BWCA Rainy Lake houseboat fishing Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Fishing Forum
      Rainy Lake houseboat fishing     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

Kenny
member (21)member
  
02/12/2022 01:51PM  
Just wondering if anyone has rented a houseboat and did a fishing trip in Rainy Lake. This is something I was thinking of planning for next year but wondering how good the fishing might be in early-mid June.
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
02/13/2022 05:34PM  
I did a Houseboat trip back in the early 80s on Rainy Lake. It was 2 couples and we weren't up there for fishing particularly, more for scenery and relaxation. But I can tell you it is a heck of a way to go, comfort and wilderness all on one trip. Find a nice spot to moor for the night, pull the ramp out to shore and you can hang out there or have a nice fire. Some have screen porches for relaxing/cards/etc. Many have grills. They give you two way radios to contact them in case of a problem and they will even run you out ice, charcoal, etc in a pinch.

You are generally required to tow a boat behind the houseboat and it works great to just take off for a few hours or a day and explore/fish and come home to a nice comfy place.

We did fish some and my most vivid memories were fishing in a shallow bay and seeing several huge northerns cruising around. We caught a few decent ones. Voyagers National Park is a pretty good fishery all around but Rainy Lake is the best of the lakes up there, all species and trophy potential. It's a big lake though so some local intel would be helpful for fishing.

The biggest negative is the expense - houseboat trips are pretty costly but if that's not an issue then I would encourage you to give it a try. Seems like splitting the cost between 4-6 people not from the same household would be the only way to make it affordable. If it is one family, or even two, be prepared to drop some serious cash.

Seems to me though that it might be a great once in a lifetime experience, probably not something you would do every year...unless you are loaded:)

BTW, mid June should be prime fishing time. Also prime bug time so nice to have the boat to retreat to.
 
IronRangeMike
senior member (80)senior membersenior member
  
02/13/2022 08:05PM  
I’ve done this a few times on Crane, Vermillion and Rainy. Lots of fun. Designated houseboat sites all over Rainy. It’s the same as the BWCA, right down to the water that fills it, but you don’t have to paddle. Seclusion is easy to find, but you may, God forbid, hear an outboard or two.

It’s pricey, an entry level boat will cost you a couple G’s (+ fuel) for the week, a high end one will be several thousand, but totally worth bringing your cabin down the lake with you. Bring a boat or two to tow and you’ll have a great time.

Make sure you get to kettle falls and shoot a game of pool.
 
yogi59weedr
distinguished member(2662)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/14/2022 12:08AM  
Just sent a re t to my sister in AZ. I gotta start a bucket list info page.
 
lundojam
distinguished member(2726)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/14/2022 04:59AM  
The fishing will be very, very good then. Likely shoreline-related, shallow fish. Ask around when you get up there and do plenty of recon beforehand, but it'll be good.
 
cyclones30
distinguished member(4163)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
02/14/2022 05:55PM  
IronRangeMike: "I’ve done this a few times on Crane, Vermillion and Rainy. Lots of fun. Designated houseboat sites all over Rainy. It’s the same as the BWCA, right down to the water that fills it, but you don’t have to paddle. Seclusion is easy to find, but you may, God forbid, hear an outboard or two.

It’s pricey, an entry level boat will cost you a couple G’s (+ fuel) for the week, a high end one will be several thousand, but totally worth bringing your cabin down the lake with you. Bring a boat or two to tow and you’ll have a great time.

Make sure you get to kettle falls and shoot a game of pool. "


You do the pool shooting at the falls? Or those are 2 different things to do...
 
Kenny
member (21)member
  
02/15/2022 08:52AM  
Really, thanks for all the info. I'm trying to set up a memorable fishing/outdoor experience for my wife and daughter who love to fish. I know it will be expensive but the problem might be finding a reservable boat since this can be a very popular trip for many. Does anyone have a recommended outfitter?
 
aholmgren
distinguished member(544)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/17/2022 10:03AM  
I used to stay @ Thunderbird lodge and mostly fished the Canadian side & eastern side of Rainy - right next to Rainy Lake Houseboats
 
Marley
member (39)member
  
02/27/2022 07:26PM  
My wife and I have talked about renting a houseboat several times but just can’t justify the cost. We reserve the National Park campsites 3-4 times a year instead. The sites have tent pads, picnic tables, bear proof boxes , privies, and some have docks. In my opinion, the sites are much nicer than the BWCA sites. I’m sure they are much easier for the park service to maintain.
June fishing is typically fantastic. The fish are still shallow and relatively easy to find.
 
Maiingan
distinguished member (197)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/27/2022 07:57PM  
cyclones30: "
IronRangeMike: "I’ve done this a few times on Crane, Vermillion and Rainy. Lots of fun. Designated houseboat sites all over Rainy. It’s the same as the BWCA, right down to the water that fills it, but you don’t have to paddle. Seclusion is easy to find, but you may, God forbid, hear an outboard or two.


It’s pricey, an entry level boat will cost you a couple G’s (+ fuel) for the week, a high end one will be several thousand, but totally worth bringing your cabin down the lake with you. Bring a boat or two to tow and you’ll have a great time.


Make sure you get to kettle falls and shoot a game of pool. "



You do the pool shooting at the falls? Or those are 2 different things to do..."


You shoot pool at Kettle Falls Hotel. The floor in the hotels has an angle of about 15 degrees, that is what makes it special.
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next