Hey all, I'll be going to the BWCA (Lake One entry) for 5 days, the week including Labor Day, with 2 other guys. We usually go in early August so I've never been up there that late in the season. Should be nice and cool and have to deal with fewer bugs and people.

Any thoughts on a route? We want to take it fairly easy but we are all young guys and can also handle some hard paddling for a couple days. Should we try to make as much distance as possible the first day to avoid the Labor Day crowd?

Tossing around the idea of base camping and fishing. What would be a good lake to base camp from and take fishing trips to? I've had luck fishing Lake Four, Alice, and Fishdance. I might like to explore some areas that I haven't been to yet. We would definitely like to get back and camp Fishdance lake for a night.

Exit point would also be Lake One, not looking to make things any more complicated than they need to be.

It's crowded near entry points on labor day (and memorial day) weekend. If you want to get away from that, pick an obscure entry point or plan on a couple of long tough portages first and last day.

I would book it to Insula day 1 and base camp there. Lots of islands/water to explore, campsites are spread out and it's better fishing than the numbered lakes. You'll get rid of some of the crowds from the numbered lakes as well.

quote BigCurrent: "I would book it to Insula day 1 and base camp there. Lots of islands/water to explore, campsites are spread out and it's better fishing than the numbered lakes. You'll get rid of some of the crowds from the numbered lakes as well.
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This is kind of what I was thinking. We would be able to get past the majority of labor day weekenders. We could paddle hard the first day and spend the next day fishing and relaxing.

Lakes One and Two will be a circus and a zoo put together on and around Labor Day. Get up early, get on the water, and paddle to Insula. Don't look back.

Mike