News
Mission:
To protect and promote the natural, recreational and historical resources of Voyageurs National Park.
Lake Conditions for Fishing Opener
Saturday, May 10 is Minnesota’s fishing opener, but some lakes at Voyageurs are still iced over. Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake are still frozen in the middle, and it is unlikely that the ice will disappear by tomorrow. However, Voyageurs still has plenty of thawed areas ready for fishing. Crane Lake is open and so is Black Bay on Rainy Lake. Most of Kabetogama Lake is ice-free and Mike Williams of Voyageurs National Park is expecting it to be entirely thawed out by Saturday.
Rock hazard and navigational buoys are not yet set out, but the Park is trying to begin limited placement of buoys this week on the ice-free areas of Kabetogama and Rainy Lakes. The complete installation of buoys will take up to two weeks, or until the lakes are free of shifting ice. Lamplighters are tentatively planning to install U.S. Coast Guard-maintained navigational aids on area lakes by this week.
The park encourages boaters to exercise significant caution because buoys are not completely installed and because shifting ice from unexpected winds may cause damage to boats and equipment. In addition, cold water exposure and hypothermic conditions are significant at this time.
Voyageurs National Park has placed permanent hazard markers on exposed rocks of Kabetogama and Rainy Lakes. The markers, which are 4 ft. long and white with orange reflective tape, are only near the frequently traveled navigational routes: the south side of Dryweed Island on Rainy Lake and on Kabetogama Lake near Peterson Bay, Sphunge Island and Cinderella rock. The Park would like to hear your comments on the effectiveness and aesthetics of these permanent hazard markers.
If you’d like more information, please contact James Hummel, Operations Chief at (218) 283-6650.