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Ice conditions on Knife Lake


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I was wondering if anyone can tell me how the ice conditions are on Knife Lake, Ensign and Vera in the BWCA?

I'd like to make a trip soon but have heard different stories on conditions in the BWCA. Thanks for your help.

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Redlantern:

North Branch, eh? I used to live in Cambridge, but that was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. grin.gif

Conditions on Moose and Knife weren't the best a few weeks back. One musher went in on Knife and tried to set up for lakers, but the ice kept cracking under their weight so bad they kept going to Basswood (where I heard they landed 28 fish in two days with three people.)

We had a few days in a row of cold weather since then, but that's all, and it wasn't cold by Ely standards.

I just checked in with a musher who said it probably is OK on Knife to Dorothy Molter's old place, but if you go through the narrows beyond that point, you're on your own. There's just been very little ice made lately. For what it's worth, the lakers in that area have been snappin' big time, fish in the 4 to 10 pound range. It's just been pretty risky getting to the truly big lake trout god country a little further up.

One musher I know is planning a trip in a day or two farther up, and if I hear, I'll relay ice conditions.

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Hey Steve, thanks for such a quick response. I've lived in North Branch for about nine years now. I grew up in New Brighton and kind of got too many dogs to stay in the area. I really would love to live closer to the BWCA but my kids live here in town and I'd go nuts not seeing them on a regular basis.

Right now I think all my dogs could handle would be to Dorothy's Island. Hopefully I'll spend a little more time on the runners and get some decent trips in yet this winter. I really like the Thunder Point area and going into Kek. Thanks again for the info and keep me posted on what you hear.

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Jackpine Savage can spin em cant he grin.gif Actually he told me there was barely enough time to have a beverage beteween flags. Sounds like a blast. One of these days we'll have to do the trip with Murphy and just see for ourselves. I think we've payed our dues to laketrout gods by now. Well, one could dream right?

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
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