Hello everyone! Checking back in with you from Sunset Lodge on beautiful Oak Island here in the Northwest Angle on world famous Lake of the Woods. Hope you all had a fantastic week! Here in the Angle, Autumn is in full swing, as the temps are dropping, leaves are changing into their bright fall colors and the local wildlife is preparing for winter. The weather the last week has been a mix of clouds and sun, rain and high winds along with falling temperatures. Fall fishing can be some of the best and easiest of the season, as the fish start to put on the feed bags in the big push towards winter freeze up. On the American side of the lake, the water temp is between 60 and 62 degrees and falling as the air temps continue to drop. Anglers have been catching a mix of walleyes and saugers in the waters between Oak and Flag Island. Drifting bottom bouncers with minnows and spinners in depths of 18 to 30 feet has been effective as well as jigging with a minnow and trolling crankbaits. Hot colors are gold, pink and orange. Also, look to the deeper holes and mud areas here on the Minnesota side. In Ontario waters, fishing has really been heating up despite the falling temps for a variety of species! Walleyes and saugers have been red hot as they begin to stack up in the deep holes and current areas as they prey on baitfish and bulk up for winter. Check the areas of Outer Bay, Bishop Bay, Johnston Passage and Tranquil Channel. Use electronics to locate schools of fish and work a jig and minnow combo to put fish in the boat. Use bottom bouncers with spinners and minnows to cover water and locate scattered fish. Crappie action has been picking up as of late as the water temps continue to dip, look for sharp drop offs into deep water of 30 feet or more and areas of trees and flooded timber. Work a jig with a minnow or plastic to put these jumbo slabs in the box. We've had several fish coming in topping 15 inches! Fall is also a time when the muskie action can be top notch! Most muskie anglers have switched from casting baits to trolling large minnow baits such as Jakes, Grandmas and Believers to locate these active predators. This time of year, these giants are at their largest as they are feeding heavily on suckers and tulibees. Fall is definitely the best time to land a true giant! With September coming to a close and October on the horizon, time is running out on the open water season. But there's still time to make one last dash to the Angle for some world class fishing and hunting! This last weekend, the Minnesota Waterfowl season kicked off and there have been plenty of ducks around to put a smile on any wingshooters face! Maybe a weekend cast and blast would be a nice way to cap off the fall? We would love to be your hosts for that next outdoor excursion on your calendar. Until next week folks, take care! Cale Albers
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Hello folks! Hope you all had a fantastic week! Checking back in with you from Sunset Lodge on beautiful Oak Island in the Northwest Angle on world famous Lake of the Woods. Fall is definitely here as we have felt the temps slowly falling, the leaves starting to show their vibrant colors and the local waterfowl beginning their annual migration to warmer climates. Here in the Angle, several hunting seasons have started over the last few weeks: Canada goose, black bear and more recently small game and archery deer just over the weekend. And starting next weekend, our Minnesota waterfowl season kicks off! Along with all of that excitement, the fishing has been red hot and getting hotter despite the falling temps! Here stateside, the water temps are between 61 and 63 degrees, anglers are finding walleyes and saugers in depths of 10 to 14 feet and 18 to 25 feet. Most boats are using a jig and minnow combination or pulling crankbaits in the areas south and west of Oak Island, near Four Blocks and the east bar of Little Oak. Hot colors are gold, orange, and chartreuse. In Ontario waters, anglers are putting together limits of quality fish for the frying pan and catching several trophy caliber fish as well! Boats this week have been fishing the humps near Skeet Island, Outer Bay, Tranquil Channel and east to McPherson Island. Most have been using a jig and minnow combo working points and reefs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Quite a few jumbo perch have been showing up in these areas along with the walleyes as well! The crappie bite has been up and down the last week, but we expect it to heat up as the temps continue to fall. Look for deep water areas off of points or flooded timber areas. Jig and minnows or plastics can all produce crappies this time of year. And for all you Muskie faithful, these giant predators are becoming more active as the temps start falling and they strap on the feed bags before the winter months. Cast stickbaits, minnow baits and bucktails over rock reefs and points to hook into one of these monsters! Trolling large crankbaits and minnow baits is also starting to become productive as well. Time is running out on the open water season folks, now is the time to join us for some fantastic fall fishing, hunting and relaxing! Maybe a combination fishing/duck hunting adventure is in your future? We