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Bulldogge62
senior member (76)senior membersenior member
  
11/24/2017 11:47AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Coming off a highly successful "first trip" with my wife, trip report Fall Inaugural", got us planning a return in 2018. We are hoping to extend the trip to 2 full weeks in mid September next year. We plan to enter at EP37 Kawishiwi and work our way to Malberg area for a few days. We are looking for campsite recommendations, day trip options and fishing help. Fishdance pictographs are the only must on our list so far. As far as fishing goes, how far would we need to travel for a shot at catching a lake trout on a day trip? Or perhaps a couple nights camping on a trout lake. Also looking for seclusion for a portion of trip like a dead end lake or a smaller lake with only a couple sites. We are thinking 3 nights on Malberg, 3 nights "secluded" then back to Malberg for another 3-4 nights before heading back out, but are open to other suggestions/routes in the same general area
 
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Michwall2
distinguished member(1436)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
11/25/2017 03:29AM  
Some thoughts:

Lake Trout - Makwa or Little Sag have lake trout in them though I have not fished for lake trout in either. I would think that once you get north of Mahberg in September you will find very few people. But, if you needed more seclusion, head west out of Makwa to Hoe Lake. That would get you out of the main travel route through the area. On Little Sag, you can find a back bay or the back side of an island that would give the feeling of solitude.

Second Campsite - Makwa has a huge set of scenic cliffs on the northwest shore and would make a great second campsite. OR LIttle Sag is an island studded jewel of the BW. The north shore has been burned but is recovering nicely. If I am tripping in the area, I never miss a chance to stay here. There are several nice daytrip options from Little Sag to the north and east. Make an east loop through Mora, Tarry, Cooked, Gillis, French, Powell, West Fern, Virgin and back to Little Sag. Or head north for more lake trout action on Gabimichigami.

Daytrips out of Malberg - You mentioned Fishdance and the pictos to the southwest. There is Boulder/Adams area to the northwest. This would also make for a nice second/secluded camping spot. Also the Louse River to the East. Head to Boze/Frond Lake for the day. Be prepared for plenty of beaver dams and tests to your route finding/portaging skills. But you will find solitude here.

Have a great trip!
Bulldogge62
senior member (76)senior membersenior member
  
11/26/2017 08:22AM  
quote Michwall2: "Some thoughts:


Lake Trout - Makwa or Little Sag have lake trout in them though I have not fished for lake trout in either. I would think that once you get north of Mahberg in September you will find very few people. But, if you needed more seclusion, head west out of Makwa to Hoe Lake. That would get you out of the main travel route through the area. On Little Sag, you can find a back bay or the back side of an island that would give the feeling of solitude.


Second Campsite - Makwa has a huge set of scenic cliffs on the northwest shore and would make a great second campsite. OR LIttle Sag is an island studded jewel of the BW. The north shore has been burned but is recovering nicely. If I am tripping in the area, I never miss a chance to stay here. There are several nice daytrip options from Little Sag to the north and east. Make an east loop through Mora, Tarry, Cooked, Gillis, French, Powell, West Fern, Virgin and back to Little Sag. Or head north for more lake trout action on Gabimichigami.


Daytrips out of Malberg - You mentioned Fishdance and the pictos to the southwest. There is Boulder/Adams area to the northwest. This would also make for a nice second/secluded camping spot. Also the Louse River to the East. Head to Boze/Frond Lake for the day. Be prepared for plenty of beaver dams and tests to your route finding/portaging skills. But you will find solitude here.


