What’s your favorite canoe country memory?

It is a really close call between catching a 42" pike on my third cast on a trip into Iron Lake or watching a seagull and eagle battle for a walleye carcass up close. The eagle slammed into the seagull and took the fish away in midair right above us. I wish I had a video of it.

There are so many. I started to say the "Celebration Trip" after Spartan1's kidney transplant. But I think I have to go back to the very beginning, to July of 1971. Sitting, alone, on the bank of the Namakan River looking at Myrtle Falls. I sat that day and realized that I really WAS beginning to enjoy this whole "canoe trip adventure" thing that my husband had convinced me to try. . .and I prayed that I would come back from this trip pregnant with a dark-eyed, dark-haired baby boy.

That was the beginning of 42 years of canoe-tripping, most of the time as a congenial tandem pair. And our son with the big brown eyes and black hair was born the following April. When my heart returns to the canoe country, even after all of these years, it still returns to Myrtle Falls.

Watching momma moose run off a black bear that was trying to eat her babies. This happened about 100 yards from my hammock on Alpine Lake. Needless to say I did not sleep well that night. Momma and babies stayed in that same spot for the next three days. I think she had just gave birth because the babies were just tiny and could hardly walk.

So, so many. Don't think it's possible to whittle down to one. I sure do like the ones posted here so far, though.

I think I'd have to say my favorite memory is the one I'm experiencing in the moment I am there. Then the next one.....

Tony and BearRaid, those are great ones!

I'll pick five muskies in one hour with a sixth lost. We'd not caught a fish for three days due to a howling northwest wind. It's hard to land a musky from a canoe on the best of days, but add wind and high pressure and failing is the norm. Then the wind suddenly shifted, coming warm and strong from the southeast. We paddled to a strait where the wind was creating current.

Fasting muskies, assemble!

Yep, a friggin' school of hungry muskies! A couple times, I had two competing V's chasing my buzz bait. When the wind died, the feeding died, but what an hour! The sixth one, the one I lost, pulled us out into deeper water before unbuttoning itself. I love when they pull your canoe.

Like Spartan II said, there are SO MANY. I think, though, my favorite was the first time I took my friend Bill and his son up north? It was on the border route, ending with Rose, Duncan, and West Bearskin. The last night of a "Perfect" trip. Mama moose came out with her little one in a bay near camp, the fishing had been great, and the loons were calling. My buddy's son and I decided at dusk to have one last "Fishing contest" at dusk.

I remember it was a "Tie," I think we each caught 6 smallies with the loons calling with fervor in the fading light? Mine were on my Rebel Crawfish, his on his Pop-R. Two of my catches were, thus far, "Once in a lifetime" occurrences. One smallie was caught when I flicked my Rebel too close to shore and it dropped over a limb. Before I could try to "Flick" it back over with a quick jerk, a smallie jumped about 1' out of the water and grabbed it! As I played the fish to the boat and unhooked it, Danny and I had a good laugh about it.

A little later, I said "Last cast" for the last time (the FIRST time you call it is NEVER "Last"). I placed my rod & reel across the the gunwales of 'Ol Blue, and started paddling back to camp. A smallie jumped up, grabbed my lure, and over the gunwales the rod catapulted! I almost upset the canoe reflexively reaching under and grabbing at the rod, but we somehow stayed upright. I felt the throb and one last smallie was added to my bag, "I won" the fishing contest on the smallie that grabbed my unattended line (LOL)!

Actually, I was a "Winner" the whole trip. My buddy Bill's fishing and hunting tales could entertain you for hours. And his fishing prowess, I always said "Bill could catch fish out of a swimming pool." But I so enjoyed taking my friend and his son on their first BWCAW trip. Bill was so smitten, he found a way to move up to Wisconsin to be closer. I'll remember all my trips, but this one......it was "Special." And the "Duncan Lake Fishing contest" remains one of my fondest memories in my 57 years on this earth.

