One last observation…. the best of the best at backing a trailer down the ramp in my 3 weeks at Birchdale? A woman in her late 30’s / early 40’s. Lined up perfectly, backed down straight in the middle of the ramp, stopped exactly where she need to, with no prompts.
I told her husband how well she did and he replied, “Yea – she has a CDL and gets lots of practice.”
Thanks guys. I was planning to stay Sat til 7 but had 12 hours in at 5 pm and just couldn’t work safely anymore so it was time to call it a day.
Hopefully most didn’t back up beyond the ramp when loading.That caused some real problems Sat morning when pulling empty trailers out so it would have been more problematic coming back out with the boat loaded. Another section of ramp is really needed at the end of both ramps in Birchdale. The river level however is currently near a record low so that is the heart of the problem.
I’m not sure why more didn’t park their trailers at an angle along the road. I mentioned it to most during the first hour Thurs thru Sat mornings and figured that if a few started doing that more would follow. It might have been the snow in the ditch and folks couldn’t see enough to be comfortable or ??
There are about 110 parked in a mile without angling the trailers. That capacity could increase to at least 150 if trailers were parked at an angle.
Would the ramp accommodate a 20ft pontoon and bunk trailer?
If you can launch with 10′ of ramp the answer is yes. There are washouts immediately at the end of the concrete probably 5-10″ deep so if your trailer wheels go beyond the ramp there is a possibility of leaf spring hanger getting caught up, depending on the design.
Walleye season ends today so this is more for sturgeon anglers and for future reference when the water levels are low. When launching with a bunk trailer most are backing beyond the ramp. Be aware if you have a bow mount trolling motor that hangs off the front that the trolling motor might hit the bow roller with some force as the boat slides in the water. There have been at least a half dozen this year that have come down hard enough to break some parts on their bow mount motors.
Thanks for the pointers Uffda! We appreciate it. But you forgot the most important part……. fish! any fish biting????
Best reports I heard were Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. Wednesday was slow for most even though it was the nicest day this spring season. A few boats did a little too good if you know what I mean … $$$
No ice whatsoever yesterday or today at Birchdale.
Around 160 boats today just at Birchdale and expect that many or more through Saturday. Frontier and Birchdale are and will be the only 2 accesses open through April 14 west of the Littlefork and Bigfork Rivers.
A few other things to note…
Both Birchdale ramps currently have 10′ of ramp in the water with washouts immediately behind which are deep enough to cause problems for some trailers.
Please don’t park boat trailers in the camping area to the east closest to the ramp. That area is open to camping only, which is no charge and first come first serve.
Outboards have been starting better now that it’s +15-20 degrees in the morning but some still are not spitting water immediately. The drain hole likely has some ice and they usually start pumping in a few minutes. Also the impeller is likely circulating water but just not able to spit water.
A few bunk trailers are still freezing to the hull overnight if they’ve been in the water the day before but they’ll thaw if left in the water a few minutes. If the boat isn’t super heavy it’s possible to get a few guys and lift the bow up to free up the boat.
It will help everybody if, when you park along the east side of the county road from Hwy 11 to the landing, you back your trailer at a slight angle towards the ditch. Approx 110 trucks and trailers will fit end to end on the county road to Hwy 11 but that number could be increased to at least 150 if parked as described above. The key is to get the first few to do that and the rest will hopefully follow.
If you see someone walking in the same directly you’re driving to or from the ramp pay it forward and offer them a ride. You might even get a fishing tip in the process.
Once parking reaches Hwy 11 you can ask at the Nelson store in Birchdale about parking out of the way immediately to the west of the store but again please check at the store first if that’s your choice. There have been a few parking in the church parking lot but the most parking is available around the community building (tan metal building) a block east of the store.
I was advised today that parking is not allowed on Hwy 11 at all.
Lastly I’ll repeat the river is very low. A few props and skegs are getting nicked so be careful unless you wish to support your local skeg and prop repair shop. Some are asking about going up the rapids. I wouldn’t advise that at all unless you have lots and lots of experience through that area.
I can remember driving up 71 a few years ago and all the boats heading south giving us a thumbs down. Horrible feeling being that close and knowing its a wasted trip.
Exactly why I like to give updates. I haven’t always lived here but have a brother who has and getting real time local updates saved a lot of disappointment for 23 years.
Did you see the forecast for Friday and Saturday?
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I would keep a close eye on the forecast from several different sources for this week. Most of the last several predicted snowstorms have stayed south of us. That said, with the way this early spring season has gone…..who knows?
