I'm coming to MN next week for a week's vacation

[kliljedahl]

Cutaway Lake, North of Grand Rapids. My employers (Bushco Drones) have a cabin up there. Any Duers in that area that can give me any advice on what to expect & do? I'm gonna do a lot of fishing & photography for sure.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[dflprincess]

1. I think there's a Judy Garland museum in Grand Rapids

other than that, I know nothing.

[kliljedahl]

2. No thanks, I'm straight

Oh well, didn't expect much, so fishing it is.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[loveable liberal]

3. mountain biking, golf, water skiing, ice fishing.....

Oh yea, the ice should be gone by then.... hehehehehe

[no name no slogan]

4. The state parks will probably be closed, unfortunately

Our far-right governor is probably going to shut down the government on July 1 (when the state runs out of money), so the state parks will probably all be closed.

:grr:

- a P.O.'d soon to be laid off without pay state employee

[kliljedahl]

5. It's on a private lake so that'll be OK

Just trying to find out something about the area.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Rick Myers]

6. Mountain Biking is REAL GOOD in that area!!

And fishing...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. And swimming and just driving around and looking at the

scenery. Or just sit in the shade with a book, but don't forget your mosquito repellent as dusk approaches.

You won't be far from HIbbing, which is Bob Dylan's hometown, nor Chisholm, home of the Iron Range Interpretative (sic) Center. In the other direction is a large Ojibwe reservation, Leech Lake. I haven't been there for years, but I'm told that there are two casinos there.

[kliljedahl]

8. I'm a big Dylan fan

I'm sure there is a museum or something there. Thanks, I'll definitely check that out & Chisholm too. I don't gamble but I'm sure there's other interesting stuff there. All good suggestions Lydia Leftcoast. Thanks a lot. I do intend to do a lot of fishing.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[katinmn]

9. Welcome to Minnesota! Here's the fishing report

http://www.jeffsundin.com/Minnesota%20Fishing%20Reports%20and%20Outdoor%20Links.htm#fish%20report

Grand Rapids is a nice northwoods town. I think when you venture into town for groceries you'll enjoy looking around. I grew up in another town a little further north so I know the area a little.

Some more places to visit if you like to learn about an area's history:

Forest History Center (the lumberjack interpretors are a hoot!)
The Forest History Center demonstrates, through "living history", the story of the forests and the ways man has used and valued them over time. Come talk with the lumberjacks, camp blacksmith, clerk and cook in the reconstructed 1900 logging camp. Journey to the spring of 1901 and board the moored river wanigan--a floating cookshack that white-watered with the logs down the mighty Mississippi River to the lumber mills. Then travel to 1934 and learn to fight a raging forest fire or talk to the patrolman about living and working in Minnesota's forests during the "Great Depression."

Itasca (County) Heritage Center
Museum exhibits interpret life at the turn of the century, logging, mining, immigrants, homesteading, and native Americans (Ojibway) of this region. Includes a Judy Garland exhibit (born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids). A yellow brick road leads up to Central School, a unique market place that is home to the museum, gift shops, frame shops and a nationally renowned restaurant. All in an 1895 restored grade school listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

And head over to Wabu Woods, a few miles outside Grand Rapids http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/sna01048/index.html
for pictures and witness an open bog.

The Laurentian Divide runs through the region. I mention it just because it is a unique geographic feature. The streams on the north slope of the divide flow through Canada to Hudson Bay. On the south side of the divide, streams flow south to Lake Superior or on to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

[kliljedahl]

10. Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for

Got a suggestion for a good Walleye & Smallie lake in that area? The lake we're going to has only Northern & Largemouth. I'm really up for a skilletful of fresh Walleye, & Smallies are the most fun to catch.

Only have about 4 actual days on the water & want to maximize my time.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[katinmn]

11. Pokegama and Bowstring

This from another fishing guide:

Walleyes are being pulled from Lake Pokegama on jigs and shiners worked in roughly 9 feet of water during early morning hours. The night bite has started on the bars, and fish are being taken using long-lined blue and silver rapalas over the flats. The rocky bars seem to also be holding numbers of smallmouth bass--for the most fish, try crankbaits or leeches on a rig. Bowstring Lake is producing walleyes on the Inger side, and at the humps on the north end in 17-19 feet of water. The best approach has been a small shiner minnow.

