So sad
It used to be roaring.
Not like it is now.

No fish in town... everyone is out on the water?

Our little town was ghosty too. One boat and a couple people fishing from shore is all I saw here today.

How many lakes are still froze up?

LindenTree: "How many lakes are still froze up?"

Great point; check the ice out thread. And, frankly, if I were to hassle the crowds on opener, I can think of many other places I'd rather be than Ely. Upper Red Lake, for example.

Frenchy19: "

LindenTree: "How many lakes are still froze up?"

Great point; check the ice out thread. And, frankly, if I were to hassle the crowds on opener, I can think of many other places I'd rather be than Ely. Upper Red Lake, for example."

Change in demographics perhaps? Change in fishing habits of anglers?
Historically, fishing license sales are way up from say 30 years ago. They are down quite a bit from 2020 (covid year).

This years late spring certainly has an affect on the mindset of anglers.

So many factors at play. I myself am a fair weather fishermen and haven’t gone out on opener for 25 years but that’s just me.

Maybe everyone is our panning in the streams LOL?!

Opener once was a time everyone went fishing. The last two years' opening weekend only saw a modest amount of people fishing in Brainerd lakes. The opening day use to be led by 10,000 plus people on Mille lacs. Now with tight regulations just a handful of boats.

Yes, Ely is dead, dying. Went to Basswood opener very little boat traffic. I was expecting big crowds since we could only get a day permit. Basswood was quiet also; I wonder how many permits went unused.

DukeC: "Yes, Ely is dead, dying. Went to Basswood opener very little boat traffic. I was expecting big crowds since we could only get a day permit. Basswood was quiet also; I wonder how many permits went unused."

You bring up a great point about permits that seem to be playing a big part in this problem. People get permits way ahead of time and don't use them. Maybe the truth is Ely isn't dead, but the vagabond permit holders are keeping the anglers out because they couldn't get them.

DukeC: "Yes, Ely is dead, dying. Went to Basswood opener very little boat traffic. I was expecting big crowds since we could only get a day permit. Basswood was quiet also; I wonder how many permits went unused."

Moose lake, especially motor boats has the highest in the BWCA of unused issued permits.

This is OLD data like a decade, but maybe still happening?

The high no-show rate has prompted local speculation that some opponents of motorized travel in the wilderness are reserving permits they don’t intend to use. But the reservation data shows that most of the no-shows are attributable to permits reserved by outfitters, rather than the general public. In fact, for permits on the Moose Lake chain, just three outfitters accounted for 81 percent of the no-show permits. Those same three outfitters accounted for 52 percent of the no-shows for Basswood Lake permits.

Not say it is not true Pinetree, but that is odd. No shows would hurt the outfitters the most. Especially LaTourell's. Look at all the money lost at the portage alone, $38 round trip... that adds up to many thousands of $$$$

Where does this data come from forest service, some nonprofit eco group? Or does it come from the outfitters, businesses, chamber of commerce, or other local groups.

Maybe if there are no shows, they should open those permits up to others.

DukeC: "Not say it is not true Pinetree, but that is odd. No shows would hurt the outfitters the most. Especially LaTourell's. Look at all the money lost at the portage alone, $38 round trip... that adds up to many thousands of $$$$


Where does this data come from forest service, some nonprofit eco group? Or does it come from the outfitters, businesses, comber of commerce, or other local groups.


Maybe if there are no shows, they should open those permits up to others. "

The data is accurate,like I said tho it is a old study,but maybe still relevant?
USFS-permit data from the past

Pinetree: "

DukeC: "Not say it is not true Pinetree, but that is odd. No shows would hurt the outfitters the most. Especially LaTourell's. Look at all the money lost at the portage alone, $38 round trip... that adds up to many thousands of $$$$



Where does this data come from forest service, some nonprofit eco group? Or does it come from the outfitters, businesses, comber of commerce, or other local groups.



