NEWSLETTER

Two shows down…only one to go! Once again we had some pretty good traffic at the Outdoorama. We saw a few of our past clients and reviewed trip itineraries with some of our new clients. If you are interested in a 2009 trip please feel free to contact us and we will review your options. The permits are going fast but there are still a few good ones available.

Looking forward to our next show: The 64th Annual Ultimate Sport Show—Grand Rapids, March 19 to 22 at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids, www.UltimateSportShow.com

Ramsey at the Ultimate Fishing show booth

Past clients will be at the booth with us again so you can get firsthand account of their experience. Visit our booth and we will be happy to review your routes as well as answer any other questions you may have. Plus, you have to check out the show special- it can’t be beat! With the condition of the Michigan (and national) economy, we made sure that anybody can afford a trip of a lifetime. We have included a 4 day trip show special this year. See the “rates” page of our website.

We are also trying something a little different this year. We have some couples and small groups of people who are interested in joining other small groups so that everyone can receive the show discount. We can set up a meeting and try to make them compatible with each other. I am really looking forward to this joining of groups…meeting new people with similar interests on a wilderness adventure. After all, variety is the spice of life. All interested people please contact us.

This month’s newsletter features three new categories:

Contest Winners
Fishing Tactics (species will change monthly)
Important people of the Boundary Waters
Things to do in the Ely area

March Photo Contest

This month’s category is Scenery and with the abundance of scenic opportunities, it was a was a tough category to judge. It was so tough I couldn’t pick a winner… so I asked a friend choose. The winner is Rose Zywoil with “Clouds in the Boundary Waters”. Rose is the owner and editor of Ponytail Sports- an online resource for Michigan's female athletes. Rosie will receive a Wilderness Journey T-Shirt. (T-shirts are also available for order by phone or email.)

boundary waters canoe area sky

Walleye Fishing Tactics

The fishing opportunities in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area are limitless. Walleyes are the most sought after fish in Minnesota. Many think they are the tastiest fish in the BWCA. I might catch some heat for this statement but I think bluegills taste better. Then again, you will never see me turn down a walleye dinner. There are many ways to catch walleyes and I have found surefire strategies to catch unlimited numbers of these fish. I have honey holes all over the BWCA but with these tactics anyone can catch walleyes anywhere.

boundary waters fishing Walleyes are schooling fish that rarely leave the bottom of the lake. They are usually between 10 and 20 feet from some sort of structure like a point, island, drop-offs or a submerged hump. They prefer minnows and leeches and they are light sensitive. They can be found in shallow areas during the spawn in the spring or in the morning or evening because of low light levels.

First of all, just about every lake in the BWCA is filled with structure. When I hit a lake, the very first thing I do is hit my holes or when I fish a new lake I usually troll around islands, points and submerged humps with J - 9 Rapalas. When I catch a walleye, I head back to the area where I hooked the fish and change over to a lead head jig with a White twister tail. Cast out and slowly jig the lure back to the canoe, jigging up and down in 1 foot strokes within one foot of the bottom of the lake. They will usually bite on the down stroke. If the fish are there they will bite. Sometimes we will change over to a slip bobber with a split shot 1 foot above a #4 hook tipped with a Leech and set the bobber to the preferred depth and hold on!!! This is a killer fish tactic… no fish can turn this down and that includes big Northerns and trophy sized Smallies.

boundary water fishing

Due to lack of ice and a refrigeration system, we do encourage catch and release. We will eat fish just about everyday and a great replica of your trophy can be made from a good photo and a measurement. As a rule smaller fish taste much better than large fish, so I suggest only keeping 15 to 18 inch walleyes.

Lures and Equipment
1 - 6 foot 2 piece medium weight rod
2 - 6 # or 8 # line
3 - I prefer spinning reels but this is totally up to you
4 - J- 9 Rapala ( fire tiger, perch, black / gold and silver / black)-Fire tiger is my personal favorite
5 - 1/8 to ¼ lead head jigs
6 - Twister tails of various colors I prefer white, chartreuse and yellow
7 - 1/8 - ¼ Jig heads with spinner blades
8 - Diving Rapalas
9 - Slip bobbers
10 - Split shots
11 - 6# and 4# hooks
I bring many more lures than this but these are my tried and true lures.