Have a great trip!"
Thanks for the response,
In regards to Little Sag, I agree on the beauty but I haven't been there since the mid eighties so my memories have faded. back then we stayed somewhere on the north shore (now burned) I remember our campsite had a picnic table too.
So we might try to make it that far east to see Little Sag.
Makwa sounds very interesting as I hadn't really looked into it as yet. And since it has trout we are now making that a planned stop. Perhaps a couple nights which would allow a day trip over to little Sag.
Ranger800
member (18)member
  
11/26/2017 11:56AM  
I fished Little Sag a couple years ago in September. We had pretty good luck catching lake trout, and honestly we weren't necessarily targeting them until we caught a couple.
On the north side of the island that has campsite 813 there is a rock face where the water is pretty deep right at the base. That is where we caught most of the trout--just jigging leaches.
11/26/2017 02:18PM  
I've made several trips in EP #37, Kawishiwi Lake, and have posted three trip reports on them. On one Steve and I went up to Little Sag and back down to Sawbill. You might want to check out Amber Lake on your way down to the Fishdance pictos.

If you click on "Planning+" at the top of the forum page, the drop-down menu leads you to BW trip reports and allows you to sort by EP or member. You'll be able to get a lot of information from that.

You can look at the options on the Voyageur Maps website and compare travel distances to your last trip. The maps are zoomable and scrollable; you'll want Map 8 for most of it and Map 6 for Little Sag.

Please feel free to email me if you want more specifics. Just put your forum name and BWCA in the subject.
11/26/2017 03:19PM  
Title had my mind in the wrong place!!! opps.
Bulldogge62
senior member (76)senior membersenior member
  
11/26/2017 06:07PM  
quote Ranger800: "I fished Little Sag a couple years ago in September. We had pretty good luck catching lake trout, and honestly we weren't necessarily targeting them until we caught a couple.
On the north side of the island that has campsite 813 there is a rock face where the water is pretty deep right at the base. That is where we caught most of the trout--just jigging leaches."
I will mark that spot on my map, never know what can happen
Bulldogge62
senior member (76)senior membersenior member
  
11/26/2017 06:08PM  
quote boonie: "I've made several trips in EP #37, Kawishiwi Lake, and have posted three trip reports on them. On one Steve and I went up to Little Sag and back down to Sawbill. You might want to check out Amber Lake on your way down to the Fishdance pictos.


If you click on "Planning+" at the top of the forum page, the drop-down menu leads you to BW trip reports and allows you to sort by EP or member. You'll be able to get a lot of information from that.


You can look at the options on the Voyageur Maps website and compare travel distances to your last trip. The maps are zoomable and scrollable; you'll want Map 8 for most of it and Map 6 for Little Sag.


Please feel free to email me if you want more specifics. Just put your forum name and BWCA in the subject."
thanks for the offer, after we do some research and come up with a plan, I will reach out for some specifics on campsites and such
11/26/2017 06:58PM  
I have found using the search feature and enter trip reports and your entry point or a couple of the target lakes can provide tons of data and often good photos. The map feature also offers some good input and photos by clicking on the icons.
Trip planning establishes the preparation endorphin rush, the trip secures it, and remembering and sharing with others gives an extra endorphin encore. Enjoy your planning.
BuckFlicks
distinguished member(628)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
11/28/2017 03:02PM  
I'll second Boulder and Adams for seclusion. In September, you won't be likely to see many/any people up there. It's remote and the portaged to get up there are tougher than average. I love the island campsite on Boulder. Never camped there, but stopped for lunch there during a day trip from Malberg.

There's little to no seclusion on Malberg, but #1051 is about as close as you'll get. It's out of the main passageways, and in a little harbor type feature... the only people you'll see there are people coming to see if that campsite is open.

Ranger800
member (18)member
  
12/08/2017 09:28AM  
quote Ranger800: "I fished Little Sag a couple years ago in September. We had pretty good luck catching lake trout, and honestly we weren't necessarily targeting them until we caught a couple.
On the north side of the island that has campsite 813 there is a rock face where the water is pretty deep right at the base. That is where we caught most of the trout--just jigging leaches."


I was taking a look at some of my previous trips and noticed where I marked the trout we caught. I was a bit off on my location that I mentioned previously. It looks like there is a chain of 3 islands just north east of the island with campsite 813. If you have a Topo map you will see that the water drops off to 60ft pretty quickly right off the northside of one of the islands. THAT is where we caught our fish--at one point one every couple minutes.
 
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