Ely MN Resorts | Boundary Waters Outfitters | Ely Mn Guided Fly-Fishing & Fishing Trips

Farm Lake just outside the BWCA in Ely MN icing over for the winter

2011-11-22T11:21:00.000-08:00

Winter is back! It's that time of the year when the temperature dips down in the low teen digits at night and ice is being made.

When and how do lakes freeze over?

Now that it's too cold to swim in our lakes, we can look forward to the next great lake season – winter sports! Bring on the cold and snow so we can ski, skate, snowshoe, ice fish and snowmobile.

This week, I noticed that some small ponds have a thin layer of ice on them. This prompted me to think about when and how our lakes freeze over in this area.

As you all know, water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. That doesn't mean, however, when the air temp reaches 32 the lakes freeze. Water is a great insulator and good at holding heat, which is why the lake temperature doesn't fluctuate much day to day like the air does. Therefore, below freezing temperatures are needed for a week or more to form ice on a large lake.

As I have mentioned before, water is a unique substance in that the solid form (ice) is lighter than the liquid form (water). For most substances, the solid form is heavier. Our lives would be much different if ice sank instead of floated. If ice sank, lakes would freeze from the bottom up and the fish and other aquatic creatures wouldn't survive the winter!

Since water is good at holding heat, the more water there is, the more heat it will hold. This is why large deep lakes take longer freeze and melt than small shallow lakes.

Water freezes from the perimeter of the lake to the center. It happens this way because the water is shallower at the lake's edge so it cools off faster. Water is most dense at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, so when it gets colder than that, the cold, lighter water floats on top of the lake. This top layer of water interfaces with the cold air, which cools the top of the lake even further until it freezes. Windy days cool the lake surface off faster because the cold air moving over the water cools the lake faster.

Since ice-in does not occur in one day like ice-out usually does, it is hard to keep accurate records. The ice can form around the edge of the lake, and then a warm sunny day can come along and melt it again.

The picture above shows the main dock outside the lodge at Moose Track Adventures an Ely MN Resort just 7 miles outside of town. We pull the pieces of the 'T' dock out of the water as much as we can so that come ice out in April the huge sheets of ice blowing around don't mangle it to pieces. With the old crib dock that this replaced, every April we had to set aside a week to 'rebuild' what the ice sheets/chunks damaged.

The 2011 Season is Upon Us...

2011-05-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

Here we are a month since our last post - the lakeside cabins have had their spring cleaning, the remaining fall leaves raked and taken away, the boats/motors are in the water - we are opened for the 2011 season!

We have seen the loons and ducks come back to Farm Lake,

the marsh marigolds popped this past week near our small creek,

and the spring peepers can be heard in the evening.

The 2011 MN Fishing Opener was also today - gust up to 25mph winds made it a bit challenging for our fishing guest today, but they managed to bring a few fish for dinner!

We still have a few cabins available at our Ely MN Resort for nightly rental in the month of May - just $110 a night (minimum 4 night rental) for a lakeside cabin or $135 a night (minimum of 4 night rental) for a lakeside cabin and a 14' boat/15hp motor (boat gas additional).

Beep...Beep...Beep....goes the Northern Saw-whet Owl

2011-04-16T14:55:00.000-07:00

A few evenings ago we were treated to an unusual sound that Joan and the kids could not figure out what was making it. Joan called me on the cell phone and asked me to stop at the top of the driveway to figure out what was making the “beeping” noise. When I got out of the truck I knew exactly what was making the usual beeping sound, a Saw Whet Owl. For those of you who have never heard one they sound like the warning sound of a truck backing up in reverse.

Here is a brief history of the Northern Saw Whet Owl:

A small owl of all types of woodlands, the Northern Saw-whet Owl can be found roosting in winter in small, dense conifer trees, sometimes even in parks and gardens. Its defense upon discovery is to sit still and not fly, leading people to perceive them as "tame."

Appearance
Adult Description
• Small owl.
• No ear tufts.
• Face white, outlined in brown and white.
• Under parts white streaked with brown.
• Eyes yellow.
• Bill black.

Immature Description
Upperparts completely dark brown, under parts bright buff. White Y on face, made up of eyebrows and white mark between eyes. Lacks white spots on back.

