45 inch sturgeon & Ice Report 12-11-09 Lake of the Woods, MN

12/11/09

Ice Conditions
We have 4-6 inches of ice on Four Mile Bay & 7-8 inches on the lake. We will be ready for you on Monday! -20 below this morning again! Great ice making weather.

News Flash!
Guide “Taco Jon” out pre-fishing for the season just pulled in a 45 inch sturgeon!! Awesome! Jon was in 15′ of water using a pink jig. I guess real men do wear pink! Jon does it again, last year him and his buddy Chris pulled in a 60 inch sturgeon!

For pics & more information go to http://sportsmanslodges.com/?page=60365

Lake of the Woods Ice, Snow & Fishing Report 12-9-09

 

12/9/09

Ice Fishing at Sportsman’s Rainy River starts Monday, Dec 14!!!! www.sportsmanslodges.com
The season is here! We currently have 3-5 inches of ice and have been experiencing very cold temperatures, twenty below zero yesterday.  Our forecast is below zero temperatures for the next week ahead too. We plan to start with a good twelve inches of safe ice on Monday. For those who like to fish on their own, four wheelers and snowmobiles could get out by Saturday, but make sure you know where you are going, their will be limited trails marked. Keep in mind due to the current, the Rainy River will not be safe for travel for at least 3 weeks so use caution.

Fishing Report
Watch for our fishing report next Wednesday and find out how the year started! Heard a few tidbits from the DNR this past week at a meeting that I wanted to pass on to all fishing enthusiasts! Sounds like our lake is healthier than ever!

                       -Lake of the Woods is the home to 10 million walleyes!
                       -Abundant walleye years are coming, rapid abundance.
                       -Highest Sauger abundance is on record in 40 years
                       -A 29 inch walleye is 20 years old

Snow Report
We have snow! We have received about 15 inches of snow. It won’t be long before the groomers get out for their first pass of the season. Get your snowmobiles tuned up. Winter is here. For specific trails please check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters website at www.lowdrifters.org or the Northwest Angle Edge Rider’s report at www.nwaedgeriders.com

NW Angle & Oak Island Ice Conditions 12-9-09

12/9/09 Ice Conditions We currently have 2-4 inches of ice and have been experiencing very cold temperatures! Watch for our updated report on Wednesday, Dec 16 for an anticipated start date. Could possibly be the 19th?!!?!? Stay tuned…. www.oakislandlodge.com

Winter Walleye Ice Fishing Specials

Double Winter Walleye Fishing Package Deal
Book a 2 nights lodging, 2 days fishing package or better and receive $50 off the package price PLUS a FREE $40 Food/Beverage/Gift Shop Voucher to use during your stay.  Click Here Now!
Available on select dates: Dec 20-23, 2009.

Winter Walleye Fishing Package Deal
Book a 2 nights lodging, 2 days fishing package or better and receive $25 off the package price PLUS a FREE $20 Food/Beverage/Gift Shop Voucher to use during your stay.  Click Here Now!
Available on select dates: Dec 13-23, 2009 & 2010 Dates: Jan 24-28, Jan 31-Feb 4, Feb 7-11, March 14-18, 21-25 & 28-31

Winter Walleye Lodging Special
Book two nights lodging or better and recieve a $10 Food/Beverage/Gift Shop Voucher to use during your stay. 
Click Here Now!
Available on select dates: Dec 13-23, 2009 & 2010 Dates: Jan 24-28, Jan 31-Feb 4, Feb 7-11, March 14-18, 21-25 & 28-31. 

Eagle Ridge Lodging Special -Snowmobiler’s Paradise!
$39 per person lodging per night.
Available: Sun – Thurs stays Dec 1, 2009-March 31, 2010.

Call to book your trip now 800-862-8602!

Lake of the Woods Ice Conditions & Snow Report 12-4-09

The ice has started to form!

Last night the wind calmed down and four mile bay (the bay we use to travel out to the fish houses) froze over! The river from Wheeler’s Point up river two miles also is 75% froze over with a nice new sheet of ice. The main lake is starting to get more ice on the northern side of Pine Island and many bays.  The forecast looks really good for ice making highs in the teens and lows in the single digits, maybe even below zero by Monday!  It won’t be long. There is still a possibility we can start fishing by next weekend, it all depends on how hard it freezes in the next week. When the temperatures dip we can make 1-2 inches of ice a night if the ice stays clear of snow.  Stay tuned an updated full report will be out Wednesday, Dec 9 with the outlook for the weekend. Get your reservations in now for the winter season, prime dates are starting to fill up.

Snow Report

We have snow! We have received about 8-9 inches of fresh snow this past week. It won’t be long before the groomers get out for their first pass of the season. Get your snowmobiles tuned up. Winter is here. For specific trails please check out the Lake of the Woods Drifters website at www.lowdrifters.org or the Northwest Angle Edge Rider’s report at www.nwaedgeriders.com

Lake of the Woods Ice Conditions, Fishing & Hunting Report

11/25/09

 

Soft water fishing has ended bring on the ice & snow!

The bays are frozen over, the temperature continues to drop and it is even snowing as I write this. The weather forecast is showing highs in the lower 30’s and lows in the lower twenties and even dipping to the teens by next week. If the temperatures continue to drop it won’t take long to produce twelve inches of ice. We normally need about 10 days of zero to ten degree nights to give us twelve inches of ice so we can start the winter ice fishing season. At this time we are anticipating a start date of Dec 11, watch our website for updates!

 

December is trophy walleye month!

