Trout lake

[side_laker]

Anyone been into trout yet. Thinking about going Tuesday. Wondering how the walking is. I would think after the warm temps this weekend it should add a nice crust to walk on top of. 

[MN BassFisher]

No I haven't been in this year. I was kicking tires on my options to fish this weekend. Hiking into Trout seemed like an option, catching Tullibee for the smoker on Vermillion, trying to track down Crappies on Vermilion (never caught one) or maybe try to find Panfish in some other area lakes.

[Bigfatbert]

35 minutes ago, MN BassFisher said:

No I haven't been in this year. I was kicking tires on my options to fish this weekend. Hiking into Trout seemed like an option, catching Tullibee for the smoker on Vermillion, trying to track down Crappies on Vermilion (never caught one) or maybe try to find Panfish in some other area lakes.

Always thought the tullibee from the big V are full of worms . Also are we not all suppose to be limiting our travel at this time to only be for necessities, fishing this weekend is not a necessity my friend . Do your part !!

[Spearing Machine]

Prime time and conditions to hit Trout, no doubt!

IMO if he's going fishing ALONE or with a family member and not stopping at every business that is open along the way, fishing is a great way to get out for some fresh air away from people, a mind reset and something to start entertained. You're not endangering anyone if you don't stop. Keep on fishing, MN BF! Land management agencies actually are encouraging people to use public lands/waters and get outdoors!

[BrianF]

SM, no electric augers, correct?  Only hand augers??  Can you use a fish finder??  I’m assuming you can but not sure why a battery powered sonar is okay, but a battery powered auger is not.  Disturbs the peace more I suppose.  Have long wanted to give Trout Lake a whirl but the walk and the hand augering has kept me from making the commitment. 

[Bigfatbert]

2 hours ago, Spearing Machine said:

Prime time and conditions to hit Trout, no doubt!

IMO if he's going fishing ALONE or with a family member and not stopping at every business that is open along the way, fishing is a great way to get out for some fresh air away from people, a mind reset and something to start entertained. You're not endangering anyone if you don't stop. Keep on fishing, MN BF! Land management agencies actually are encouraging people to use public lands/waters and get outdoors!

What about the warden when he hands him his fishing license during a routine check , he could be potentially a carrier and just possibly infected someone else with the handoff .  it’s not all about ourselves , we must all be thoughtful of others at this time with this virus . We all need to do our part !

Edited March 19, 2020 by Bigfatbert
Because I want to

[JerkinLips]

5 hours ago, BrianF said:

SM, no electric augers, correct?  Only hand augers??  Can you use a fish finder??  I’m assuming you can but not sure why a battery powered sonar is okay, but a battery powered auger is not.  Disturbs the peace more I suppose.  Have long wanted to give Trout Lake a whirl but the walk and the hand augering has kept me from making the commitment. 

No motorized devices are allowed in the BWCA (i.e. any gas engines, electric chain saws/augers/drills).  I'm sure battery powered sonar is allowed because it is not a mechanized device.  The BWCA banned devices that are confusing to me are oar locks and sails.

[VermilionGold]

7 hours ago, Spearing Machine said:

Prime time and conditions to hit Trout, no doubt!

IMO if he's going fishing ALONE or with a family member and not stopping at every business that is open along the way, fishing is a great way to get out for some fresh air away from people, a mind reset and something to start entertained. You're not endangering anyone if you don't stop. Keep on fishing, MN BF! Land management agencies actually are encouraging people to use public lands/waters and get outdoors!

I agree, get outside and go fishing.  Social distancing does not mean you need to lock yourself inside.  Some fresh air and exercise is good for your health physical and mental.  Everything that I have read says it is perfectly fine, just maintain your 6ft of space as recommended by the CDC.

[portageguy]

Should be open water in a couple of weeks. I don’t have the OK to open the portage yet for 2020. The USFS is working on a plan for access to BWCA. 
Will post when I here!

[BigVwalters]

Thanks @portageguy  we have a trip planned the weekend before Memorial weekend and was wondering if the portage was going to be open.

