Spring fishing report.
May 25th, 2013
Welcome to our website from all of us here at La Tourell's Resort & Outfitters. Whether you're a past customer of ours or a someone that is looking at visiting us for the first time, we hope this site is helpful to you. We'll be regularly updating the site with forest conditions, fishing reports, and other helpful information. Enjoy!
Now that the ice is out of all area lakes, we can concentrate on our fishing, which has been very good. Northern pike are still holding fairly close to the spawning grounds they occupied a little over a week ago, but they are quickly getting into their late spring feeding patterns. The last week and a half have seen some outstanding trophy pike caught, with dozens of fish over 40" reported. Smallmouth are in a prespawn pattern, and today we saw some good numbers of big females caught. Some huge averages of 16-21 inches were reported by one guest. Walleyes continue to be caught in good numbers, with some 30" inch trophies also being reported. Lake trout have been very good for those of our customers that have paddled into the lakes that hold trout. They should remain fairly shallow for the next week or two.
With our first guests now returning from their trips, we've had several reports of moose and wolves, as well as the very common loons, eagles, and beaver. While working on the docks tonight, an eagle swooped down and attempted to pick up a very large fish (half the size of the eagle) from the lake about 250 yards from the resort.
We've been busy talking with many of you about your trips for 2013. If you have any dates in mind, please give us a call so we can lock in a date for a trip or a cabin stay. We do still have openings for our resort cabins, although many dates are beginning to fill up. In order to secure your preferred dates, we recommend contacting us at your earliest convenience. Canoe camping reservations are also now being accepted for all routes. Please call if you have any dates you would like to secure.
For canoe trips into Quetico Park (Canadian Side), the permits are available starting 5 months to the day in advance of your entry date. Those of you that are planning Quetcio trips should be aware that there have been a few changes in the last few years. The most important items to note are that Quetico Park has now implemented a ban on live or dead bait and also requires the hooks on your line to have the barbs pinched down (the rest of your tackle box may have the normal barbs....just those being used must be modified). The RABC permits to enter Canada are still the same, but in 2009 the US Customs implimented some new requirements to re-enter the USA. A passport is now required to re-enter the USA from anywhere (including here in Ely). US Customs is located just as you enter Ely from the NE (directly across from the Wolf Center). Again, these Quetico Park regulations only apply to canoe trips into this area, not to our resort guests or to BWCA canoe trips in the United States.
As we do every season, we now have some of our canoes available to purchase. I've listed the canoes we have available for you and their prices below. Please contact us at 1-800-365-4531 and talk to Bob if you would like to discuss purchasing one of these great canoes or if you would like us to email you photos of any of these canoes.
Kevlar Canoes (all are kevlar ultralight layup with internal skidplates, and free yoke pads).
Wenonah:
MN III 20' (3 seat canoe): $1225
Seneca 19 1/2' (3 seat canoe): $1495
MN II 18': $1295
Champlain 18': $1325
Boundary Waters: $1395
Souris River:
Quetico 17': $1750
Wilderness $1395
Aluminum Canoes:
17' and 18' Alumacraft and Grumman Canoes
From $325 to $475 dependant on condition
Thanks again for visiting our site! We truly appreciate each of your visits with us and look forward to helping you with your vacation plans. We enjoy sharing in your experiences to these northwoods our family calls home! Please call us at 1-800-365-4531 if you have any questions or you would like to discuss any dates.