Though Boise-Cascade preferred stable water levels to maintain consistent power generation from the dam, the paper company complied. Because Canadian companies aren't bound by U.S. FERC rulings, Abitibi has not complied, and springtime lake levels have been unnaturally stable in recent years. That could change, however. A committee of U.S. and Canadian citizens and officials has submitted a proposal to the International Joint Commission, a group that resolves border water issues, asking for a return to more natural lake levels on Rainy. Many anglers have since boycotted Rainy's northern bays, thus reducing harvest there by 80 percent.
Walleyes respect no borders, however, and roam to and from the Minnesota side.
That's probably another factor behind this great fishing we're seeing up here. Minnesota and Ontario have agreed to keep angler harvest near sustainable levels. As good as the fishing has been lately, if we took the regulation off after 2000, the harvest could go through the roof, and I don't think anyone really wants that. If that means anglers keep fewer fish, that's just fine with Ray Garcia of St. Paul and his grandson Ian. On a warm and breezy summer afternoon, the two anglers have finished a successful day on Rainy.