James, I have a show idea.

Not sure how realistic this is but given your love for trout (my favorite fish through the ice) I think it would be an unbelievable show to see you guys spend a few days fishing for Lake Trout and giant Pike on lakes like Knife Lake, Basswood or one of the bigger lakes with in the BWCA. I’m sure though the logistics of getting your guys and all your camera gear packed up on dog sleds for that kind of trip would be a pretty epic undertaking. I do appriciate how much you guys try to mix it up through out a long season. Have a safe season. Thanks, Bill

eyesonly wrote:

Not sure how realistic this is but given your love for trout (my favorite fish through the ice) I think it would be an unbelievable show to see you guys spend a few days fishing for Lake Trout and giant Pike on lakes like Knife Lake, Basswood or one of the bigger lakes with in the BWCA. I’m sure though the logistics of getting your guys and all your camera gear packed up on dog sleds for that kind of trip would be a pretty epic undertaking. I do appriciate how much you guys try to mix it up through out a long season. Have a safe season. Thanks, Bill

@eyesonly

Agreed. I’d want to film those shows too! I have a couple dog sled teams that would haul us in on a moments notice. But “wanting to” and being “able to” are two completely separate things. The Federal Parks system won’t give us permits to film in the BWCA so we’re on the outside looking in. I’ve spent time the last 2 winters trying to get those permits and at this point I’ve accepted that I’m wasting my time.

Well just put that episode on you tube… Can it “extras” no need for a permit then I imagine.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

Well just put that episode on you tube… Can it “extras” no need for a permit then I imagine.

If we can’t air it on FSN then there’s no way to justify the expense and time invested to put it together. I hear what you’re saying and I’ve thought about endless ways to find a work-around but right now we’re road blocked.

Why do you need a permit? Side thought, would it do any good to offer a PSA vid in return to raise awareness for the BWCA and park system (something to help show our tax dollars actually being usefull in protecting an area like the BWCA) (or again makes the whole thing cost prohibitive?)

poomunk wrote:

Why do you need a permit? Side thought, would it do any good to offer a PSA vid in return to raise awareness for the BWCA and park system (something to help show our tax dollars actually being usefull in protecting an area like the BWCA) (or again makes the whole thing cost prohibitive?)

In Federal Parks permits are needed to do any commercial / professional filming. For example, any time we filmed in the Voyageur’s National Park area on Rainy I needed a permit and had to pay the associated fees. On Rainy they would issue the needed permits. In the BWCA they won’t.

Another option to consider for a Lake Trout show is to look at lakes just outside the BWCA. I know there are some good ones that require some difficultly getting into; either by walking, snowmobiling, or some other means. I know of several in the Grand Maraies area. We used to make yearly ice fishing trips up there. Some were easy to get into and others not so.

kwp wrote:

Another option to consider for a Lake Trout show is to look at lakes just outside the BWCA. I know there are some good ones that require some difficultly getting into; either by walking, snowmobiling, or some other means. I know of several in the Grand Maraies area. We used to make yearly ice fishing trips up there. Some were easy to get into and others not so.

10-4 on that. I think this would make a great show. Not as epic as a dogsled trip into the BWCA for giant pike and / or lakers but a close second.

James Holst wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eyesonly wrote:</div>
Not sure how realistic this is but given your love for trout (my favorite fish through the ice) I think it would be an unbelievable show to see you guys spend a few days fishing for Lake Trout and giant Pike on lakes like Knife Lake, Basswood or one of the bigger lakes with in the BWCA. I’m sure though the logistics of getting your guys and all your camera gear packed up on dog sleds for that kind of trip would be a pretty epic
undertaking. I do appriciate how much you guys try to mix it up through out a long season. Have a safe season. Thanks, Bill

@eyesonly

Agreed. I’d want to film those shows too! I have a couple dog sled teams that would haul us in on a moments notice. But “wanting to” and being “able to” are two completely separate things. The Federal Parks system won’t give us permits to film in the BWCA so we’re on the outside looking in. I’ve spent time the last 2 winters trying to get those permits and at this point I’ve accepted that I’m wasting my time.

I probably should have figured you had already made the effort to try to put a trip like that together. Yikes, you were not kidding. I did some quick research . Talk about hoops. I stopped reading after the 2nd page on requirements to film/ photograph in a Federal park

kwp wrote:

Another option to consider for a Lake Trout show is to look at lakes just outside the BWCA. I know there are some good ones that require some difficultly getting into; either by walking, snowmobiling, or some other means. I know of several in the Grand Maraies area. We used to make yearly ice fishing trips up there. Some were easy to get into and others not so.

That’s not only a show I’d love to watch, but a trip I’ve always wanted to take myself! Hope to see something on here someday, odds of me seeing it in person anytime soon are nil.

What are the chances of doing a show on the Canuck side?

Speaking of the Canadian side, as a youth, my dad took us every year to Quetico Provencial Park out of Atikokin on the North side. We would spend all of 10 full days in the park and paddle 30 miles into the park to Lake Olifont. What a gas man! Never had to work hard for walleye, lakers or pike that far in. Just paradise. Now THAT would be a show for the ages!

munchy wrote:

What are the chances of doing a show on the Canuck side?

That would be even more problematic. Ontario requires expensive non-resident work permits in addition to the hurdles related to filming in the Quetico. I know how to successfully navigate the work permitting process but to date I’ve not found a way to get permission to film in the Canadian side of the park.

Its too bad that the permitting process has to be that difficult. I appreciate the efforts to protect resources. But these shows do contribute heavily to the local economies and show these areas in a very positive manor.

I tried to talk James into going to the Canadian side of Erie with me for some incredible crank bait bites. Cost and efforts of permits far exceeded the budgets James has to work with for producing a show. Bummer

Lake Wazee down here in central WI is a great trout fishery. Lots of 16-17″ rainbows and the occasional low 20’s. Winter boasts nearly 100′ visibility too…and, there are some just monster walleyes. I’ve seen them numerous times in the summer while scuba diving, but have never had luck targeting them on the ice. Beautiful area, too!

eyesonly wrote:

…I do appriciate how much you guys try to mix it up through out a long season…

I second that, too! Love the variety of each show – especially learning tactics I’m not always familiar with…best fishing show IMO.