Oak Island Accommodations

Riege: Top of the World Walleye Capital

BY BOB AND GINNY RIEGE

Lakes along the U.S. and Canadian border abound with ample amounts of walleyes. These lakes are some of the very best in the world for walleye fishing. But if I had to pick one lake it would be Lake of the Woods. The reason is that it will produce tons of walleyes each year, and it has as one of its main feeder arms the Rainy River. If you are fishing in spring, summer or fall don’t overlook the Rainy River for some of the best trophy walleye fishing around.

These lakes can be tough, and Lake of the Woods is not a walk in the park, especially if you don’t fish walleyes a great deal, but the shallow reefs adjacent to deep water are a magnet to these magnificent table fare wonders. But one area that is overlooked by many people who usually fish walleyes shallow, are the deep water humps that Lake of the Woods has to offer.

Our first call to secure our vacation plans this year was to Tom and Jean Kratzke owners and operators of Randall’s Resort in Baudette, Minn. This past winter we stayed a couple of days with Tom and Jean and were privileged to experience their excellent ice fishing package as well as some great conversation about turkey hunting.

Tom and Jean are accomplished “turkey veterans” and when we can sit down with a cup of coffee in their lodge and talk about hunting “thunder chickens” it really gives us a feeling of being at home.

Randall’s Resort is a family run business with 11 full housekeeping cabins. In the cabins you will find a stove, full size refrigerator, electric coffee pot, microwave, dishes, pots and pans and utensils, dish soap, paper towels and kitchen linens. Each bedroom has two twin size beds, which have the linens, blanket and comforter on them. The bathroom features a tub/shower, stool, sink; and one set of towels is included for each guest. The dining area and living room in most units are together all units have a couch, table and chairs and direct TV.

If you don’t want to pull your boat up to Lake of the Woods, Randall’s Resort has boat rentals from a Jon boat to Charter fishing. If you select Charter fishing, we would recommend that you ask for Grant. Grant is the top guide at Randall’s and he can put you on some really good fish using spinners and bottom bouncers or down rigging.

The bait of choice is a big juicy nightcrawler, twirling behind a spinner on a double hook rig. Leeches and minnows can also be used, but it’s tough to beat a crawler, especially in the summer or early fall. To drag the whole package to the bottom and keep it in the fish zone, a variety of lead in different sizes and shapes is available. Yet, the bottom bouncer, an L shaped piece of wire with a lead weight on one end and an eye for attaching the line to the other end, has been the most popular approach for trolling spinner rigs. Bottom bouncers’ work well over rocks, sand, gravel and mud, in shallow to moderate depths.

Oak Island Beaches - Oak Island NC

Oak Island is a part of the Brunswick Islands, found along the southern edge of the North Carolina coast between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach . While the area has a long and rich history, the city’s story only stretches back to 1990 when two towns merged to form the seaside town. No matter what you call it, the beaches and scenery are top notch on Oak Island.

With ten miles of unspoiled Oak Island beaches, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to leave behind the hassle of the everyday world. Along the way, there are more than 60 public access points, making it easy to find a parking spot and a starting point for your beach adventure. You’ll also find two fishing piers and marinas at different points along the beach, along with three boat launches.

No matter which spot you choose, chances are good you’ll be able to spot the Oak Island Lighthouse. Built in 1958, the lighthouse towers 169 feet from sand to sky. Its light, which blinks every ten seconds, can be seen some 25 nautical miles away on the waters of the Atlantic. In the summertime, volunteers from the local friends organization offer tours. All year round, visitors can make appointments to climb to the top, provided volunteers can be there and that visitors can handle the narrow stairs.

Even if you’re not interested in all those stairs, you likely will be interested in the scenery. The lighthouse looks simply fantastic in photos as does another nearby lighthouse—the Old Baldly Lighthouse. It’s strategically located at the mouth of the Cape Fear River on neighboring Bald Head Island. Lighthouse buffs may want to the trip to the Hatteras Island and Rodanthe, where more lighthouses are open to tour.

Many of the island’s visitors enjoy the scenery from the Oak Island beaches. These wide stretches of sand and gently rolling surf are a natural place for swimming and other typical beach pursuits. Along with sandcastle building and strolling on the beach, island visitors will find a long list of things to do. Recreational trails wind through the island’s wild areas, while a skateboard park is a favorite of young visitors. Plenty of people spend some time off the shore in kayaks and canoes.

Back on land, plenty of people plan time to visit the Oak Island Nature Center, which nicely complements time at the beach. Peeking inside, you’ll find live animals and interesting exhibits that explain the local ecosystem and more about estuaries. Of course, you can see the landscape up close when you hit one of the nature trails that winds around the center or you drop a line off the fishing pier.

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