[portageguy]

The USFS issued a press release 4-15. The BWCA is closed until May 4. The area will follow Minnesota stay at home rules. Until further notice we have the option of printing permits at home. Some feel fishing opener may also follow the stay at home rule. Let’s hope we can all get back to some form of normal May 5. 
lonnie

[delcecchi]

11 hours ago, portageguy said:

The USFS issued a press release 4-15. The BWCA is closed until May 4. The area will follow Minnesota stay at home rules. Until further notice we have the option of printing permits at home. Some feel fishing opener may also follow the stay at home rule. Let’s hope we can all get back to some form of normal May 5. 
lonnie

Stay at home?   Will I be able to go to cabin or will there be checkpoints on 53?

[portageguy]

Mn. has not been very strict with enforcement on the stay at home rules. On lake Vermilion we are anxiously waiting for Governor Walz’s decision. The way it looks to me BWCA will be closed as long as stay at home is in effect. 
 In Michigan you can’t use a motor boat at this time. I live on Pine island that rule would be tough. 

[SkunkedAgain]

20 hours ago, delcecchi said:

Stay at home?   Will I be able to go to cabin or will there be checkpoints on 53?

Sounds a little extreme Del. We are supposedly on the downslope according to the experts, so I don't see why they would go to more extreme measures than already in place. You are allowed (but discouraged) from traveling to cabins, according to the Governor's stay-at-home request. The Governor has also expressly encouraged people to go fishing. I find it hard to believe that he would all of a sudden rescind that as things are supposedly getting better. 

 

I expect him to strongly urge folks to consider staying closer to home for opener, to avoid fishing in big groups or hosting big get togethers with friends, and to keep it more of an immediate family affair than a fishing-buddy-get-together. Many of us will undoubtedly throw caution to the wind, but I don't see them reversing course at this point. That would surely raise everyone's hackles. With el presidente pushing states to ease restrictions to stimulate the economy, I think that fishing opener would be a good start. Get folks out spending money on gear, bait, and beer.

[delcecchi]

Sounds good to me  since our quetico trip is in jeprody ,   Tired of sitting around here.  I can social distance on the merry go round etc just as well. 

 

[FishinCT]

Yeah I wouldn’t worry too much del. We know more now about the spread of this thing-indoor vs outdoor, and some government research came out yesterday saying sunlight “quickly” kills the virus. Sitting on the merry go round is one of the safest things you can do. Just get your 6 pack and burger from the landing to-go!

[delcecchi]

Not worried and the checkpoints on 53 was in jest.   But the Governor says 

Quote

Although the executive order doesn’t prohibit traveling to or from a cabin, the Governor strongly urges all Minnesotans to stay in their primary residences. Staying home helps protects your neighbors from spreading COVID-19 and also avoids crowding rural medical facilities. Avoiding this kind of travel makes us all safer and healthier.

 

So, I guess as the opener comes near we will see what is said.   And locals probably don't really want a bunch of folks who could be contagious showing up either.   

[SkunkedAgain]

For those out of the know, Merry-Go-Round is a fishing spot on the west end of the lake. It even took me a second read of this to realize that Del wasn't talking about an actual merry-go-round!

[delcecchi]

Yep, although it isn't very popular as a walleye spot these days.  The fish don't seem to be there.   One of the things that have changed on West end for some reason.     I wish I knew what drove the change and where the fish went.      Basically the classic reef/hump spots seem to have been abandoned.   Happened years back.     

[delcecchi]

On 3/19/2020 at 8:21 PM, JerkinLips said:

No motorized devices are allowed in the BWCA (i.e. any gas engines, electric chain saws/augers/drills).  I'm sure battery powered sonar is allowed because it is not a mechanized device.  The BWCA banned devices that are confusing to me are oar locks and sails.

Portage wheels, except on certain portages, are also banned.   Didn't know oars were banned.  

 

I just went and looked and I couldn't find any official source that references sails and oars.   I recall having seen something a long time ago.   Got a good place to look for the latest regs?   We are planning to go through the BWCA to Quetico this year, if the virus allows.

