Farm Lake icing up!

This is what Farm Lake looked like this morning, a thin layer of ice scretching from our shoreline to the big island and beyond. The last couple of nights we've had temperatures below zero and no wind. Farm Lake is 30' at it's deepest point and approximately 1,300 acres. South Farm Lake is just off Farm Lake and located in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and is about half the acreage at 618 acres with a deepest point of 30'.
Smaller lakes in the Ely area have frozen over and the ice thick enough that people are already ice-fishing on them!

First Snow of the year in Ely, MN!

Yesterday was the Minnesota deer opener which brought our first day of snow here in Ely, Minnesota! The temperature hovered around 30 degrees all day and the Northwest wind blew strong, making it challanging to sit in a tree stand all day. Just earlier this week we were getting teased with having days of sun and 65 degrees! Good thing we got all of our fall clean-up/closing down of the cabins/boats all done. We always say it's a strange feeling to put everything away and then to think that we will be re-opening in 6 months. Bear Paw (otherwise known as Cabin #1) will be getting it's remodel this winter/spring. That's the last lakeside cabin to get the full remodel. All the lakeside cabins are light & bright with new windows, doors, furniture & appliances.

Other years we've seen snow before halloween. This picture was from mid October 2006. There was enough snow for Jim and Gavin to build a snowman on one of our rocks in the center circle.

This halloween the kids actually got to wear their costumes with just a layer of clothes underneath and NO coat/hat/mittens needed! That's a first in a long time! Here are the pumpkins we carved this halloween. We picked them up from a farmer's market while we were in Wisconsin while Jim was attending a Federation of Fly Fishers Master Casters Workshop.

Wabikimi Provincial Park ~ Trip of a lifetime - August 2008!

There is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico Provincial Park and THEN there is the Wabikimi Provincial Park. Two return customers were looking for a new area to explore and the Wabikimi fit the ticket. After flying into the Thunder Bay Airport, they were picked up by 2 guides and then driven 100 miles north, where they came to Armstrong Station. The four then hopped on a float plane and then headed another 100 miles north and were dropped off at a place where the last people to be dropped off there was 2 years ago! As you see, the float planes up north are considerably larger than the float plane you see around Ely.

Just about every meal had fresh fish!

A little break from fishing from a canoe, fly-fishing from shore.

Pancakes with fresh blueberries and blueberry syrup! The going joke ended up being that they would finally move camp when they ate all the fresh blueberries in the vacinity.

Lots of lakeside camp spots for viewing colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Since the Wabikimi doesn't get a lot of 'traffic', finding portages could sometimes be challenging.

We use superior camping gear such as Marmot sleeping bags and tents on our fully outfitted canoe trip packages.

Since the Wabikimi is so much further north, fresh blueberries at the end of August into September were bountiful.

Since the Wabikim has fewer visitors than the Quetico and BWCA, this little critter was probably wondering who was invading his space.

The decision at hand that day was how far to go and who was going to catch dinner.

Colorful sunsets and calm nights - what a great way to end each night.

If you are interested in creating a 'Trip of a Lifetime' please call or email us with your interests/abilities and we can plan something for the 2009 season - the possibilities are endless!

Guided Basswood Day Trip - Record size Fish!

When husband and wife, Chad & Jill set out fishing with professional guide Jim Blauch on the Basswood Chain of Lakes, they didn't know they would be catching record size fish! They did have to help push/pull the boat over a couple of portages to get to Jim's favorite 'honey holes' within the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area - 25hp motor restricted area), but they felt at the end of the day...all the hard work was well worth it!

Chad's walleye measured 30".

Jill's smallmouth measured 21 1/2".

Both fish were the largest species of fish both of them had ever caught!

More 'fun in the sun' at Moose Track Adventures

With weather in the 80's continuing, the kids here this week spent lots of time cooling off in the water and trying to stay cool.

