Happy New Year! Welcome to 2014

Happy New Year!  We are looking forward to a great canoe season in 2014.  We hope the ice comes off the lakes a little earlier then this last spring.  It made for a late start to the canoe season.

 

We hope your holiday season was good for you and your families.  We look forward to talking to you about your upcoming 2014 summer canoe adventure into the BWCA or Quetico.

 

Upcoming Dates & Events

January 14, 2014 - Last day (by 9pm central) that we can submit for Moose Lake and Fall Lake day-use motor and overnight motor permits in the lottery. This includes Fall Lake only, Fall Lake to Pipestone Bay, Moose Lake chain, and Moose Lake and beyond (over to Basswood via Prairie Portage). This is your best chance at getting a motor permit!

January 29, 2014 - First day we can begin reserving overnight paddling permits on-demand. This is when we can get your permits for all entry points. It is a great time to reserve your permits for some of the harder to get and more popular entry points such as; Mudro, Portage River/Moose River North (Nina Moose), Little Indian Sioux North, Little Gabbro, North Kawishiwi entry points.

March 1, 2014 - Quiet Water Symposium in Lansing, MI

- Come visit our booth and talk about your trip.

March 7-9, 2014 - Canoecopia Paddle Sport Show in Madison, WI

-We will have a booth & ready to book your BWCA & Quetico adventures for the summer.

- Steve will be giving a seminar "Unique BWCA Sites You Should Visit & Planning Your BWCA Adventure"

March 26-30, 2014 - Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis, MN

-Stop by the booth for great early BWCA trip booking deals.

- Steve will again be presenting a seminar about your BWCA trip.

April 25-27, 2014 - Midwest Outdoor Expo - Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, MN

- Steve will have a few seminars again this year "Unique BWCA Sites You Should Visit Part 1", "Unique BWCA Sites Your Should Visit Part 2" and "Fishing the BWCA"

May 11, 2014 - Minnesota Fishing Opener

May - October 15, 2014 - Do you have your BWCA canoe trip planned? It's time to get one scheduled.

Mid-october in the BWCA...don't miss it!

Spent a few hours on Bass lake to Low lake yesterday and the leaf colors were still good, the waters were smooth as glass. I was the only one on the lake except for 2 young loons. They flapped their wings as I got close to them and wailed a bit as if to say "we're here for a few more days and then flying south."

The portage from the Echo Trail to Bass lake is about 270 rods, wide and easy to walk. Took about 15 minutes as I needed to stop to enjoy the colors and smell the Fall leaves.Used a Wenonah Canak. You should try this boat sometime. Easy to carry with a pedestal yoke, weighs 42 lbs, center sliding seat and has excellent glide. I used a kayak paddle. The Canak tracks fairly straight, easy to maneuver.

Have you canoed, kayaked or hike the BWCA this time of the year? There are less people, no bugs, the crisp air is so refreshing, the juncos (birds) will be skittering along the shoreline guiding you as you move, eagles and loons are still here. One does have to come prepared for a change in the weather. Bring hats, gloves, warm socks, jacket, and step gingerly at the portages trying to keep your feet dry.

Canak - not a canoe/not a kayak

Bass lake

Dry Falls

October 2013 Store Hours

It's that time of year again when we start to think about closing for the season.  We have had a great summer and enjoyed meeting new customers and seeing previous customers.  We will be around for the month of October, but will have shorter hours.

If you are interested in an October 2013 trip please call and schedule your trip with us.  We would be happy to be around for when you need us.  We answer the phone and emails year round.

October 2013 Store Hours

Oct. 7-15, 2013 - 8 AM - 5 PM (unless by appointment)

Oct. 16 to end of the month - By Appointment ONLY

To make an appointment please call 218-365-3149 or 800-950-2709

Don't miss the BWCA this Fall

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is ablaze with Fall colors right now.  We drove the Echo Trail on a guided day trip to Hegman Lake and then east on the Fernberg Road to deliver canoes and kayaks this past weekend. The tree colors were fabulous with the contrast between the conifers, maples, birch, aspen and oaks.

Near the pictographs on Hegman we stopped to see pitcher plants, insect eating plants that look like water pitchers, growing in a bog. We were the only canoe on the lake...what a joy that was. My guest from Phoenix AZ commented that our day trip was the highlight of his visit. And no BUGS!

Spend time in and around the BWCA this time of year. You will not be disappointed.

Hegman Lake pictograph rock face

Early morning on South Hegman

BWCA still open, October 2, 2013

Due to the lapse in federal government funding, the U.S. Forest, as with other federal agencies, is closed with the exception of certain essential services.  

For general information on Forest Service shutdown procedures, please visit their website:  www.fs.usda.gov

According to the hosts at Fall Lake campground, and the concessionaire at Fenske Lake, Birch Lake, and South Kawishiwi River campgrounds, those facilities remain open at this time, but may be given a 48 hour notice to close as well.

For information about available government services, visit usa.gov

To view U.S. Department of Agriculture Agency Contingency plans, visit: http://www.whitehouse

Bear activity report, Lake Two & Three, September 24, 2013

From September. 16 through today, the USFS has received some bear reports from Lakes Two and Three. They are not sure whether it is one bear or two. The activity has been from one of the campsites on the southern shore of Lake Two, to the western most campsite on the south shore of Lake Three, back to Lake Two at the site closest to the portage into Rifle lake. The bear is persistent and was successful in getting hold of food on at least one site.

Bear awareness*:

• Keep a clean campsite. Never eat or store food in your tent
• Take all precautions to discourage bears from visiting your site, including hanging your food pack or using a bear-resistant container, as well as garbage and anything that has a strong or sweet odor (soap, toothpaste, etc.).
• Some bear overcome their fear of humans and approach campsites looking for food. This includes islands sites since bears are good swimmers.
• If you do encounter a bear, most will be scared off if you make noise (shout, bang pots, or throw fist sized rocks at the bear, etc.).
• A very persistent bear may be discouraged by spraying pepper spray into its eyes.

 * USFS "Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Trip Planning Guide

Spiny Waterfleas confirmed in Shagawa Lake, Ely MN

Spiny waterfleas, an invasive species, have been confirmed in Shagawa lake as reported by the Ely Echo newspaper September 14.

Here are a few notable points made in the article;

Samples were confirmed by the MN DNR. Spiny Waterflea is a small planktonic crustacean that competes with small fish for food of microscopic animal plankton. The waterflea is not eaten by small fish.

Rich Rezanka, DNR aquatic invasive species specialist said "It is critical for anglers to remove spiny waterfleas from all equipment because their eggs can live out of water for more than 12 hours and be transported to other waters." When populations are high, anglers can experience frustration with masses of spiny waterfleas clogging fishing and downrigging lines and other equipment

Burntside lake, upstream from Shagawa, was designated infested in 2010. Shagawa and Fall Lakes will now be added to the list of infested waters. There is the likelihood of infestation spread.

Due to the discovery of spiny waterfleas bait harvest for any purpose is prohibited in Shagawa and Fall lakes.

Be sure to remove all aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited invasive species, drain water from all water equipment including bait containers, drain bilges and livewells by removing the drain plug before leaving the boat landing.