2021 Planning

[NortonJoe]

OK, God willing this Covid-19 crap will be under control by next summer.  However, in an abundance of caution, does anyone know of and recommend somewhere in MI, PA, WI or MN with similar fishing and a "Canada feel?"  Let's pay attention to cost as well, please. Ready, set, go...

[Hodgey1]

NT, The closest thing to you "Us" that is similar, is nothing.

@limacharley suggested Lake of the woods, but unfortunately most of what looks interesting/Kipawa like, is in Canada. Maybe there something, but I exhausted the search and came up empty handed.

[Ozzy30]

Minnesota has always been known for there fantastic fishing.  I think if you searched just Minnesota fishing lodges there would be lots of options.  Doesn't have to be lake of the woods but still great fishing and lots of different species available.  No kipawa but who knows what the future will bring. 

[Oarin]

I know one thing, unless you just want walleye to eat, Lake Erie charters are about as far from a great week at Kipawa as you can get.

[T-Bone]

I did a lot of research this past spring about alternatives to the Canadian experience. Ozzy is on the right track with MN. Long haul...even from central Ohio. The Boundary Waters area is nice; lot of water to explore, and you can 'launch' from the US. Northern WI seemed like it had some decent opportunities (see Teach trip report), but not sure it's the Kipawa experience. Same with Northern MI.

If the border is closed next spring / summer / fall...well then I just don't know what to say other than our governments have their head straight up there gazoos. I contend this is more politics than it is health related. We just sent a group of product managers to Spain, then Netherlands, then back to US and it was as easy as crossing the border between the town I live in and the next suburb over. They (our governments) could figure this out...they just don't want to.

[Oarin]

Completely agree, T-Bone.

[GregL]

We spent a week on Rainy Lake, I can tell you it was very close second to Kipawa. If I'm being honest the average size of the walleye were better. We saw very few other boats, mind you it was on in October.

One of the highlights of that trip was spending a day with a guide in the Cadillac of walleye boats as 21' Skeeter WX2190, what a beast!

I was set to go back this spring, so that should tell you how good the fishing is, but of course that didn't happen!

[RHYBAK]

Ask Al Lindner where to fish

[fishtildark]

T-Bone, totally agree with the northern Minnesota assessment but I didnt seem to find a lot of outfitters and I am sure the ones that are there are probably thrilled that the border was closed. Some of the places I found in Wisconsin may fall in the better than nothing category but when they advertise bowling alleys and miniature golf it kind of takes away from that wilderness experience. I havent felt the need to go to the winter sport shows for many years but this year i may need to explore some to find out what is available. I have a bad feeling that unless we can straighten out the virus issues we will be writing these same messages a year from now. And i have no confidence in the government getting its act together to do that.
Just realized that under current "guidelines" there wont be any sport shows in Pennsylvania

[RHYBAK]

T-Bone, totally agree with the northern Minnesota assessment but I didnt seem to find a lot of outfitters and I am sure the ones that are there are probably thrilled that the border was closed. Some of the places I found in Wisconsin may fall in the better than nothing category but when they advertise bowling alleys and miniature golf it kind of takes away from that wilderness experience. I havent felt the need to go to the winter sport shows for many years but this year i may need to explore some to find out what is available. I have a bad feeling that unless we can straighten out the virus issues we will be writing these same messages a year from now. And i have no confidence in the government getting its act together to do that.
Just realized that under current "guidelines" there wont be any sport shows in Pennsylvania

I was going to say ..... You guys are having sports shows and thinking of attending?

Everything that gathers people has been cancelled here in Ontario.
Plus I would NEVER even consider attending now that numbers are on the rise again

[fishtildark]

Rybak, you are obviously correct but maybe I was being a little overly optimistic  thinking the Pittsburgh show would normally be about 4 and a half months from now.

[RHYBAK]

LOL

I get it know

We already know our shows are cancelled for the spring
way too many people in one place

[SgtCrabby]

The "sports shows"near me are very lacking in Canadian type of options; if I remember correctly,  I haven't been to one in a few decades. I know this year's were canceled,  do not know if next year's are yet.

Our group has already decided to stay in the states for next year. A
It avoids the disappointment of finding borders may still be closed.   
Will I miss Kipawa again?  Darn tooting;  Remember how far I drive to get there - I obviously must like it.
But we must sacrifice for safety in these times.

[RHYBAK]

The "sports shows"near me are very lacking in Canadian type of options; if I remember correctly,  I haven't been to one in a few decades. I know this year's were canceled,  do not know if next year's are yet.

Our group has already decided to stay in the states for next year. A
It avoids the disappointment of finding borders may still be closed.   
Will I miss Kipawa again?  Darn tooting;  Remember how far I drive to get there - I obviously must like it.
But we must sacrifice for safety in these times.

I LIKE YOUR WAY OF THINKING
I ONLY WISH THE REST OF THE 90% OF THE WORLD THOUGHT THE SAME WAY

[Hodgey1]

We spent a week on Rainy Lake, I can tell you it was very close second to Kipawa. If I'm being honest the average size of the walleye were better. We saw very few other boats, mind you it was on in October. I was set to go back this spring, so that should tell you how good the fishing is, but of course that didn't happen!

I looked at Rainy Lake on the map and more than half of it appears to be in Canada. Curious why you would enter the states to go there @GregL ?