As per my custom I have thrown up my intended trips to the board for comment. In doing so I have often gleaned quite a bit of useful tips and thoughts I hadn't considered. So why not throw this out there as well.......besides I am bursting at the seams to talk about it.

*I will take the "Beef Barge" out of Copper Harbor Michigan in early August and hope for decent weather as the tug rides a bit hard when its rough.

*From Rock Harbor I will paddle to the end of Moskey basin and hopefully arrive before the backpacking crew so I can grab up a shelter. Moskey has a long cement dock which I fished off for about 8 hours many years ago after seeing a big trout in the water. Later that evening I popped a big northern on 4lb line and a tiny rainbow trout colored rapala which took 1/2 hour to land (my longest fish fight). I will never forget running down the dock with the big steelhead rod held high, bent double and yelling "big fish, big fish" as the pike came to the surface and slid sideways creating a massive wake at the end of its initial long run. Many people were on the dock that night and word got around. Other people would ask me later in the trip how the fishing was and I would reply "I caught a nice pike off the dock at Moskey basin" and they would say "oh, your the guy"........I was astonished some 12 days later to hear folks talking about the fish on the ferry ride home. Of course by that time the fish had grown to the point it was engulfing loons in a single bite. Now I will be able to fish the entire basin. Probably stay there for 3 days.

*Then work my way around to Chippewa harbor. It will be the longest exposed crossing of the trip but unlike the wicked North shore there is places to beach if the weather gets bad. But I will pick a good day and get a super early start......only looks to be about 5 miles or so. Chippewa is truly beautiful and worth at least 3 days of intense fishing. I read, carved in one of the walls of a shelter many years ago, of a 31" walleye caught there. Are there walleyes? I dunno but crawlers will tell the tale.

*After that I will take the water taxi from Chippewa to Windigo where I will overnight. Then the water taxi continues on to McCargo cove where I will paddle to Birch island and set up shop for another 3 or 4 days. McCargo is where my best pals son, "Candy Man," had the pike which was as "Big as me" and "looked like a shark" bang his Suick as it sat on the surface. He watched as the water exploded and the fish was in the air with the lure clenched firmly in its jaws. Of course the lad was to shocked to do anything about it. The fish let go and swam directly to the dock in which he was standing as if to taunt him. He didn't talk much for several hours afterwards. Probably stay and fish Brady cove and McCargo for 3 days (the max # of nights you can occupy a shelter consecutively).

*Then about a 1 mile open water paddle and then a very short portage into Pickerel cove (why is it called that). This is part of the famed 5 finger region which is a paddlers delight being very protected. I will probably visit and stay at the Belle isle campground and fish for lakers in the surrounding waters. Robinson bay looks like it might have pike potential.

*Then into Duncan bay via another very short portage. Here is where I rolled my boat after hooking what must of been a very big pike as it peeled 20lb test off my bait caster like it was butter. Lets see them pull this 65b braid through the weeds......"gotcha"! I also will try for walleyes here as it is a very protected large bay with a fair amount of weed growth. They could be there........I trolled for them last time but without success.

* Then around rather scary Blake point where jumbled seas are legendary. I will bide my time and wait for perfect conditions. Should that not happen I would be forced into the 1 mile portage which, with the bigger boat, would be a buggar. Finish up the trip by fishing Tobin Harbor which looks like it should support a few big pike as well.

So thats about it. I will be taking a Superior Expedition which is a decked canoe. The boat is very capable of circumnavigating the entire island but its occupant lacks the requisite skills and stones (capsize and you could easily die > simple math, no thanks). Besides, I am mostly interested in fishing and being there over 20 days I will get plenty of paddling in.

Insights? Suggestions on camping and/or fishing? Stuff to bring?

Have you checked out the Isle Royale Forums for info? Lots of great info on there. Isle Royale Forums .

quote OldFingers57: "Have you checked out the Isle Royale Forums for info? Lots of great info on there. Isle Royale Forums .
"

I would recommend this too. Lots of info on paddling the island and the lady.

Excellent suggestions gentlemen. A targeted source for info.......just have to dig around a bit.

I envy you on this trip. I have been there several times in the 1970's but backpacking each trip. On the September 1978 we met a guy who had paddled his homemade 20' kayak to the island from Grand Portage.

I have fond memories of the old barf barge. At that time the owner and skipper of the Isle Royale Queen was Don Kilpela. I ran into him about 1 1/2 years ago and he told me his sons now operate a new Isle Royale Queen which is longer and rides a lot better than the previous vessel.

Have a great trip and please consider posting a trip report.

From the UP, I've only gone over on the Ranger. I've heard the same thing about the new Queen, smoother ride, less upchuck potential.

quote deerfoot: On the September 1978 we met a guy who had paddled his homemade 20' kayak to the island from Grand Portage.
"

I am paddling a Superior Expedition which is a copy of the Sea Wind of which Verlen Kruger was largely responsible for designing. Read the book "Anything is Possible" which documents his amazing travels in this vessel with no spray skirt and a single blade. Scott Peterson built over 100 Sea Winds before going off on his own and building the Expedition which is a fine vessel indeed and has participated in many Everglades challenges (race around florida).

