Rowan, getting in on sled

[Tundra]

Staying at Muskie Bay on first weekend in Jan for lakers and wondering on tips on getting into Rowan. I'm sure I could figure it out by following tracks into Cameron but any ideas? We've fished Crow and LOW many times for trout and want to give our sleds a ride. Also, can't find a depth map or Rowan but I'm sure by looking at the land a person could figure it out. Any help appreciated.

-Tundra

[cedarnarrowsguy]

Tundra, Good question. I will be at Muskie Bay 12/30-01/02. I've not been on Rowan that way. I've come from the other way...Lawrence, Hill. Hopefully we'll get some snow to ride our sleds. Muskie Bay's most recent info about ice on crow was 7-11" of ice with little or no snow on it.

[Tundra]

Thank you for your reply, good luck on your trip!! Give a report. Muskie Bay is a great place to stay.

-Tundra

[cashcrews]

Tundra,

CaptBlaine and I will be at Muskie Bay 1/5-1/7. If that's the weekend you're going to be there, we should compare notes. We're probably only going to be fishing on Crow, although the notion of going into Rowan is interesting. We're planning to bring ATV's...probably not the ideal mode of transport into Rowan??

Cashcrews

[jerkin'm]

Sounds like there will be lots of us FM junkies at Muskie Bay that weekend..

[Capt.Blaine]

Only 2 weeks and 2 days to go.

[superbee]

I was out on LOW today and we limited out on crappie rather easily. There was 8" of ice where we were fishing. I live on Off Lake and it has 3"-8" and it is a shallow lake. I would be skeptical of up to 11" on a trout lake as know being over by the Manitou. I'll be heading over by the Manitou from Pipestone a fair bit this winter. Maybe I'll see up there sometime.

[jerkin'm]

ATV travel up there would be a last resort for me....Between some current areas, ridges, slush, heavy snowfall, etc..it could be a long weekend..I have seen some traveling by wheeler up there..It doesn't look like fun to me...especially if temps are frigid (as usual)

[Tundra]

Capt & Cash, That is when we will be there!! If there isn't enough snow I'd hate to beat the sled into Rowan so maybe ATV's are the way to go?? Don't know the portages though. Muskie Bay will set us straight. We may hit Whitefish Bay (Big fish!!) Friday otherwise we are going to fish Crow/Rowan. 7 Rangers coming up staying in the lodge rooms, it will get ugly.

-Tundra (white GMC/Blue Ski Doo Grand Touring, come have some high lifes!!!)

[cashcrews]

Make that 8 Rangers -- although, I live in Duluth now, unfortunately.

We'll probably have my rig, Silver Dodge, trailer with a couple wheelers and maybe a P.O.S. snowmobile for good measure.

[Down Deep]

The Muskie Bay will give you directions. I'm not so sure I would take a wheeler. Two weeks is a long time and there is usually lots of snowfall around this time of year. I've been going to Crow for 15 years on the second week of Jan. and only one time was there marginal snow cover. I've seen lots of wheelers stuck in the slush. About 5 years ago the slush kept our sleds off of Crow. Rowan is a long way to go on a wheeler if there is a foot of snow that's not well packed.

[cedarnarrowsguy]

I totally agree with DownDeep about using a wheeler in slush or deep snow. Very difficult to gain speed to go through the next slush hole. I'm probably going to call Muskie Bay on 12/29 and verify snow cover, then decide on snowmachine vs. wheeler. I'll post my report when I get back Jan 2 (late), for you guys going up the next weekend.

[Capt.Blaine]

Quote:

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I'll post my report when I get back Jan 2 (late

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That would be great, thanks

[Tundra]

Go to Rowan!!!

[Down Deep]

Tundra,

Rowan is not all that difficult to find. You are right that there is usually an X-Way going in, but don't count on it. Two or three inches of snow overnight can erase any tracks. I'd give you directions, but they wouldn't make sense unless I showed you a map. When you get into Rowan, I think it's Sullivian Bay it will lead to a resort. There is bad ice in the narrows next to the resort They usually red stick it, but you never know. There is a hump portage to the right. We gennerally fish the islands located just out from the resort. If you want to take a ride head down to Brooks Bay. There are lots of rock piles sticking up drill some holes over 30 FOW and hang on.

Don't just drive over Shigwak as there are lots of trout to be had in there. We fish the small center islands in the northern end and find some good as Rowan fishing there. We never made it past Shigwak the last two years. Although fishing Rowan will greately enhance your chances of hooking up with a 20 plus pounder.

All these posts on Crow is starting to get my excitment going.

Cedarnarrowsguy

I've fished a lot on Essox and the Manitou, but only during open water season. Caught some big smallemouth, northerns and trout on those waters. A couple of years ago we were going to go to Barker's Bay. in Jan, but the owner got killed in a car accident and they closed the resort. No one in our group has ever wanted to go to the Manitou again because we don't want to lose our spot at the resort we stay at on Crow.

[cedarnarrowsguy]

One thing for sure, it's so difficult to explore all the country you want to, when you make a trip to this area. Never enough time, and when you get back, you're already planning the next trip and going into another lake. I've heard about Rowan being a good trout lake with a chance to hook a big one. Another couple lakes I've heard about from the locals up there are, Crossroute and Holstein. They too hold some big ones.

I'm looking forward to fishing Crow. I will probably make a trip from the east, to Rowan/Otterskin/Shigwak later in Feb. it will be nice to run into a few of you FM'ers sometime.

[superbee]

I have fished Crossroute and it has some big lakers, but typically you don't catch alot of them. Have you ever fished Seahorse off of Esox, I've heard there are some big trout in there as well. The Manitou is probably some of the best trout water around, but it is always fun to fish different lakes.

[cedarnarrowsguy]

I think Seashorse is closed for Lake Trout. I mostly fish Essox and Manitou.

[superbee]

I'm not sure, I talked to some guys a few years ago and they told me that it was really good. Maybe they closed it if to many guys were fishing it and it is such a small lake.