Fly-Fishing Lessons for the Beginner

Jim Blauch, a Federation of Flyfishers Certified Casting Instructor at Moose Track Adventures in Ely, MN has developed a fly fishing program for those seeking an introduction into the art of fly fishing or those looking to improve and fine tune their casting skills. From knots to casting to technique, his personalized guidance will enable each angler to gain the skills necessary to begin enjoying the unique rewards of fly fishing.



Sunny blue skies made a perfect setting for beginning fly-fishing lessons for this group of 3 women.







They spent the first part of their day on land learning the basics in casting, then went to a local lake to put it all together while fishing out of a boat.






You don't need to have any equipment to get started, loaner equipment can be provided upon request.

All-Inclusive Outfitted & Guided Canoe Trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area

A Moose Track Adventures All-Inclusive Outfitted and Guided Trip brought this family from Wisconsin to experience the Boundary Waters. During the 6 day/5 night trip, they had fun soaking in the sun, cooling off in the water, exploring for blueberries and bones and learning about the history of the area. The combination of perfect weather and awesome fishing made for fun times and great memories.

Taking in the scenery & sun.








'Treasures' found during exploration.








Jim Blauch - a professional guide with years of experience guiding in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, also had a chance to pull in this nice size lake trout that fed everyone for dinner one evening.












Fresh lake trout over a fire.









Wild blueberries were still found in the woods and were a great addition to morning pancakes.









Sky turning yellow and orange at sunset.









Last Day - on the way back to 'civilization'!

Basswood Lake Guided Day Fishing Trip

'Sunny and no wind' ended up being the ticket for Sunday's guided day trip for Diane and her husband on the Basswood Chain of Lakes with guide Josh Bullivant. Her big catch for the day was a 20" smallmouth. Also, not only did they have a delicious shore lunch by noon, but brought home a stringer of walleyes to take back home to Ohio with them.

17 1/2" Smallmouth on Farm Lake

Chuck arrived on Monday afternoon and by Tuesday he brought in a 17 1/2" smallmouth caught on Farm Lake. He has the rest of the week to explore White Iron, Garden, Farm & South Farm Lakes (about 11,000 acres of water accessible from our docks) for walleyes, northern pike and crappies.

Wednesday Float Plane Rides at Moose Track Adventures

'Simply Beautiful' air tour with Van Air - Take a 20 minute air tour of the surrounding lakes and region departing from our main dock around 1pm on Wednesdays. (Advance notice by Tuesday evening for scheduling purposes requested). This is a popular choice for those who wish to experience the unique "eagle-eye" view of Minnesota's Lake Country. Price - $45 per person. 10 yrs or under $35 ea when accompanied by an adult.
'Voyageur's Route' - BWCAW / QUETICO - Take a one hour flight following much of the route of early fur-trading Voyageur's. Trace the historic route as it flows from Basswood Lake near Ely, up through Crooked and Iron Lakes, past Curtain and Rebecca Falls to Lac La Croix - home of the Ojibwa People. See the untouched wilderness and take in the true meaning of "10,000 Lakes". This flight often encounters larger wildlife such as moose, deer, bear, and wolf. Price per flight: $ 295 total cost, Cessna 180, (max of 3 passengers*)$ 325 total cost, Cessna 206, (max of 5 passengers*) This flight is most spectacular in early morning and evening. (*weight restriction may apply)

Minnesota's State Bird - the Common Loon

The Common Loon - larger than a mallard but smaller than a goose, this water bird has a thick neck and a long, black bill. Its legs are set far back on its body, so it has an awkward gait on land. The male is slightly larger than the female, but otherwise the two sexes look identical.
Weight: Adult loons weigh 8 to 12 pounds.
Color: The common loon has a black bill and a red eye. In summer it is a spotty black and white with a black/iridescent green head. In fall a "winter coat" that's gray above and white below replaces its summer plumage.
Sounds: The common loon has four calls. The tremolo, which sounds a bit like maniacal laughter, is an aggressive call. The wail is a long, drawn-out sound. The hoot, a shorter call, is used to communicate among parents and young. The yodel is sounded by male loons guarding their territory.
Minnesota has more loons (roughly 12,000) than any other state except Alaska.