This morning at Birchdale 
https://www.facebook.com/wes.peterson.9/videos/10213702649058362/?t=22
Found this on the US Customs and Border Protection site – read carefully and note that this is from the US only.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/list/kw/Remote%20area%20border%20crossing%20permit
Read carefully and note that this if from US Customs and Border Protection only….haven’t found anything as concise from Canadian Customs yet but you can always go on their website, get a phone number and call.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/list/kw/Remote%20area%20border%20crossing%20permit
There’s been enough west wind today to keep the ice under control and keep boats not so under control. One word description of fishing, temps and wind today at Birchdale…brutal. +17 after a low of +3 and a 18-30 mph wind. In fact the last 8 days have somewhat to very challenging.
Another thing to note is the river is quite low right now so some new danger spots. Rocks are visible now that weren’t even 4-5 days ago.
Good news is weather forecast is looking better for the last week starting tomorrow and it’s highly unlikely the Forks will be out before April 14. There’s a chance for the start of the sturgeon season on April 24 we could see a few days of good clarity yet. Of course a unforseen heavy rain event could change that.
I’ll be down there when it’s busy to monitor that.
And yet another reason the shuttle service is important.
IMO the weather won’t affect the bite as much as it will affect the abilty to fish effectively. Based on the last week, and the forecast through Friday, there’ll likely be ice forming overnight that will break up and float down most of the day. That moving ice and slush makes it hard to keep your line in the water where you want it. Anybody fishing Birchdale last Fri through today can attest to that. Some still caught fish Fri afternoon but it was considerably better Mon-Thurs. I wasn’t there long enough Sat or today to get reports and not down at all yesterday.
Of course the wind is also a factor in boat control, especially anything that pushes you against the current. Folks who did the best last week when it was windy were anchoring and casting.
FYI – Haven’t heard of or seen a sturgeon caught yet. A few may have been caught I don’t know about though.
Should add that I won’t be on here when it gets busy.
IMO the weather won’t affect the bite as much as it will affect the abilty to fish effectively. Based on the last week, and the forecast through Friday, there’ll likely be ice forming overnight that will break up and float down most of the day. That moving ice and slush makes it hard to keep your line in the water where you want it. Anybody fishing Birchdale last Fri through today can attest to that. Some still caught fish Fri afternoon but it was considerably better Mon-Thurs. I wasn’t there long enough Sat or today to get reports and not down at all yesterday.
Of course the wind is also a factor in boat control, especially anything that pushes you against the current. Folks who did the best last week when it was windy were anchoring and casting.
FYI – Haven’t heard of or seen a sturgeon caught yet. A few may have been caught I don’t know about though.
pics from Birchdale landing and Hwy 11 west of Loman.
Patchy ice this morning anywhere you could see the river from I Falls to Birchdale.
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If the forecasted lows (from 3 different websites) Thursday and Friday hold true there will be some refreeze Fri for sure. Nothing that will make getting on the water impossible but probably dealing with some broken ice all day Friday. Wind forecast is 10-20 Thurs and 15-25 Fri.
Remember too that weather forecasters are like baseball players – if they bat .300 they’re all-stars. They batted closer to .900 last week though. I docked him .100 cause we didn’t get any snow!
Franz Jevne was opened last Friday and I talked with someone who’d been at Franz Jevne for a few hours in earlier Fri afternoon. My theory was the ice was flowing downstream would make Franz Jevne no better and maybe worse. Wrong. He said there’s a little more current there and the ice wasn’t really much of a problem.
So there’s food for thought!
Good idea Mike. I’ve used YakTrax which are okay for street shoes. Then the gigantic HT ones that fit over any size boots but can’t keep them on. Early this winter I bought a pair of Kahtoola MICROspikes and thought they were overpriced until I wore them on early ice and then all this week on the ramp. One word review: awesome! Got them on ebay for around $40.
Can’t speak to the Mississippi but sand in the ice is fairly common in some areas of the Rainy River. Rule 1 here is never put Lazer blades in that and expect to drill very many holes.
Around 10 years ago I took an older and very abused SM Mag Lazer somebody gave me to Big Lake when SM used to have a repair shop there. They had to reset the bottom of the auger (where the blades mount) to the correct angle because the previous 280 lb owner had banged the auger on the ice when it wouldn’t cut thinking the bottom was iced up. Reason it wouldn’t cut is he tried to sharpen the lazer blades.
We all know you can’t fix stupid but kudos to the SM mechanics for getting that auger to near new shape in less than an hour.
