BWCA Ice Fishing Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Winter Camping and Activities
      Ice Fishing     

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Odie
Guest Paddler
  
10/18/2018 06:21PM  

After spending many years paddle, camping and fishing Quetico and the BWCA during the summer I want to try it in the winter. That is fishing without the paddling and
camping.

My question is where does one ice fish in the BWCA? Are there resorts that provide the
ice fishing gear, provide transportation to the fishing spots and drill the holes?
Or does one provide their own gear and just stay at a resort or a hotel in Ely?
 
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10/20/2018 02:40PM  
You can ice fish just about anywhere in the BWCA, it's just a matter of getting there. I suspect most of the folks who read this winter camping forum have their own gear, and like me a tent for winter camping. If you want to fish inside the BWCA and don't want to walk, snowshoe, or ski, your only other option for being shuttled is dogsled. I seem to recall one of the dogsled operations near Ely shuttles people in and out but can't recall which.

I'm sure there are other outfitters who have the whole setup for you but set you up outside the BWCA. Hopefully others will have more scoop for you on this. My limited experience has been toward the Gunflint for lakers. I've parked at Tuscarora Lodge a couple times and know they have cabins going for ice fishers all winter, so you might want to check with them. Other outfitters up there probably also have options like you are looking for, but you may have to make some calls.

Good luck, it really is beautiful up there in the winter.
tonyyarusso
distinguished member(1403)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
10/22/2018 02:19PM  
Basswood Bob and White Wilderness are the two I've seen mention of doing dogsled ice fishing trips. No experience with either.
Gadfly
distinguished member (462)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
10/24/2018 11:13AM  
Just a couple questions about the original post. Do you have any ice fishing experience? Is there a particular species you would want to target?
Going into the bwca will give you more seclusion but more restrictions such as having to hand drill all of your holes and pull all of your gear in with a sled(not a snowmobile). Also travel conditions through the bwca in the winter can become very slow and difficult.
 
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