The Boundary Waters Journal Blog

June 21, 2014

I have just finished my third consecutive 8-day Grand Slam Guide Service trip to Quetico and head into Conmee for the big walleyes tomorrow.  These first three trips have all produced outstanding smallmouth and lake trout fishing. We have averaged about 350 smallmouth per trip with lots of 18-19 inch fish.  About half have been on topwater plugs like the Excaliber Z pop and the Rapala X-Rap Pop with many others on soft plastics.  We have netted over 30 smallies that have topped the 20 inch trophy mark.  On the latest trip, into Pooh Bah Lake, we also spent a couple days on Wink Lake where we really got into the big bass on topwater one night.  Both of the last two trips we have completely lost 2-3 days of fishing to bad rain and wind but the action has been good whenever the weather settles down.  My clients have produced the makings of one big walleye fry each trip but I have not caught a walleye since my first trip—and that is fine with me- I’ll take those explosive topwater bass strikes everytime.  I do enjoy targeting those 28-30 inch trophy walleyes in Brent and Conmee so hopefully I will get my annual walleye fix this next trip.

As many may know that follow the news, we have received a lot of rain in June which combined with all the snow melt has led to very high/record high water levels.  I can’t stress enough how important it is to approach ALL areas of current with extreme caution.  Consider using any portage trail extensions or lining your canoe along shore through current to the normal portage landings.  Don’t assume things are “normal” on any of the border/collector lakes like Knife, Basswood, Crooked and La Croix.  The water is up into the brush and will be for some time as recent heavy rains continue to flood these areas.  All the water means a bumper crop of bugs- so plan accordingly.  I keep my headnet in the pocket of my lifejacket where I put in on/off 25 times a day.  This limits how much DEET I have to use.  The good news is that we are primed for a phenomenal crop of blueberries so watch for that in mid-July. 

BWJ Blog – May 29, 2014

My goal is to post to this blog during each of my 2/3 day breaks between my 7 Grand Slam Guide Service canoe trips this season. This particular between-trip break is especially busy as we are now completing the Summer Issue.

On May 20-27 three of us went in through Lac La Croix. We went straight from winter to summer as the high temps soared into the 80s. Crooked, Iron, McAree and Lac La Croix are al flooded up into the woods—4+ feet high. We had great walleye fishing on McAree and lots of nice lake trout on Argo and Elk. The smaller inland lakes were significantly warmer than the flooded border lakes (which drain large areas). Pulling, Siobahn River, Josey and Elk gave up 162 pre-spawn smallmouth, with 9 over 20", 3 over 21" and one 22 1/2" monster. All-in-all it was a solid trout/bass combo trip.

April 17, 2014

I wanted to check in with you all as it has been about two weeks since my very first ever BWJ Blog posting.  The good news since then is we had a run of 50 degree weather April 8-11.  The snow actually melted down to the grass in the sunniest spots, giving at least a glimmer of hope for everyone that is anxious for spring.  The first blackbird arrived at our beaver pond below the house on April 10.  The next day, the first robin appeared in the yard.  A few geese have honked over, looking for a patch of open water to settle on.  Only the creeks with moving water are actually open so far.  The morning of April 15, we dropped back down to a low of 8 degrees which crusted up the snow hard enough for my bird dog, Custer, and I, to take a swing through the woods.  He put up two grouse and I saw 6 deer all out feeding in small, melted off patches.  They looked to be in pretty fair condition considering the severe winter they have just been through. 

The bad news is that our high temps have not reached freezing the last couple days and central Minnesota just got blasted with another heavy spring snowstorm.  Duluth got eight inches but here in Ely we only got an inch.  The forecast is for back in the 50’s for the weekend.  Given that the historical average ice-out for Blueberry Lake near our place is tomorrow, April 18, you can safely assume that the lakes will not be opening up until later that normal.  Let’s just hope it is not as late as last year- May 15 for lakes like Vermilion, Burntside, Basswood and Lac La Croix. 

I like the irony of April 1st for the posting of this first ever entry on the BOUNDARY WATERS JOURNAL BLOG.  Those who know me as the quintessential “anti-technology guy” will no doubt assume this is some kind of an April Fools- joke.  But it’s no joke, it’s for real and I am 100% committed to making the BWJ Blog THE ONE that Boundary Waters fans rely on for the very latest “conditions on the ground”.  This BWJ Blog will be all about sharing the delights and dilemmas of “Living On The Edge” of canoe country with our loyal BOUNDARY WATERS JOURNAL following.  Think of it as the best way to get timely info that is so important to making the most of your own Boundary Waters adventures.  For the past 28 years, BOUNDARY WATERS JOURNAL has been the #1 source of inspiration and information for helping you enjoy the BWCAW/Quetico.  The BWJ Blog will be no different.

For those who figured it would be a cold day in hell when Stu Osthoff turned to blogs and facebook, let’s start this thing off with acknowledging this has indeed been the winter from hell.  We are talking many, many nights of twenty to thirty below and waist deep powder right through March.  Things finally crusted over yesterday but more snow is in the forecast for tomorrow.  I just finished working the Minneapolis Sportshow over the weekend and topic A was that this looks like a repeat of last year when the ice did not go out on the bigger lakes until May 15-17, post-fishing season opener.  A serious April heat wave could prevent breaking the late ice-out record of 2013 but it is a virtual lock that spring will be later than “normal” in 2014.  For the sake of my beloved Ely area whitetail deer, which are running on fumes right now, I hope spring rushes in sooner than later.

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