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A few years ago some flat lander posted a picture of a roller portage. In a personal message I asked him about it, you know the kind of interest that kills cats. My curiosity was scorned, was told that it was a big secret, however this past autumn while visiting my friends, grouse hunting, indulging in some fantastic walleye fish fries, enjoying fall foliage, bog trotting, cranberry picking and doing some lilly dipping canoeing. I happened to see a MNDNR Fisheries truck at a highway pull off. I stopped and asked the men that were there if they knew of a roller portage in the area or if they had ever heard of such a thing. They laughed and said that most any of the local folks knew about the roller portage that a former owner of a fishing lodge (DeerTrail Lodge) on Ojibway Lake that had built a roller portage to Triangle Lake to ease the labor of his guests, getting their motor boats to the better fishing that Triangle Lake offered. They also mentioned that there were free camp sites on both lakes. They thought that the Superior National Forest might even have a map/flyer available at their visitor center on Fernberg Road East of Ely.
My friends in Ely told me that when Deer Trail Lodge came up for sale, the State of Minnesota bought the property from the owner, removed the log lodge, made the current public access, boat launch and parking area.
Not a real canoeing trip, more of a lilly dipper, but I did do an overnight on Triangle Lake. Caught some bass on poppers and big Woolly Buggers.
If you want to save a few bucks while visiting Ely,
look these two Lakes up on your laptop. It only 14 miles East of Ely on the Fernberg Trail. Close enough to town that you can drive in for a pizza and take in a movie at the old theater.
My friends in Ely told me that when Deer Trail Lodge came up for sale, the State of Minnesota bought the property from the owner, removed the log lodge, made the current public access, boat launch and parking area.
Not a real canoeing trip, more of a lilly dipper, but I did do an overnight on Triangle Lake. Caught some bass on poppers and big Woolly Buggers.
If you want to save a few bucks while visiting Ely,
look these two Lakes up on your laptop. It only 14 miles East of Ely on the Fernberg Trail. Close enough to town that you can drive in for a pizza and take in a movie at the old theater.
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