I was told to be fully prepared for the trip from Fall up to Basswood Lake to be covered in ice for our trip from 3rd-10th of May. I just wanted to possibly get some more stories, or ideas of what it could be like as if it is going to be icy and freezing still may push the trip back a few weeks. Thoughts or stories are much appreciated by all!

Too early to predict with any degree of accuracy, but considering the long stretch of below zero weather we are currently going through & traditional ice out dates ....would be cause for me to be concerned about a May 3rd entry.

Good to know! More stories/experiences the better!

Fisherman01,
For Fall Lake, MN DNR data, median ice out date is April 28, the earliest was March 27 (2012) and the latest was May 19 (1950). Good wishes!

In your other post - you stated you're headed up there for a fishing trip with decked out fishing kayaks.

Hopefully you're aware...but MN fishing opener is May 10th. Basswood falls under the US/Canada Border Waters rules and a small portion of Basswood is open to fishing for Northern and Bass ONLY during pre May 10th.

I would make sure you understand where that portion of Basswood is and make sure you're only targeting Northern and Bass. Not only is it illegal to keep fish of other species, but it's illegal to target them.

Mainly just Bass, not really looking to keep anything believe it or not! Packing food in, just getting away from the normal scenery.

That is very good to know though, as we mainly would be in the Pipestone Bay area. May have to just push the trip back in general, less worry on regulations and seasons, as well as ice chances.

I would be really concerned about May 3rd not being ice free, way below average temps with below average snow cover to insulate the ice the last month.

Pipestone bay is closed to all fishing until May 10th.

If you're after Bass - I would really look at Early to mid June. Pick up a permit for Moose Lake (tons of permits) get a tow up and take the couple short portages into Knife.

Knife can be great fishing for all species and an all around great lake. You can see Dorothy's Banded Iron rock, Climb Thunder Point, check out Eddy Falls.

I had my reply ready to say you have the date wrong.... but thought I'd look at it one more time and holy hannah... opener is May 10.. I need to go change my permit. I swear i looked at the regs 18 times to confirm I was going in the day before opener... which I thought was May 17..

THEGrandRapids: "I had my reply ready to say you have the date wrong.... but thought I'd look at it one more time and holy hannah... opener is May 10.. I need to go change my permit. I swear i looked at the regs 18 times to confirm I was going in the day before opener... which I thought was May 17.. "

Corrected my posts - I googled MN fishing opener and the 9th came up as the governers fishing opener. 9th is Friday, 10th is the opener (Saturday)

Look at the closet lake for mn ice out average dates - see: Mn Ave Ice Out Dates

Come April you will know more but the median ice out date in Fall Lake is April 28.

If you plan to fish during your trip (5/03-5/10) you should be 100% worried. Opener in MN is May 10.

Echo what others have said here. For what it's worth, I usually book a permit for the Friday before opener (unfortunately the EP I wanted this year was booked within 7 minutes on opening morning but that is a conversation for another day) and ice has always been a concern. Last year there was still ice just days leading up to the trip but folks were saying it would probably/maybe/likely be gone by that Friday but I decided to pivot anyway. With the nice and cold winter we have had, ice out by then is certainly iffy especially with you heading up to the border, but it really all depends on the spring. Also depends on the canoe you are paddling- easier to break through ice in an aluminum than risking damaging a kevlar.

If you do go, definitely be ready for anything that time of year- a few years ago I drove up in a blizzard so that is always a possibility that time of year! Good luck.

We have moved our trip back to May 30th - June 5th. Thank you all for the help and advice! I am wondering, as this is my first trip, do I need to buy a permit to fish on Basswood and Pipestone, or will a MN fishing license suffice? Like I mentioned first trip up north, so appreciate everyone for helping me. If someone has a link to tell me what lakes or bodies of water I need a permit for specifically will help!

Fisherman01: "We have moved our trip back to May 30th - June 5th. Thank you all for the help and advice! I am wondering, as this is my first trip, do I need to buy a permit to fish on Basswood and Pipestone, or will a MN fishing license suffice? Like I mentioned first trip up north, so appreciate everyone for helping me. If someone has a link to tell me what lakes or bodies of water I need a permit for specifically will help! "

Your Minnesota fishing license is all you need for any lake in Minnesota except for those designated as trout lakes for which you need a trout stamp in addition to your license.

You do need to be aware that Basswood straddles the border between the US and Canada. Do not cross that border unless you have gone through botder control and do not fish in Canada without a Canadian fishing license.

Fisherman01: "We have moved our trip back to May 30th - June 5th. Thank you all for the help and advice! I am wondering, as this is my first trip, do I need to buy a permit to fish on Basswood and Pipestone, or will a MN fishing license suffice? Like I mentioned first trip up north, so appreciate everyone for helping me. If someone has a link to tell me what lakes or bodies of water I need a permit for specifically will help! "

Did you already reserve an overnight canoe permit for Fall lake entry? You will need to pick it up the day of or day before entry at the appropriate ranger station.

Yes I did! I also moved our trip to the 30th-5th of June

In the words of the famous philosopher Alfred E Newman
"What, me worry"
Entering moose lake May 8th for opening on knife, what's the worst that can happen, a little bit of ice? That's why there is a 18.5" alumnacraft the fleet. And of course you won't need to bring ice for proper cocktails.

RMinMN: "

Fisherman01: "We have moved our trip back to May 30th - June 5th. Thank you all for the help and advice! I am wondering, as this is my first trip, do I need to buy a permit to fish on Basswood and Pipestone, or will a MN fishing license suffice? Like I mentioned first trip up north, so appreciate everyone for helping me. If someone has a link to tell me what lakes or bodies of water I need a permit for specifically will help! "

Your Minnesota fishing license is all you need for any lake in Minnesota except for those designated as trout lakes for which you need a trout stamp in addition to your license.


You do need to be aware that Basswood straddles the border between the US and Canada. Do not cross that border unless you have gone through botder control and do not fish in Canada without a Canadian fishing license."

It can be confusing fishing the border now a days as the rules seem to change.

Currently you can fish the Canadian side but you need to have a Canadian fishing license, Canadian outdoors card, and in this section you would need a Quetico permit. Either a day permit or a yearly pass. You cannot legally anchor or land anywhere in Canadian waters. Also You need to follow Quetico regulations. You cannot possess live bat in Quetico, you cannot fish with a barbed hook. Each violation is subject to roughly $250 up to full confiscation of all your equipment and jail time until all fines are pain in full.

You currently do not need an RABC if you follow the above rules. You do need to check in with US customs upon return…although no one usually does. Not advocating this, it just usually gets forgotten in the way home.

The Canadians do patrol this area. It’s rare to get caught…but if they catch you. They will throw the book at you to make an example. I suspect this year there will be more enforcement.

T