Hi guys,

I'm looking to do a trip to the Ely area this summer, and would prefer to troll crankbaits for walleyes, smallmouth bass, and lake trout.

I've tried paddle trolling in the past, but would prefer to use an outboard so that we can more easily hand hold our rods and aggressively rip the crankbaits while trolling, in order to trigger strikes.

So I'm looking to go to a lake that has a 25 horsepower limit, and in looking at a few different websites, I'm getting a few conflicting answers as to which lakes allow 25 Horsepower motors.

The ely.org website indicates that the following lakes (or portions thereof) would allow 25 HP motors:

Basswood

Fall

Newton

Moose

Newfound

Sucker

Snowbank

South Farm

Trout

This was the complete list that I saw on the ely.org website.

However, I did also see Saganaga listed as also allowing outboard motors up to 25 Horsepower.

Is this correct? Are 25 HP motors allowed on Saganaga? And is the list from ely.org for the most part accurate? Are there any other lakes that allow a 25 HP motor that I should be aware of?

Any help or clarification would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

"Jackpot" John Schroeder

Sag has a 25 HP limit on the American side , not sure on the Canadian side. Outfitters that offer tows have 25HP on their boats.

Seagull Lake also allows motors in a portion of the lake, but neither Seagull or Saganaga would be considered "Ely-area". which is probably why they aren't on that list you found.

Some motor lakes on the extreme west side, also: Little Vermilion, Loon, and that portion of Lac LaCroix up to campsite #9 (entry to Snow Bay). But not sure of the max HP allowed.

Lakes with 10 Horsepower (HP)
Limit
On these lakes, the possession of one
additional motor no greater than 6 HP is
permitted, as long as motors in use do
not exceed 10 HP:
• Clearwater, North Fowl, South Fowl,
Seagull (no motors west of Three Mile
Island), sections of Island River within
the BWCAW.
Lakes with 25 HP Limit
On these lakes or portions of these lakes,
the possession of one additional motor no
greater than 10 HP is permitted, as long
as motors in use do not exceed 25 HP:
• Basswood (except that portion north of
Jackfish Bay and Washington Island),
Saganaga (except that portion west of
American Point), Fall, Newton, Moose,
Newfound, Sucker, Snowbank, East
Bearskin, South Farm, Trout.
Lakes with no HP Limits
• Little Vermilion, Loon, Lac La Croix
(not beyond the south end of Snow Bay
in the USA), Loon River.

This was copied from the forest service trip planning guide hope it helps.


Tony

If you don’t already have your permits, your options will be limited. Basswood, for example, is gone within minutes of permits opening in January. I bet you can get on snowbank or trout, and possibly the moose-only chain.

Sag isn't listed (among others) because no one goes to Ely to eventually use a motor boat on Saganaga.

Ely area is going to have a limited list that is

A. in the BWCA
B. allows motors
C. contains lake trout
D. has permit available for your BWCA motor trip

So....you may need to look outside the BWCA or not for lakers or something else to get the rest of what you want.

cyclones30: "Sag isn't listed (among others) because no one goes to Ely to eventually use a motor boat on Saganaga.


Ely area is going to have a limited list that is


A. in the BWCA
B. allows motors
C. contains lake trout
D. has permit available for your BWCA motor trip


So....you may need to look outside the BWCA or not for lakers or something else to get the rest of what you want. "

Yep, I think Snowbank and Trout are the only two lakes that check those boxes.

FWIW, and I know we are weirdos. We are doing a series of daytrips that splits halfway between Basswood and Sag this year. It's a lot of driving.

As others have stated, permit availability is going to be your main issue.

Thanks for the replies, everybody.

We ended up deciding to go to Snowbank from August 6-13, and we're staying with Snowbank Lodge & Outfitters.

From what they told me, as long as I'm staying at their resort they will be able to secure all necessary permits to fish on Snowbank. (Apparently the permits are included for guest of their resort).

"Jackpot" John Schroeder

jackpotjohnny48: "Thanks for the replies, everybody.


We ended up deciding to go to Snowbank from August 6-13, and we're staying with Snowbank Lodge & Outfitters.


From what they told me, as long as I'm staying at their resort they will be able to secure all necessary permits to fish on Snowbank. (Apparently the permits are included for guest of their resort).


"Jackpot" John Schroeder"

Some lodges/outfitters located directly on certain lakes can have a fleet of permit-exempt motorboats for use by their guests. But if you are bringing your own boat you will need your own permit. There are no exceptions that I'm aware of.

Thanks for the clarification on that.

Yeah, we'll be renting a boat from Snowbank Lodge, so I'm assuming that is where the exemption comes into play.

jackpotjohnny48: "Thanks for the clarification on that.


Yeah, we'll be renting a boat from Snowbank Lodge, so I'm assuming that is where the exemption comes into play."

Yep. You'll just need a fishing license w/ trout stamp and you'll be good to go! Enjoy the trip, hope the fish are biting for you :)