They also included a very important Lazer lesson at no charge with the service. Don’t drill holes in tire tracks or where vehicles have been parked cause you risk hitting sand from tires or that has fallen off the vehicle. Don’t drill out old holes. It may work but drilling new clean ice is less risky. Don’t even think about sharpening Lazer blades other than sending them in to SM or replacing them with new or factory sharpened blades.
I miss that shop! They were reasonable, had everything on hand and made repairs while you waited.
Used Vexilar, Humminbird, Lowrance and Marcum. I like the Marcum cause of the bright and sharp display and I haven’t had any problems with 3 of them. I have friends however that do a lot of hole hopping and have had to replace the transducers due to failure. I had a Showdown for a short time but didn’t care for the vertical monochrome display at all.
My Vexilars were older (and used) and the FL8 was basically not visible outside on a sunny day and the FL18 display was getting weaker with age. Other than that they were very reliable. However I have not used the new models like the FL20, 22 and 28 so there may be big improvements.
The Humminbird display is too washed out and not sharp enough for me. Seems like the knobs are also cheaper and more vulnerable especially traveling in a sled or on a snowmobile. Not knocking Humminbird as a company cause I have a high end unit on my boat and been very satisfied. Am looking forward to seeing the Helix ice units at work.
I have the ice kit for my Lowrance Elite 5 as a backup and for friends who don’t have electronics and it serves that purpose well…… would add that I’m not a big Lowrance fan.
I like the Joka (think HT makes the same or very similar) mits too. They’re waterproof and a little stiffer with less restriction at the wrists which allow you to wear a pair of thinner gloves inside. The mits are quick and easy to remove so you fish with the gloves.
We use have them at work so have used them a lot there and for fishing.
This link addresses entering to and returning from Canada by boat:
http://www.cbp.gov/travel/pleasure-boats-private-flyers/cbbl
Living here I fish border and Ontario waters a lot. Without following the regulations that are in place you don’t want to fish in Canadian waters. Period. Don’t even wonder how close they patrol or how much they enforce it. They may not patrol an area for years and then receive information about traffic in a certain area or a different or new officer is in the area and boom.
There are those who do fish illegally and when (not if) they get busted there’s a hefty fine for each infraction – live bait not purchased in Canada, no RABC, no non resident fishing license, alcohol in the boat, missing some required safety equip and ….. I’m probably forgetting something. Plus you may lose your boat, trailer, gear and future privileges to enter Canada.
Oh and it’s illegal to fish for sturgeon in Ontario also and this along with the location of your boat in regards to the border is your word against enforcement. Those aren’t good odds.
A word to the wise.
Sorry guys. I didn’t see the notification of your messages until now. It’s soon to be gone – trading it to my nephew for $500 worth of maintenance work on a Tacoma I just bought.
Interested in the chip but first need to know if this chip is compatible with a Humminbird 899 and if it’s compatible with I Pilot Link.
I used to be a Shimano guy until they stopped including the spare spool and I had 1 bad experience with a Symmetry out of the box. Tried the Pflueger Supreme XT and thought it was great. Also have a Patriarch but can’t tell much difference between these 2. I like both more than my Stradic though, lighter and smoother
X2 on the Symmetry. Mine started randomly binding up after a couple years. Took it to a good reel repair guy who cleaned and lubed it and no change. Never ever had a problem with Pflueger President or Supreme.
Baffin Titans are quite popular with serious ice fisherman up here.
“Fun game to watch congrats packers.
With that said geeze detroit you guys sure dont no how to close out a game. Poor takeling and only 3 rushers on the last play against a guy that has an arm like that.
Greenbay had a great scheme on that last throw. Every lion was behind yellow jersies.”
……. and how do no Lion d backs get in front of a ball that is in the air for 4 seconds??
Completely different lakes.
Dryberry is around 30,000 acres, over 350′ with gin clear water and has muskies, lake trout, smallmouth, northern pike.
Berry is considerably smaller and shallower and holds smallmouth, walleyes and northern pike.
Both are excellent fishing lakes.
I have not fished there in the winter but would imagine there is excellent ice fishing on both as well.
Rainy lake
BB2
I’m With BB2. As in, where we are, eh?
For what it’s worth – I replaced an impeller on a Yamaha 20 hp 4 stroke a few years ago. A year or 2 later it was obvious that it needed a new one already. This time I took it in to see if there was something I was missing. The mechanic told me on Yamahas he always replaces the sleeve and the impeller and said even though it looks shiny and perfect he still replaces them cause he’s had too many fail before they should.
I know some replace the impeller every year as a precaution but I don’t think that’s necessary unless you’re running the motor shallow a lot where the intake would suck in a lot of mud, sand, etc.
