Abrams Chute

[Josh]

Last year I fished Abrams Chute with a lot of luck. This year I plan on fishing it again but would like to venture into Minnitaki as well. Is it dangerous to go up the chute? Last year I watched boats go up it and they stayed to the right side as they went up. Plus the water level was really high when I was there. Now I hear the lake is low. I won't go up it until I see where someone else goes, but is a guy pretty safe if he stays to the right? Another words, do you have to be right on course or is there room for a little error?

Thanks,
Josh

[IaDave]

Josh- I talked to the owner of the resort where we are going,he is on Abrams Lake, he said no matter how low the water is you can always get thru. Your room for error is less. He said keep within 5' of the right side. We were up there last fall and the water was low and we had no problem. Just make sure you are on plane and trim your motor up. Once you go thru the first time it is a piece of cake. They had a bad accident last year and they put up some buoys and signs. I think now you have to yield to the boats coming down.

[scar]

josh,
i am interested in fishing the area below the chute this year as i will be up for the opener. what do you use in that area? jigs/minnows/crawlers/bottom bouncers/colors/ ?????????
we have a place on minnitaki and have no problems in the chute. just stay as far to the right as possible.

[Josh]

I was there the week before July 4th. The water was high and the chute was flowing. We fished along the right side as your looking at Minnitaki. We stayed close to shore and used the trolling motor to head for the current. As soon as the current caught the boat and pulled us down stream we would catch fish. I would turn the trolling motor to high and get back to the shore and do the samething again. We fished 2 oz bottom bouncers so we knew where the bottom was. Green spinners worked really well at the time. The pole would just bend when you hooked a fish because they got caught in the current. I broke a lot of snells because I was only using 6lb test for them. I am going to try it again this year but have 12lb. I hope it works again because it was a blast last year.

[IaDave]

Scar
You are a lucky guy to have a place on Minnitaki. We will also be there for the opener. We were there last year the 2nd week of the season and we fished below the chutes and caught some nice fish. You will see all the boats there,about 75' to 100' yards on the left side below the chutes. Most people anchor as it is fairly calm on that side and vertical jig with minnows. A few people anchor above the chutes and use shad raps in the strong current. Never tried that.
We will be at the chutes in the morning & evening. Stop by a say Hi. Look for a blue Lund Explorer from Iowa.

[scar]

josh, thanks for the good info. i will give the bottom bouncers a try.

[IaJoe]

I did real well below the chutes last year first wk june,going 2nd wk june this year.I did not go thru the chutes,but my brother goes up all the time,says just maintain steady speed going thru and stay to the right,but says you have more room than you first think.
Hey IaDave,Did you ever get wavewackers for your boat?I thought I seen on here that you might get them.I got the same boat and was wondering how they worked out for you?thinking about putting some on mine.



Joe

[Karl]

Sorry I missed the board yesterday. Last week's Sioux Lookout newspaper had a lead article about new strict rules for navigating the chutes. It had a detailed map of the Chutes and the new rules.

Basically, they installed many new marker bouys, several large new warning signs, and also that they plan to have an OPP or MNR boat stationed there to enforce the new rules.

This is all good, but the cause still baffles me - how can you run over a boat at full speed and leave the occupants (husband and wife) severely injured floating in the current?????

[IaDave]

IaJoe-

I haven't invested in the wave wackers yet because I don't back troll that much. I'm sure there will be a day when I wished I had them. If you don't go thru the the chutes where do you fish in Abrams lake besides the chutes. Do you trailer into Lac Suel? Are you by chance with the group from Iowa that stays at Red Pine? Just curious because we are staying there this year for the first time.

Dave

[jj]

what lake is Abrams Chute on?

[IaJoe]

IaDave,

We like to fish back by the car bridge and the train bridge just off the current with a leech.We also go about 2 or 3 miles west of the train bridge to a bay off to your left with a small river or stream flowing thru a reed bed.Two yrs ago we slammed the big eyes in the reeds throwing Rapalas.we spent all day in there and had a blast.Also picked up a couple smallmouth in there.No I'm not with that group that stays at Red Pine,but would like to here if you like it there,might book there next yr.The last couple years we stayed at my brothers Inlaws cabin overlooking the lake,but they have other guest this year.Hope to use there dock instead of pulling out everyday.I don't trailer to Lac Seul,just catch plenty at Abrams.We do go to Lac Seul at Earfalls in the fall and do real well.

