We spent a few days on Crooked Lake last week and noticed a float plane fly overhead everyday around 3:00ish. Anyone know why a plane would be flying so low over the BWCA on a daily basis?

More than likely the Forest Service plane based in Ely.

Looking for fires.

That makes sense. Thanks!

Experienced the same thing in late May on Little Saganaga, Forest Service checking for fires.

I have a cabin just outside the BWCA and I can almost set my clock to the USFS Float Plane flying over my place on it's way back to it's base on Shagawa. It's around 3:30-4 pm several times a week. More during dry periods when they're keeping eye out for fires.

Tony

Saw them make a couple of passes daily on our trip this past week. Certainly out looking for campfires of folks who entered prior to the ban being put into effect. Crews can then be dispatched to paddle out to those areas.

Some trips you can set your clock, every day at the same time they would fly over.

Twice in my years going to the BW I have had float planes land off my site. The first was a group of firefighters looking for camping locations during the Cavity Lake fire (I was on Hansen Lake), and the second was last year with the pilot looking for someone who set off a SPOT device. Both times I asked Debbie at Seagull Outfitters about the planes, and both times she told me that it is not uncommon, and that usually they are fire spotting.

Just heard the Tumblehome guys griping about this in their latest podcast.

Video link.

Instagram user had a picture of him (float plane pilot) dropping off firefighters on Moosecamp yesterday

mschi772: "Just heard the Tumblehome guys griping about this in their latest podcast.


Video link. "

I suspect their comments are in jest as anytime there is a fire ban (presuming all the planes aren't out fighting fires in another part of the country) there are multiple flights over lakes per day particularly if they are close the edge of the BWCA.