Island/boulder/rice lake (Duluth)

Anyone have current info on water levels on any of these reservoirs near Duluth? Low enough that launching is ‘fun’?

poomunk:

I’m not going to tell you I can find out anything, but one of my best friends here in the Minocqua area spent a week there (Island) in the last 7-10 days… they fished weeds in 8′ – 13′ of water and wacked the small walleyes and decent perch all week!!! As for water levels and fun launching… that topic never came up. Funny how 4 guys from lower MI found Moose/Island Lakes???

Mark

https://www.mnpower.com/environment/watertable

Based on current water levels, Island Lake is only about a ft low which is not bad at all for that lake. Launching should not be a problem.

Boulder lake is about 2 ft low, so definitely keep an eye out for rocks and go slow (especially in front of the pubic launch) but launching should not be a problem.

Fish and Rice Lake are also a little low but launching should not be a problem.

Yeah, the year we tried boulder it was a foot or so low, I bumped a couple boulders but nothing damaging. Somewhere I saved a side imaging picture that was a good example of why it’s called boulder lake.

poomunk wrote:

Yeah, the year we tried boulder it was a foot or so low, I bumped a couple boulders but nothing damaging. Somewhere I saved a side imaging picture that was a good example of why it’s called boulder lake.

ya it is an absolute mine field right in front of the public access on Boulder. Once you get beyond that part and out towards the main lake, it is pretty manageable to run around on plane. But if you are unfamiliar with the lake, I would be very cautious going out from the launch, even when the water levels are “normal”. The first few times I took my boat out there, I only ran the trolling motor in that first part – didn’t even lower the main motor until I was in the clear.

Dont let your guard down on other parts of Boulder either, plenty of hazards and prop monsters everywhere!!!. Same goes for Island, they can come up fast and catch ya when you slipping letting your guard down. Capt. JH