Cool Facts
• The main prey items of the Northern Saw-whet Owl are mice, and especially deer mice of the genus Peromyscus. Adult mice usually are eaten in pieces in two different meals. One owl was found dead after apparently trying to swallow a large mouse whole.
• The female Northern Saw-whet Owl does the incubation and brooding. The male brings all her food while she is incubating. She leaves the eggs for only one or two short trips each night, to defecate and cough up a pellet.
• While the female saw-whet broods her nestlings, she keeps the nest cavity very clean. But, when the young are about 18 days old, she starts spending the night in another hole, and then the dirt starts to accumulate. When the young owls leave the nest after another ten days to two weeks, the nest cavity has a thick layer of feces, pellets, and rotting prey parts.

http://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/120234

Crappie Ice Fishing Presentation on lakes in Ely MN

2011-03-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

OK, you've found the Crappie, now let's look at some effective techniques to get them on the ice!

The most effective ice fishing presentation is jigging. Jigging is basically raising your rod tip about a foot, then dropping it back down to its starting position.

A very effective method is to raise and drop the tip, wait 5-10 seconds and repeat the raise/drop.

Another jigging technique made popular by the pro ice fisherman Dave Genz is pounding the jig. Pounding a jig is basically jiggling your rod tip up and down just an inch or two very quickly. This is one of my favorite techniques and seems to entice those sometimes finicky Crappie.

If you're not using a flasher and have no idea what depth the fish are at, start by jigging near the bottom. If you don't find fish, come up a foot or two. Continue the process until you either find fish or reach the ice with your lure.

Now that you've got the hang of jigging, let’s look at the lure/bait you're using. There are several jigs that have proved effective over time. Be willing to experiment with any of the jigs pictured below.

Vertical Jigs with a minnow are usually used more during changing light conditions and at night.

Northland Tackle Eye-Dropper

Northland Tackle Doodle Bug

Custom Jigs & Spins Demon

Horizontal Jigs with grubs are usually more effective during the day.

System Tackle Fat Boy

System Tackle Genz Worm

Custom Jigs & Spins Rat Finke

HT Enterprises Marmooska

Using live bait is important to trigger a bite. Tip your jig with a live minnow, minnow head, or a grub.

In most places while ice fishing you're allowed more than one rod. I usually set up a second rod with a float (bobber) and a lively minnow on a hook or a jig while ice fishing for Crappie.

Finally, Crappie are also called Paper Mouths for a reason. Their mouth rips pretty easily so when you get a bite don't set the hook too hard.

Hopefully you've found something new to try in these Crappie ice fishing tips and techniques that will help you ice more fish.

What most people consider luck is usually a combination of preparation and practice so get out there and enjoy the practice!

Want to catch more Crappies during ice fishing?

2011-03-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

Crappies are undoubtedly one of the most sought after ice fishing species. They're fun to catch and great eating.

If you want to catch more Crappies, the two most important keys are location and presentation. You could have the most appealing bait in the world but if there aren't any fish around it's going to be a long day. And, not catching a thing while everyone else around you is catching fish can be really frustrating. What you present to the fish is just as important as finding them.

The information found here is best used along with some investigative work done by you. Finding out what the Department of Natural Resources says about a lake and talking to local anglers, especially at the bait shop, local Ely MN Resort or Ely Minnesota guide service, can save you a ton of time finding the fish and knowing what they're biting on.

Crappie can be ice fished at any hour of the day or night but changing light conditions in the morning and evening usually triggers more activity and feeding. Many Crappie fisherman prefer to fish for Crappie from an hour before sundown till a couple hours after dark, however some lakes like Farm Lake produce the best Crappie fishing during the early morning hours and into the afternoon.

Winter gives ice fisherman an advantage for catching Crappie over summer fishing since in the summer they're more spread out and more difficult to find. In the winter they tend to school up more often and suspend over deep water.

By mid winter the Crappie will have moved off the structure, usually to the nearest deep basin. Start by looking for them suspended in the basin near the structure and at the same depth of the structure. Crappie follow food so as the zooplankton and minnows move, so do the Crappie.

Late winter they'll begin to move in closer to the bays and weed lines. Crappie spawn in shallow, dark bottom bays after the ice is out. You'll find them moving closer to these spawning areas as spring approaches.

Before we switch gears and talk about presentation, remember locating Crappie is only half the battle. Don't just drill one hole. Instead drill several holes and find the fish.

