NEW FOR 2015 – ARTIE’S LODGE!!!

ARTIE’S LODGE – NEW FOR 2015!!! Artie’s Lodge is an affordable two bedroom cabin located only one mile north of Ortonville. The cabin sleeps up to 9 guests and has awesome views of the lake from the living room, dining room and deck as it sits only a few feet from the waters edge! Our cabin has everything you could want for next family getaway! Full kitchen, large living room, 50″ flat screen cable TV, WIFI, 1.5 bath, garage, huge deck and more! It just doesn’t get any better than sitting on the deck enjoying the view of the lake while catching fish from the dock! A public boat access ramp is only 40 yards away. Rates start at $150/night – $750/week (2 night minimum) Call Artie’s Bait & Tackle to reserve today! (320)839-2480

Fishing the Midwest TV segment on Big Stone Lake!

The winter portion of this segment was filmed January 12, 2015!

4 New Ice Castles added to rental fleet!

Artie is excited to announce the addition of 4 new Ice Castle fish houses to the rental fleet bringing the total number of rental houses to 8!  With the growing demand and popularity of Big Stone Lake we expanded our fleet to keep up with the demand.  The new houses consist of 3 more Ice Castle Limited’s which are 8×16 fully loaded 4 person sleepers and a 6.5×14 Ice Castle Special which has 6 holes, 2 bunks and a stove/oven.  We have also hired 3 guides for the winter.  Give us a call asap to get your reservation in the book as we are filling up fast!  (320)839-2480

Artie’s is official weigh station for MN Big Buck Contest!

Get your tickets now for the Minnesota Big Buck Challenge at Artie’s Bait & Tackle!  With 6 divisions you will be eligible to win big prizes even if your buck only weighs 160 pounds!  We also have a youth division and a largest doe division!  There is over $50,000 in prizes but you must purchase a ticket before the firearm season to be eligible to win.  Stop in to Artie’s Bait and Tackle for more details and to purchase your ticket!  More details below:

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE PRIZES!

Welcome to the 2014 Big Buck Challenge, the Nations biggest deer contest by Weight!

Here are some updates for the upcoming season.

1. The 2014 Big Buck Challenge will be held in Minnesota.

2. Check out the 2014 prizes list.  We made changes to three categories – Bucks Under 200, Under 180 and Under 160 pounds.  More hunters will have a chance to win, with prizes going into 35th place in the Under 200 and to 30th place in the Under 180 & 160 lb Divisions.

3. Create more excitement in your hunting party by making sure all friends and hunting buddies are entered.  Even consider buying tickets for them.

4. We added some new weigh stations, one in NE MN (Silver Bay), one in Northern MN (Salol), and one in SW MN (Ortonville).  I hope this helps and gets a weigh station closer to you!  We have also moved a couple, Mcgregor will move to Aitkin and Finlayson will be moved to Hinckley.  We also removed Big Falls weigh station due to lack of participation from that area.

5. We have more great prizes for 2014, and I can’t wait to give them away after season!!

6. Remember to tell all your buddies to enter!  Last year, many hunters arrived at weigh stations, weighed their deer, and would have won major prizes, but they forgot to purchase a ticket.  This is deer hunting; you never know what will walk into your shooting lane.  Don’t miss out!

7. Don’t forget the NO COST Mills Fleet Farm Youth Hunting Contest.  Check out the Youth Hunting Guide – featured on this website coming soon.

How It Works?

Main Contest:

1) Enter the Big Buck Challenge for only $20.

2) Shoot a deer.

3) Bring your deer to one of our many weigh-stations to see what it weighs.

4) Check the Leaderboard at the end of each day.

5) Claim your prize at the Awards Ceremony!

Youth Contest:

(If you are 10-15 yrs old, there is no pre-registration for the youth contest.  If they wish to enter the main contest, they must purchase a ticket for $20 prior to season opener.)

1) Shoot a deer.

2) Bring your deer to one of our many weigh-stations to see what it weighs.

3) If you are in the top 25 Bucks or top 25 Does, you win a Mills Fleet Farm gift card!!

