature is in the mid 60’s and warming up by the day. The best depth has been 25’-31’ outside of the Lighthouse Gap, Morris Point, and north. The walleyes are waiting.

4th of July is next week
Come enjoy some lake time!

We have some openings available. Lodging, guided trips, lake tours, indoor pool, a nearby beach, and golf course. Dynasty DJ takes the stage July 3 & 4 and a fireworks display is planned in Baudette. Something for everyone, come have some fun.

Sportsman’s Oak Island Lodge

Walleye, Pike, Bass….lots of options

Gold, pink or orange jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow or crawler has been working well to lure in the walleyes along shorelines in 8’-14’ and 26’-28’ of water around structure and the sand. Water temperature is in the mid 60’s.

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

4th of July week openings available. Give us a call at 800-772-8411.
Passenger service is available from Sportsman’s Lodge to the island. No border crossing required.