Maybe if there are no shows, they should open those permits up to others. "

The data is accurate,like I said tho it is a old study,but maybe still relevant?
USFS-permit data from the past "

I think the lottery was a pretty different system and can’t be directly compared to today’s system. Don’t believe there is a way for an outfitter to reserve a permit without having a specific customer tied to the permit anymore. Not possible to change the name of the trip leader after reserving. So while that may have explained the no-shows 10 years ago, I don’t think it does anymore. And permits have definitely gotten easier to secure since the new system started, at least they are if you log in at 9am on opening day. I’ve been able to get moose>PP permits, both day use and overnight, three years in a row. They are gone within 10-15 minutes but they are obtainable if you’re ready in that window.

The Schaumburg Sport Show near me this Winter, didn't have a single Ely area Lodge or outfitter represented.
I used to attend and work Sport Shows with 30, 40, or more Ely area businesses represented.
The old Chicago Amphitheatre Sport Show was where I landed my outfitting job, back in the 1970s.

thegildedgopher: "

Pinetree: "

DukeC: "Not say it is not true Pinetree, but that is odd. No shows would hurt the outfitters the most. Especially LaTourell's. Look at all the money lost at the portage alone, $38 round trip... that adds up to many thousands of $$$$



Where does this data come from forest service, some nonprofit eco group? Or does it come from the outfitters, businesses, comber of commerce, or other local groups.



Maybe if there are no shows, they should open those permits up to others. "

The data is accurate,like I said tho it is a old study,but maybe still relevant?
USFS-permit data from the past "

I think the lottery was a pretty different system and can’t be directly compared to today’s system. Don’t believe there is a way for an outfitter to reserve a permit without having a specific customer tied to the permit anymore. Not possible to change the name of the trip leader after reserving. So while that may have explained the no-shows 10 years ago, I don’t think it does anymore. And permits have definitely gotten easier to secure since the new system started, at least they are if you log in at 9am on opening day. I’ve been able to get moose>PP permits, both day use and overnight, three years in a row. They are gone within 10-15 minutes but they are obtainable if you’re ready in that window."

I agree the lottery was different, you had at times 3 or more people from one party each putting in and sometimes they got two or three permits. Like I said it seems like opening day lost some of its importance.
I will also mention the first week in or around the BWCA with the cold water, fishing can be slow. Around May 20th it usually picks up.

I was in Ely Friday, not a complete zoo but plenty busy.

On Crane lake and Sandpoint Saturday, very zoo like.

Vermilion on Sunday and the circus came to Pike bay.

I can’t wait for fall when I get the lakes mostly to myself again.

The news was reporting it was still frozen up there, so maybe people stayed south. There was a ton of traffic on Highway 65 going north with boats and on highway 169. So they were going somewhere

DukeC: "Yes, Ely is dead, dying. Went to Basswood opener very little boat traffic. I was expecting big crowds since we could only get a day permit. Basswood was quiet also; I wonder how many permits went unused."

What side of Basswood were you on? I was up there on Saturday and when you came down into Pipestone it was nothing but boats! Along the shoreline by the falls where I was fishing I counted 40 and I know there had to be AT LEAST that if not more right off the portage.

Took a ride down the lake and there were a lot of people out fishing.

Stumpy: "The Schaumburg Sport Show near me this Winter, didn't have a single Ely area Lodge or outfitter represented.
I used to attend and work Sport Shows with 30, 40, or more Ely area businesses represented.
The old Chicago Amphitheatre Sport Show was where I landed my outfitting job, back in the 1970s."

Hey Stumps, what do you think the reason is for this? Not a single Ely business at the sport show?
Tom

Harv: "

DukeC: "Yes, Ely is dead, dying. Went to Basswood opener very little boat traffic. I was expecting big crowds since we could only get a day permit. Basswood was quiet also; I wonder how many permits went unused."

What side of Basswood were you on? I was up there on Saturday and when you came down into Pipestone it was nothing but boats! Along the shoreline by the falls where I was fishing I counted 40 and I know there had to be AT LEAST that if not more right off the portage.


Took a ride down the lake and there were a lot of people out fishing."

East side went in prairie portage. Fished around Crown Island and Websters. Did see boats at the bottom of the portage fishing.

