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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum 2018 for 1st timers Reply
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| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| brux |
05/26/2017 09:45PM Mid may to early June is great for fishing and if you go in on the fishing opener weekend crowds shouldn't be too terrible. I've found fishing in the fall is a crapshoot, but the cool evenings and fall colors (last week of Sep or first week of Oct. are typically peak) is my favorite time and depending on the entry point not as busy/congested. I know you want shorter portages, but longer ones typically also mean fewer crowds. Stuart Lake (EP 14) has a long first portage, but it's not that hard, has only one permit per day and is a really nice lake with decent walleye fishing. I tripped there last fall and did a video report if you want to see what the area is like. Trip Report |
| BobDobbs |
05/24/2017 06:49AM don't judge portages based solely on distance. Some 1+milers are MUCH easier than vastly shorter portages. Just sayin' |
| maxxbhp |
05/23/2017 10:57PMquote boonie: " Personally, I prefer a 1-mile portage to 4 portages of 1/4 mile since I don't have to land, load and unload multiple times. Exactly. I'm not the end-all sage of canoe tripping but I totally agree. |
| boonie |
05/21/2017 08:15PM It will be getting more variable then - it could still be fairly warm, but you may hit a cool spell too. The later you go the more variable it will become and you could get really nice indian summer days or downright cold, wet, windy days. A month later you could have a nice sunny day, mid-70's, light breeze, then a day or two later, a downpour, high of 45, and 20-30 mph wind gusts. As it becomes more variable, the wind (and being wind bound) becomes more of a problem. You may want to check some of the weather sites for historical data on average highs and lows and record highs and lows, so you can be prepared for the worst. It's short, easy portages all the way out to Crystal, but be sure to use the portage out of the south arm of East Bearskin. The lakes are all long narrow east-west oriented lakes between tall hills. If you get one of the sites on Crystal, I think you'd be happy with the trip. |
| namlots |
05/21/2017 08:00PM Thanks Boonie. Thats good advice on a longer portage. I'll look into the areas you mentioned. When is the summer heat changing to cooler temperatures? around the end of August I hope? |
| boonie |
05/21/2017 07:20PM Best time of year depends on why you are there; if fishing is a priority, then that will affect time. The best place to avoid crowds is the other side of long, difficult portages. My experience is that after more than one day's good travel, the crowd is pretty much gone. Personally, I prefer a 1-mile portage to 4 portages of 1/4 mile since I don't have to land, load and unload multiple times. Besides a portage can be long, but relatively easy or short but very hard. Or you can avoid crowds on lakes that aren't popular with fishermen (like the Mudro area) or sightseers. But those are in conflict with your #4. Did you list those criteria in order of importance to you? A good time for you might be the end of August when kids are preparing for back to school, but before the Labor Day rush. An option for avoiding the crowd would be to search out dead-end lakes, lakes not on a travel route, or lakes with only one campsite. Some examples would be Pierz and Crystal Lakes out of East Bearskin or Crocodile Lake in the same area. Crystal is a dead-end lake with 2 campsites and I think good walleye fishing. - I'm not a fisherman, but guys there said they were slaying walleye. Another good strategy for lessening crowds might be a mid-week entry if that's possible. |
| namlots |
05/21/2017 06:38PM Hello all, I'm looking for ideas for a trip next year for either first part of June or a Fall Trip. I myself have only done one trip early summer on Fourtown and Boot which was a great trip. I'm going to be bringing in mostly guys who have never been to MN so I'm looking for the best time of year in your opinions and the best areas to fish. I would go back to Fourtown but I'm looking for a place with a little less traffic. Currently I'm looking at Basswood Jackfish Bay but, I'd like to get away from the crowd. So here is my criteria and hopefully I can narrow it down by some of the same opinions hopefully. 1. Best Time of Year. 2. Best place to avoid crowds. 3. Best Smallmouth and Walleye. 4. Not to difficult of Portage 1/4 miles max. Quantity doesn't matter as much as distance of the portage. Obviously I'm going to get a lot of different opinions. I'm just trying to make a solid decision for a group of beginners but young guys who are in decent shape to handle some paddeling to avoid the crowds. Thanks for your help. |
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