Here’s the list I send out to the people that attend the Rainy Lake Houseboat Get Togethers. Some of it might not be applicable but much of it should be.
Please contact the members of your group to plan for your meals. Each participant is responsible for their own meals but since we’re traveling as a 6 member group on each boat it will be much more efficient if meals are planned as a group and food expenses are split amongst those attending.
If you prefer to shop for food in International Falls there is a Super One located on Hwy 71 and Super-Valu is located at the International Mall on Hwy 71.
Rainy Lake Houseboats has a gift shop, tackle, bait, ice, and pop for your convenience.
Where to stay:
If you plan to arrive in I’fall the night before departure and you DON’T want to stay on the houseboats the night before departure here’s some lodging recommendations:
* Thunderbird Lodge: http://www.thunderbirdrainylake.com – (218) 286-3151 (Note: Middle of the road pricing. Located across the bay from RLH. Good food.)
* Super 8: http://www.super8.com – (218) 283-8811 (Note: What can I say… its a Super 8.)
* Holiday Inn: http://www.holidayinn.com – (877) 863-4780 (Note: Good food on site. Located on the opposite side of town.)
Directions to Rainy Lake Houseboats:
2031 Town Road 488
International Falls, MN 56649
From the corner of U.S. Hwy 53 and 4th St. in International Falls, proceed 9.8 miles east on Highway 11. Turn left on County Rd. 138 just after Gold Shores Drive/Rainy Lake Houseboat signs. Proceed 3/10 of a mile to Utility Road 488, turn right, travel straight ahead 8/10 of a mile to our base. See you soon!
For the kitchen:
You will have the following equipment available to you in each kitchen:
* Full sized refrigerator
* 4 burner range top
* Oven
* Microwave
* Gas grill (on the front deck)
* Toaster
* Coffee Pot
* Complete set of dishes, silverware, pots, pans and utensils
* Drinking / Cooking water is available on tap.
* Dish / kitchen towels & dish washing liquid
* Ice is provided by RLH. Bring a cooler for your pop, water and beer so valuable refrigerator space is not taken up with endless bottles and cans.
Each group should bring the following:
* Tin Foil
* Ziplock bags
* Paper towels
* Paper plates (saves on clean up time!)
* Lots of snacks (chips, nuts, candy bars, etc.)
* Fillet knife / fillet board
Here’s some general advice regarding splitting the workload in the kitchen that has served me well on this type of trip…
“Cooks don’t do dishes or clean up. Those that clean up or do dishes don’t cook. Those that don’t cook or clean up don’t eat.”
The point being this trip will be one of the most enjoyable trips you’ve ever been on if everyone chips in and shares some of the work that it takes to make the meals and keep the cabin and private rooms clean. Find a way to do your share.
Personal items:
Each person attending will need to bring the following personal items:
* Sleeping bag (no exceptions)
* Pillow
* Bath Towel(s)
* Toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, etc.)
* Flip flops / slippers
* Folding camp chair (the kind you stuff in the bag work great)
* Camera / Video Camera
Each person will have their own bed. If you’re a loud snorer PLEASE pick your sleeping quarters to be as far away from the light sleeper in your group as possible.
The showers are HOT and feel great after a long day on the water.
Check-in time to begin boarding houseboats will begin at 9 AM on Wednesday – June 1, 2009. Note – if you’re staying overnight in the houseboats the night before departure you will be able to load Tuesday night.
The boarding process begins with a check in at the Rainy Lake Houseboat office. Tell them you’re with the In-Depth Outdoors group and give them your houseboat group number / boat name. Each person in attendance will have a small amount of paperwork to fill out before you will begin loading your gear onto the houseboat.
Once your paperwork is complete please work as a group to QUICKLY load your gear.
Before any boat can leave the dock a complete tour of each houseboat is given by Rainy Lake Houseboat (RLH) staff. You will also be briefed on how to operate all equipment onboard. The tour and briefing will take around 1 hour. Those that will be operating the houseboat will need to be “front and center” during the tour. Topics covered will include how to start the engines, how to tow the fishing boats, how to work the 12 V / 110 V electrical systems, generator, heating / cooling systems as well as how to tie up the houseboats for the night.
A RLH staff member will drive the houseboat off the docks and get your trip underway. This RLH staff member will be picked up in a small craft by a second RLH staff member once the operators of the houseboat feel comfortable with the controls. Note: driving one of these houseboats is as easy as driving a car but twice as much fun!
Fuel Allowance:
A pre-designated tie-up area has been selected that will allow all 5 houseboats to dock for the night in the same location. We ask that all houseboats stay the first night in this location. After the first night you are welcome to tour the lake. Do note that the per person pricing for this trip allows for 80 gallons of fuel per boat. This fuel allowance will be more than enough to get you out to the pre-selected tie up area, run generators when needed during your trip and return to RLH at the end of your trip without incurring any additional fuel charges. Should you decide AS A GROUP to tour Rainy Lake in your houseboat be aware that you may exceed your allotted fuel allowance. Should you exceed your allotted fuel allowance you will need to cover any additional charges AS A GROUP when you return the houseboat to RLH.
Items for the boat:
* A good mapping chip for your GPS will be invaluable for this trip. Lakemaster’s Rainy / Lake of the Woods chip is incredibly accurate and will be a huge aid in both catching fish and navigating safely. I would strongly advise everyone bringing a fishing boat have one for the trip.
* A heavy anchor. 25# at a minimum. And a minimum of 100′ of rope. Many of the reefs fished are surrounded by 75 – 100′ of water. Trying to anchor “just off the reef” with 50 foot of anchor rope if going to leave your frustrated.
* A spare anchor. The rocks like to keep your anchor from time to time. It doesn’t happen often but if it does and nobody has a spare it is a long way back to town.
* A 15′ tow line for towing your fishing boat behind the houseboat. I would recommend a minimum of 1/2″ rope as the pressure on the tow ropes is tremendous when the houseboat is underway. Attach a heavy quick-clip to each end and you’ll have a perfect tow rope.
* Bumpers. Although the boats towed behind the houseboats NEVER touch each other when under power when the houseboat comes to a stop the fishing boats might bump each other. A couple boat bumpers will ensure nobody gets a ding or a scuff.
* Extra fuel. Throw a couple extra 6 gallon gas cans of fuel in your boat. RLH can bring you out additional fuel during our stay but there is a delivery charge.
* Drop cord for charging trolling motor batteries off houseboat 110 v system.
* Flashlight / headlamp
* Boat cover. Some will appreciate a dry boat in the AM. Throw your boat cover over your boat at night to keep the dew off the seats and carpet.
Slots, Limits and Selective Harvest
* Walleyes, pike, crappies and smallmouth will all be available and biting well.
* On Rainy Lake, state law requires that all walleye caught on Rainy Lake that are 17 to 28 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water. The limit is 4 walleye per person. The crappie limit is 10 per person. The pike limit is 3 with one 1 allowed over 30″.
* NOTE: In-Depth Outdoors promotes and will be practicing SELECTIVE HARVEST. We ask that you do the same. While it might be tempting to keep a “boat limit” of 14+” crappies… we will ask that you keep enough for a meal, keep the smaller fish… and let the bigger fish swim another day. The same goes for the larger pike and walleyes. Doing so will insure that future Rainy Lake Roundups will be a success as well.
Friday can’t come soon enough!