Important People of the BWCA

When I moved into my new place in Ely, Minnesota last year, I was as excited as I have ever been when I found out Bill and Barb Rom lived right across the street from me. Being an avid reader on the local history, I knew of Bill Rom as he is considered a legend in these parts. In my own opinion, he is perhaps THEE most important influence in the Boundary Waters.

Check out the article below by Alissa Johnson, Wilderness News Contributor. This story originally appeared in Wilderness News Fall 2007 Issue Bill Rom

Photo courtesy the Rom Family. Bill Rom passed away last year at the age of 90

A Lifelong Passion for the Land
Bill grew up across the alley from the vacant lot that would become Canoe Country Outfitters. His father passed away shortly after his birth, so his mother raised Bill and his eight siblings alone through the depression. To help support the family, Bill and his brothers hunted, fished and picked berries all over the region. Some days Bill walked as far as Farm Lake for a single fishing trip. He developed a knowledge and a love of the land that he truly learned to appreciate as a student of Sigurd Olson at Ely Junior College, where he was exposed to some of Sigurd’s earliest writing.

Sigurd was the school’s dean at the time and just beginning to delve into the writing and advocacy he would become known for. Bill had a job cleaning his office and laboratory, and he credits Sigurd with inspiring his passion for the preservation of the wilderness. It was under his guidance that Bill found summer employment with the Forest Service, and found the inspiration to study Wildlife Management at the University of Minnesota. Throughout his college years, he built the Kekekabic Trail, manned the fire tower on Kekekabic Lake while conducting a biological study for the U of M, and worked a portage and campsite maintenance crew. Living and working in the wilderness in this way deepened the connection to the land that he would carry with him throughout his years in the Navy.

Family Outfitter Turned Wilderness Advocate
When Bill returned to Ely after the war, the pristine wilderness had changed. The creation of the Superior Roadless Area during the 1920s had slowed development, but during Bill’s absence the increasing affordability of airplanes had resulted in a boom in fly-in resorts. By the mid-1940s there were 16 resorts on Basswood Lake alone, and Ely had become North America’s largest inland seaplane base. Bill was an avid pilot himself, but he saw this development as a threat to the wilderness. As he built his business, he took an active role in fighting for the boundary waters.

Others did as well, and an airspace reservation was proposed over the roadless area. Bill spoke out in favor of the air ban, and a fellow supporter, Bill Magie, formed Friends of the Wilderness to fight for it. Bill hosted meetings in his home, and in a town where many made their livelihood off these resorts, Bill’s was not the popular opinion. During the height of the debate, an explosive was set off near the Roms’ house as a scare tactic.

State and Federal air bans were enacted in 1949, but fly-ins continued for four years as the constitutionality of the air bans was challenged. It was the first of many development threats during Bill and Barb’s tenure at Canoe Country Outfitters. Logging, the introduction of new roads, snowmobile access, and the motorized debate all rose to the forefront of public debate. And throughout it all, Bill steadfastly spoke against the encroachments and worked for the preservation of the wilderness.

He was one of the first to suggest that cans and bottles be prohibited in canoe country to prevent the garbage piling up at portages. He used his own plane to patrol for illegal activities, wrote letters, spoke out at Chamber of Commerce and outfitter meetings, and testified in Washington in 1974 against motorized access.

Bill’s public support of regulation resulted in continued local tensions, and the explosion during the air ban debate was not the last time it culminated in harassment. During the snowmobile and motorized debates of the 1970s, it was not uncommon for snowmobiles to circle the Rom house at all hours of the night. In 1975, the enactment of a snowmobile ban resulted in major protests on Fishing Opener and Memorial Day weekends. Protestors barricaded Ely, letting drivers pass only if they signed a petition in favor of snowmobiles. They simultaneously barricaded and picketed Canoe Country Outfitters with signs that read “Run the bum Rom out of town.”

End of an Era
To fight for the canoe country wilderness was never a question for Bill. It was more than his livelihood; it was his passion. Still, the tension took its toll, and a heart condition left him susceptible to stress. In 1975 the Roms sold their business to a long time employee.

