BWCA The Duo Strikes again. Winter camping! Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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WildernessJunker
Guest Paddler
  
02/09/2016 10:11AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hello fellow outdoor enthusiasts. So a couple months back I told you all of my experience with my friend who hasn't spent to much time in the BWCA and our experience. Well we are taking it to new heights. WINTER CAMPING! we are going for 5 days somewhere up in Ely. WE wanna try for some lake trout but want to be isolated. He has never winter camped before so I need to teach him the way. Lucky for him I have a canvas tent and a portable woodstove now so he should sleep well and stay warm if needed. Anyone know of any good laker lakes a little ways out there. We will be snowshoeing in. Don't hold back I like all ideas and hearing about personal experiences. Thanks!
 
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canucanu2
distinguished member (124)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
02/10/2016 08:54PM  
I don't have any advice, just learning myself - but have a great time!
Kaycee
member (14)member
  
02/10/2016 09:17PM  
I don't have any info on the trout, but the lake conditions around Ely are terrible for travel. We just returned from a trip to Ely, just about every lake we were on had slush covering 50 to 75% of the lake about 6" deep. We went across Fall on the dog sled trail, as long as you did not step off it you were ok. Tried to snowshoe on the east end and there was slush under the snow bank to bank. Ella hall had 75% shush and 8" of ice, normal years would be 18" to 24" for the first week of February.
They got 3" of wet heavy snow Sunday the 7th so the slush is probably worse now.
Just wanted to let you know what we experienced a week ago.
KC
02/10/2016 09:56PM  
quote Kaycee: "I don't have any info on the trout, but the lake conditions around Ely are terrible for travel. We just returned from a trip to Ely, just about every lake we were on had slush covering 50 to 75% of the lake about 6" deep. We went across Fall on the dog sled trail, as long as you did not step off it you were ok. Tried to snowshoe on the east end and there was slush under the snow bank to bank. Ella hall had 75% shush and 8" of ice, normal years would be 18" to 24" for the first week of February.
They got 3" of wet heavy snow Sunday the 7th so the slush is probably worse now.
Just wanted to let you know what we experienced a week ago.
KC"


Thanks for the report,the ice thickness or lack of it is amazing,usually right now your talking usually 30 inches of ice and on your knees trying to get thru while auguring.

Snow depth on land is about how much?

If that is normal ice thickness around the area your talking super early ice out-maybe?
02/11/2016 08:31AM  
You might want to look at the Gunflint Trail area for your trip. Many more options for Laker fishing up that way. As far as ice conditions up that way I can't be any help, but there are many here that would be able to help in that regards.
02/11/2016 08:38AM  
Slush up that way(Gunflint) also. How much?
02/11/2016 10:48AM  
I posted on another winter thread about the slush on Clearwater lake (Gunflint side) it was terrible. You could see waves of snow while trying to pull a toboggan. Pure hell. Go to the local fish market and buy a trout, then go to the liquor store and celebrate your wise decision to stay off of those lakes.
By the last day, we would simply take a step or two and wait for the boot holes to fill with water, then we would scoop it up to drink.

Also- Clearwater lake had less than 3-4 inches of ice.

This cold snap won't fix it either. We need a few warmer days to knock down that snow and refreeze it a few times.
02/15/2016 11:13AM  
I think we have a better chance of a warmup and open water trout fishing in late March.
02/16/2016 09:14AM  

I'm not sure how reliable the Accuweather forecasts are, but the 30 day forecast for Ely isn't showing many days with a low below 0°f. I wonder if we already have all the ice we are going to get this year.
 
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