Ice Road to the Angle

Anyone been on it yet or plan to soon? We’re heading up next Friday to head to Flag Island. Can’t wait for this little adventure!

If you use it, post anything people should know here.

Not sure if you saw it, but Jon Thelen posted a video driving on this new road earlier this week. He talks about how you pay for it and some footage of what to expect. Looks pretty nice actually.
https://www.facebook.com/proanglingpromos/videos/237033284531922.
I found this one by Joe Henry

No clue if this is accurate as I just heard it while talking to a guy. They apparently had to close it for a bit because it was getting too beat up from people driving too fast on it. I can imagine it being a PITA driving 20 mph across that huge body of water, but the resorts up there are depending on that road right now.

Greenhorn wrote:

No clue if this is accurate as I just heard it while talking to a guy. They apparently had to close it for a bit because it was getting too beat up from people driving too fast on it. I can imagine it being a PITA driving 20 mph across that huge body of water, but the resorts up there are depending on that road right now.

Doesnt surprise me, people are idiots driving on the ice. The is not real thick up there. I just got back we were fishing near Garden island and maybe 14 inches.

From what I read in the paper regarding it, they were planning on charging $120 for a round trip pass to the angle, and $140 for a rd trip to flag island? Does anybody know if this is what came to pass, and is the road open to any fisherman, or just resort goers?

Timmy wrote:

From what I read in the paper regarding it, they were planning on charging $120 for a round trip pass to the angle, and $140 for a rd trip to flag island? Does anybody know if this is what came to pass, and is the road open to any fisherman, or just resort goers?

That’s what it looks like. In the Joe Henry video I linked above it shows up on the screen as such. They commented it costs like $1500 per mile of road or something to maintain. With it being 30 miles that’s a ton of dough, but they had to do something because they make as much money in the winter as they do all summer. These resorts are really hurting with really no income all summer.

Timmy wrote:

From what I read in the paper regarding it, they were planning on charging $120 for a round trip pass to the angle, and $140 for a rd trip to flag island? Does anybody know if this is what came to pass, and is the road open to any fisherman, or just resort goers?

Most updated info I can find is on the Northwest Angle Guest Ice Road facebook page.

$120 to mainland and $145 to the islands is what I’m seeing right now. Road is open to anyone, but I believe no wheelhouses.

tswoboda wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Timmy wrote:</div>
From what I read in the paper regarding it, they were planning on charging $120 for a round trip pass to the angle, and $140 for a rd trip to flag island? Does anybody know if this is what came to pass, and is the road open to any fisherman, or just resort goers?

Most updated info I can find is on the Northwest Angle Guest Ice Road facebook page.

$120 to mainland and $145 to the islands is what I’m seeing right now. Road is open to anyone, but I believe no wheelhouses.

This is correct from what I understand as well.

I did see the Thelen thing – get’s me pumped to get up there. Should be some hungry fish up there next week!!!

that would be a long boring drive. somebody should have a food truck halfway

Coletrain27 wrote:

that would be a long boring drive. somebody should have a food truck halfway

A liquor store and a bathroom, too.

Matt Moen wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Coletrain27 wrote:</div>
that would be a long boring drive. somebody should have a food truck halfway

A liquor store and a bathroom, too.

haha yea. im sure there will be alot of people stopping to relieve themselves along the way

I’ve never been up there before but how long of a drive would it be?

KP wrote:

I’ve never been up there before but how long of a drive would it be?

It’s a total of 40 miles…..22 miles from Springsteel to the road, about 10 miles over road, and then another short jaunt over the ice if you are going to the islands. They have the route in Thelen’s video posted above.

KP wrote:

I’ve never been up there before but how long of a drive would it be?

30 miles at 25mph

Route: The road will run from Springsteel Resort, across the lake, to the Border Cut trail, then along the trail to the main Angle road (Co Rd 330). The road is approx. 25-30 miles.

Rules: 25 MPH speed limit. The road is not wheelhouse friendly. There will not be enough clearance and you will get stuck. Regular passenger vehicles and most trailers will be fine.

About 35 miles to inlet with a limit of 25mph so it will take about 30 minutes.

onestout wrote:

About 35 miles to inlet with a limit of 25mph so it will take about 30 minutes.