Now ninety years old, Bill looks back pragmatically. He and Barb are both quick to point out that someone had to protect the wilderness, in spite of the tension it caused. It’s clear their dedication was about more than standing up for their beliefs. It was about a passion for the land, and a dedication to doing the right thing.

While the Roms ran Canoe Country Outfitters, Bill stopped by the post office every single Saturday to pick up the mail. Mail was only delivered during the week in those days, and he had customers waiting for their reservations. He brought this same steady perseverance to the fight for the boundary waters, helping to lay the ground work for preservation that continues to serve those who make the annual pilgrimage north. It’s the least we can do to remember his name when we sweat across a portage under the yoke of a canoe, a portage that Bill Rom just might have built.

Things to do in the Ely area

Come on out to the 29th Annual Blueberry Art Festival sponsored by the Ely Chamber of Commerce on July 24 through the 26, 2009 in beautiful Whiteside Park.

With more than 300 exhibitors, you're sure to find something to please the entire family. Browse past booths of garden art, watercolor and oil paintings, photography, burl items, brass and copper art, paddles, night lights, rock art, deerskin items, leather, toys, wood carvings, canvas items, windsocks, ceramics, furniture, books, metal craft, woodcrafts, fabrics, glass, baskets, dolls, jewelry, candles, adult and children's clothing. Hungry? Check out several booths of ethnic foods and enjoy a piece of homemade blueberry pie!

Lots of fun for the kids, too, with moonwalk, trampoline bounce and train rides for the youngsters.

It is never too early for Christmas shopping in Ely. Rain or shine, come join us on this fun filled weekend – but please leave the pets at home.

If further information is needed please contact Rita Grose at the Ely Chamber of Commerce, 1600 East Sheridan St., Ely, MN. 55731 or call (218) 365-6123. E-Mail: fun@ely.org

BWCA Video!!!

In place of a WJ photo slideshow this month, we are linking you to BWCA videos and slideshows that we found on youtube. This month’s video is a great example of what you can experience in the Boundary Waters. Click here...

For unlimited Wilderness Journey photos ...check out our new photo slideshow page... Click here.

Share our newsletters with other adventurists and encourage them to join our EMAIL LIST!...