Oh man... over 30 years, there are so many. I'll narrow it down to two.

My (then) 14-year old son, Kyle, and I were fishing a favorite reef of ours and we'd had a fun evening of fishing (and catching) walleyes. It was starting to get dark so the time had come to head back to camp - maybe a half mile away. Kyle wanted to catch "just one more walleye". I stopped fishing so I could just sit back and watch what happened. As he made 3 or 4 more casts almost begging a walleye to bite, I just smiled at my son who had fallen in love with Quetico, taking canoe trips and fishing.

Just like that, a walleye hit and he landed it like a pro. Talk about a great father-son moment.






The second moment involved taking my (now) wife, Debbie, to the Boundary Waters. We had done a 4-day, 3-night trip into the Sylvania Wilderness in the Michigan U.P., but now we were on a 4-day, 3-night trip in the Boundary Waters. It was a great trip and one that we'll always remember. I even packed in frozen walleye fillets to guarantee that we would have a walleye shorelunch! So many great moments on that trip. Very special.

Great pics, Pete. Your son looks like he's 25 in that photo.

missmolly: "Great pics, Pete. Your son looks like he's 25 in that photo. "

LOL! That's amazing... I was actually going to type a disclaimer and say this wasn't THE photo from THAT moment, but I thought, no one will notice and it's a good fish pic anyway. And the first post after mine calls me on it. Thanks Katy! LOL

Wow! Where do I begin???
Introducing my boys to canoe country is 2008 and 2010.

The Northern Lights way back in 1980 or 81. The most spectacular thing I have ever seen.

Starting a raging bonfire on a beach in late September 1979. Our gear was soaked and temp was dropping to below freezing. We lit the huge fire and stood around drying everything out.

August 16, 1978, the day I had an epiphany and got my life headed forward again after several years of being lost.

Completing various arduous portages.
These are the highlights, but there are many more.

Spending a couple of hours with my wife just appreciating the changing light on the forest across the lake as the sunset.

Of course, the reason that we keep going back are the million other moments that are virtually as good.

Jackfish: "

missmolly: "Great pics, Pete. Your son looks like he's 25 in that photo. "

LOL! That's amazing... I was actually going to type a disclaimer and say this wasn't THE photo from THAT moment, but I thought, no one will notice and it's a good fish pic anyway. And the first post after mine calls me on it. Thanks Katy! LOL"

Sorry, Pete! I figured your kid was like LeBron James. Remember how LeBron looked like he was 45 when he was 17?

2007 My son finally had some time off and we took a late summer/early fall trip together. I have a million great memories from canoe tripping but this trip recreated our first trip (a group trip) and gave us a chance to share an experience that only the two of us can remember.

It seems like I add a new favorite memory every year somehow, but there are still two that stand out. The first was a night probably 25 years ago on Cherokee when the aurora was present. We took the canoe out on the water, leaned back and just drifted and watched the lights play for over an hour. The second was a night two years ago on the island site on Crooked. Twice that night I awoke to the sound of a pack of wolves calling from up on Gillis somewhere and lay listening until they lulled me back to sleep. Both were occasions that made me feel any heaven I could imagine couldn't possibly be any better than that.

Those are some awesome memories folks, keep them coming. I feel as if am around the campfire listening to each of you (campfire stories are my favorite).

One of my favorite memories so far was when I was taking my father-in-law to the BWCA for the first time and he really wanted to catch some fish. My whole life I've wanted to catch a walleye and have tried many times to no avail. I was hoping this trip would change this trip, but the weather was awful the whole trip till the last night. We caught one small pike and that was it till the everything went calm. We decided to give it one last try and we canoed to small body of water between rivers and I tell you no lie, the walleye were breaking the water everywhere to catch the bugs and every cast brought home a 18+in walleye. Also, one FAT 19+in smallie.

I have only 3 times in my life experienced something like that. I was just amazing.