This math doesnt check out. LOL

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>onestout wrote:</div>
About 35 miles to inlet with a limit of 25mph so it will take about 30 minutes.

This math doesnt check out. LOL

its gonna be over a hour drive. and most vehicles the cruise control dont work at that slow of speed

This may be a dumb question but couldn’t you take sleds and haul your crap up that way or do guys have to have every luxury in the world to make it an ice fishing trip?

bigpike wrote:

This may be a dumb question but couldn’t you take sleds and haul your crap up that way or do guys have to have every luxury in the world to make it an ice fishing trip?

Some people like the comforts of staying at a resort and using their houses, what is wrong with that?

Matt,
I will give you an update early next week.
I have a co-worker up there right now, coming back to work on Tue.
Will try and get some good info for you.
FYI, My co-worker does not seem like much of a fisherman though..

Ron

onestout wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigpike wrote:</div>
This may be a dumb question but couldn’t you take sleds and haul your crap up that way or do guys have to have every luxury in the world to make it an ice fishing trip?

Some people like the comforts of staying at a resort and using their houses, what is wrong with that?

Not everyone has the luxury of owning a snowmobile.

bigpike wrote:

This may be a dumb question but couldn’t you take sleds and haul your crap up that way or do guys have to have every luxury in the world to make it an ice fishing trip?

a car or truck is a big luxury? this road isnt for wheelhouses. its main reason is to get people to the resorts that have been struggling big time not being able to drive through canada.

We were up on the angle this weekend. Talked to one guy that said the road is good but took them 5 hours because they had to repair a crack and could not cross till they got it done. I dont believe they were stuck waiting on the lake. They warned them and said it just added 5 hours to the trip but they made it up with no issue. Fishing was not what we see on most years. Little slow but was still a great weekend.

Matt,

The info from my co-worker.
Ice road took about 1:15 to drive. Three ice heaves w/ wooden bridges.
A short trip through the woods, think snowmobile trail, then finally the gravel road.
As for the fishing, sounds like the resorts are keeping most houses shallow, less then 20 feet.
10-2 was their slowest times each day. Morning bite they did well on gold. Evening changed to red, pink, white. Good numbers of 16-19, one 26, and a couple of really nice pike.

Ron

bigpike wrote:

This may be a dumb question but couldn’t you take sleds and haul your crap up that way or do guys have to have every luxury in the world to make it an ice fishing trip?

This is what we did last week. Drove the sleds from Springsteel to Flag island. Drove in the dark and a blizzard on Wednesday night. Took us an hour and a half. Sunday coming home, we drove 50 mph on the snowmobile trail. Took about 45 minutes. Overall a good experience.

sliderfishn wrote:

Matt,

The info from my co-worker.
Ice road took about 1:15 to drive. Three ice heaves w/ wooden bridges.
A short trip through the woods, think snowmobile trail, then finally the gravel road.
As for the fishing, sounds like the resorts are keeping most houses shallow, less then 20 feet.
10-2 was their slowest times each day. Morning bite they did well on gold. Evening changed to red, pink, white. Good numbers of 16-19, one 26, and a couple of really nice pike.

Ron

Thanks for the report Ron. What resort were they fishing out of?

Our weather looks great so while we’ll be in a house we’ll bring the K drill and move around a bit. Nice to be a little mobile during the day if possible.

Anyone heard from their resorts about the road getting shut down? I have a buddy that works up there that said the Red Lake Band owns the land the road goes over and their land is closed to non-essential travel due to Covid, even there where no members live. So lawyers are getting involved, but sounds like it will stay open. Probably just a money grab, but I’d be pissed if it screwed up my trip so thought I’d let you know.

fishinfreaks wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bigpike wrote:</div>
This may be a dumb question but couldn’t you take sleds and haul your crap up that way or do guys have to have every luxury in the world to make it an ice fishing trip?

This is what we did last week. Drove the sleds from Springsteel to Flag island. Drove in the dark and a blizzard on Wednesday night. Took us an hour and a half. Sunday coming home, we drove 50 mph on the snowmobile trail. Took about 45 minutes. Overall a good experience.

Sounds like fun and my kind of trip! Now let the boys hammer away again