FALL UPDATE

September 24, 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!

As we are now nearly to the end of our season, we would like to take this time to thank all of you that were able to visit us this summer. We appreciated each of your visits and hope that you had a wonderful time enjoying these northwoods we call home. We also look forward to next year and the visits of the many groups that have already made reservations for 2009.

2008 was another great year for fishing! As usual, we had a very productive season overall.  We started off the year in May with one group reporting 5 pike over 40" during their stay.  The early season lake trout fishing on some of the canoe routes was also excellent, and we even had some excellent trout reports into the summer months. The smallmouth bass again provided many of you with some great action during our entire season, with some unreal numbers of fish being reported as well as trophy fish nearing 7 lbs being released. We also saw some great stringers of eating size walleyes along with the some huge trophies of 10 or more pounds. The season is now coming to a close with some great fall walleye fishing as well as some of the best pike fishing of the season. The smallmouth have also kept very active with some nice fish being released lately.  With the overall reports that we had this season, 2009 looks to be another great fishing season.

The end of September brings the much awaited fall colors to our area, as well as some excellent wildlife viewing.  Reports this week by our canoe trip customers and cabin guests included moose, deer, bear, wolves, many eagles and loons, migrating geese, otter, beaver, and  pine marten.

The end of our season also brings us to the time of the year that we sell some of our canoe fleet.  I've listed most of the canoes we have available and their prices below.  Please contact us at 1-800-365-4531 and talk to Bob if you would like to discuss purchasing one of these great canoes.

Kevlar Canoes (all are kevlar ultralight layup with internal skidplates, and free yoke pads)

Wenonah:  MN II  $1450, Champlain $1450, MN III $1650, MN IV $1995, Prism $1295, Encounter $1400, Boundary Waters $1425, Seneca $1825.

Souris River:  17' Quetico $1550, 18' Wilderness $1575, 18 1/2' Quetico $1700, and 16' Quetico Solo $1500.

2008 saw 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 has now implemented 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 are still be the same, but in 2009 the US Customs is scheduled to have some new requirements to re-enter the USA.  They have informed us that a passport will be required next season to check into the US Customs located just as you enter Ely from the NE (directly across from the Wolf Center).  As the winter begins, we'll update this site with more current information on this requirement as it becomes available.

Remember that it is best to contact us at your earliest convenience in order to have the best chance at securing your preferred cabin, canoe trip, and permit reservations for 2009. It is best to do this at your earliest convenience. Cabin reservations and canoe trips should be scheduled before January 1st, in order to secure your dates and make the necessary permit applications. Please 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 enjoy sharing in your experiences to these northwoods our family calls home. See you soon!