Monday, February 27, 2012

How Can Boaters Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Plants and Zebra Mussels?

I am sure most of you have either read or heard about milfoil, zebra mussels, Asian carp and other exotic species that have invaded many of the waters in the midwest region. There will be a much closer look at the spreading of these unwanted plants, fish,  and invertebrates.

The Minnesota DNR talks of boat inspections at launching ramps, wash down stations, and really who knows what else. One way to make sure your time on the water is not shortened is to make sure your boats, motors and live wells are cleaned and free of weeds, mollusks (snails) and minnows. I believe it will save everybody time to clean boats before you go. If the boating public becomes proactive by taking the threats seriously, and clean boats before we launch on different lakes, we will be doing our part to slow the spread of the dreaded critters.

While there may be inspections at public launching sites it is unlikely that will be at private ramps at resorts, houseboat companies and other facilities. We can only ask that you make sure boats are clean before you travel with them.

By planning ahead you will save yourselves valuable vacation time and help keep our precious lakes and rivers as  as free as possible from contamination by invasive species. We may not be able to do anything about migrating birds, but we can still do our part in trying to protect our environment. 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Northland Fishing Tackle Impulse Colors

I just heard from Kurt in Wyoming and he has been busy getting ready for his May trip. He read my fishing report page and had questions about colors to choose in the new Impulse line of plastics.  

I like the 3 and 4" grubs in the following colors #31 Crappie Minnow, #62 Summer Craw, #50 Smoke, and #2 Yellow. I will be trying the rest of the line up and will let you know what I think.  The smelt minnow is another hot offering in the Impulse line up. #37 Smelt, #110 Chartreuse Shad, and #50 Smoke and I can't weight to try the #60 Electric Chicken!

They have another Impulse plastic called the Paddle Minnow. This is similar to other swimbaits but it is loaded with super charged Impulse attractant. Select the same line up of colors as above. Something else I would do when buying these baits is to find a knowledgeable sales person and have then help you get the proper jig heads. I a Lip-Stick swim Bait Hook in either 1/8 and 1/16 oz. weight and 6/0 hook size .

Have more questions reach me at billy@rainylakehouseboats also check out our Fishing Reports Page for more how to's.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Quick Afternoon Outing on Rainy Lake

My son Joey Dougherty came home from school yesterday afternoon. We opted to drive out on Rainy Lake and do a little ice fishing. We drove out about eight miles found a reef edge to fish on. We were having a great visit, how is school going, have you watched any hockey games, what are the plans for spring break, a good visit.

All of a sudden Joey says here comes a fish ( we were fishing with a sonar unit that shows the fish when they are below), it chased his Northland Buckshot spoon, the fish turned the red mark very wide and then smoked the jig. Looked like a pretty good fish by the rod bend. I thought it might be a large pike. Joey said" it feels bigger than the 28" walleye I caught with Michael Waddell".  We were in 37 feet of water, soon we could see a very large walleye down below the hole. Once it started up the whole it filled a 10" hole! Joey slid his fingers up into the gill cover and lifted a dandy 10 lb walleye out. How fun it was to see Joey so excited. We took a couple pictures and slid her back down the hole!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

February 16, 2012

Good news for travelers entering Canada!

