Tag Archives: walleye fishing resort

Warm Water Walleyes

August 10, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

Lake of the Woods is at its peak temperature for the year right now. The temperature is between 74-78 degrees. Where is the best place to find the walleyes? Deep! Depths between 28-32 feet have been best. Anchored jigging and pulling spinners tipped with a leech or minnow has been producing some eyes and saugers but the most action has been using the controlled depth approach pulling crank baits. Red, gold, white and silver have been hot colors. Anglers are reporting several healthy sized walleyes and saugers. Some anglers have also been finding some nice perch, crappies and smallmouth bass fishing in the river using jigs and buck tails. Lots of fishing opportunities going on!

Stefanich Group with Captain Ralph

Stefanich Group with Captain Ralph. August 2016

Logan and some nice perch!

Crappies right off the dock

Bryan “Beef” Sathre found some nice smallies this week

Fall Fishing is just around the corner
A few more weeks and we will start to see fall creep in. Fall fishing is phenomenal on Lake of the Woods, walleyes, saugers, sturgeon, bass, crappies, pike, perch and muskies abound. Boat rentals, dock slips and guided trips available through late October. Click here to learn more.

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

SUMMER HOT DEALS! SUMMER HOT DEALS!
The weather is warming up and so are the hot deals! Sign up here to receive hot deals right to your inbox.

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

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 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

SUMMER HOT DEALS! SUMMER HOT DEALS!
The weather is warming up and so is the hot deals! Sign up here to receive hot deals right to your inbox.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing Report 5-26-2016

May 26, 2016 by Sportsman's Lodges

The Bite is on!
We have been enjoying great walleye fishing this past week. Check out these pictures! Shorelines 12’-28’ have been producing well using a brightly colored jig and minnow. Some anglers have been anchored and others drifting. The water temperature is warming up. We have warmed up 7 degrees this week, currently sitting at 62 degrees. The guides are hot on the walleye trail.

100% Walleye Guarantee
Charter boats are the best way to navigate the south shore waters of Lake of the Woods and with our 100% walleye guarantee, no equipment or experience is required, how can you go wrong? Click here to learn more.

It’s a double! Maria and Rod reel in nice walleyes at the same time. Guided by Captain Dave McDougall

25 inch walleye Dave from Dubuque IA 25 inch walleye released guided by Captain Mike

Celebrate Father’s Day all month long
Packages and gift cards available.

Did you see what was caught at our Sturgeon Tournament this year?

Joe Anderson 70.5 inch, 28 inch girth lake sturgeon caught on the Rainy River Lake of the Woods, MN at Sportsman’s Lodge 5-6-2016

Current Ice Conditions

November 25, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

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!

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

November 19, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

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 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

November 11, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

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!

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 South Shore Fishing Report

November 4, 2015 by Sportsman's Lodges

11/4/2015

Few more weeks of fishing in boats
Anglers are still launching boats and reeling in some walleyes. A few more weeks of fishing in boats and then we should start seeing some ice forming to get us ready for an early December ice fishing start. We start ice fishing with 10-12 inches of safe ice. Our typical start date of our winter ice fishing season is by the first or second week in December. The ice can form quickly when the temperatures cool down. Once we get down to zero degrees or less we can make an inch of ice a day.

This week’s bite has been good and the cooler it gets the better we expect it to get.
Current water temperature is 43 degrees. The best bite has been outside the Light House Gap and Morris Point Gap in 22’-26’ of water using pink and gold jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow. In the Rainy River the best bite has been at first light in the morning for a few hours and just a few hours in the evening before dark in 14’-19’ using pink and gold jigs or spinners tipped with a minnow. Wheeler’s Point, Wabanica Bay, just out in front of Anchor Bay Trailer Park about 3 miles west of Baudette, in front of the Baudette airport just on the west edge of Baudette and Clementson Rapids area have all produced some nice walleyes. Our guide boats are all put away for the season but lodging and docking is available if you would like to go out on your own.

This week’s forecast

Fall Lodging Specials through November 30!
Take advantage of our fall lodging as low as $40* per person per night. Our restaurant, bar and pool are now closed until December but lodging remains open through November! Click here to learn more. Book your stay today! *plus tax and based on double occupancy

Ice fishing season is just around the corner.
Book your stay now for the most options and availability.