Live Bait Is Here!

Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters and Bait Shop, Ely MN has a variety of live bait for you. We are accepting bait deliveries 2-3 times per week, so our bait is fresh and lively. Check us out before you head into the BWCA or fish the area lakes.  

Live Bait we stock:

• Fathead Chubs
• Rainbows
• Golden Shiners
• Pike Suckers
• Light Northern Suckers
• Heavy Northern Suckers
• Frozen Ciscos
• Wax Worms
• Night Crawlers
• Leeches

Don't forget Bait Happy Hour every Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 pm - 8 pm.  Buy 2 dozen live bait, get the 3rd dozen FREE. You can mix or match dozens. Your less expensive dozen is your FREE item.

Spirit of the Wilderness

2030 E. Sheridan Street

Ely, MN 55731

Ph: 218-365-3149 or 800-950-2709

www.elycanoetrips.com

Online store: BWCAshop.com

Lake Ice Conditions - May 15, 2015

During May 14, 2014 USFS flight the pilot was unable to see lakes north of Alice Lake so
conditions for some border lakes are not known. Another flight is scheduled for Thursday morning

West Side:

• Except for Snowbank, most lakes in the west zone are open.
• Moose Chain to Prairie all open. All of Basswood, Knife and Ensign are open.
• Kekekabic and Knife are open.
• Burntside is open.
• White Iron, Bear Island, and Shagawa are open.
• Snowbank has ice in the center and on the east side.
• Rivers are open.
• Lakes One through Four, Insula, and Alice are open.
• Up the Echo Trail: Jeanette L. and Big L. are open.

East Side: Lakes on the east side of the forest on the southern half are mostly open.

• Outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Crescent, Fourmile, Toohey, and Lichen are open.
• Mid- Trail and West Bearskin not open--slim chance of it opening by the weekend.
• Gunflint Lake open up to Magnetic Lake but there is still ice on the shores.
• Round Lake Open
• Missing Link Lake open
• Saganaga and Greenwood are NOT open.
• Seagull open
• Ham Lake open- Cross River and Cross Lake- open
• Probably nothing open yet in the Vento area (Daniels, Duncan)
• Bog, Quadga, Kawishiwi, Isabella, Koma, Malberg, Polly, and Perent Lakes are OPEN.

Lake Ice Conditions: May 13, 2014

Current Ice Conditions:  Pilots were unable to fly today. As you venture out into newly opened water, remember the gasp reflex. No matter how well you can swim, please WEAR yourlifejacket!

West Side:

• Basswood: Jackfish, Hoist, Wind, and Back Bays all appear open. Bailey Bay is not open but likely to change in the next few days. Moose Chain to Prairie all open.
• Burntside: east and west arms open, ice in channel and some in North Arm.
• White Iron, Bear Island, and Shagawa are open.
• Snowbank and east of Alice Lake are mostly still full of ice. Shallower bays in Snowbank are opening.
• Rivers are mostly open and lakes (except for a few large ones) are mostly open from Snowbank going west.
• Up the Echo Trail: Jeanette L. and Big L. are open.

East Side:

• Outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Crescent, Fourmile, Toohey, and Lichen are open.
• Mid- Trail is still socked with ice, like West Bearskin still pretty iced over --pretty slim chance of it opening by the weekend.
• Gunflint Lake the on the west side of the Gunflint trail its open up to Magnetic Lake but there is still ice on the shores.
• Round Lake Open
• Missing Link Lake open
• Gillis open
• The channel into Sag open – but can see ice beyond
• Seagull is open
• Ham Lake open- Cross River and Cross Lake- open
• Probably nothing open yet in the Vento area (Daniels, Duncan)
• Kawishiwi and Isabella Lakes are open. Parent Lake is probably open.

This report will be linked to the ice conditions alert on the Superior National Forest website:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/superior

May 7, 2014 Ice Out Report

Superior National Forest Ice Update

                                                                        May 7, 2014 PM report

                                                                       

Current Ice Conditions: Conditions are changing quickly. Rains, warmth, and wind could give fisherman much more open water by the weekend.

From Forest Service pilots today:  

·        -  Newton (between Fall L and Pipestone) is open.

·         - Pipestone is 60% open.

·         -  Jackfish is still frozen.

·         - Mud is 50%, Rice is 80%, and Ella Hall is 20% open.

·        -  Garden is 75% open.

·         - Kempton is open.

·        -  Pickerel is 50%.

·         - Wood is starting to open.

·       -   Fall—there is ice on the west end and by the 4 Mile Portage.

·         - Most of Basswood is tightly frozen but Back Bay is 50%. Hoist Bay is frozen.

·        -  Lakes 1 thru 4—shorelines are open but still 75% ice. May see some changes in the next few days.

·         - Kawishiwi R. and west bound there is some open water and may open by the weekend. Gabbro and Bald Eagle (southern end) are 25%. Three Mile is 60%.

·         - Snowbank and going east most of the lakes are frozen tight to the shore.

Reports from others:

·        -  The road into Mudro Lake is in very bad condition. Low clearance vehicles and two wheel drive vehicles will probably not make it.

Road Reports from Gunflint (Grand Marais) Engineer:

·         The Grade:  (170) is snow free, but really rough – even “rutty”.

·         You can’t get into Wilson Lake Campground and probably won’t be able to for at least a few more days, probably not by this weekend.

·         From Lake County 7, going on FR 166 (600 Road) to the 342 Road, (Two Island River Road) there is about 1-2” of snow at the intersection of 166/342, so no travel down on the 342 road for several days.

·         From Lake County Road 7 to Richey Lake Road it is still snow covered, but passable by pickup or four wheel drive, car travel would not be advised.

·         Temperance River Road (343) you could drive up the first four miles but lots of trees were down.  There is still snow on the road, probably only advisable with a pick-up truck.

Ice Out conditions 2014

Superior National Forest Ice Update

 May 6, 2014 PM report

  

Current Ice Conditions: Remember, ice is never completely safe and now is a particularly dangerous time. 

Also, ice packs shift with winds so the exact location of an ice pack may change quickly. 

From Forest Service pilots--a seeding mission was flown today and this is the pilot’s report: 

· There is very little open water right now. 

· If we get a break in the weather, conditions may change very quickly—even as soon as this weekend. 

· Where there is current, ice is breaking up. 

· Much of Fall Lake is open and some portions of Pipestone Bay are open. 

· Smaller lakes and ponds are dark and are starting to break up. 

· Portions of Birch Lake are beginning to open up. 

· Most lakes east of Insula are pretty solidly ice-covered still. 

· The Little Indian Sioux and Nina Moose (aka Moose/Portage Rivers) Rivers are open but the lakes are mostly still frozen. 

Reports from others: 

· Much of the eastern end of Fall Lake is open. 

· The southern tip of Pipestone Bay was open to just north of Wegens Point two days ago. 

· The road into Mudro Lake is in very bad condition. Low clearance vehicles and two wheel drive 

vehicles will probably not make it. 

We are sending warm thoughts toward opening of fishing. 

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