The following article is from the February 14, 2012 Dryden Observer

News — 14 February 2012
By Ally Dunham
Tourism outfitters and associations across the region are celebrating a federal decision that will give personnel at the Canadian/U.S. border more options in admitting visitors to Canada.
Kenora MP, Greg Rickford played a key role in pushing for the new policy, announced Feb. 10 by Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney.
Beginning March 1, the new policy will allow individuals with only one minor conviction, no matter what the date of conviction, to cross the border at no cost.
“Greg (Rickford) and others have asked that we look at the policy to see how its application could be relaxed,” said Kenney during a public conference.  “I am pleased to announce today that I have signed what’s called a special public policy under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act which will come into effect on March 1, instructing our border officers to grant Temporary Resident Permits (TRP) to foreign nationals who are inadmissible due to minor criminal convictions.”
Kenney says that would include individuals with an indictable offence with a sentence of less than six months.
“Our laws on inadmissibility are strict, they always have been, but this became much more of an acute problem starting several years ago because in the post 9/11 environment, Canada and the United States started a much more systematic sharing of information on criminal databases.  So starting a few years ago, a lot of Americans who had previously no problems crossing the border, their minor criminal convictions were suddenly appearing in our computer systems when we swiped their passports,” said Kenney.
“Under this order that I have made, at a port of entry, in the vast majority of cases, they will no longer have to go through the lengthy, costly process of applying for a TRP, rather the CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) officer will, in the vast majority of cases, simply issue, without a fee, the permit that overcomes inadmissibility,” said Kenney.
“Under our legislative framework, the border officers have delegated authority to make the final decisions on admissibility, so we don’t want to suggest to our visitors that every one of them is going to get a pass into Canada.  It’s going to depend on the circumstances, the nature of the offence, how long the sentence was, its gravity, and whether they’ve been forthright with the border officers,” said Kenney.
The tourism industry has suffered for some time from this issue, and many tourist camp operators and tourism association representatives expressed their deep gratitude at the changes taking place in the policy.
“With the interim solution that has been presented, we really need to thank Greg Rickford and his staff for their efforts in addressing our industry’s concerns,” said Jacqui Haukness, President of the Kenora District Camp Owners Association.  “It’s a first step in rebuilding our industry, but realistically, I think it will take time to rebuild visitor confidence in approaching the border and making them feel welcome in Canada.”
“I think the changes are great, fantastic.  I feel like I won the lottery,” said Eric Brown Sr., President of Totem Lodges.  “There could always be more done, but I think it’s a great start.  I’d say 75 to 80 per cent of our guests (refused entry) were one time, single offenders.”
There is some discussion regarding offenders who have more than one offence on their record, and Brown uses an example of a guest who was involved in a barroom brawl when they were 18, and then received a DUI at age 40.
“There are people who are multi-misdemeanor offenders that aren’t criminals that we should keep out, and each situation is specific.  I don”t know how best to address that,” said Brown.
Doug Reynolds, Executive Director for Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) expressed gratitude for the policy change as a whole, but still has misgivings about the details.
“There were a couple of assurances given on the call that we will receive something in writing, or at least a link to something in writing so we can see exactly what’s been changed.  I’m very encouraged, the fact that they spent this much attention on this issue is really good news, but the devil is always in the details,” said Reynolds.  “Waiver of the TRP fee would be really good news, but exactly what form the clarification will be on when someone who shows minor criminality will be admitted, and how that differs from the current status quo, I”m not precisely sure.”
Reynolds says he is concerned that the new policy will not apply to people with multiple convictions.
“I field, during the busy season, two or three phone calls a day directly from US guests looking for advice or information, so I get a pretty good sense of the lay of the land.  The majority of those calls would be from folks who have more than one DUI, generally very old,” said Reynolds.
“Should a guy that had a DUI 30 years ago, and another one 34 years ago get turned back?  Absolutely not, in my opinion.  But, that is the way the law is written right now, and that”s the piece that I would really like to see get fixed,” said Reynolds.
The current regulations say that if you have multiple convictions, you have to wait for five years, and then apply for the rehabilitation process.  Reynolds says the current process is very convoluted and difficult.
“If you’ve got two DUI’s, you”ve got to go through this complicated process of getting all your criminal records from the US, filling out a four-page form, often getting letters of reference and other more recent stuff, and sending $200 to the Canadian government,” said Reynolds.  “Officially you are told to send that to the nearest consulate.  If you do that, it”s going to take them 12 to 18 months to process your paper, you won”t be able to get questions answered, and it”s a very badly broken system by all accounts.”
Reynolds suggests that the government should implement staff to process all applications at a higher pace, and make the system easier for the average person.
“The biggest problem is the system for processing these rehabs is broken, so if we’re not going to get rid of the process, at least fix it so people can make it work.  That is the biggest shortcoming,” said Reynolds.  “If somebody indicates a willingness to go through the steps to fix this, it’s really difficult and time consuming for them to do it and we should make it a whole lot easier.  Especially if we’re going to pick their pockets for $200 for the process.”
“People are justifiably excited about this, and I don’t blame them.  The fact that the Minister cared enough to hold this call indicates the issue is being taken very seriously,” said Reynolds.  “He (Minister Kenney) gave pretty strong indications that this was some interim measure, that he was eager for feedback from those of us who are stakeholders on what work still needs to be done.”


