Campbell's resort

[JTfisherman]

We arwe planning a family vacation to Sand Lake in late June. Can anyone tell me more info on Campbell's Lodge. We will have 4 families sharing one large cabin. We have two kids, and were wondering about the beach, the owners, and the fishing on Sand Lake. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

[Jason Boser]

I dont know much about the owners or the resort but the fishing on sand can be real good in late june. should be able to get some walleye, northern perch maybe even some panfish

Jason

[mudlaker]

JT - My brother and I have been going to Campbells on the opener for the last 3 years. The cabins are really nice and so are the owners, Carol and Joe. It has a relatively small beach in front of the resort by the boat landing. They have a large floating dock with many slips and power if you need to charge anything on your boat. The owners seem to really cater more to the family crowd rather than the typical "opener" crowd (we aren't going back this year). They stopped serving beer in the lodge and we didn't feel very welcome last year. We like to go to the lodge and have a beer after fishing and talk to others who have been out fishing. When we went down last year the lodge was closed. Most of the cabins sit up on a large cliff overlooking the lake. Early in the year if the water is low you might have trouble launching at the resort, but there is a public access about 15 min away.

Overall, I would reccommend Campbells for a family with small children, but it's probably not the place I would bring a bunch of my fishing buddies and I think thats the way the owners like it.

[GudeMN]

I went to that resort before the Campbells took over, it was called Empty Bar Resort. As the new ownership took over, many Empty Bar regulars left...my family included. We had traveled to Sand for 10 years but after the change in ownership we never really felt welcome. There was an extra charge for dogs AND you had to have them kenneled, while the resident shorthairs roamed the property picking fights and crapping everywhere. The subsequent piles of dog doo were blamed on camper's hounds, regardless of being kenneled or not. His shorthair simply didn't take craps as far as Joe was concerned.. The ownership (Joe) also made it known that he didn't appreciate people who stayed at his camp going off to fish other lakes and clean those fish on his property. I guess if you but his bait, use his dock, you have to fish "his" lake. The whole resort turned into to a military facility. I've experienced Campbell's and know first hand it isn't what I would consider an overly enjoyable experience. Too many rules. Always felt like I was being watched or something. The beach is rather small due to the hill that was described in an earlier post. Plus the drop off is rather abrupt on that part of the lake. The end of the dock was 15-20 ft deep. There is a resort on Ghost Bay on the other end of the lake that sets on a LARGE sandy shoreline with a more gradual slope. I have never stayed there but have fished that bay quite a bit. Just an opinion on Campbell's. Carol is a sweetheart but in my opinion, Joe is a little abrasive. Sand is a great lake for fishing.

[mudlaker]

GudeMN - Now that you mention it, I have to agree with you about Joe, although on the opener he tends to make himself scarce while Carol runs around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to take care of everyone. In the three years up there I don't think I had more than two conversations with Joe and they lasted approximately 14 seconds before he had to run off to do something. I think he just hates people. Good thing he got into the resort business!

I have been going to the Winnie area for about 15 years now and have run into more rude resort owners than I can count. They have no problem taking your money and then spending the whole time telling you what you can't do at their resort. We stayed at one place where the guy made you take your boat out every night and then charged you $5 every time you put it back in!! Ofcourse he didn't tell you that until you went to check out.

I could go on and on with similar stories, but to try to keep it on a positive note, my wife and I have been staying on Dixon Lake for about 8 years now. Lyle's a great guy and makes you feel welcome. Any other places you (or anyone) would recommend?

[sandlkspecial]

We've had a place on Sand for about 30 years and I have known basically all of the owners of "Cambell's". Unforunately, we have stopped going (for bait, gas, bringing the kids) to Cambell's for just the reasons above. Joe is extremely rude. I would highly recommend going to Lakewood lodge which is just around the shorline. The owners are wonderful and the facilities are better.

Fishing on the lake is great and well managed.

[Bank on Frank]

I too have fished with sandlkspecial (which is a code word for the summer lure that rocks this lake) for many years. The folks at Cambell's suck. Everything people have said here about them is very true. I would like to add though about the nice couple at Lakewood Lodge. The owner gives up some reports of fishing and the recent events in relation to the proposed slots etc... If I were to give props to resorts on Sand, these folks get my vote. Just my 2 cents............

[lakewood]

First let me say Thank You to Sandlkspecial and Bank on Frank for your kind words. Please stop in and make your "code names" known. Second it was disturbing to read that mudlaker has had several bad experiences with resort owners in the Winnie area. I am glad you have found a resort that you are comfortable with and I would agree that Lyle at Dixon Lake runs a good operation and is friendly to deal with. To JTFisherman we invite you to visit our website at www.lakewoodlodge.com and call us anytime with any questions you may have. Sand Lake is a wonderful fishing lake where there is always something biting. As stated in an earlier post Sand Lake is a well managed Walleye lake with very good Crappie and Perch fishing and an over-abundance of Northern Pike. (which we hope to address in partnership with the DNR, look for info soon to be made public). Thanks Again and JTFisherman good luck in finding the resort that fits your family's needs. Please call us with ANY questions.

[bassman222]

I worked there 4 years awhile back, Joe and Carol are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Newly remodeled cabins, new floating dock w/elec, good fishing from dock, and Sand Lake is a good all around lake. I don't know of a place on the lake that has nicer cabins. From what I have heard it has shifted to more of a family resort, I don't think you'll have a problem going to fish.