Rainy Lake Update & How to Fillet Whitefish

WE HAVE 5 INCHES OF FRESH SNOW!!

Saturday night/Sunday we received about 6 inches of fresh snow to add to our 3 inches we had. GREAT FOR THE SNOWMOBILERS!!

Voyageurs National Park Winter Trail Conditions Report 1/18/12

International Falls, Minnesota: Currant snowfall within the park is bringing excellent riding conditions on trails. Travel along the lake trails offers snowmobilers a ride though a national park with opportunities to view wildlife and scenic grandeur. The park invites Ice Box Days participants to come out to Voyageurs during their Stay.

Snowmobile Trail ReportHazardous pressure ridges are still present, but colder weather has slowed their movement. Snowmobilers should continue to use extreme caution and only cross the pressure ridges at designated crossings along staked routes. Slow travel speeds are highly recommended. Snowmobile land portages have rough riding conditions due to minimal snow cover. Crews will begin grooming trails next week.

International Falls to Kettle Falls (Purple Trail) - Open &Staked
Rainy Lake/Black Bay to Kabetogama Lake to Ash River (Green Trail) - Open & Staked
Ash River to Crane Lake (Green Trail) - Open & Staked
Chain of Lakes (Dashed Black Trail) – Not Open
Ash River to Kettle Falls (Yellow Trail) - Open & Staked
East Namakan Lake to Sand Point Lake (Blue Trail)- Open & Staked

International Falls Voyageurs Snowmobile Club hopes to start grooming trails Thursday 1/19/12

Rainy Lake Ice Road ReportDue to improved ice conditions, the Rainy Lake Ice Road is now open to Cranberry Bay. Crews will check ice next week to determine if there is sufficient ice to open the loop around Dryweed Island.

Snowshoe TrailsBlind Ash Bay Trail- Open with minimal snow cover
Sullivan Bay Trail- Open and Tracked
Oberholtzer Trail- Open with minimal snow cover

Ski TrailsEcho Bay Ski Trail- Open with minimal snow cover
Black Bay Ski Trail- Open with minimal snow cover
Tilson Connector Tail- Open with minimal snow cover
KabAsh Trail- Open with minimal snow cover


“STAKED TRAILS MAKE SAFETY SENSE”
ORANGE IDENTIFIES HAZARDS

1/10/12 PIKE

1/03/12

01/05/12 Area Report

Rainy Lake and International Falls.


Most anglers are fishing Sand Bay, but ice has improved at American Narrows and other points to the east on Rainy Lake. Walleye are hitting on jigs and minnows and some good sized northern pike are being pulled in around Black Bay with big minnows on a bare hook.

Voyageurs National Park has staked and opened the purple trail from Rainy Lake to Kettle Falls due to improved ice and snow conditions. The Green Trail to Kabetogama has been open for a couple weeks now. There are some pressure ridges, and snow cover may be somewhat thin on the windblown ice.

The Rainy Lake ice road is open to the Black Bay Ski Trail and the Echo Bay and KabAsh cross country ski trails are open with minimal snow. All the snowshoe trails in Voyageurs National park are open.