Friday, February 10, 2012

Traveling to Chicago for a Sportshow

I left yesterday morning for Chicago. I have not been back for  a few years, last year my brother Tom came down for the show at Rosemont.  I miss Chicago, it is a great city full of people who are very proud of their city. My travel time is about nine and one half hours, during that time there was plenty of time to think about all of our customers, how they travel to Rainy Lake every year and literally can't wait to get for their next trip.

I still enjoy being in a booth at the sport show. I will see customers (they are really friends) who have been with us for 27, 33, 31, 16, 12, and eight years.  Almost all of those relationships have started at a sport show. It is the one time where we get to visit face to face and talk about next years trip, past trips, whats is going on with their families and also talk to people who have not yet been to Rainy Lake.

The cars and trucks that pass me by on my way must wonder "whats with that guy"? I am not on the phone but I might be laughing, smiling, and sometimes have a tear in my eye (memories of people who have passed on and are dearly missed).  I can't wait for the show to open tomorrow and see old friends and meet some new ones. 

The way in which the public chooses vacations and travel has changed dramatically the past several years. The internet has made it very conveniant to shop from home; we are well into the next layer with all the different social networking services. Because we are does not mean that personal face to face communication will go away. My phone just rang it was my mom, said she wishes she could still come to Chicago! Bill and June said to say hi to all!


If you have a topic you would like addressed or a commment you can email me atbilly@rainylakehouseboats.com 


Rainy Lake Houseboats
2031 County Road 102
Inrernational Falls, MN 56649




Friday, February 3, 2012

Timberwolves are No Strangers to Conflict


The Eastern Timber wolf has been removed from the federal threatened specie list.  Minnesota may have a hunting season during late fall 2012. There status will not change on Rainy Lake. 

Voyageurs National Park does not allow hunting on National Park Service land. Timberwolves will enjoy protected status on almost 1.3 million acres along the Ontario – Minnesota border. The BWCAW bans motorizes travel during winter months virtually on all lands inside the BWCAW.  If hunting were allowed very little if any would occur there.

Timber wolves will not be threatened in their core range.  We see them on a fairly regular basis on the highways, and sometimes even swimming in the water!  This winter there seems to be more activity with the wolves. We have had a very mild winter with minimal snowfall and mild temperatures.

Last winter we had plenty of cold weather and well above average snowfall.  The whitetail deer population was hit hard by adverse winter conditions and wolf predation.  This winter the advantage belongs to the whitetail deer!  Wolves have to travel more and that means more hours traveling which ends up making them more visible in daylight hours.

Timberwolves have a long history in the Rainy Lake country.  Some of the old timers who are still alive talk about the days when there were bounties on timber wolves. Bounties were paid in both Ontario and Minnesota.  The crafty old timers would turn in a hind foot to Ontario and the other foot to Minnesota and collect $50 for each foot. That was a lot of money back in the 1950’s.

Headlines were made when the timber wolf was put on the endangered species list.  The International Falls Daily Journal had a front-page report when someone put a dead timber wolf on the steps of the Koochiching County Court House.

Timber wolves will always provide a lively debate, be surrounded in controversy, but they will always live and range free in the wild lands of Voyageurs National Park.

If you have a topic you would like addressed or a commment you can email me at billy@rainylakehouseboats.com 


Rainy Lake Houseboats
2031 County Road 102
Inrernational Falls, MN 56649