Ely area fishing report and ice conditions!

[greatoutdoors]

The low numbers of fishermen going out the last month or so, have been trying for Lake and Stream Trout.
Laker fishing on both Burntside and Snowbank Lakes has been fair for the most part, with only a few days having what one can call "fast action."
Stream Trout fishermen have had a bit more success for Splake and Rainbows while angling on High and Tofte Lakes, and several others within the BWCA.
The slow fishing can be attributed to deep snow conditions, slush, low temperatures, and high winds on an almost daily basis.
There are very few areas accessible on Burntside due to very few roads plowed, so snowmobiles are the only way to assure you can get out of to most desirable  areas.
Smitty's has a road plowed on Snowbank that goes to their rental fish houses, and the only other roads lead to other permies on the lake.
This has been, and continues to be one miserable winter!!

[Lee Borgersen]

How would you compare the area ice thickness in comparison to last year at this time?  to hear things in Ely are slow right now. Could you pull a few strings to guarantee great weather with west winds and cloudy skys in July? I heard that there is a crack team from Illinois comming up to fish then.

[greatoutdoors]

Lee,
Ice thicknesses are comparable to last year.  We have enough snow that insulates the ice from the sub zero temps we've had.  There are still some areas of slush on most lakes.
As far as pulling some weather strings to help some team on Crack that's coming up from Illinois in July, don't think I want to risk being arrested for aiding and abetting!!
Rumor has it they are Lake Geneva's version of Bonnie & Clyde,  which would make them Borgie and Clydesdale!!!   

[Lee Borgersen]

Has business picked up for you at the shop since you put in that new crack pipe vending machine

[greatoutdoors]

It's hard to tell since they just came out.  
I'm sure pipe business will increase in the summer when some from Lake Geneva come up, thinking that they could possibly out fish TGO.
That will definitely be a "pipe dream!!"