Do you know someone that needs a job and willing to work in Ely, MN from May - October or some portion of this time?  We are interviewing now for seasonal staff.

Our staff will do a variety of jobs from packing for outfitted groups, maintaining canoes, loading canoes, driving to entry points, servicing our bait and tackle customers, working the register, general maintanence and more. No one gets stuck doing only one task or job.

Qualifications; We look for someone that enjoys the outdoors, can provide excellent customer service, willing to learn what an outfitter/bait & tackle shop with retail sportswear does, has a good attitude and willing to interact with our guests. On-the-job training provided. Must be able to lift 45-65 lbs.

Detour begins Feb. 21

DULUTH, Minn. — Motorists will encounter a detour on Highway 1 south of Ely beginning Tuesday, Feb. 21, while crews blast and remove rock in preparation to reconstruct a five-mile section of Highway 1 next spring and summer. Minnesota Department of Transportation engineers estimate the work will take at least three weeks. 

Had a few hours to go ice fishing on Tuesday evening on Shagawa Lake.  As usual, Rob, my son in-law out fished me ...again. But then how do you compete against a pro?

Caught some small, "you throw em back walleyes."  We used crappie jigs tipped with a minnow.  Bite was really light and close to the bottom.

The ice was sufficient to drive on where we fished. Can't attest to any other part of the lake for ice thickness.  Everyone still needs to be careful with all the warm weather we are having.

Met John, another angler and his son while out on the ice. He reported a few bigger walleyes have been caught around the evening hours. Sounded like enough for a meal or two at best.

We are smelling smoke in Ely today. Not intense, but still noticable. This is one of the first days since the Pagami Fire started in August. Ely has been a "smoke-free zone."

The fire remains 13 or more miles away and Ely is not affected.

Fire crews

Three fresh Hotshot crews are coming in to replace other hotshot crews being demobilized. Crews are on a 14 day work cycle rotation. The are allowed to deploy for 14 days, with no more than 21 days before they are required to have at least 2 days off. A normal work day is 14-16 hours.