Other than enjoying the bdub with son and friend,I love to fish. Brookies are my fave. One October trip my friend and I went in during a wind storm. We endured 3 whole days of almost gale force winds. We could only fish from shore on two nearby lakes. We spent those days talking,napping,playing cribbage,and enjoying cocoa,and lots of food. Our last full day dawned cloudy and still. I suggested we travel a ways to a brookie lake and try to salvage the trip fishing wise. Guess what! We scored five monster brookies, and lost a few more. It was brookie heaven! We have tried to repeat this since,but not to be,so far! Check out my profile pic. That is two of them! Good luck! Marc

Laketrout58: "Other than enjoying the bdub with son and friend,I love to fish. Brookies are my fave. One October trip my friend and I went in during a wind storm. We endured 3 whole days of almost gale force winds. We could only fish from shore on two nearby lakes. We spent those days talking,napping,playing cribbage,and enjoying cocoa,and lots of food. Our last full day dawned cloudy and still. I suggested we travel a ways to a brookie lake and try to salvage the trip fishing wise. Guess what! We scored five monster brookies, and lost a few more. It was brookie heaven! We have tried to repeat this since,but not to be,so far! Check out my profile pic. That is two of them! Good luck! Marc"

Those look like Labrador brookies! Wow!!!

Great story, CV. Reading it, I was so happy for you and your FIL.

Another favorite moment was when a fishing pal and I had paddled miles from camp to fish and then the clouds started building, so we headed home to beat the rain. The rain began and the harder we paddled, the harder it rained until it was a full deluge. Simultaneously, we dropped our paddles and laughed because it couldn't rain any harder and there we were, trying to get home to stay dry.

I would have to say that I have two favorite memories, both were extremely emotional and helped change the path of my life.

It occurred during the summer between high school graduation and starting college. On my first canoe trip in the BWCA/Quetico area, in 1967, my buddy and I were base camping on That Man Lake in Quetico. Every evening, we would switch off clean up duties so one of us would do dishes and the other would go out for a little fishing or just an early evening paddle.

It was my turn for fishing and my favorite spot was just around the corner of a little cove. As I silently glided around the corner coming into the cove I quickly spotted a wolf loping through the trees along the shoreline. This was not the first time I had seen a wolf, for I worked summer's in the area, but this sighting really made an impression on me and solidified my belief in the importance of protecting and preserving our wild areas.

The other favorite memory from this trip was almost a soul searching opportunity. Our campsite was on an island with a nifty flat rocky point facing west. We would sit for hours every night just talking and wondering what the future held for us and gazing at the stars.

It was early September and every night was absolutely crystal clear and the wonders of the heavens were overwhelming. To top it all off, the last night we were there we were treated to a fabulous display of Northern Lights.

I have never forgotten those stunning night time skies and have spent my life time as an avid amateur astronomer. I even have my own astronomical observatory in my back yard.

Any canoe country (bwca) memory is a favorite. Even the really bad days eventually become fond memories. How about a thread, subarctic and arctic canoe trip memories that still haunt you. Or winter camping nightmares where you were so cold you thought that you would die,

as a few have stated many memories ! as far as a memorable fishing trip : it would be a spring(opener) brook trout trip i did(2001) , through the course of 2 days i broke my personal best on brook trout with each brook trout i caught, and it did go like this , the first one #2-0 #2-10 #3-0 #3-8(mounted) #3-12 released. the girth on all of them were crazy , pics may not show that.
but the best overall memories are around the camp fire, especially after a day when everyone went there separate ways and talk about the day , as mastercard say's PRICELESS :)

awbrown: "I would have to say that I have two favorite memories, both were extremely emotional and helped change the path of my life.


It occurred during the summer between high school graduation and starting college. On my first canoe trip in the BWCA/Quetico area, in 1967, my buddy and I were base camping on That Man Lake in Quetico. Every evening, we would switch off clean up duties so one of us would do dishes and the other would go out for a little fishing or just an early evening paddle.