Using modern electronics can also help you find fish faster. Depth, fish and structure can all be seen using a flasher (Vexilar, Marcum or Hummingbird). I use a Vexilar FL 20 and it has increased my crappie catching significantly. Stay tuned nest time when we talk about presentations. Now get out there and enjoy the late season ice fishing.

Choosing a Destination for your Boundary Waters Canoe Trip - Part 2

2011-02-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

The right destination or entry point in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is key to making your canoe trip memorable for the right reasons. Whether you’re open to any location or have your heart set on a specific destination, our expert trip planning and experience will ensure that it fits your goals and skill level. Our guides have all the information you need, and answering the following questions will help you sift through the options:

Accessibility:

You don’t always need to travel far to reach great locations in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, however depending on your experience we can assist you in planning a long distance adventure. Whether you are interested in fishing or just sightseeing (or a combination of both) we are positive we can plan a trip that satisfies your interests and abilities.

Length:

Think about how much time you have. Do you need a weekend getaway or a 7-10 day excursion? With the help from our trip planning professionals we will route you and provide you will all the necessary information on the best campsites, portage conditions and fishing hot spots.

Gear:

Do you need complete or partial outfitting? Do you want to show up with your own personal clothing/items and to pick up our canoes & canoe packs with everything you need for an enjoyable trip? Or, if you just need to rent canoes & paddles because you have all your own camping gear - we can help you out there too!

Keep in mind that our gear at Moose Track Adventures is of the highest quality and guide tested and approved for a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness trip. We also offer our customers an excellent menu to choose from and are sure it will tantalize your taste buds.

Come back to learn about what 'Personal Gear & Items' you need to bring when you book a Complete Outfitting Package with a Boundary Waters Outfitter.

Planning a Boundary Waters Overnight Canoe Camping Trip - STEP 1

2011-01-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

Is 2011 the year you visit Ely Minnesota to experience the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)? Great! Let's talk about what you need to know in the early planning stages of a wilderness canoe trip.

First of all, you will need to reserve an 'Overnight Paddle Permit' for your overnight canoe camping trip.

There are a total of 62 Entry Points into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area within a total of 4 Districts - Gunflint, Kawishiwi LaCroix and Tofte. An overnight camping permit is required between the dates of May 1 and September 30, 2011. Choosing an 'Entry Point' is done by a.) determining your 'Entry Date', b.) knowing what your groups canoeing abilities are, c.) determining what your groups 'interests' are and d.) what you want to accomplish on your BWCA overnight camping trip.

Keep in mind that the number of people on the permit (maximum of 9 people) and the 'Exit Date' can change at any time before your trip, but the 'Entry Date' and the 'Entry Point' are what is 'set in stone' and your confirmation will show once you make the reservation. You could always cancel your reserved permit if you need to change the 'Entry Date' or the 'Entry Point', but there is a non-refundable fee of $12 with the Forest Service to do so.

www.recreation.gov is the site to check Permit Availability, Entry Point Maps, etc. All of the information that you read might be overwhelming, which for some people is a reason to use a Boundary Waters Outfitter to help with the process. Keep in mind that routing a canoe trip is a big responsibility, it is also a free service that Moose Track Adventures Outfitters provide to our outfitting clients.

Come back to learn about 'Choosing a Destination' for a memorable Boundary Waters Canoe Trip.

Time to plan your 2011 Boundary Waters Canoe Adventure!

2011-01-04T11:44:00.000-08:00

Tired of the winter already in your neck of the woods? We woke up to -20 degrees here this morning in Ely Minnesota! Our public school doesn't cancel school unless the temperature is colder than -39. Kind of crazy sounding, but I guess once you have lived up here a while it doesn't seem out of the ordinary.

I have noticed that our kids don't seem to mind the winter weather. The just bundle up with the typical snowpant/jacket/boots/mittens and hat and out the door they go whether it's to go sledding, cross country skiing or just rolling down the snow hill made by the plow truck in the driveway. They never come in saying they were cold, just rosy cheeks and asking for a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows!

Hard to believe the 'soft water' season will be back in less than 4 months!

Just a reminder that the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) lottery for both 'canoe only overnight', 'motorboat day & overnight' permits can be made until Saturday Jan 15, 2011 (midnight Central time). This lottery will be for permits with entry dates between May 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011.

