BWCA EP25 to Thomas first? or SAK? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Trip Planning Forum
      EP25 to Thomas first? or SAK?     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

Fizics
distinguished member (145)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/15/2017 10:24AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm going out with 5 other guys 6/25 for 6 days (coming out that Friday). We're putting in on EP25 and renting which I've never done (but it'll be convenient and a kevlar canoe sounds ooooh so light). I've always wanted to go to SAK/Kek for the lakers. Personally I like to have a routine of being on the move, I get so bored of base camping. My original route plan was to go straight to SAK through Knife river, then eddy falls, keke for a day, maybe spoon (read good things), then back to SAK for another 3 days. Not a very big area covered.

My buddies are from Montana and the thought of big Pike tantalizes their cold water asses, I'm sure they'll forget about them when we get into eyes and topwater smalley. With this said, what if we went to Thomas through Ensign and spent our first night there, then Kek the next day, then Spoon, then see SAK for the first time halfway through, and hang out there for 3 days. How long would it take to get to Thomas and would Thomas offer a better chance of landing some bigger pike than the SAK/Kek area? It looks like the trip to Thomas would be fun and more interesting than the easy glide to SAK through Knife, which might be more enjoyed as an exit route back home than an entry route.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
wykee5
member (24)member
  
04/15/2017 09:52PM  
That Thomas route sounds like a very foolish thing to do if you want buddies that want to go again.

I would ask your friends "Do you want easy canoeing and a lot of fishing?" or "Do you enjoy much less time on the water and enjoy more time lugging gear and canoes over numerous portages?"

This is just my opinion, but I have never really enjoyed portages that much. Sure, it is part of the experience, but only because it is necessary to get to the place I want to be. I also don't get a big kick out of breaking camp every morning either though. I like to get up, go fishing, and if I am so ambitious, portage to another lake to go fishing but without all my gear for the most part.

The bottom line is check with your friends and see what they are after. They probably have plenty of Big Sky to hike around under where they are from, and would prefer the easy glide to SAK versus a few dozen extra portages to keep you from getting bored.
Fizics
distinguished member (145)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/16/2017 02:03AM  
quote wykee5: "That Thomas route sounds like a very foolish thing to do if you want buddies that want to go again.


I would ask your friends "Do you want easy canoeing and a lot of fishing?" or "Do you enjoy much less time on the water and enjoy more time lugging gear and canoes over numerous portages?"


This is just my opinion, but I have never really enjoyed portages that much. Sure, it is part of the experience, but only because it is necessary to get to the place I want to be. I also don't get a big kick out of breaking camp every morning either though. I like to get up, go fishing, and if I am so ambitious, portage to another lake to go fishing but without all my gear for the most part.


The bottom line is check with your friends and see what they are after. They probably have plenty of Big Sky to hike around under where they are from, and would prefer the easy glide to SAK versus a few dozen extra portages to keep you from getting bored."


Jeez bud, need to get your internet shit talking out on someone? I'd perfer a mod delete my topic and my account than get replies like that to my posts on here. No disrespect but that wasn't the type of reponse I was hoping for and I'd prefer you polietely **** off when replying to my topics from now on if this is your standard tone.

I'm from Montana myself, I moved here a few years ago. I grew up with these friends, I'm sure you know all about what a montanan prefers? Prior to posting I had ALREADY talked to my group about this and they agreed that a constant move sounds more fun, with 2-3 days in a base camp fasion towards the end of the trip which is what I mentioned in both of my route options.

Bottom line? Shove your opinion where the sun don't shine. Along with your rude attitude.
Fizics
distinguished member (145)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/16/2017 02:10AM  
I appreciate your opinion about portages, but I was mostly asking about the fishing, in particular the pike and the scenary. I have a map, I can read numbers and I know how long a rod is. Thank you but I knew damn well what length and number of portages I was asking about. If you dont have any input about the character of those portages, or the beauty of the lakes I asked about, then please STFU.
04/16/2017 05:55AM  
Gentlemen, please...
A tow to either Ensign will get you a good start and if your crew can move along you can make it to Thomas. Having the long days will help, but you will also find lots of other folks out there and camp sites are best secured by mid afternoon.
I am particularly fond of the route presuming you will be coming out through Birch and back to Moose. I generally take it in the opposite format and would recommend going in through Birch and heading to SAK. You can check out the sights along the way and do your base on SAK. You can get into canoe shape and find lots of fishing options on SAK and lighten your load. I would spend two nights and then cross over to Kek early to get a good site and plan on fish for dinner. Frazer is a walleye lake with that neat rock cliff passage into Thomas. While there are lots of portages and you will likely encounter waits due to traffic that time of year, the terrain from Thomas back to Ensign has lots to offer including meandering streams and waterfalls. Routing the trip clockwise will get the routines set so the number of portages will go smoother, plus it is downstream through an area you can float through rather than line up. It is an easy day out from Ima and that would allow time to enjoy the last morning in camp, the falls and other sites and paddle all the way back before dark and not have to worry about finding a camp site.
murphylakejim
distinguished member(552)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
04/16/2017 12:15PM  
I hear wind lake is good for big pike. Its west but right at the begining of the route.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next