Back from Florida with Mom and Dad

Cathie and I went to Florida April 10th to visit my parents and return home with them. I opted not to post while we were in Florida. The weather in International Falls changed drastically while we were gone. Some times timing is just right. There was snow, cold rain and generally colder weather.

To day I ventured out on Rainy Lake with friends Pat and Jim. We checked out bays for water temperatures and did a little casting for northern pike. Water temps were from 41 -47 degrees on the south side of the lake.

My son Joey was out with Andrew and Chad from Iowa, they fished northern pike and had fabulous action with northern pike from 35-41 inches. I am still predicting fabulous May fishing, April has been really good for pike. There is still time to come up for unreal pike fishing, you don't have to go to Manitoba or Saskatchewan to catch big pike. I have available days up to May 12 if you want to venture up to Rainy Lake for awesome spring pike fishing. Our guides are the best Rainy Lake has to offer, take advantage, learn great techniques and catch some big ones! Below are a few pictures of the pike Joey, Andrew, and Chad caught. We still have have openings between May 12 and June 1st, houseboat rates are 20% off boat weekly and daily rates.

Rainy Lake Ice Out is April 6, 2012

Rick Bolstad called Friday morning, he had flown from Ranier Minnesota to Kettle Falls on the far east end of Rainy Lake. Travel by boat to Kettle Falls unimpeded by ice was totally possible. This breaks the previous record of April 10th. Below is a picture from our bay shot on April 5th.

Will Rainy Lake Break the Ice Out Record?

Rainy Lake was racing to break the earliest ice out date ever. Last week the weather cooled, we received five inches of snow, and cloudy weather set in.  That has changed this week, the weather is beautiful.
Ice is starting to break up, there is large expanses of open water in many areas.

I just finished up the Northwest Sport Show on Sunday. The show was busy, houseboat reservations  were being made at the show and boat sales were going at a rapid pace. The Lund dealers sold 30 plus boats on Saturday alone. People are very excited for spring fishing; in fact many are going to come up and fish Rainy Lake before the walleye season closes on April 14.

I look for May and June to be spectacular fishing on Rainy Lake. We have openings yet in May and a few in June. May reservations are 20% off daily and weekly rates until June 1st, also four days for the price of three during midweek.  Check out last May and June's fishing reports. Fishing will be even better this spring, I have a bad case of spring fever!

A blog note about ice out would not be complete without a prediction on the ice out date. I believe we will set a record and the lake will be ice free on April 7th. Last night the most open water was on the east side of Brule Narrows, lots of black ice in Seine Bay and the east end of Sand Bay. Time will tell!