Now is the time to be planning your Boundary Waters trip starting in the Ely area. Moose Track Adventures Outfitters can help with your 2011 canoe trip planning. To get started, we just need to know your groups' interests/abilities, entry/exit dates and your outfitting needs. Our Boundary Waters Complete Kevlar Outfitting Package would be the perfect fit for those that just want to show up with their own personal clothes and fishing gear and be on their way. Already have your own gear and just need kevlar canoes and food? We can handle that with our Boundary Waters Kevlar Canoe & Food Package or any gear from our Partial Outfitting Rental List.

Give us a call at 800-777-7091 to start the planning process.

Family Fishing Day on Basswood Chain of Lakes - BWCA

2010-08-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

We packed up 2 boats and headed to the Basswood Lake Chain to have some fun fishing last week. Here we are at the Prairie Portage - Truck Portage getting ready to be pulled out of the water on the trailer.

A foggy early morning soon turned to sunny, blue sky with just a slight breeze.

Gavin won the prize for reeling in the 1st fish of the day. Shortly thereafter he reeled in a nice 24" northern pike in the boat.

In boat #2, Claire reeled in a 20" northern just before the lunch break. Spinner baits & spoons were doing the trick that sunny day.

Josh won the biggest fish of the day - 36" northern pike.

You know you have had a great day fishing when the kids don't finish off all the snacks/drinks you brought for the day and you never hear them say 'Are we going home yet?'!

Finding Northern Pike during the month of August

2010-08-12T05:21:00.000-07:00

This time of year marks the down turn of the summer calendar period. The bigger fish start to get hungry again, although the water is still warm they start to eat due to the days getting shorter.
This is a good time of year to fish the mid lake reefs, and large shallow bays. One of our favorite areas to start for big pike this time of year is a larger shallow bay that is about 8 ft deep where the weeds are right below the surface and has some deep water adjacent to it. You would usually start in the shallower portions of this bay and work your way out and cover as much water as you can.

Lures that you can cover a lot of water and should run shallow or right above the weeds are spoons, spinner baits, and swim baits. Spoons generally are our favorite this time of year because they run right below the surface and you can cover tons of water with them. The more water you cover the more fish you should catch, and you will have a better chance of hooking into a big fish!

Dog Days of August in northern Minnesota

2010-08-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

The dog days of August are upon us in Minnesota. The water is warm, the wind has been balmy and thunderstorms usually mark the end of the day.

August is a great time usually to water ski and tube up here in Ely, MN...but for die hard fisherman, it can be a challenging time to be on the water. Our guests have found that's not always the case and have had an excellent last week of July and first week of August around the Ely area & BWCA.

Our guests have found that's not always the case and have had an excellent last week of July and first week of August around the Ely area & BWCA.

Our weekly Resort Fish Fry's have been busy at Moose Track Adventures with plenty of fish fillets, great conversation & beautiful weather.

If you by chance are in the Ely area midweek, stop by our resort on the Kawishiwi Trail and you just might find one of our fish fry's happening in the evening and get a chance to taste fresh fish caught that same day!

What you could see on a N Kawishiwi River Day Canoe Trip in the BWCA

2010-07-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Entry Point 31 (From Farm Lake - N Kawishiwi River) of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is just a mile and a half across from Moose Track Adventures on Farm Lake. A few of our resort guests chose a couple of nice days in the last 2 weeks to head up into the Kawishiwi River and Clear Lake. Below is a sampling of some of the sites they took in during their paddle.

In a bay to the right on the Kawishiwi River not too far in from the entry point, there is a large beaver house. Sometimes you can catch the beavers in action adding to their already mound of a stick pile for a house.

Lots of water lilies are blooming at this time of year. Their white color stands out on the dark water.

Kids have a great time catching crayfish during our summer months. Sometimes you can see them moving in the water if you are really still, other times you might have to move a few rocks in the water to uncover one of these interesting crustaceans.

Otters can sometimes be seen swimming around some downed tree branches along the shore in search of fish remains that another animal might have left behind.

Snapping & Painted Turtles of all sizes can be seen here in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

The majestic Bald Eagle can either be seen perched high on a tree branch scouting for his next bite to eat or seen flying over water and then swooping down to snatch a fish right of the water. (Photo by: Dennis Davis)

Josh W. captured a picture of a mother loon feeding a minnow to it's baby loon.

