Navigation Concerns

[Scott M]

This will be my first year running a boat on the Rainy in the spring. I want to say I remember hearing there is a spot that is choked full of deadheads from the old sawmill days. Maybe it was just the beer talking, but do I have to worry about any particular spots on the River? This weekend I could be anywhere from 4 Mile down to Frontier or Birchdale (although I don't plan to drive that many river miles)

[PerchJrkr]

there is a real bad spot but i wanna say it was right near a huge red and white dock that stood about 15 feet off the water. there was a line of logs sticking up about 150 yards long. i'd say its best to stay on the canadian side through there it stays plenty deep

[Tim_Anderson]

Scott,

Going downstream from Birchdale, there's a big rock on the left that sticks out, and shortly after, there's a shallow sandbar on the right. Stay Canadian side before the rock, and then move Minnesota side right away after.

Before you get to Frontier, the river gets pretty wide and shallow. Sand bars on both the Minnesota and Canadian side. I usually go through a little Minnesota side of center.

There's a big deadhead on the Canadian side right across from the Frontier access.

And there's a big deadhead in the middle of the river just upstream from Pinewood.

There is the big line of logs sticking out of the water (but there are also others that don't stick out) down between the Royal Dutchman and Clementson. You can see them from the road. Like Perchjerker said, stick to the canada side and you should be allright.

That's about all I can think of for now.

[PerchJrkr]

Ya theres also various other logs sticking up here and there, just need to pay attention. watch out for ice chunks too! the later it gets here it seems like they sit lower in the water and they're harder to see

[Scott M]

Thanks guys.

[PerchJrkr]

it was actually pretty cool when we hit that chunk of ice though, i think the whole boat was maybe airborne for a second. gets the blood flowin! stopped and looked and it didnt seem to hurt anything, just be glad it wasnt something that was connected to the bottom i guess!