DukeC: "

Harv: "

DukeC: "Yes, Ely is dead, dying. Went to Basswood opener very little boat traffic. I was expecting big crowds since we could only get a day permit. Basswood was quiet also; I wonder how many permits went unused."

What side of Basswood were you on? I was up there on Saturday and when you came down into Pipestone it was nothing but boats! Along the shoreline by the falls where I was fishing I counted 40 and I know there had to be AT LEAST that if not more right off the portage.



Took a ride down the lake and there were a lot of people out fishing."

East side went in prairie portage. Fished around Crown Island and Websters. Did see boats at the bottom of the portage fishing. "

People get moose lake permits and portage into pipestone for opener.

I think the hype over the ice out kept some people from coming up. Town was plenty busy from what I saw Thursday and Friday. The weekend before opener was busy too!

tumblehome: "

Stumpy: "The Schaumburg Sport Show near me this Winter, didn't have a single Ely area Lodge or outfitter represented.
I used to attend and work Sport Shows with 30, 40, or more Ely area businesses represented.
The old Chicago Amphitheatre Sport Show was where I landed my outfitting job, back in the 1970s."

Hey Stumps, what do you think the reason is for this? Not a single Ely business at the sport show?
Tom"

I’m speaking out of turn here as I’m no stumpy, however I think it’s a safe guess to say the answer is because it doesn’t make financial sense? I think a lot of these businesses are doing better than ever and don’t have a problem booking up without traveling all over to sports shows? They can also provide similar service to people far and wide using the tech at their disposal. All their info is online, etc. I don’t know anything about the Schaumburg show specifically, but I do know that overall attendance at these types of conventions is decreasing. This past year the Minnesota Sportsmen’s Show announced they were ending their stop in Saint Paul after a 52 year run.

thegildedgopher: "

tumblehome: "

Stumpy: "The Schaumburg Sport Show near me this Winter, didn't have a single Ely area Lodge or outfitter represented.
I used to attend and work Sport Shows with 30, 40, or more Ely area businesses represented.
The old Chicago Amphitheatre Sport Show was where I landed my outfitting job, back in the 1970s."

Hey Stumps, what do you think the reason is for this? Not a single Ely business at the sport show?
Tom"

I’m speaking out of turn here as I’m no stumpy, however I think it’s a safe guess to say the answer is because it doesn’t make financial sense? I think a lot of these businesses are doing better than ever and don’t have a problem booking up without traveling all over to sports shows? They can also provide similar service to people far and wide using the tech at their disposal. All their info is online, etc. I don’t know anything about the Schaumburg show specifically, but I do know that overall attendance at these types of conventions is decreasing. This past year the Minnesota Sportsmen’s Show announced they were ending their stop in Saint Paul after a 52 year run."

I do see a lot of outfitters on various forums online now.

Frenchy19: "

LindenTree: "How many lakes are still froze up?"

Great point; check the ice out thread. And, frankly, if I were to hassle the crowds on opener, I can think of many other places I'd rather be than Ely. Upper Red Lake, for example."

You missed the point, there was no crowds...

thegildedgopher: "

tumblehome: "

Stumpy: "The Schaumburg Sport Show near me this Winter, didn't have a single Ely area Lodge or outfitter represented.
I used to attend and work Sport Shows with 30, 40, or more Ely area businesses represented.
The old Chicago Amphitheatre Sport Show was where I landed my outfitting job, back in the 1970s."

Hey Stumps, what do you think the reason is for this? Not a single Ely business at the sport show?
Tom"

I’m speaking out of turn here as I’m no stumpy, however I think it’s a safe guess to say the answer is because it doesn’t make financial sense? I think a lot of these businesses are doing better than ever and don’t have a problem booking up without traveling all over to sports shows? They can also provide similar service to people far and wide using the tech at their disposal. All their info is online, etc. I don’t know anything about the Schaumburg show specifically, but I do know that overall attendance at these types of conventions is decreasing. This past year the Minnesota Sportsmen’s Show announced they were ending their stop in Saint Paul after a 52 year run."

Probably correct
It seems to be the trend for the last couple of decades
But no one ?.... Missed opportunity imo.