It was my turn for fishing and my favorite spot was just around the corner of a little cove. As I silently glided around the corner coming into the cove I quickly spotted a wolf loping through the trees along the shoreline. This was not the first time I had seen a wolf, for I worked summer's in the area, but this sighting really made an impression on me and solidified my belief in the importance of protecting and preserving our wild areas.


The other favorite memory from this trip was almost a soul searching opportunity. Our campsite was on an island with a nifty flat rocky point facing west. We would sit for hours every night just talking and wondering what the future held for us and gazing at the stars.


It was early September and every night was absolutely crystal clear and the wonders of the heavens were overwhelming. To top it all off, the last night we were there we were treated to a fabulous display of Northern Lights.


I have never forgotten those stunning night time skies and have spent my life time as an avid amateur astronomer. I even have my own astronomical observatory in my back yard. "

Those are some great memories. I must agree the stars are amazing there. Pretty neat too about the backyard observatory too!

awbrown: "I would have to say that I have two favorite memories, both were extremely emotional and helped change the path of my life.


It occurred during the summer between high school graduation and starting college. On my first canoe trip in the BWCA/Quetico area, in 1967, my buddy and I were base camping on That Man Lake in Quetico. Every evening, we would switch off clean up duties so one of us would do dishes and the other would go out for a little fishing or just an early evening paddle.


It was my turn for fishing and my favorite spot was just around the corner of a little cove. As I silently glided around the corner coming into the cove I quickly spotted a wolf loping through the trees along the shoreline. This was not the first time I had seen a wolf, for I worked summer's in the area, but this sighting really made an impression on me and solidified my belief in the importance of protecting and preserving our wild areas.


The other favorite memory from this trip was almost a soul searching opportunity. Our campsite was on an island with a nifty flat rocky point facing west. We would sit for hours every night just talking and wondering what the future held for us and gazing at the stars.


It was early September and every night was absolutely crystal clear and the wonders of the heavens were overwhelming. To top it all off, the last night we were there we were treated to a fabulous display of Northern Lights.


I have never forgotten those stunning night time skies and have spent my life time as an avid amateur astronomer. I even have my own astronomical observatory in my back yard. "

Those are some great memories. I must agree the stars are amazing there. Pretty neat too about the backyard observatory too!

missmolly: "

Laketrout58: "Other than enjoying the bdub with son and friend,I love to fish. Brookies are my fave. One October trip my friend and I went in during a wind storm. We endured 3 whole days of almost gale force winds. We could only fish from shore on two nearby lakes. We spent those days talking,napping,playing cribbage,and enjoying cocoa,and lots of food. Our last full day dawned cloudy and still. I suggested we travel a ways to a brookie lake and try to salvage the trip fishing wise. Guess what! We scored five monster brookies, and lost a few more. It was brookie heaven! We have tried to repeat this since,but not to be,so far! Check out my profile pic. That is two of them! Good luck! Marc"

Those look like Labrador brookies! Wow!!!


Great story, CV. Reading it, I was so happy for you and your FIL.


Another favorite moment was when a fishing pal and I had paddled miles from camp to fish and then the clouds started building, so we headed home to beat the rain. The rain began and the harder we paddled, the harder it rained until it was a full deluge. Simultaneously, we dropped our paddles and laughed because it couldn't rain any harder and there we were, trying to get home to stay dry. "

Laughter is often the best medicine. Thanks for sharing!

shock: "

"

Wow! Those are some great brookies! Its awesome when every time you pull up is better than the last one. Thanks for sharing Shock!

I will be honest, I am going to go back and read all the stories. My favorite memory is my last trip to Malberg Lake in 2016 because that was sweet, and last year I had to cancel two trips and wasn't sure when I would make it back again. So next year. There are plenty of memories but making more is my focus right now.