2014 Big Buck Challenge Divisions:

Central Boiler Over 200 pounds
Hunter Specialties Under 200 pounds
Vortex Optics Under 180 pounds
Hornady American Whitetail Under 160 pounds
Big Game Treestands Biggest Doe
Mills Fleet Farm Youth Buck
Mills Fleet Farm Youth Doe

For more info check out:  http://www.usbigbuck.com/

Artie’s Bait & Tackle now selling Ice Castle Fish Houses

 

 

  Artie Arndt, owner of Artie’s Bait & Tackle, announced today that his bait shop is now an Ice Castle Fish Houses dealer.  Artie’s will be stocking a selection of Ice Castle houses at their Ortonville, MN location and, will also be able to custom order houses.

 

  “We purchased an Ice Castle  for use in our winter guiding service last winter and were very, very impressed with it,” Arndt stated. “Our customers loved the features and comfort it offered and, we loved the quality construction,” he went on.  “Plus, Ice Castles’s growth has been truly remarkable and we wanted to get it on the wave of excitement,” he concluded.

 

  “Artie’s Bait is located in a great spot, making it an ideal location to sell Ice Castle Fish Houses,” commented Chad Hiepler, of Ice Castle Fish Houses.  “Big Stone Lake has been very popular for the last few ice seasons, bringing a lot of traffic right to Artie’s Bait,” he went on.   “Artie is a fantastic promoter, and his business is expanding, just like we are,” Hiepler concluded.

 

  Arndt’s shop is located less than a mile from Big Stone Lake, one of the Midwest’s hottest winter perch fisheries.  In addition to offering a full line of tackle and live bait, Arndt hosted over 600 guests in his fish houses la st winter.

 

  Additionally, Artie’s Bait and Tackle was named Minnesota’s Best Bait Shop by WCCO-TV earlier this spring.  Up-to-the minute Big Stone Lake fishing reports as well as store specials can be found by following Artie’s Bait and Tackle Ortonville on Facebook.

 

  Ice Castle Fish Houses Manufacturing, based in Montevideo, Minnesota since 1993, is the largest manufacturer of premium portable ice fish houses in the state. Starting business in a small shop, Ice Castle rapidly expanded to becoming the premier manufacturer of quality ice fish houses.  For more information regarding Ice Castle stop by Artie’s Bait & Tackle in Ortonville, MN.

 

KSFY-ABC Sioux Falls, SD features Ortonville and Big Stone City LIVE on the NEWS!

On July 10, 2014  KSFY featured Big Stone City and Ortonville, MN on their “Simply South Dakota” segment and did a live news broadcast in Ortonville.  They featured multiple businesses from the area.  Click the link below to see the feature they did on Artie’s Bait & Tackle!

CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO

“Best Bait Shop in Minnesota” CBS-WCCO

CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

Wow, wow, wow! A huge thank you to all who voted us the “Best Bait Shop in Minnesota!” I cannot tell you how much our family has appreciated all the support we have received from all of our customers! I feel the title “Best Bait Shop in Minnesota” does not accurately describe our shop as we are a small shop and I have always said that Christopherson’s in Alexandria has the best selection of products that any fishermen could want. However, I have learned that the bait shop business is so much more than having the right jig or a special minnow. Our bait shop is about the people and customer service. It starts with the awesome staff that I have. I am very fortunate to have two very experienced fishermen and great people like Dave Ohrtman and Jim Rasset on staff to help our customers have a great fishing experience while visiting Big Stone Lake. In addition to these two I want to also acknowledge and thank my wife Krista and my kids Dylan (18), Tanner (16), Joe (9) and Cassie (7). As most of you know, the entire family has a part in running the business. I would also like to thank all of my extended family and friends that have helped us get our business to where it is today. Last but not least, I would like to thank all of our awesome customers! You guys/gals have become like family to us as we see you come to the lake on the weekends or as we chat about the fishing on facebook or as you tell all your lies at the bait shop! Thank you for voting us “Best Bait Shop in Minnesota,” we are honored to receive this award and will do everything in our power to be the best bait shop in Minnesota!