At the other end of the spectrum from the guy you mentioned paddling from the mainland across to Isle Royale and the famed and resolute Kruger you have me. Not only do I have a distinct fear of paddling around the island, but truth be told I am nervous about the measly 5 mile open water stretch between Moskey Basin and Chippewa harbor.

I will probably just whoosy out and take the water taxi directly to Chippewa which is nice and protected. 5 days later the same taxi can take me over to McCargo cove on the north side. I will still have to sneak around Blake point but I will do it when conditions are right.

I lack time in the Expedition having only paddled it 9 days on Basswood. I marveled at how it handled some rougher water but a spill there just meant getting wet........not losing motor skills within minutes if you dump in Superior.

Jim Dufresne has a nice guidebook that includes paddling routes. I bought it before my my first hiking trip to the island.

ISRO Foot Trails and Water Routes

quote hooky: "Jim Dufresne has a nice guidebook that includes paddling routes. I bought it before my my first hiking trip to the island.


ISRO Foot Trails and Water Routes "

Yup I have read it cover to cover several times and he has much good info. His only miscue IMO is describing the lengthy portage (1 mile) from Duncan Bay to Tobin Harbor as very difficult beginning with it being hard to even get out of the boat. Nonsense.......I found it a very typical long portage that was rather garden variety in the Quetico or Boundary waters. Although you cross the Greenstone ridge it is switchbacked very nicely and any swampy portions have a nice boardwalk. My crew hit it at the end of our journey and we were mentally geared up to do it. At the finish of the crossing we thought "oh brother" as it was anti climactic.

Don't let Dufresne description of the 1 mile portage scare you into not going........From Rock Harbor it is easy to cross Tobin bay and then the 1 mile "not so hard" portage over the Greenstone into Duncan Bay which is a very nice area with a superbly located campsite. From there you can wait for decent weather and paddle into the 5 Finger area which Dufrense has accurate praise for. It is ideal for open canoes. I was not overly impressed with the interior lakes of the big island and would rather paddle BWCA or Quetico...........but Lake Superior and the bays and especially the 5 finger region left a indelible impression upon me and I am looking forward to the return visit. If you go be certain to bushwhack into Lake Ahmik. Not so hard and good wildlife and pike fishing. I caught three 30" pike in three casts while standing on a beaver lodge while watching a moose........fun stuff!

My paddle buddy and I went to Isle Royale last summer for a paddle. We had both backpacked out there many times and I had the opportunity to work there on the Wolf project back in '78 and '79 when I was at Michigan Tech.

We took the Isle Royale Queen IV out of Copper Harbor to Rock Harbor and it was a nice ride. I have been on earlier Queens when the lake was not so good.

After getting our permit we paddled from Rock Harbor to Three Mile for our first night. I have to admit I had a bit of trepidation paddling down the bay. I have seen this long stretch of water extremely angry in the past. But we made it without problem. The main problem was how crowded Three Mile was! Next morning up and out early on calmer water down to Moskey Basin and then the two mile portage over to Lake Richie which became SIX miles as we had to double portage! Longest portage we've EVER done!

I love Lake Richie and we camped on the canoe site there. We thought we had it all to ourselves but in the early evening a Dad and daughter paddled in so we shared the site. Very nice people! Lake Richie is a very beautiful lake with a lot of pike. Next morning it was windy and stormy so we decided to sit tight for another night. Did some fishing.

We never made it over to Siskiwit Lake like we hoped, but that was okay. Oh, had more visitors that night to share the site with -- a guy, girlfriend, and her daughter. They paddled up just as it got dark! Not recommended.

Next day back over the "six" mile portage to Moskey. Camped there one night in a very nice lean-to with an excellent view down the bay. Then paddled to Daisy Farm for a night, then Three Mile again for a night, then back to Rock Harbor.

Thoughts -- we like the BWCA much, much better and won't be going back to IR. But it was a worthwhile trip. I would be EXTREMELY cautious paddling around the island, in Lake Superior, but it can be done. Just be prepared to pull up someplace if you have to for a night or two. The Big Lake can be very angry, and unforgiving...

Wow the portage from Moskey to Ritchie.......Now thats tough!

We took the Voyageur II from Rock harbor to Chippewa and then through a series of nice lakes to Ritchie.....all fairly short portages. We couldn't catch a pike over 27" to save our lives on Ritchie though it has a legendary pike fishing reputation. I suppose it is because of the numbers.......lots and lots of smaller fat little pike.

I'm with you on the inland lakes of IR and while very nice places they are not worth a 4 hour Ferry ride IMO especially since the Quetico is near. But the bays and 5 finger region of Superior offer a paddler a truly unique experience which cannot be so easily replicated. While I plan an extended stay a short and sweet trip could be had to the five finger area with 5 to 7 days being plenty of time to leisurely explore all the narrow long bays. July is the calmest month on Superior and an ideal time of year to go. We caught lake trout fairly easily with our biggest one coming not from some offshore deep area but rather up a narrow cove in the 5 fingers. Access to the the islands extensive hiking trails makes for a nice diversion and mixes things up.......I will definitely be bringing my hiking boots and a day pack (the 6 miles from Lane Cove campground to the Greenstone were particularly sweet).

The clarity and color of the water and the rugged cruelly beautiful pristine shoreline should put it on serious paddlers bucket list.