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porkchapes
member (17)member
  
12/05/2006 09:25PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
This may sound absurd, but I am considering moving to Ely, but I am an avid fly fisherman for trout. brookies, browns and rainbows. I am just wondering if there are many streams or rivers that are good trout streams in this neck of the woods. Not that this is a final say, but it is imporant to me. Thanks.
 
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12/05/2006 11:03PM  
I'm not familiar with lakes/streams outside the BW, but I think Miners lake (which is practically in the city limits) has some rainbow.
 
moheep
Guest Paddler
  
12/05/2006 11:45PM  
I can honestly say that I know of no streams or rivers in the Ely area that hold trout. There are plenty of lakes however. A couple favorites of mine for fly fishing are High and Dry lakes which have mostly Brookies and Splake, Dry has some nice Browns too. Also a little known lake off the Echo Trail is Regenbogen. Its a small lake with nice Brookies. If you are looking for stream trout you will have to travel closer to Superior. I have lived in Ely and you will love it.
 
mr.barley
distinguished member(7231)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
12/06/2006 06:18AM  
If you like fly fishing you should try your hand at smallmouth. Smallmouth on top water is a real rush.
 
Wooly Bugger
distinguished member (224)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/06/2006 10:44AM  
Once you go bronzeback, you'll never go back.
Seriously though, I have found the stream trout fishing in MN to be very poor compared to the little bit of trout fishing I've done in Arizona, Colorado, and NY. The only reason I fish for trout at all around here (Minnesota) is because the season opens so much sooner. The smallmouth and pike fishing is wonderful though, and if you manage to get a 2 lb northern on a 6wt, or a 10 oz. smallie on the same, you'll forget all about them trouts.
I do understand the lure of fooling a trout into a dry fly you've tied. I've done it, so that's not my arguement. I'm just trying to say that I've come have more fun fishing for the other species mentioned to due the relative sizes of the trout vs. northerns and smallies in Minnesota. I got into fly fishing to catch trout. Now I only go after them when I have to, or when I'm in a place known for it's trout fishing. There's a reason Ely is known for it's smallies and not trout.
I'm sure you'll have fun no matter what you try. I think the "Boundary Waters Fishing Guide" by Furtman lists the trout streams, as well as the MN DNR site.
Enjoy!
 
12/08/2006 01:08PM  
There are also some trout-stocked lakes within the BWCA. The one I know of close to Ely is just off the North Kawishiwi River called Conchu Lake. EP's 29, 30, or 31 will get you there.
 
12/09/2006 10:33AM  
Ahsub Lake, just east of Disappointment, is a designated trout lake also.

I'm a trout/fly fisherman too. Nothing else really replaces it.
 
12/11/2006 02:17PM  
I was just reading my Beymer book over regarding EP#29 North Kawishiwi River. To get to the river you have to cross Ojibway and Triangle Lakes, one of these two non-BWCA lakes has trout in it.
 
moheep
Guest Paddler
  
12/11/2006 11:28PM  
Ojibway has lakers in it but not easy to fish at all. It is a decent spring lake but would fish Burntside if I had a choice between the two for sure.
 
wolfwatcher
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12/12/2006 08:08PM  
Nothing absurd about considering moving to Ely -- join the club! Tofte Lake off the Fernberg has, I think, rainbows. Also another little lake (Henson) off the Echo Trail. There are more, but I haven't been flyfishing up there for a while. A great book to get is Michael Furtman's Fishing the Boundary Waters. Also, Flyfishing the North Country by Shawn Perich.

Also, the DNR lakefinder website should help you with what species are in which lake.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=38072400

Don't forget all the streams & rivers on the North Shore!
 
marsonite
distinguished member(2468)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/25/2006 12:10PM  
i've spent some time pursuing stream trout in streams in the area. i don't believe there are any near ely. there are a few near isabella though. also, the west two river near tower is listed as a trout stream, but i haven't fished it personally. i've fished several streams north of virginia. the dark river used to be an excellent trout stream(brookies and browns). i caught a 19" brown there, which was my biggest fishing thrill ever. also, johnson creek about 10 miles north of virginia has brook trout. of course as someone pointed out, there are a ton of streams in the north shore watershed that hold trout.

don't expect the yellowstone river though. the streams are brushy (and the best water always seems to be overhung by alders) so flycasting is a real challenge.
 
adam
Moderator
  
12/25/2006 04:44PM  

Did someone say Yellowstone!! I am a couple months away from my annual trip to the Bighorn.

We ran into a little snow last year, but the fish didn't mind.
 
starwatcher
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12/25/2006 05:10PM  
I'm not an expert fly fisherman, and therefore my advice is questionable. In all my trips, I can't help thinking that there maybe other areas that are more conducive to fly fishing. Even the steel head run along the lakeshore of Lake Superior, they don't normally don't use real fly fishing techniques. I remember catching lake trout in the BWCA, but they seemed to be at great depth (except when they are out of season). One suggestion is the Brule River in Wisconsin which I believe is noted for fly fishing.

By the way Adam: Nice Fish!!!! It's bigger than mine, but mine was a "keeper." Northshore Rainbow trout.
 
adam
Moderator
  
12/25/2006 07:40PM  

I am no expert either. There may be people who do some stream fly fishing successfully in the BWCA, but I haven't heard of many that do and I don't myself. However, there are plenty of people who bring in a nine weight rods and fish for pike and SMB. The Boundary Waters Journal has had a number of good articles on smallmouth or pike on the fly. I think Spring 06 had an article on bass fishing in the Quetico using fly equipment.

Adam
 
manmountain8
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03/08/2018 09:33PM  
There are tons of Trout Streams not to far away. They may not be super close to Ely but you have to realize that if your moving to the boonies you're gonna have to drive a little further for everything. Just east of Babbit I count about 12 streams. Probably mostly Brook Trout. That area is just over a half hour away. There are 3 streams by Angora about 45 minutes west of Ely. There are tons of streams near Isabella of Hwy 1. If you're willing to drive a little further towards the North Shore you will find enough streams to keep you busy for the rest of your life. There is awesome fishing for Steelhead, Big Browns, and Coaster Brookies. The Baptism near Finland is awesome for Brook Trout, and Steelhead closer to the Lake. If you ask me, you are within reach of Stream Trout heaven.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/northeast.html
 
manmountain8
distinguished member (169)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/08/2018 09:56PM  
..and I'm only 12 year late. lol
 
03/09/2018 08:47AM  
Might be a new record for oldest zombie thread... great info though!
 
03/09/2018 10:52AM  
While not near Ely, but close, the Little Isabella River holds trout.
 
CrookedPaddler1
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03/09/2018 11:56AM  
As has been noted by many others, Ely itself does not have any legitimate trout streams, although there are a couple of them around. Lots of lakes with various stream trout in them, but if you are looking for the traditional steam trout fishing, head down toward Isabella. There are a number of trout steams in the area that have good numbers of native fish.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/trout_streams/northeast.html
 
TheBrownLeader
distinguished member (282)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/09/2018 04:27PM  
I can't speak for Minnesota near Ely as far as trout streams, but there are a number of good trout streams in Northern Wisconsin on the south side of Superior. I found them on the WI DNR page, and have had some pretty good success. Not too far from Ely, if you are looking to moderate a deal breaker.
 
03/11/2018 04:37PM  
oldgentleman: "Ahsub Lake, just east of Disappointment, is a designated trout lake also.



I'm a trout/fly fisherman too. Nothing else really replaces it."
That lake is no longer a dwsignated trout lake due to smallmouth population I believe.
 
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