hi all

i was hoping to get a short solo trip in this year before the bugs hit. i had planned for this past weekend so i took my shot even though the weather looked a bit unpredictable.

did the self check in at dawson ranger station

put in at lerome on thurs morning sometime between 1030 and 11 local time

took me about 7 1/2 hrs to get to my site near sue falls.

the day was cool and cloudy but i had a favorable light east wind so it was a great day actually to be doing this.

i was traveling as light as i could so i was sleeping under a tarp with a ground sheet (no tent). it was pretty darn chillie. temps were def down close to zero but not quite. lol this is only the second time i have slept under a tarp. the first was not planned, but thats a different story. haha

stayed on the west facing site close to the falls. it has a few tent pad options. a great kitchen/fire set up with another fire spot on top of a high rock on site with a great view of the bay. this would be ideal in summer as it has lots of shade and west exposure to keep bugs away when there is a wind. maybe not the best if a nasty storm rolled in though. so there are pros and cons. it must see lots of use.

the east facing site across from it is where i stayed many years ago with my son. that site looks completely unused.

no fishing day one. just travel.

only a short time fishing day two as SW winds were pretty bad. there were good sized white caps on cirrus. i wasn't going out there. but i did get one nice pickerel off shore. no i did not keep it. our season opens in a couple of weeks.

went fishing day three on a pretty cold day. picked up 5 smallies. one really nice one. they were not biting hard and certainly were not fighting like summer smallies would.

i did walk into soho and tried shore fishing there as i had my hip waders on this trip, but i did not get anything. many years ago we got some crappie in there.

the last day (sunday) had beautiful weather. i left camp at 630am local time with clear skies and mirror-like water. got windier as the day went one. turned into a pretty good NW wind. i managed just fine but getting back across lerome had some challenges.

*** warning to those who don't tie up their canoe ***

i always tie my canoe when on shore (souris river kevlar quetico 16) but when unloading at lerome, i took out my pack to carry to the car (about 15 feet away) when i heard a disturbing sound. the wind had grabbed my canoe and was dragging it across the gravel (it was pulled right up on shore) and was headed into the water. i got to it in time but had i been a few seconds late, my canoe would be somewhere on lerome right now. lol

over all a great trip. i have been wanting to get back this way for many years and was tired of putting it off. i also was not sure this old man could do it solo.

no bugs to speak of. but on the sunny side of the bay the black flies first hatch were out in full force. they will be nasty in the next few weeks.

saw lots of critters.....tons of ducks, bald eagles, loons on almost every lake, swans on two lakes (may have been the same pair), a goose nest with eggs in it (a first for me - yes a stayed away from it), an otter, a couple of beaver, more beaver lodges than i could count, a fox, and a large osprey right outside my drivers window on the hwy being chased by the biggest hawk i have ever seen. so cool to see them both up so close and flying so fast.

i will be back in that area in a couple of weeks at french lake.

if anyone has any questions or comments pls let me know.

thx
rick

Lucky guy. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Interesting that Zone 5 of Ontario has no closed bass season.
Glad you had fun!!
Tom

honestly have no idea if/when bass season opens or closes lol i never keep any fish so i never look.

i only know when pickerel opens cuz it is the may long weekend every year. easy to remember. haha

i checked the regs just cuz i was curious.
smallmouth is open all year in quetico with a size restriction of less than 35cm between jan 1 and jun 30.
walley is closed april 15 to third sat in may

Thanks for the trip report!

Curious if you have any impressions of the water levels? Last summer it seemed pretty low, and not much snow this year. Have the spring rains brought the waters up, or are we looking at low water again?

We're going in on Friday - Nym to the Chatterton region to Cutty Creek. Then to Sturgeon and Bentpine and Trail Creek, eventually out at Beaverhouse.

Last year we got skunked by lack of water in Trail Creek. Hoping levels are higher this spring and we can make it through.

Lots of water up that way. i only saw a few sprinkles of rain when i was there but that area has seen quite a bit recently.

i did not get any good photos of sue falls but it was going full steam. when i was there about 15 years ago in august with my son we could walk up the falls the water was so low.

i dont know those areas you mentioned other than nym, but i cant see there being any water level issues for now. i would call the park office if you want more accurate info on a specific area.

just fyi....the first black flies have hatched. the sunny shore across from me had tons of new ones out.

Good to hear the water was up. Sounds like maybe the spring rains were a real gift.


You saw a lot of critters! My wife - my paddling partner - says she wants an otter for Mother's Day so hopefully we'll be as lucky :)

Black flies already! I guess you get what you get.

That's a nice site on Cirrus. Just the right amount of wind protection from the westerlies. Good for hammocks and there's always the upper level for more tent options. Beautiful and inviting landing.