Joe

[IABoy2]

IADave--

The group of guys i go up with are from C.R. Iowa and stay at Red Pine the 1st week in June. What time do you go up??? we like to go load up and go to Lac Seul. But it is not an official trip without ripping through the chute on the way to the donut or alcona.

maybe we will see you up there?!?! We are the one's that everyone stares at when we go by in our bass rigs. Just need to win the lottery and buy a Canada only boat!

Good luck this year to ya

[MN_Moose]

Abrams Chute connects Minnitaki Lake to Abrams Lake southwest of Sioux Lookout.

[IaDave]

IaJoe-

Thanks for the tips. Would that bay you are talking about be back towards Abrams or towards Botsford Lake. I'm terrible on directions.
We have had excellent luck by the highway bridge. I thought I was the only one who knew that spot.

[IaDave]

IABoy2-

Do you have someone in your group who works for Ahearn? If so that is how we heard about Red Pine. This is our first trip there we have always stayed at Winoga. How do you like Red Pine? We will be there for the opener. Wanted to go a little later but all booked up. I think I saw you guys last year at the donut the week after Memorial Day. Sounds like the water is really low this year. Good fishing to you.

[IaBoy2]

Yes we do, 2 actually work for Ahearn. Red Pine is GREAT!! Vern, the owner is very helpful and the cabins unbelievable. I have shown many pictures of the cabins we stay in to people and most say that is it nicer than their first house or apartment. lol I would stay there every year. It is fairly cheap too.

[IaDave]

Say Hi to those guys from Ahearn. I work for a company that sells them pipe & fitings. I would like to also fish Lac Suel but I understand you guys boat a long ways and I only have a 40HP. Refresh my memory is Red Pine before or after the Frog Rapids bridge?

[walleye6]

Hey Karl, What new rules and regs for the Chute??

walleye6

[IaJoe]

IaDave,

If your sitting by the car bridge,go around the corner towards sioux lookout then look to your left and you will see the train bridge,go past it 2 to 3 miles ,the bay is up that way,I will try to get back with you or e-mail you when I find my maps and give you some better info.I can't wait to get back up there,oh well the crappie are starting to hit.That will keep me busy for a couple weeks.

Joe

[Karl]

They were outlined in last week's Sioux Lookout Bulliten newspaper. Unfortunately, the online version doesn't keep past issues. As I recall, the big change was to grant "upstream" boaters the right-of-way, to install channel marker bouys on the upstream side forcing "downstream" boaters to take a wider angle so they have time to react to upstream traffic, and to have an OPP/MNR boat stationed nearby to enforce the new rules.

[TERRY/IA]

Is there a website for RED PINE we stay at Donnellys on the pickeral arm- pound walleyes the last week of July on crawlers and spinners
Thanks Terry/IA

[mike]

if you get a chance try the mine shaft narrows , good spot to drift for walleyes and gators good luck

[RVD]

Look for Red Pine lodge under slate falls outfitters. It is the same place.

[ohdaddy]

Just returned from the chute. lake minitaki is 3'-0" low and ahbrams lake is about 7'-0" low. be carefull through the chute. stay right all the way to the last sign on your right and then make left turn and aim for the left side of the red bouy. coast put the bouys in but they drifted and they guide you right thru rocks.

[BWLCwalleyeguy]

Heading up to Northumbrian Resort the last week in June. Have been to LOTW the past 13 years and will be new to the Sioux Lookout area. Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the resort. I have heard real good things about Abram and Minnitaki and look forward to fishing it. Although I will be fishing with someone who has been on the lake before, all this talk about low water and the rapids has me wanting a map to study before I go. Are there any maps available anywhere? Also, any tips on techniques for eyes' or musky in the lakes? Thanks guys.

[scar]

hey bwlcwalleye guy,
i was on minnitaki may 17 - 20 and water on minnitaki was 6 -7' low. we have a cabin on neepua island and our dock ramp pad is 7 feet above the water!
the chute is navigatable but stay tight to the right as you go in(i mean real tight like 4 - 5 feet from shore and go threw fast!
fishing should be excellent when you are there. fish the sanctuaries, they open june 16th and are full of walleyes until early july.. the english river(jigs only) will be your best bet for tons of walleyes but they run smaller there - 14-17". rice creek sanctuary holds lots of nice fish but my favorite is red pine bay for bigger fish.both red pine and rice creek can be jigged but crawller spinner rigs back trolled with 1/2 of a crawller(norht land spinners,single hook, brass blade/rainbow finish) are lethal. once you locate large fish in high numbers then put the spinners away for a while and jig.
you should have a great trip as we have found minnitaki to be excellent.

