Quetico Provontial Park May 31-June 6

[Mountainman36]

Sorry for the big pics - but you have to see them

So we just got back from an epic trip to the woods. Paddled about 12 miles to get away from everything, saw 4 other people the whole week. Weather was ok, saw some Moose and Bears (both with babies) and caught a good number of fish, some quality ones too.

I caught mostly Pike, was having trouble getting consisten bite on smallies, but the other canoe in our group killed them, 70+ fish days three days, and 50+ the other 4 days.....we averaged about 40 fish per canoe a day.

this was the best pike of the trip, by the rookie 12.5 lbs...about 38" i guess, maybe a touch less.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj257/mountainman36/IMG_0314.jpg

i got this 4.5 lb smallie

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj257/mountainman36/IMGP0996.jpg

Some nice topwater action too on zoom speed worms.....these are the best because they hold up well, are way cheap, and are light weight and weedless. The frog imitations did well too, but i caught 3 to 1 on the speed worms...

sunsets were epic too.
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj257/mountainman36/IMG_0356.jpg

Rich

[Windknot]

I envy your trip! Looks beautiful, sounds fun.

Jerry McKinness (ESPN Outdoors) made/makes? an annual pilgrimage up there, and those trips lit up my imagination. Glad you had such a dandy trip.
Don

[baldea]

A group of guys that I associate with (sometimes) we head up there every year. Unfortunately this year I'm skipping out, but its one of the best trips I've ever done.

Last year we did a 40+ mile trip. Didn't have much time for fishing since we paddled from day break to sunset while dodging rainstorms. Still caught a ton of fish.

[Mountainman36]

Im all for seeing the park, but paddling 40+ miles and sacrificing fishing just dont make sence to me. I expect we paddled at least 40 miles (24 miles on just getting in and out). but a base camp makes life so sweet, and you can actually relax in the hamock, and watch the stars and listen to the loons. When you are paddling 10-15 miles a day you are way too beat down to enjoy those things.
Im for fishing if im gonna drive 3 days up and 3 days back for 8 days of Quetico.
Theres fish in there that aint even seen a canoe!! They need to pay for that.

[baldea]

Last years trip was out of the normal. Light packs and 3 to a canoe.

Usually these guys can only make 3 maybe 4 portages before they are spent for the day. The usual is to pick out a spot and pray nobody is already there when you get there and to allow for ample time to paddle around the lake to an less occuppied area then set up base and stay for the week. Lots of adult beverages, lots of food, generators, ect. Definetly not roughing it. It allows me to get away and do some fishing while they start "relaxing". Only one other guy out of the dozen even owns a rod.

[huntfish]

Im all for seeing the park, but paddling 40+ miles and sacrificing fishing just dont make sence to me. I expect we paddled at least 40 miles (24 miles on just getting in and out). but a base camp makes life so sweet, and you can actually relax in the hamock, and watch the stars and listen to the loons. When you are paddling 10-15 miles a day you are way too beat down to enjoy those things.
Im for fishing if im gonna drive 3 days up and 3 days back for 8 days of Quetico.
Theres fish in there that aint even seen a canoe!! They need to pay for that.

That's going to be my moto next time I go. We paddled almost 50 miles in a week. I remember the last portage which was about a mile over a hill. I took one canoe and my buddy took the other. After waiting a while for him, I went back. At the apex of the hill, there was the canoe. My buddy was under it and I'll never forget what he said....."Just Kill Me."

[Mountainman36]

Last years trip was out of the normal. Light packs and 3 to a canoe.

Usually these guys can only make 3 maybe 4 portages before they are spent for the day. The usual is to pick out a spot and pray nobody is already there when you get there and to allow for ample time to paddle around the lake to an less occuppied area then set up base and stay for the week. Lots of adult beverages, lots of food, generators, ect. Definetly not roughing it. It allows me to get away and do some fishing while they start "relaxing". Only one other guy out of the dozen even owns a rod.

Generators????? i thought no motors in Quetico:)

To really rough it - no generators, no adult beverages, no girls, and no whoopin it!!!

rpc

[JOHNKIES]

One terrific Park with the Provincial Park and it of course lines up with Border Lakes National Park on the US side. I think the two combined are about 100 miles on a side. When you look at the maps they have more blue than green. I have been there on three extended trips, each running a full two weeks on the water. Fantastic camping, fishing, wildlife and the loons. Nothing like the call of a loon in the middle of the night to put a few goosebumps on your spine.

We went into the Park twice from the Atikoken side, and once from Ely. I frankly prefer the northern approach, but any way you can get there is great. I am curious about where you caught the smallmouth. When I was there, the southern part of the Park was smallmouth country, but that was the top of their range - no bass in the northern end.

And a historical note: My trips were made with the Explorer Scouts in '62, '63 and '65. : - )) Things were a tad different then as you might imagine. But the experience of a life time. In case you were wondering what happened in '64, that was the year we went to Wyoming and Colorado for two weeks.

[Bean Counter]

I also made that trip with the scouts in 1968. Went in from Ely. It was definitely the trip of a lifetime. I'd like to go back sometime.

[Mountainman36]

we went in thru grand marais - southern side. we were in Saganaga lake, and fished a few other side lakes. One is bass heavy, and it is excellent action - ususally 100 fish per boat, average about 2 lbs in there.

Another lake i like has BIG smallies, but not many. Two bass caught there this trip just under 5 lbs. I didnt get but one walleye and tons of Pike, all the same 20-24 inches. We did see the mose there though.

As for the experience - im sure its not much different than back in the sixties - possibly better as there is no motorized traffic at all now, no fly in planes or motor john boats.

ill go back again in a few years. it was more work than i was interested in this time with the wind, and i didnt do as well fishing as i should have. Plus the timing was terrible with work.....it'll have to be a fall trip next time.

rich

[Chuck Morris]

Portage on the Kawishiwi river circa 1975 (Boundary Waters Canoe Area)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/sirrom/b7459.jpg
The end of the portage
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/sirrom/b7455.jpg
Are these still important structures in the Boundary waters?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/sirrom/b7433.jpg

[baldea]

If that is what I'm thinking it is, then the porta potties are still there. The ones I used you had to take an IV bag with your blood type to refill after the skeeters sucked ya dry.

[Chuck Morris]

They were (are) called Biffies or Biffys. It is a wilderness latrine. There was one near every designated campsite. When I was there, you had to camp at a designated site, with a biffie and a fire grate. If you were camped in a non-designated site, and got caught, the fines were stiff and had to be paid on site or they confiscated gear.
Ah, the good old days!
All told, over the years, I probably spent close to 8 months in the BWCA.
Chuck
BTW The state bird of Minnnesota is the Mosquito.:rolleyes: