River Rookie Needs Info

[walleye_dan]

How far will the river be open by April 4th? Is Birchdale the best access or are there other ones? Is a 4-wheeler necessary for shore-ice?

[Sandee]

I would like to say to Frontier at least by the 4th of April, however . . .

The first ramp is Birchdale, then 8 miles WEST is Frontier, then 9 miles WEST if Vidas. Unless you want to fish above the rapids at Birchdale, then Franze Jevne would be the ramp of choice.

As far a shore ice goes, I don't think there will be alot of it. The way Birchdale ramps looks now, we are hoping that some boats will be able to back the trailer right down into water.

Levels are very low so far on the Rainy. Just hope it doesn't go down anymore, or tires of the trailers may hit mud.

I have a map of the Ramp/River on my web site if you want to see how it is all laid out.

------------------
www.clementsonresort.com

[BDR]

Sandee I have seen many reports that the river is very low. I believe that you know how to read the charts and I don't read correctly. When I see the level at Manitou Rapids is that not a direct correlation to the river level? Last year around this time it was reading between 3-4', now it is between 5-6. Does this mean it is running 1-2' higher or am I way off track? Please educate me! Brian

[Sandee]

Last year the Manitou level in March was hovering around 6', by the end of March it was down to 2+ feet with an increase mid-April. So yes, this year it is higher level than this time last year. Levels are leveling off, the run off is complete from snow melt. The other change in level would be if International Falls from Rainy Lake levels increase and they open more dams.

Hope this helps.

The river is low, hopefully not a level lower than last year!

------------------
www.clementsonresort.com