Fun facts to know about loons:

• Loons' lives are filled with fun facts. For example:
  The bones of most birds are hollow and light, but loons have solid bones.
• The extra weight helps them dive as deep as 250 feet to search for food. They can stay underwater for up to five minutes.
• Because their bodies are heavy relative to their wing size, loons need a 100- to 600-foot "runway" in order to take off from a lake.
• Loons can fly more than 75 miles per hour.
• The red in the loon's eye helps it to see under water.
• Scientists think loons can live for 30 years or more.

(Information provided by the MN Department of Natural Resources)

Half way through the week & sunny skies!

It's Wednesday and the guests have had sunny skies and just a slight breeze so far this week - rain is always in the forecast as a chance, but we've yet to see it!

Lots of kids playing in the water this week with the beautiful weather. Today was Claire's first day for 'solo' floating (without holding on to anyone). After watching all the kids this week (and her big brother), she got up the nerve to climb down the swim ladder and give it a try all by herself!

17" Smallmouth on White Iron Chain of Lakes

A guided day trip for Chris, brother Matt and Dad landed them this 17" smallmouth on Sunday, along with a stringer of walleyes and a few other smallmouths. Fishing in the mornings/evenings, playing golf in the afternoon, an hour float plane ride tonight is how their week is working out.

Black-shouldered Spinyleg Dragonfly

Gavin has always been our 'dragonfly catcher' here at Moose Tracks. He is sly and quick enough with his bare hands to catch them just about anywhere - on the docks, boats, outdoor chairs.

18" Smallmouth on Farm Lake

Anna caught this 18" smallmouth yesterday morning out on Farm Lake. Her family is one of 2 families this week that have been staying at Moose Track Adventures (formerly known as 'Ojibway Resort' before September 2002) for 20+ years. The two dads have their 'secret spots' where they can always catch smallmouth, walleyes & a northern pike or two!

Speed Boat Tow on Crane Lake & Lac La Croix and Pictographs

The kids and I took a roadtrip up the Echo Trail to Crane Lake & Lac La Croix to pick Jim and his customers up from a 6 day guided canoe trip. We arranged it so that we could go with on the speed boat tow (just about a 2 hour ride one-way) to the actual 'pick-up' point out on Lac La Croix. For this to happen, we did have to get up early to be up there at 7am (1 hour and 45 minute drive from Ely). We arrived at the boat and there were two groups going out with us (to be dropped off on the start of their canoe trips). For one couple, it was their 51st canoe trip and the've been married 55 years - so yes, they are in their 70's! We were all impressed and hoped we would be as active as the two of them when we got their age. Also, to show what a small world it is, the other group were actually past resort guests of ours. The last time they were at our resort I was pregnant with Claire, so their first time to meet her and now she is almost 3! They said they might be bringing their grandkids up to Ely late summer, if so...playmates for Gavin & Claire for a day or two.

The boats have 250hp motors that make it easy to 'zip' around Lac La Croix and the Loon River (you have to check out a map to have the 'full picture' of what it's like to be going just about full power in the boat and taking a curve on the river). It was sprinkling when we left the dock with dark clouds over us, but it did manage to clear up and give us sunny skies for the trip back to base after the Jim's group pick-up.

During the trip we also experienced 2 motorized portages, where you have to get off the boat, the boat is drive up on a trolley and then it goes up and then down the hill as we walk along a short portage to get to the other side ourselves.

After the morning canoe group drop-offs, the driver asked if the kids and I wanted to stop by some pictographs before heading over for the final pick-up (Jim's group). Check out how vivid this one was and the driver said some of them were over 1000 years old.

If you are looking for an adventure, this will definitely add it to any canoe trip!

Start of the Moose Track Blog

Hi -
Welcome to our Blog. Here you can find out what happens at Moose Track Adventures on a daily/weekly basis with guests, fishing, weather or maybe just what's happening in the town of Ely!