100 hours of temperatures below ZERO - let's think about spring fishing!

Believe it or not, the Ely School District only closed school one day this week, that day we woke up to 44 degrees below zero. The rest of the week was between 20-40 degrees below zero. On Tuesday when the high looks to be around 28 degrees ABOVE zero, it will seem almost 'balmy' after this past week's weather.

Since the beginning of our winter we've had plenty of snow & cold weather. But Ely has plenty of places to go and things to do, whether you are snowmobiling, cross-country skiing or ice fishing.

Trout fishing opener is tomorrow and maybe if Jim & Gavin get lucky, I will be posting some winter lake trout pictures!

Anyone want to fast-forward past winter and start thinking about spring fishing on 'soft' water? Here are a few pictures of the fish caught in the month of May 2008.

Nice stringer of fish on a guided fishing trip on opener May 2008. Ice out was 2 days before fishing opener last year on a lot of Ely, MN lakes (about a month behind previous years).

Brian caught this 30" northern pike on a guided spring opener fishing trip with Jim.










Lee caught this nice smallmouth on a fly-rod on a guided fishing trip with Jim - May 18, 2008








Nice 30" walleye caught on a guide fishing trip with Jim - May 16, 2008







Jill caught this chunky smallmouth on a guided fishing trip with Jim on May 16, 2008




Zach with a 39" northern caught on Farm Lake - May 29, 2008

Jeremy with a 45" northern caught on Farm Lake - May 29, 2008

Mike caught this 41" northern pike in Farm Lake on May 26, 2009








Ron caught this nice smallmouth on a guided fly-fishing trip May 2008.

Whether it's staying in a lakeside cabin and finding fish on our local lakes or going out with a guide for a fun-filled day of fishing on another Ely area lake ~ there are still dates & permits available! Call 800-777-7091 to book your Spring 2009 fishing trip today!

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!

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.