Ramsey Dowgiallo

Home	Two shows down…only one to go! Once again we had some pretty good traffic at the Outdoorama. We saw a few of our past clients and reviewed trip itineraries with some of our new clients. If you are interested in a 2009 trip please feel free to contact us and we will review your options. The permits are going fast but there are still a few good ones available. Looking forward to our next show: The 64th Annual Ultimate Sport Show—Grand Rapids, March 19 to 22 at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW in downtown Grand Rapids, www.UltimateSportShow.com Past clients will be at the booth with us again so you can get firsthand account of their experience. Visit our booth and we will be happy to review your routes as well as answer any other questions you may have. Plus, you have to check out the show special- it can’t be beat! With the condition of the Michigan (and national) economy, we made sure that anybody can afford a trip of a lifetime. We have included a 4 day trip show special this year. See the “rates” page of our website. We are also trying something a little different this year. We have some couples and small groups of people who are interested in joining other small groups so that everyone can receive the show discount. We can set up a meeting and try to make them compatible with each other. I am really looking forward to this joining of groups…meeting new people with similar interests on a wilderness adventure. After all, variety is the spice of life. All interested people please contact us. This month’s newsletter features three new categories: Contest Winners Fishing Tactics (species will change monthly) Important people of the Boundary Waters Things to do in the Ely area March Photo Contest This month’s category is Scenery and with the abundance of scenic opportunities, it was a was a tough category to judge. It was so tough I couldn’t pick a winner… so I asked a friend choose. The winner is Rose Zywoil with “Clouds in the Boundary Waters”. Rose is the owner and editor of Ponytail Sports- an online resource for Michigan's female athletes. Rosie will receive a Wilderness Journey T-Shirt. (T-shirts are also available for order by phone or email.) Walleye Fishing Tactics The fishing opportunities in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area are limitless. Walleyes are the most sought after fish in Minnesota. Many think they are the tastiest fish in the BWCA. I might catch some heat for this statement but I think bluegills taste better. Then again, you will never see me turn down a walleye dinner. There are many ways to catch walleyes and I have found surefire strategies to catch unlimited numbers of these fish. I have honey holes all over the BWCA but with these tactics anyone can catch walleyes anywhere. Walleyes are schooling fish that rarely leave the bottom of the lake. They are usually between 10 and 20 feet from some sort of structure like a point, island, drop-offs or a submerged hump. They prefer minnows and leeches and they are light sensitive. They can be found in shallow areas during the spawn in the spring or in the morning or evening because of low light levels. First of all, just about every lake in the BWCA is filled with structure. When I hit a lake, the very first thing I do is hit my holes or when I fish a new lake I usually troll around islands, points and submerged humps with J - 9 Rapalas. When I catch a walleye, I head back to the area where I hooked the fish and change over to a lead head jig with a White twister tail. Cast out and slowly jig the lure back to the canoe, jigging up and down in 1 foot strokes within one foot of the bottom of the lake. They will usually bite on the down stroke. If the fish are there they will bite. Sometimes we will change over to a slip bobber with a split shot 1 foot above a #4 hook tipped with a Leech and set the bobber to the preferred depth and hold on!!! This is a killer fish tactic… no fish can turn this down and that includes big Northerns and trophy sized Smallies. Due to lack of ice and a refrigeration system, we do encourage catch and release. We will eat fish just about everyday and a great replica of your trophy can be made from a good photo and a measurement. As a rule smaller fish taste much better than large fish, so I suggest only keeping 15 to 18 inch walleyes. Lures and Equipment 1 - 6 foot 2 piece medium weight rod 2 - 6 # or 8 # line 3 - I prefer spinning reels but this is totally up to you 4 - J- 9 Rapala ( fire tiger, perch, black / gold and silver / black)-Fire tiger is my personal favorite 5 - 1/8 to ¼ lead head jigs 6 - Twister tails of various colors I prefer white, chartreuse and yellow 7 - 1/8 - ¼ Jig heads with spinner blades 8 - Diving Rapalas 9 - Slip bobbers 10 - Split shots 11 - 6# and 4# hooks I bring many more lures than this but these are my tried and true lures. Important People of the BWCA When I moved into my new place in Ely, Minnesota last year, I was as excited as I have ever been when I found out Bill and Barb Rom lived right across the street from me. Being an avid reader on the local history, I knew of Bill Rom as he is considered a legend in these parts. In my own opinion, he is perhaps THEE most important influence in the Boundary Waters. Check out the article below by Alissa Johnson, Wilderness News Contributor. This story originally appeared in Wilderness News Fall 2007 Issue Photo courtesy the Rom Family. Bill Rom passed away last year at the age of 90 A Lifelong Passion for the Land Bill grew up across the alley from the vacant lot that would become Canoe Country Outfitters. His father passed away shortly after his birth, so his mother raised Bill and his eight siblings alone through the depression. To help support the family, Bill and his brothers hunted, fished and picked berries all over the region. Some days Bill walked as far as Farm Lake for a single fishing trip. He developed a knowledge and a love of the land that he truly learned to appreciate as a student of Sigurd Olson at Ely Junior College, where he was exposed to some of Sigurd’s earliest writing. Sigurd was the school’s dean