You can buy your fishing license online if you want:
http://www.wildlifelicense.com/mn/index.html

One more thing, tune in to KAXE radio while you're there. Good community radio. http://www.kaxe.org/
They have a link to a fishing program that you can listen to before you go.

[kliljedahl]

12. Again, you're a life saver

Are you in that area now? Seems to be sparsely populated.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[katinmn]

13. No, I live in St. Paul now.

I grew up in a town about 80 miles northeast of Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids has just under 8,000 people. Ely, my hometown, has about half that.

I moved away in 1987 but then went "home" for a year during 2003-04. I learned you can go home again but it is surreal.

[kliljedahl]

14. 80 miles North, that's about the area where I'll be

although I'll be further West. Near the burg of Balsam, a flyspeck on the map from what I gather. I have a bunch of relatives in St. Paul, some of the very few Swedes in that area.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[katinmn]

15. Ha. Even I haven't heard of Balsam.

I bet you will have a good time.

It's amazing how clear your head gets after a few days without cell phones, computers and a constant barage of information coming at you.

Let the Minnesota DUers know when you'll be in St. Paul and we'll host a meet-up for you! Maybe we can have a barbeque.

[kliljedahl]

16. I see you gew up near Quetico

Went there once on a canoe trip, made several to the BW area. It's so beautiful up there.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[katinmn]

17. Thanks. It is beautiful. Hey, remember this?

That's what I miss. Beautiful sunsets.

[kliljedahl]

18. Yeah I do, and the silence at night

and the stars etc. etc.

Can't wait to get there next week.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[kliljedahl]

20. And the Loons

Wy wife's from New Orleans, has never heard a Loon. Looking forward to the first time.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[katinmn]

21. Oh yeah! She will enjoy that.

I hope you guys have a great time. :)

[Zookeeper]

19. I've driven between St. Paul and Bemidji, through Grand Rapids,

four times in the last two weeks! I can tell you that the mosquitos are quite plentiful this year. Take lots of Deep Woods Off (or something equally strong). The weather was quite hot and humid last week, but it also can get cool up there, especially around those big lakes.

I had lunch at Dottie's Cafe in Grand Rapids yesterday and it was pretty friendly with good diner food. (Decorated in a NASCAR theme, so you may not want to wear your anti-BushCo t-shirt!) There also is a coffehouse called Brewed Awakenings in Grand Rapids that had good soup and espresso.

If you love to fish, you will be in heaven up there. I hope you have a great time and let us know how it went!

[kliljedahl]

22. Thanks for the good wishes

I'm fully aware of the B-52 sized mosquitos & the Deer Flies too.

I'll make a post when we get back & thank all of you for allowing me to visit. I'm originally from Iowa so I used to go a lot. I'm in Indiana now so it's not as easy. From your user name, do you work at he zoo in Minneapolis? One of the finest zoos I've ever been to.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Zookeeper]

23. Actually....

"zoo" describes my household :crazy: .

The real Minnesota Zoo is making some big changes from what I've heard. They are supposed to include more tropical, crowd-pleasing type animals. I like the Minnesota Zoo, but have to say that it isn't (wasn't) the most exciting zoo for very young children, as I always felt like I was trying to point out a brown animal hiding far away behind a shrub. 'Not super engaging for a three-year old. Nicer digs for the animals than the Como Zoo, but the Como Zoo gives kids the chance to see the animals close up, sometimes eye-to-eye.

BTW, Mr. Zookeeper is also a BBQ fanatic, and has grill/smoker combination. The best BBQ I've ever had was in a little town called Duvall's Bluff in Arkansas. Craig's Barbeque....my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

[kliljedahl]

24. Just taking chicken leg quarters off the grill

Did a tenderloin yesterday. Does he belong to the KCBS? If not he should join, get himself certified as a judge & who knows from there. The link is on my web site.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Zookeeper]

25. Thanks for the tip!

I'll have him check out your site.