would love to be your hosts for your next outdoor excursion! Have a great week folks and be sure to visit us soon at Sunset Lodge! Until next week, take care! Cale Albers Hello folks! Checking back in from Sunset Lodge on beautiful Oak Island here in the Northwest Angle of Lake of the Woods. We hope you all had a wonderful week! Here in the Angle, fall is beginning to take hold as leaves start turning, temps start falling and the days get shorter. We've had a fantastic week here at Sunset Lodge, fishing has been heating up as the water temps start falling. We've had guests fishing both the Minnesota side of the lake and in Ontario waters. Anglers have been doing well on both sides of the pond and have managed to land good numbers of several different species! In Minnesota waters, the water temp is 66 degrees and slowly falling. Anglers have reported good numbers of fish on the south side of Oak Island, Oak Point, down to Rabbit Ears and the east bar of Little Oak have all been giving up good numbers of walleyes and saugers in 15 to 25 feet. Look for areas that transition from deep mud to rock points and reefs and work a jig and minnow combination or pull crankbaits in these areas to put fish in the box. North of the border, in Ontario waters, boats have been fishing the Twin Island area as well as Bishop Bay and the east and west side of Falcon Island. Anglers are finding quality numbers of walleyes in these areas as well as good numbers of jumbo perch mixed in the bunch. 14 to 26 feet have been the best depths, look for offshore sunken islands and offshore rock reefs and work a jig tipped with a minnow to turn fish in these spots. Top color choices are gold, green and orange. Slab crappies have also been turning up in anglers livewells as of late, as the water temps cool these fish begin to start schooling up in shallower waters. Currently, most crappies are being caught in depths of near 30 feet next to deep rocky points and flooded timber. Small jigs with minnows work well for these conditions. If it's muskies you're after, casting large crankbaits, bucktails, and topwaters has been really moving these large predators! We've had several reports of boats seeing and landing multiple fish throughout the last week. One boat even reported boating near 20 muskies in a four day trip! The open water season is winding down folks but there's still plenty of time to get in on the fantastic fishing this area has to offer! Be sure to book your next fishing adventure with us here at Sunset Lodge! Until next week, take care and we hope to see you soon! Cale Albers Hello everyone! Checking in from Sunset lodge here on beautiful Oak Island in the Northwest Angle on Lake of the Woods. Hope everyone had a fantastic week! Here in the Angle, summer has come to an end as the water temps are slowly cooling. The days are getting shorter and the nights are starting to get that first chill of Fall in the air. Soon the leaves on the trees will start to show their vibrant colors and the geese will begin migrating South. In the North country, September is the kick off to Minnesota's hunting seasons, whether it's deer, bear or small game. And here in the Angle it's no different, as several of these seasons are in full swing as we speak. But, September has also been known to be a fantastic month for fishing! As the water temps cool, fish start schooling and moving back shallow making for dynamite fishing when the bite is hot! Here in Minnesota waters, the water temps are between 66 and 68 degrees and slowly dropping. Anglers have been finding success in the waters between Oak and Flag Island, right out in front of the Lodge in fact! Target depths have been between 10 to 14 feet, and 20 to 24 feet. Tactics have included everything from a jig and minnow combination, bottom bouncers and spinners, to trolling crankbaits with leadcore lines. Most of the fish caught in this area have been of the "eater" size with a few slot fish mixed in the bunch. Other worthwhile locations are Little Oak Island, Four Blocks and the North side of Oak island and Soldier's point. On the Canadian side, fishing reports have been limited with the bite being so great on the U.S. side of the line. However, a few anglers are making their way into Ontario and having success catching walleyes with a jig and minnow combination, working humps and reefs in depths of 14 to 24 feet of water. Use your electronics to find fish near the structure and you'll have a good day of fishing with a full livewells for your efforts. Muskie anglers are getting in a few more weeks of casting baits trying to hook one of these toothy giants before the cold waters of October arrive and most boats targeting these fish begin trolling. Cast large bucktails, stickbaits and subsurface baits over rock points, reefs and shorelines to have a chance at landing one of these giants as they begin to pack on the pounds throughout the fall! Our very own, Samantha Norman, just caught her personal best, a 46 inch muskie yesterday! Have a great week folks and remember to book your next fishing or hunting adventure with us at Sunset Lodge! We would love to be yours hosts. Cale Albers |
AuthorSunset Lodge Staff Archives
June 2021
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