[guest]

Scar

Do you know a guy that teaches PE from Northern WI? I know he owns a cabin up there, and he thinks he knows alot about fishing. Tends to talk about how he 'slayed' the fish when up there. I think he is full of moose droppings.

[IaDave]

Scar-

Didn't make it down to Neepwa Island for a beer during opening week. How did you find the fishing? We found it tougher on Mon. & Tues. but we caught alot the rest of the time. We had a great time in Alcona Bay but had a hard time catching a fish under 18". We had never heard of Alcona Bay if it hadn't been for tip from a WC guy from Missouri.
Thanks. Where did you guys fish most of time?

[scar]

iadave,sorry we missed you. i will be up again june 7 - 12, june 28 - july 3 and once more in early august.stop in if you get a chance.
i have heard of alcona bay but not sure where it is. i will need to check my map when i get home.
we had awsome fishing on the 17th and 18th but the cold front slowed things down on mon and tues. we fished red pine on sat. and did real well(catch and release only in there until june 16). on sunday we went to minicau creek (a couple miles due north of the english river) but water was to low there so we founnd the fish in the next bay over where there is a small channel that goes in to another real small lake. we fished in the small bay as the wind was blowing in to it. had tremendous fishing. lots of fish over 20'' biggest was 28'' all were released.mondays cold front moved the fish back near a point closer to the creek area. once we found them they bit ok but it sure was cold and wet.on tues we only fished 1/2 day and am was cold and windy but we did ok in lyons bay.
am looking forward to our june 7 trip as the fishing should be good.red pine should be real good
have you ever fished the mine shaft area? i tried it once last year in late july and only caught smallies. maybe it's better for eyes ealy.didn't see anyone fishing below the chute so i don't know if it held fish or not since not much water is m oving through it this year.

[jabs]

bwclwalleye guy,

I went to Northumbrian for 13 years and it was a real DUMP. Went there only for price. We had a cabin that we named the TILTEN-HILTON. they jacked it up with 1x4's (I think they were up to 14 boards and a come-along from keeping it from sliding into the lake) I'm being serious. They did sell the camp and to be fair, we have not seen any upgrades they have done. Hopefully and I'm sure it is, much better. If you can get into some of the small bay's, the donut and Alcona bay are dynomite. But will be very hard to get into because of the water level. Hope this helps.

[Paul]

Stop calling the English.....well the English.

Its called Crooked Rapids :)

[ohdaddy]

iadave, Alcona bay is excelent in May. the area leading into Alcona is Minikaw Creek. We have fantastic luck there in Mat. We fished there 4 out of our 7 days this year (May 17 thru 22nd) and got our limit by Monday and had time for other species the rest of the week.

keep your line in the wate and your pole stiff.............

[5 Stroke]

Guest. Easy there big guy--play nice. You're not getting jealous at all the fish he catches, are you? My best friend works with "that PE teacher". The stories are true or at least I hope so. Don't burst my bubble, since I will be fishing with him next week!!! Go pick on somebody your own size.
5 Stroke

[Milligantwins@aol.com]

We are heading up on the 5th of June. Staying at Donnelly's. Looking forward to plenty of "EYES" and a few "HOG" pike. Have you ever fished Butterfly?

[scar]

that a boy 5 stroke!way to defend my honor allthough i do like to tell fish "stories" and have you ever tried choclate covered moose droppings? mmmm!!!!!!
looking forward to the week ahead, were gonna slay them!!!!!!!

[5 Stroke]

Hey Scar---Heard a rumor, it goes like this. Some PE teacher from northern Wisconsin is working with Fannie May to create a new "health" candy. This candy is supposed to have an off-taste, but it's ALL NATURAL,with TONS of fiber. I got a sneaking suspicion that you're the guy. How you gonna get enough "raw" material to meet the demand? You gonna make the rookies collect a 5 gallon pail of moose droppings before you show them the spots? Huh? If that's what it takes.....where's my bucket?
Couple more days
5 Stroke

[Master Angler]

Well when the water is high, there is plenty of room for error, but I wouldn't say it is always safe, in years past usualy it is safe all season, but I was up there last week duck hunting and fishing, and I was staying at Winoga, the owner Dick Mansfield said not to try it hey said guys in empty 16 foot lunds with 25hp mercs were hitting bottom, so I asked him if this is a common thing he said not for the or even low water years, but he said this fall is extremely low water, He was telling me about creeks he drives his 23' crestliner in guiding that he couldn't even get a canoe into right now, so to answer your question there has never been where it is too low to run your boat through in the summer but late fall fishermen and hunters might run into this low water issue, so its best to always ask your host or a guide int the area before going through the chutes. I hope this helps