ICE OUT!!

May 7th, 2008

Welcome to our website here at La Tourell's Resort & Outfitters! Whether you are planning a trip to the Boundary Waters for the first time or if you are a regular visitor here, we hope that this site is helpful to you. We'll be updating the site with fishing reports, forest conditions, and other helpful information. Enjoy!

The big news here is that the ice as of last night and today is now going out of Moose Lake.  Some of the deeper lakes will still be a few days before they go out, but most of the medium and smaller lakes in our area went out yesterday and today.  Even though we had to plow more snow in April than in any other month this year, spring is now definitely here.  The winter had been fairly dry, but the huge rains we had last fall combined with our April snows have made lake levels very high and the forest conditions very healthy to start out the year.

With our late ice-out the fish will be very shallow to start the season.  Also with the high water we have this spring, areas with current will attract some good action.  Slower live bait and scented plastic presentations should be utilized for the walleyes, bass, and northern until the water has a chance to warm a bit.  In the certain lakes with Lake Trout, you will find them in pretty shallow water to start out and they should be quite active.  As the season begins, we’ll keep you posted on how our guests are doing.

2008 will bring a few different regulations for folks traveling on a canoe trip to Quetico Park in Canada. The most important items to note are that Quetico Park will now implement a ban on live or dead bait and will also require 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 will still be the same, but in 2008 the US Customs has new requirements to re-enter the USA. You will either need a copy of your birth certificate and a photo ID....or a passport....to check into the US Customs located just as you enter Ely from the NE (directly across from the Wolf Center).

With the 2008 paddling season has now begun, we are again selling some great used canoes. The following is list of some that are now available. All of the listed canoes are in the Kevlar skin coat ultralight layup and have the very comfortable webseats as well as our special internal skidplates.

Wenonah: 18' Champlain $1425, and 20' MN III with 3 seats-$1550.

Please give us a call at 1-800-365-4531 and ask for Bob if you have any questions about purchasing one of these great canoes. We also have some used camping items available. Again call Bob for details and availability.

Remember that it is best to contact us at your earliest convenience in order to have the best chance at securing your preferred cabin and permit reservations. Dates are quickly filling up, but there are still openings for many timeframes at this time. Contact us at 1-800-365-4531 if you have any questions or if you would like to discuss making any arrangements.

Thanks again for visiting our site. We appreciate all of you that have visited us in the past and we look forward to seeing those of you that have a 2008 trip planned. We enjoy sharing in your experiences to these northwoods our family calls home. See you soon!