Juan H. on a day canoe trip caught this moose standing in the reeds during his afternoon trip up the Kawishiwi River.

Josh W. was fortunate to see this bull moose eating his lunch of reeds on the shore of the Kawishiwi River.

Whether you have only a couple of hours or a full day, a day trip into the N Kawishiwi River is a great place to view the wildlife, birds and plants of northern Minnesota.

It's Blueberry time in Ely Minnesota

2010-07-13T17:34:00.001-07:00

As we all know it has been unseasonably warm this year. That can be a good or bad thing depending on what you are doing. If you are a fisherman, it means that you better fish deep, if you’re a swimmer the water feels great and if you are a berry picker this is your time of year. Due to the warm weather the blueberries, service berries, raspberries and current are ready to eat early this year, almost two weeks early.

Blueberries are a very interesting species of plant. They are in the Ericaceae family which is known to have many relatives in the drier arid regions of the U.S. Many of the plants that you will find will be on dryer full sun hillsides and rock ledges. They are very distinguishable plants, they have opposite leaves that have a leathery look to them, and grow on plants from 6 inches tall to 2 feet. Blueberries are known as a super fruit because they are full of many important antioxidants.

If you are having a hard time finding a walleye on our hot summer days get out and find some quarts of blueberries, the blueberries are easier to catch anyways.

Take A Kid Fishing in Ely Minnesota!

2010-06-10T19:11:00.000-07:00

The Ely Winton Rod & Gun Club is sponsoring "Take A Kid Fishing"

DATE: June 12th

TIME: 8 am to 2 pm

BBQ at Noon provided by the Club ~ Ages 7 - 15

Call today to register your children for a FREE fun filled day of fishing with volunteers.

To Register Your Children: Call Keith at 235-3568

And the winner of our May Photo Contest is....

2010-06-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

The winner of our May Photo Contest - 'Flowers' is Ralph from TX. with his Barrel Cactus image.

Congratulations Ralph!

Thanks for your participation this round - some great pictures!

We will be announcing the June photo contest subject shortly.

If you would like to submit a photo in our next contest, just become a fan of Moose Track Adventures on Facebook & click on the 'June Event' to go to the June Photo Contest Wall. You will see the 'Event' info on top, followed by 'Confirmed Guests' below that and then you will see 'WALL' with 'write something' where you would put your info about the image - where/when it was shot. The 'upload image' button is below the 'write something' box where you would click to find the image on your computer to upload to the June Event Wall.

Fish being caught in our unseasonably warm weather

2010-05-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

We are into the full swing of summer now. With temperatures in the upper 80’s, this has the water warming and it is at the optimal water temperature for smallmouth and largemouth bass. The bass are on the nests right now and some good numbers are being caught.

One of my favorite ways to sight fish bass is using a plastic worm used 'wacky style'. When you hook your worm 'wacky style' you want to put the hook right in the center of the worm, and you do not need to add any weight to the worm just let the weight of the hook pull the worm down to the fish, and use a stop and go method to retrieve the worm. Another way to attack them is a basic tube and jig. Using a tube is a simple way to fish for bass, all you have to do is cast it near a nest and either jig it back or just reel it in. Many companies make tubes and plastic worms. My favorite tubes are the Yum Salted Tubes, which are 3" long and are bright colored due to our stained water. My favorite plastic worms are the Northland 5" Slurpies.

Along with us being in full swing the walleyes, northern and pan fish are into their summer patterns. We have numerous guests fishing for northern pike with fair success. Our guests are targeting northerns early in the morning and later in the evening using sucker minnows on the edge of weed-lines. The people using this are constantly catching fish in the 30+ in range.

The walleyes are in a distinct pattern and can still be caught shallow in low light conditions using minnows under a slip bobber in 6-12 feet of water. If you are going to go after the walleyes during the day they are sliding a little deeper at 22-24 feet of water. Walleyes are hitting on minnows or leeches on jigs in these deeper areas. The crappies have finished spawning and can be found suspended in 30-34ft of water relating to deep points. Anglers are using crappie minnows on a slip bobber when they are targeting these fish.

With the warmer weather and water temps remember to move around. Your best bet is to move to the fish this time of year and to use techniques that allow moving around. Good luck this weekend and hope to see you on the water.