Rainy Lake water levels

[wall_guy_101]

I was just curious how the water levels were doing up in your neck of the woods. I live near mille lacs and they are wayyyy down. See you all in june.

[Rainydaze]

Hi Wall Guy,

Lake levels are very low here also. My dock is almost completely out of the water as many others are in the same boat. We're all doing a rain dance up here, so hopefully we'll get some nice spring rains. Fishing is going to be good regardless, but will make boating a little more adventureous! How was the jumbo perch fishing this year?

[Black_Bay]

The lake is low right now but is within the rule curve for this time of the year. Rainy is drawn down every winter then allowed to refill all according to a rule curve established by the International Joint Commission. Boise Cascade and Abitibi-Consolidated regulate the water flow through the dam on the Rainy River.

As stated the lake level is in the middle of the curve right now but we need rain this spring to keep it going in the right direction.

Lake levels can be followed here: http://lakes.bc.com/lakes_menu.htm

[Sand Bay Sultan]

if the lake is in the middle of the rule curve why is it dry 30 ft off the end of my dock for the first time since I can ever remember To me that seems bizarre

[Rainydaze]

I might suggest reavaluating the infamous rule curve if we are still in it for some crazy reason. I'm fully aware of the matter of economics involved in the rule curve due to power generation, but also am fully aware of the flip side while having the water at such a tremendously low level. FYI some of the bays have no water in them. In the rule curve? Yikes! I personally am more concerned for the well being of the lake, and if someone can assure me that having zero water over some of the most attractive spawning grounds is o.k. I'll be happy to listen.

[fishmeister_86]

HEY GUYS,

NOT A WHOLE LOT YOU CAN DO ABOUT WATER LEVELS, IT IS NOT CONTROLLED BY BOISE, THEY DO DRAW POWER FROM THE WATER & DO OBVIOUSLY HAVE A SAY, BUT THE RULE CURVE IS SET BY THE I.J.C. INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION. OUR LEVELS WILL COME BACK, THEY ALWAYS DO. A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD 9 INCHES OF RAIN IN A COUPLE DAYS AND THE DAM COULD NOT LET WATER OUT FAST ENOUGH, CAUSING WATER LEVELS TO WAY EXCEED THE CURVE, EVERYONE STARTING BLAMING EVERYONE, I WAS AT THE TIME THE PRESIDENT OF THE RAINY LAKE SPORTFISHING CLUB, I HAD SOME JERK WHO HAS BEEN A LIFETIME RESIDENT HERE CALL ME UP & START SWEARING AT ME, BLAMING ME, SAYING THE SPORTFISHING CLUB WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DOCK BEING FLOODED...I LAUGHED & SAID I DIDN'T KNOW GOD DIED AND MADE ME BOSS. PEOPLE CRAB WHEN THE WATER LEVELS ARE TO LOW & CRAB WHEN THERE TO HIGH. YOU GUYS EVER WANT TO UNDERSTAND WATERS, CALL TOM WORTH HE IS AN EXPERT ON RAINYS WATER LEVELS., NOT SURE IF ANYONE UNDERSTANDS OUR LAKE BETTER.

SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[Rainydaze]

Hey Fishmeister,

I guess we will just have to do a raindance! Just seems pretty scary knowing there is no runoff, and this is the rainy time of year. I do remember the 9 inches of rain, and had my front lot flooded. If I recall the year before was very low. I guess we'll just have to see what happens, but seems to me might be time to stop letting water out. I know I'm not the water expert, and will have to assume this is in the Lakes best interest. I do know that in the past 7 years that I have owned this property this is by far the lowest I have ever seen the water. If the water doesn't rise in a rapid fashion you will see many bays choke out with weed growth much the same as portions of the Mississippi river has on prescribed drawdowns for habitat.

[Super Black]

Hey Fishmeister, I was up there during that rain storm that seemed to last forever. We would jet out and try fishing in between storms, but was very sketchy to be on the water. When it did clear however we had some of the best walleye action I have ever seen. We trolled a mudline with big stick baits and caught huge walleye's, I believe the biggest was 32"er that my friends wife caught. It was like her 2nd walleye ever! The cascades was pouring out and almost flooded the resort! I'll never forget that storm!!! SB

[fisher972002]

So right now would everybody say the water level is about 2 feel lower than normal?? Gonna have to take it easssy this year...

In 2004 when the water was really low I "found" a reef that was barely under the water that I've been running over for 25 years..LOL

[FullTilt]

You guys getting any significant rain lately? We'll be up this weekend visiting family and plan to do some fishing. The forecast looks like rain, curious if the water level has come up at all.

[JCR]

The water level has only came up about two inches in the last two weeks. It is over a foot low for this time of the year. They are forecasting rain the next few days, keep your fingers crossed.

[tearin' lips]

We got about 1 3/4" of rain in the last 48 hours so that will help a little, but we still need more than that to help the cause.

[bitz]

I was just looking at my canada hydro charts for the north arm and noticed the mean data is for water at 1107ft when using the charts. according to the water level site, the lake is about 9 inches below the mean... for those up there, is about 9 to 12 inches low seem about right ?

[tearin' lips]

That's about right, maybe a little more than that. Just by looking at the cliffs in Redgut yesterday I figured it was 12-16" down.

Take Care and Good Luck Fishing!