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What the latest on Springsteel

blindturttle

By blindturttle
in Lake of the Woods Fishing Reports - Hunting - Events

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blindturttle Newbie

blindturttle

Posted
Posted

Are they allowing full size trucks out of the access? Was also wondering how far the crack is from the shore? Fishing still hot in that area?

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Hydrostreamin Newbie

Hydrostreamin

Posted
Posted

From 2 days ago.........

Ice and fishing report. The fishing has remained steady with good reports coming from the sandbar, Rudy's and 5 mile. The crack remains the issue for pick up traffic. We have good ice with 16 inches in most places. The warm weather this weekend burnt off all the snow on the ice again. We don't see the need for plowing this coming weekend but we do plan to have the crack bridged. We will be charging for the bridge once it's in place regardless where you access the lake. Good luck and be safe on the ice!!

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Boar Grand Master

Boar

Posted
Posted

Charging to cross a bridge on the lake. If one pays outa springstell acces one has to pay more if they want to cross the bridge?

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Hydrostreamin Newbie

Hydrostreamin

Posted
Posted

I don't have a problem with paying to use a bridge. It took their gas and equipment to get that stuff out there. just part of the game.

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jerkbait Mentor

jerkbait

Posted
Posted

I can speak Boar. I would imagine if you get your road pass at springsteel yoe should be golden to cross the bridge also.

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SHAWSKI Explorer

SHAWSKI

Posted
Posted

I can speak Boar. I would imagine if you get your road pass at springsteel yoe should be golden to cross the bridge also.

I assume this is the case. If you pay at springsteel you are good to go. If you hop on the ice at warroad or estates or someplace else and treck over to the springsteel ice bridge so you can safely make it up to DNR, south buffalo etc, then you have to pay at the bridge.

Which I agree with.

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401TE Community Regular

401TE

Posted
Posted

is someone out there standing guard and collecting before letting you cross? you can't legally charge someone once they're on the ice. it's public water.

that said...i'd pay the fee because you're all correct about the money and time they put into it. access fees are the cheapest and most vital part of these trips.

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SHAWSKI Explorer

SHAWSKI

Posted
Posted

Its just an odd year, normally snow, slush and other breakers would provide enough natural separation between springsteel's marked trail and alternate lake access points. This year it just happens to be easier to treck across from alternate lake access points, basically bypassing the pay box at springsteel. This happens all over the lake on any given year to a certain extent. You will always have a few cowboys that will rather risk their truck and their life by blazing a bypass trail to access a lake road without going by the pay box. A lot of people simply like to blaze their own trail from a public access with no intention to use anyone's lake road or run on a snowmobile trail with a truck.

But some are intentionally out to use a lake trail without paying.

This is a huge topic, the whole "nobody owns the ice" arguments. I strattle the fence on this one. I see both sides. I do agree with paying a resort or other service entity for their plowing, bridging, testing and marking efforts. I think that's only fair, I see no way a person should feel like they should be able to utilize that type of trail for free. I do believe there needs to always be room for the do it yourselfers that likes to blaze his own trail from a public access too though.

Where I take issue with service/lake charges is when a business asks how many days you plan on being out in your sleeper house and they charge you per day as if they are renting you a campsite on private property.I don't agree with that. If I go out on a Monday I expect to pay at a resort's pay box on Monday. If I don't come off until Friday, I am fine with paying again on my way off the ice on Friday. But I don't especially care for paying for Tues, Wed, Thurs, when I don't even start my truck for those days.

I understand the argument that the road is maybe being maintained for those days that I'm out there not using the road, and that because of those efforts I could leave if I needed to, even if it was unplanned.

But I think that's a bit weak. I would prefer pay as I go. Meaning maybe I decide to go to shore for a burger and a beer on Wed, then I pay for Wed as well.

As for springsteel's bridge, it is an actual bridge, its not just a spot where a guy worked with a chainsaw for 5 minutes and tossed out a couple of loose boards.

IMG_382965679361546_zps1eptvrfm.jpeg

Nice work guys!

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maxpower117 Community Regular

maxpower117

Posted
Posted

I totally agree with everything you said an I really admire your philosophy about charging for each day on the ice.

Let me warn you though, don't make enemies on the ice. These forums are not well guarded from some jack arses out to get you. Be nice and it'll repay you.

You sound like a stand up guy so I'm just trying to help.

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SHAWSKI Explorer

SHAWSKI

Posted
Posted

Thanks, I think everybody that knows me knows I'm not into making enemies anywhere.

I'm always willing to throw in what ever equipment and energy I have on hand to help people out, strangers and friends alike.

As for my horribly lengthy comments on lake access and fees... (Sorry)

If I want to fish a particular area, I play by that area's rules. If folks want X amount of $ per day, then that's what I'm going to pay.

Lake fee policies may influence my decisions on where to set up a majority of the time. But I'll not rule out any area of the lake based on that alone.

As far as enemies on the ice though? I'm not worried about enemies any more than I'm worried about being struck by a metior out there.

smile

I just hope I can get out there soon.

Best of luck to those that can make it out this weekend!

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Boar Grand Master

Boar

Posted
Posted

well said SHAWSKI, even heard of some resorts nocking on ones door to get them to pay if they dont have the approprite pass color. like i said, I glad pay springsteele even if I paid their acces fee. Looks like a good'un.

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1DIRTBALL Rising Star

1DIRTBALL

Posted
Posted

S.P.E.AK. English. We aren't scientists doc! Use your words.

Boar has a problem! He doesn't speak well English! grin1DIRTBALL wink

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