Sandee-- Ramp

[JHansel7]

What is the deal with the ramp cleaning. Do they clean the ice off the ramp and then take the back hoe and punch loose the shore ice or do they just wait for the shore ice to melt. What is the news do you think the shore ice will be out by friday. Also hes on vacation!!! Er! Do you think they will get it done here soon this week or what...but i guess everyone needs a vaction at some point Sorry that sounds like a lot of questions but i just figured if you have the time you would answer because your the one who knows it all about the river!

[thehook]

JH7
I feel your pain, we have reservations this weekend. We plan on bringing our big boats so we need the ramp o be clean.
Goota theory on this whole thing the locals - with the exception of the business owners aren't in any hurry to get the ramp cleaned cause they don't want all the traffic untill it HAS TO HAPPEN. Guess I may feel the same way if I lived there. But to say the guy is on vacation. Is there onlt one guy who knows how to run a friggin backhoe!

[BDR]

For the most part I have felt very welcomed by the locals. There will always be a few that don't care how much $$'s into their economy in the 2-3 weeks that it is bieng fished hard. we have always had good experiences up there.

They dont like to clear the ramp untill the backhoe can sit on solid land and reach the shore ice. It could be quite dangerous for the operator to be smashing at ice that he is sitting on.

------------------
See ya on the water!

Brian Rogers

[Guest]

BDR,

Some locals do hate the spring season because the area is inandated with thousands of people. I know some of the folks that live by the Clementson landing; they have to put up with people parking on their private property, getting stuck in their road, having people take dumps in their back yard. How would you like that at your house. It is just something to think about when part taking in the madness. You must have to be from the cities to actually enjoy fishing at that time of the year.

[JHansel7]

Well I'm pretty sure that he could spend a little more time being careful. By making the ramp clear and clean before he starts hitting at the shore ice. And plus all he has to do is break away the stuff near the shore, not 20 feet out, and then once he gets it open in close, give it a little push. Also does anyone ever use salt or what? because im pretty sure salt would do the trick in one sunny warm day.

[joshb]

well i'm from MINNESOTA and personally i enjoy fishing ANY time of the year. it is too bad that people are disrespectful of local property. but remember these people do not represent the majority.

[swampbuck]

Lets all take a bunch of hammers up LOL I really want to get on the water. I was planning to go Thursday, but with a big boat
(20 foot Crestliner tournament series) I think I wil have to wait for Friday or Saturday.

[elkhunter]

I hope to get up there soon also. If the ramp isn't open we will just have to drop the 1850 tyhee over the edge and wait until the ice melts to go back to work. I am sure my boss would understand. If any one knows of an effective way to remove shore ice let me know and I will be glad to help. About the only equipment I could offer would be a Honda 4 wheeler with a blade, although that probably wouldn't do much. Maybe a couple of bags of ice melt? I don't know if that would be legal though.
Dale
Praying for some heat and sunshine and bent rods!!!

[JHansel7]

Well im sure with all the messages being left about cleaning out the ramp, I would bet that he will get on to that. I dont know is salt legal? or would that run into the river and cause some kind of problem?

[Sandee]

The access roads at Birchdale and Vidas are now double wide roads which give the room for parking and navigating the road. This should alleviate people parking on private land, at least I would like to think so.

They have toilet facilities at the ramps, so there is no reason for anyone to take a "dump" in a backyard.

They have garbage receptacles at the ramps, no reason for anyone to litter.

They have site managers at the ramps, which should help "police" the area.

These are all provided by the county, and assuming this is partly state funded.

The backhoe operators safefty is also a factor and yes, he does wait until he does not have to sit on ice to clear the ramp. The area at Birchdale is a small community and there is one person hired for this position. Unlike metro areas, where you have a "team".

Every year we experience the same arguments about the cleaning of the ramps, the number of people who inundate the area. We always hear about the 1 or 2 infractions and make it the rule, instead of the exception. The last few years I have heard how helpful, considerate and ethical the majority of anglers are. Of course, you will always have a bad apple or two no matter what the situation. With all the work and time the DNR and site managers put it, we don't see high incidents of anglers ticketed for over the limit fish, over sized fish or fishing with extra lines. The harvest level remains less than 5% of LOW annual harvest, DNR studies show cold water catch and release of walleyes too big to keep have a near zero mortality rate.

Our problem is the Rainy River runs through 2 counties. A little "teamwork" would be beneficial to everyone. Both counties benefit financially, with I-Falls seeing business opportunities from this fishing season. Baudette also benefits, although many resort owners are still catering to ice fishing.

Maybe we should see if we can secure more state funding to cover all costs incurred by Koochiching County!

OK, there is my say.

I hope we can have the ramps available for the weekend for big boats. Mother nature is finally on our side, maybe we wont need the backhoe!!

------------------

Clementson Resort
Fishing on the Rainy River
in Lake of the Woods Area