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Author	Message Text
Gunwhale	12/27/2020 10:27AM   Thanks for the heads up. My mistake. Will immediately re-enroll myself in 3rd grade reading comprehension, you betcha'. ;-)
Zwater	12/25/2020 08:32AM   Can't go wrong with Ballard's or Sportsman's.
Mocha	12/24/2020 12:21PM   Has anyone ever stayed at Sportsman Lodge or either of their other properties? We are looking for a 3 or 4 night trip, either in a sleeper house or in their cabins with daily transport to fish house. Never been up there so we want to catch some fish and get away away from life for a few days. edit** sorry, thought it was on the rainy river. anyway, booked 3 nights lodging and 2 days fishing, in mid-January. dug out the rods, gotta get new line and apparently some glow in the dark lures!
JohnnieOutdoors	01/03/2021 10:11AM   Just got back from Ballard's Dec. 27-30. Fishing was slow and inconsistent, mainly just small Sauger. Only real success we had was jigging with a Glo-shot. Good luck, LOTW is always a fun time even if the fish aren't biting like crazy!
Gunwhale	12/25/2020 10:30AM   Only had one experience with Sportsman's last February 2020 just before Covid became a problem. When you go there, don't expect luxury, 5 star quality. This is basically a fishing lodge, not a spa. The food in the dining room and / or bar was surprisingly good. You won't go away hungry. Portions were generous. Accommodations were plain but clean and comfortable. Hired help worked hard to make trip worth while. Would be happy to go back, would recommend to friends. Enjoyed the hot tub after fishing. Caught small to medium fish, a few bigger, no trophies. Only possible downside was some of those 350 engines installed in old, old Bombardier Snow Cats tend to overheat, making your trip to / from the lake slow and takes away from valuable fishing time.
Mocha	01/14/2021 12:16PM   Bite had been very very very slow. For a little over 100 guests out fishing yesterday they cleaned about 220 fish. Minnow and a yellow hook has worked well for me. But we are trying all sorts of stuff.
Mocha	01/10/2021 08:35AM   Heading up in two days. Weather forecast is for 30s and no snow til Thursday. Doesn’t seem like good temps for the fish to bite. Should we try something other than the tackle and bait recommended already? Can’t change dates. :)
lundojam	01/11/2021 06:59AM   I think they're gonna bite like crazy. Consistent weather for a couple days usually gets 'em going. Good luck.
IronRangeMike	12/31/2020 07:03AM   Sportsman’s is on the Rainy River.... Just before it dumps into four mile bay.
lundojam	12/30/2020 07:00PM   Don't forget to try just a plain hook and minnow. Many times that has been the biggest producer. Jig them in, and they hit the plain minnow.
Zwater	12/27/2020 07:39AM   WhiteWolf: "seems your talkin LOTW, and not Rainy. Posts seem to think the same with language involved. Sportsmens' is well run, both for your $$ and return. If the fish are biting. They put up a nice show and all, but a person can do cheaper, and catch just the same/ or more amount of fish from some of the lesser name resorts. Do NOT do a SLEEPER. Unless you like catching an ocnl eelpout at dark times, sleepers are usually dead at night on LOTW. If said "sleeper" is on the spot for the Dusk/Dawn bite, which is not the ordinary for LOTW, but if so, Do it. Otherwise- skip the Sleeper. " Yep. Don't get a sleeper. Stay in a comfy cabin.
WhiteWolf	12/27/2020 01:12AM   seems your talkin LOTW, and not Rainy. Posts seem to think the same with language involved. Sportsmens' is well run, both for your $$ and return. If the fish are biting. They put up a nice show and all, but a person can do cheaper, and catch just the same/ or more amount of fish from some of the lesser name resorts. Do NOT do a SLEEPER. Unless you like catching an ocnl eelpout at dark times, sleepers are usually dead at night on LOTW. If said "sleeper" is on the spot for the Dusk/Dawn bite, which is not the ordinary for LOTW, but if so, Do it. Otherwise- skip the Sleeper.