December ice fishing historically brings in more walleyes than saugers and bigger eighteen to thirty inch fish. First ice is always a hot time of year for excellent walleye fishing. Last year we even had a 60 inch sturgeon caught thru the ice! Book your trip today and bring home a trophy!

 

Still searching for that deer?

Muzzeloader season start this Saturday, November 28 and runs thru December 13. We have 66,000 acres of state land to explore! Don’t forget sharp tailed grouse season runs just thru November 30^th, but small game rabbits, squirrels etc runs thru Feb 28.

December Ice Fishing Special

Sportsman’s Lodges – Lake of the Woods

www.sportsmanslodges.com

Dec 20-23 Only! $50 off fishing packages of 2 nights, 2 days or more AND Free $40 resort voucher for all members of your group that can be used for food, beverages or gift shop items during your stay! Book your trip now 800-862-8602, availability won’t last long.

NW Angle & Oak Island Lake of the Woods Ice Conditions 11-25-09

11/25/09

 

Ice Starting to form…

We are starting to see some ice forming in the bays and low current channels. Won’t be long before we are making some good ice. We just need a good fourteen day stretch of zero to ten degree weather to make  a foot of ice!

Anticipated start date…

We are looking at a Dec 15 anticipated open date for our winter season. Book your winter ice fishing and snowmobiling adventures now. World class fishing and miles of snowmobiles right out our back door await you.

Lake of the Woods South Shore Fishing, Outdoor & Ice Report 11-18

Sportsman’s Lodge

www.sportsmanslodges.com

800-862-8602

11/18/2009

Weather and Ice?

The change of seasons is defiantly starting, but we continue to still have only a skiff of ice on the bays. The river and lake is wide open. The weather has been unseasonably warm the past few weeks, but the temperatures are starting to drop. Highs in the 40’s and lows in the 20’s at night have been the norm this week.  The water temperature has been hovering around forty degrees.  It won’t take much for the water freeze this year.  I would predict probably only one more week of soft water fishing before the real cold temps start in and we start to seem some ice form. We only need ten days of zero degree temperatures to make twelve inches of ice, it won’t take long.

Fall Fishing

The fall fishing continues to be very good in the Rainy River just up river from Sportsman’s Lodge. The best depth has been seventeen to eighteen feet. The lucky presentation has been a 3/8 oz brightly colored jig tipped with a shiner. Nice walleyes averaging in size between sixteen to twenty-eight inches are being caught.

Last weekend of Whitetail Rifle Deer Hunting Season

It has been a tougher than normal season for deer hunting in the region this year. Warm temperatures? Wolves? Decrease in population? These are all things being thrown around the coffee hour in the local area.  The deer bagging may be down, but the family traditions are still being enjoyed. Hundreds of deer camps around the state have been lit up with family, friends, good food, good stories and fun in the past few weeks.  

Still time left to enjoy this sport and here in the northland we have plenty of woods to explore! 66,0000 acres of Beltrami State Forest is right out our back door.   Come on up and take in the last weekend or come for the muzzleloader season which will start Nov 28. Many are speculating that the colder temperatures will set in by then which may increase the hunters luck.

Ice Fishing & 2010 Fishing Season outlook is great!

Our local paper, The Baudette Region recently published an article, from a recent gillnet survey.

This year’ sauger classes have been strong and recent gillnetting by the Department of Natural Resources showed the bulk around 10 inches. “The sauger abundance is skyrocketing right now,” said Phil Talmage of the DNR. The walleye counts are not as strong, but still within the normal ranges. Weather and habitat are the biggest factors in production and cool, late summers have had an impact on the walleye. Although this spring was cold and the summer late, “We got an extra four weeks of walleye growth this year,” Talmage said. What the fish couldn’t do early, they made up for with rapid growth in the warm September.

Now is the time to make your reservations for the upcoming ice fishing season! Get in on some legendary fishing on Lake of the Woods this winter!

Lake of the Woods Fishing & Outdoor Report 11-11-09

11/11/09

The soft water fishing continues

Warm weather and a healthy bite have been enjoyed by anglers this week. The best fishing has been experienced up river from Sportsman’s Lodge about 3-4 miles by the Wabanica Church. Sixteen to eighteen feet of water has been the best depth using a 3/8 oz jig tipped with a shiner. Most of the walleyes being caught have been in the fifteen to twenty-two inch range a great size for the pan. The best time of day has favored the late afternoon 3pm – 6pm time frame.

There are still reports that the lake bite up by Knight Island is still producing nice walleyes as well if you are looking to take a boat ride.

A recent happy customer writes…

 

“I just wanted to say thank you for a great weekend.  Our crew was up from Oct 22^nd through Oct 26.  We were registered under the Hummel party.  We caught an unbelievable amount of fish and had an excellent time.  We went through 25 bags of frozen shiners in 3 days of fishing. Thanks Again, Bob”

Ice Fishing is just a month out!

Some of the bays have iced over but the temperatures will have to dip down and stay down to make any real ice. Have no fear, it will soon be here! As soon as we get a ten day stretch around the zero to ten degree range we will be fishing! Now is the time to get your reservations in. December is the best month to reel in a trophy walleye.

North woods Holiday is here! “The Deer Hunt”

The whole town is lit up, with orange that is! You can’t go anywhere around here without seeing a bright orange something. Warm temperatures over opening weekend had some hunters in a bit of fowl mood, but it sounds as if the deer have been moving around a bit more in the recent days. It looks as if the temperatures will be falling by the weekend, so get your gun ready. Rifle season is open thru November 22 in our area and Muzzeloader is open November 28-Dec 13. We have 66,000 acres of Beltrami State Forest right out our backdoor and fantastic fall rates! Call us today.