rainy river ice out

Pushed our trip back as well. This is the first time in 20+ years we have had to delay due to a RE-FREEZE.

yep mother nature sure threw a wrench into everything this year. still watching weather and waiting

I just did a 24hr turn and burn trip to the NW Angle, we flew over the Rainy yesterday and today.

It was pretty ice free yesterday, but looked like there was a lot of skim ice this morning.

We had a fun time, hammered 15-18″ walleyes last night and this morning (ice fishing) Having a buddy with a plane is awesome lol

The top pic is Franz Jevne this morning, the second Pine Island looking west, the second to last picture was near Emo yesterday.

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Great update B-Man. Thanks.

So who is headed up this weekend? Think I’m heading up Sunday and staying somewhere next week. Sure hope the forecast holds true.

Planning to fish Saturday. Possibly will go Sunday after Easter stuff too.

Mike W wrote:

So who is headed up this weekend? Think I’m heading up Sunday and staying somewhere next week. Sure hope the forecast holds true.

We are heading up Monday. Staying for the week as well.

Maybe I’ll see you up there. Where are you staying Ron?

Mike W wrote:

Maybe I’ll see you up there. Where are you staying Ron?

Setting up camp at birchdale again. The kid and I, then I have 2 buddies following us up as well.

Camping is my back up plan if I can’t find a cheap place to stay.

We will be coming next Thursday for a few days. We are staying at sportmans. Their villas look nice and the cabins are quite reasonable if you can’t find a place. They just posted 20% off your stay on Facebook too if you mention that. Can’t wait

Border View is like $46/night per person right now too, but that drive to Vidas or further sucks everyday.

Mike W wrote:

Camping is my back up plan if I can’t find a cheap place to stay.

Give me a call and we will get you a spot if needed

BigWerm wrote:

Border View is like $46/night per person right now too, but that drive to Vidas or further sucks everyday.

Nothing better then a week of camping on the river never taking the boat out of the water. My buddies mentioned staying at the hotel and I just said no thank you.

I agree but my big issue is charging the boat batteries. We camped 10 days at Birchdale a few years back but had Dustins generator to charge things.

hopefully the river opens all the way past wheelers point next week

Mike W wrote:

I agree but my big issue is charging the boat batteries. We camped 10 days at Birchdale a few years back but had Dustins generator to charge things.

Yup the big honda with for charging and running camo lights

It is looking like a solo trip for me this weekend.

I might run up for a Saturday trip. Gotta get the tent back on the truck tho. The weather looks good!

I was thinking of going next Thursday through Sunday.
It’s probably going to be just me.
How hard is it to launch a boat up there by yourself?

Michael Best wrote:

I was thinking of going next Thursday through Sunday.
It’s probably going to be just me.
How hard is it to launch a boat up there by yourself?

Not bad. It’s just me and a 12 year old so I’m in the same boat. If the game wardens were nit there baby sitting then I’d have him go park my rig, but I can’t. Every one I talk to is decent up there. And If you need a hand we will be at birchdale

Thanks Bearcat I was thinking of using Birchdale.
My version of camping now days is sleeping in my truck. So that has crossed my mind as well.

Michael Best wrote:

I was thinking of going next Thursday through Sunday.
It’s probably going to be just me.
How hard is it to launch a boat up there by yourself?

It definitely is not a problem by yourself. Show up a little late in the morning and there usually is not much if any line and if you stay out tell dark it is the same. If you try to load up just before dark it tends to be pretty busy.

Michael Best wrote:

Thanks Bearcat I was thinking of using Birchdale.
My version of camping now days is sleeping in my truck. So that has crossed my mind as well.

If you see my big blue ram will will be having a fire every night, feel free to come join. And we are always grilling.

Sounds great Bearcat I will stop by for sure.
Thank you

Dave maze wrote:

I might run up for a Saturday trip. Gotta get the tent back on the truck tho. The weather looks good!

Dave you thinking this Saturday or the following?

It’s been in the single digits up there for the past few nights. I just watched a video of a Tracker busting what looked to be about 1-2″ of ice trying to get to the Canadian side of the river which had a narrow channel open. They would push up on the ice with the motor and 3 or 4 of them were up on the bow trying to bust through. They eventually made it.

I’ve busted a lot of ice to go fishing, but man that looked pretty sketchy and they had to go a long way to find open water.

So far today watched videos of the river looking like shore to shore ice, then about 6 guys chopping open a ramp, then a single boat busting through ice to get to a small channel of open water on the Canadian side. I’m guessing with 3 degree temps tonight they will be repeating this again on Friday. Still got to love seeing guys make it happen.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dave maze wrote:</div>
I might run up for a Saturday trip. Gotta get the tent back on the truck tho. The weather looks good!

Dave you thinking this Saturday or the following?

this Saturday

Looks pretty icy today. Those guys breaking trail were definitely more motivates then I am. I’ll break a trail but not usually to that degree.