at the time and just beginning to delve into the writing and advocacy he would become known for. Bill had a job cleaning his office and laboratory, and he credits Sigurd with inspiring his passion for the preservation of the wilderness. It was under his guidance that Bill found summer employment with the Forest Service, and found the inspiration to study Wildlife Management at the University of Minnesota. Throughout his college years, he built the Kekekabic Trail, manned the fire tower on Kekekabic Lake while conducting a biological study for the U of M, and worked a portage and campsite maintenance crew. Living and working in the wilderness in this way deepened the connection to the land that he would carry with him throughout his years in the Navy. Family Outfitter Turned Wilderness Advocate When Bill returned to Ely after the war, the pristine wilderness had changed. The creation of the Superior Roadless Area during the 1920s had slowed development, but during Bill’s absence the increasing affordability of airplanes had resulted in a boom in fly-in resorts. By the mid-1940s there were 16 resorts on Basswood Lake alone, and Ely had become North America’s largest inland seaplane base. Bill was an avid pilot himself, but he saw this development as a threat to the wilderness. As he built his business, he took an active role in fighting for the boundary waters. Others did as well, and an airspace reservation was proposed over the roadless area. Bill spoke out in favor of the air ban, and a fellow supporter, Bill Magie, formed Friends of the Wilderness to fight for it. Bill hosted meetings in his home, and in a town where many made their livelihood off these resorts, Bill’s was not the popular opinion. During the height of the debate, an explosive was set off near the Roms’ house as a scare tactic. State and Federal air bans were enacted in 1949, but fly-ins continued for four years as the constitutionality of the air bans was challenged. It was the first of many development threats during Bill and Barb’s tenure at Canoe Country Outfitters. Logging, the introduction of new roads, snowmobile access, and the motorized debate all rose to the forefront of public debate. And throughout it all, Bill steadfastly spoke against the encroachments and worked for the preservation of the wilderness. He was one of the first to suggest that cans and bottles be prohibited in canoe country to prevent the garbage piling up at portages. He used his own plane to patrol for illegal activities, wrote letters, spoke out at Chamber of Commerce and outfitter meetings, and testified in Washington in 1974 against motorized access. Bill’s public support of regulation resulted in continued local tensions, and the explosion during the air ban debate was not the last time it culminated in harassment. During the snowmobile and motorized debates of the 1970s, it was not uncommon for snowmobiles to circle the Rom house at all hours of the night. In 1975, the enactment of a snowmobile ban resulted in major protests on Fishing Opener and Memorial Day weekends. Protestors barricaded Ely, letting drivers pass only if they signed a petition in favor of snowmobiles. They simultaneously barricaded and picketed Canoe Country Outfitters with signs that read “Run the bum Rom out of town.” End of an Era To fight for the canoe country wilderness was never a question for Bill. It was more than his livelihood; it was his passion. Still, the tension took its toll, and a heart condition left him susceptible to stress. In 1975 the Roms sold their business to a long time employee. Now ninety years old, Bill looks back pragmatically. He and Barb are both quick to point out that someone had to protect the wilderness, in spite of the tension it caused. It’s clear their dedication was about more than standing up for their beliefs. It was about a passion for the land, and a dedication to doing the right thing. While the Roms ran Canoe Country Outfitters, Bill stopped by the post office every single Saturday to pick up the mail. Mail was only delivered during the week in those days, and he had customers waiting for their reservations. He brought this same steady perseverance to the fight for the boundary waters, helping to lay the ground work for preservation that continues to serve those who make the annual pilgrimage north. It’s the least we can do to remember his name when we sweat across a portage under the yoke of a canoe, a portage that Bill Rom just might have built. Things to do in the Ely area Come on out to the 29th Annual Blueberry Art Festival sponsored by the Ely Chamber of Commerce on July 24 through the 26, 2009 in beautiful Whiteside Park. With more than 300 exhibitors, you're sure to find something to please the entire family. Browse past booths of garden art, watercolor and oil paintings, photography, burl items, brass and copper art, paddles, night lights, rock art, deerskin items, leather, toys, wood carvings, canvas items, windsocks, ceramics, furniture, books, metal craft, woodcrafts, fabrics, glass, baskets, dolls, jewelry, candles, adult and children's clothing. Hungry? Check out several booths of ethnic foods and enjoy a piece of homemade blueberry pie! Lots of fun for the kids, too, with moonwalk, trampoline bounce and train rides for the youngsters. It is never too early for Christmas shopping in Ely. Rain or shine, come join us on this fun filled weekend – but please leave the pets at home. If further information is needed please contact Rita Grose at the Ely Chamber of Commerce, 1600 East Sheridan St., Ely, MN. 55731 or call (218) 365-6123. E-Mail: fun@ely.org BWCA Video!!! In place of a WJ photo slideshow this month, we are linking you to BWCA videos and slideshows that we found on youtube. This month’s video is a great example of what you can experience in the Boundary Waters. Click here... For unlimited Wilderness Journey photos ...check out our new photo slideshow page... Click here. Share our newsletters with other adventurists and encourage them to join our EMAIL LIST!... Ramsey Dowgiallo

2566 Marchar Wolverine Lake, Michigan 48390 (734) 664-0353 info@gowildernessjourney.com