Edited April 21, 2020 by delcecchi

[BigVwalters]

I have personally rowed a boat into little trout.  Multiple times actually... hope i wasn't in the wrong for doing that.  This is what I found on the USFS page.  Nothing about oars.  

 

  MOTOR-POWERED WATERCRAFT Motorized watercraft meeting specific horsepower limitations are allowed on designated routes and lakes only. NO other motorized or mechanical equipment (including pontoon boats, sailboats, ATV’S, sailboards, etc) is allowed. Motors may not be used or in possession on any paddle-only lake. Portage wheels or mechanical assistance are only permitted over the following areas: International Boundary, Four-Mile Portage, Fall-Newton-Pipestone and Back Bay Portages into Basswood Lake, Prairie Portage, and Vermilion-Trout Lake Portage.

[SkunkedAgain]

4 hours ago, BigVwalters said:

Portage wheels or mechanical assistance are only permitted over the following areas

Go to any BWCA-related forum and you'll see that this has been discussed ad nauseum. The USFS considers oars to be "mechanical assistance" and therefore not allowed but for the exceptions noted above. Sails are also not allowed. People have debated this to death over time but it hasn't changed a thing. On a windy day, you could rig up a tarp to act as a sail and nobody is going to hunt you down, unless you go past a few of the rangers.

[BigVwalters]

For how often this topic seems to come up you think the USFS would just post no oar locks in the rules.  Almost using it as bait to cite people...

Anyways rowing a boat anywhere sucks, so I would not recommend it.

[JerkinLips]

On 4/21/2020 at 9:03 AM, BigVwalters said:

NO other motorized or mechanical equipment (including pontoon boats, sailboats, ATV’S, sailboards, etc) is allowed.

This sentenced should be changed to:

 

NO other motorized or mechanical equipment (paddle boats, oar locks, sails, etc) is allowed.

 

Motorized - could be clarified by (fuel-powered, electrical, solar, or nuclear) but that would be redundant.

Pontoon boats - already covered by motorized, unless somebody wants to paddle one.  Or should it be exempted from the allowed motorized lakes.

Sailboats...sailboards - what about sails on canoes (would love to put a sail on my Gruman square-stern which already has brackets); just state as sails.

ATV's - definitely covered by motorized.

 

Pretty simple and would cover 99% of all potential possibilities.

[Wheres_Walter]

Headed into TL in late June.  What are the portage hours?  Still a morning and afternoon window?  Thanks.

[mbeyer]

Yes.....lonnie Johnson from 7-11and 3-7.  Seven days a week.

[Wheres_Walter]

Thanks.  Is it still about $25/boat?   If i recall Lonnie had a phone number you could call when you pull up to either side of the portage to let him know you're on the other side?

[partyonpine]

35/boat.  Got my pb trout last week 38 inches.  No scale.  Big bluegills are just coming in to spawn.  I did not keep any of the real big ones put them back.  Got a fell over 10 inches.  Lot of fun with the right equipment.  I love this lake bass fishing is crazy!  I am going up two days this week not bringing anything but walleye stuff.  Have had a cabin on Vermilion fun while life go to trout 3 times a year at least and have never figure out the walleye.  Brand new motor brand new locator.  I am going to throw everything I have had them!!

[Fish Head]

3 hours ago, partyonpine said:

35/boat.  Got my pb trout last week 38 inches.  No scale.  Big bluegills are just coming in to spawn.  I did not keep any of the real big ones put them back.  Got a fell over 10 inches.  Lot of fun with the right equipment.  I love this lake bass fishing is crazy!  I am going up two days this week not bringing anything but walleye stuff.  Have had a cabin on Vermilion fun while life go to trout 3 times a year at least and have never figure out the walleye.  Brand new motor brand new locator.  I am going to throw everything I have had them!!

 

Congrats on the 38! That's a beast.  I go into Trout several times a year myself. Good luck with the walleyes, you'll need it.