1st trip after talking about for 30 years with my brother for my 50th
Perfect weather for 6 days caught so many big small mouths on top water
Had eagle fly right above head (5’)
Took beer in plastic bottles found spring st end of Boot ice cold beer on last day was trip of lifetime and always remember time together with my brother

Mine may seem minor, but I'll still always remember it.

In 2015, on our first trip, watching my 9 year old son quickly tie-up a couple of tautline hitch knots after practicing knot tying for 3 months prior to our trip.

I thought to myself,, "hey, this kid's growing up!"

There are so many.

...my first trip ever, and fishing on Crystal Lake on a bluebird kinda day, and watching my lure come back to me from 50' away, the water was so clear

...watching the Perseid Meteor shower on the island campsite on Wine Lake, staying up all night with my two friends and all of us falling asleep on the rocks

...finally reaching Afton Lake after going the whole length of the Frost River in one day on my first solo

...seeing a bull moose on day one, a black bear on day 7 and a swimming lynx on the last morning on my second trip to Quetico

...seeing the pictographs at Montgomery Creek as well as Hoare Lake on my latest Quetico trip

...watching my two nephews be the only ones to catch fish from shore on their first trip to the BWCA last summer, on Smoke Lake

...seeing the views, smelling the pines, cutting firewood, and knowing that wherever campsite we ended up at, that satisfaction came from us determined to get there.

Sitting around the campfire one evening with my dad, his two brothers, and my oldest son who was 6 or 7 at the time. We talked about their childhoods most of the night. Learned so much about family history and all the characters from “ the good old days”.... very special night for sure. They were in their 50’s then . My dad is gone , but the brothers are in their late 80’s and still plugging along. Still fish and deer hunt whenever they can.

Sitting around the campfire one evening with my dad, his two brothers, and my oldest son who was 6 or 7 at the time. We talked about their childhoods most of the night. Learned so much about family history and all the characters from “ the good old days”.... very special night for sure. They were in their 50’s then . My dad is gone , but the brothers are in their late 80’s and still plugging along. Still fish and deer hunt whenever they can.

Spending eleven days with my second oldest son and probably the best time we ever had and/or will have together. And same trip having both our dogs with. They were hilarious...

nctry: "Spending eleven days with my second oldest son and probably the best time we ever had and/or will have together. And same trip having both our dogs with. They were hilarious..."

Please tell me more, Ben. Were they chasing, swimming, fetching, tussling?

In 2015, I made my first trip to the BWCA. It was to be a 6 day solo... It was the third week of August and I never imagined 25+ mph winds and temps in the 40's would be something I'd have to contend with. But that is what welcomed me on the shores of Burntside Lake, the morning of my put in. I was intimidated, nervous, and downright freaked out looking at the white caps all across Burntside. Then I looked at the solo Kevlar canoe, looked back at the waves, then at the canoe, and said to myself, "are you crazy, you shouldn't even think about going out there". Did I listen? Nope! Was it a bad idea? Damn right it was. Fighting to keep that Kevlar toothpick upright, the wind whipped around the point of an island and dumped me with authority. It seemed instantaneous, one second struggling to keep my obviously improperly loaded canoe on track, next second... in the drink trying to get my canoe and my ass to the shore of the island!

Now I'm soaked, all my gear is soaked, my map case wasn't sealed and my iPhone is doing a great job soaking up as much water as it can from inside the map case; it gave up and died. Ok, soaked, cold, frustrated, angry, humiliated, discouraged, defeated, wondering what the hell to do! So I do the dumbest thing possible, regroup, rearrange my load, and believe it or not; I went back out there! Put everything I had into getting across Burntside and find that Crab Lake portage, and I got there!

How can this be the greatest BWCA memory, you ask? Well, here is where I learned about the kind of people that are in the BWCA. 2 guys at the portage landing helped me get all my heavy soaked gear out of the canoe, made sure all of my stuff ok and most importantly, that I was good. Then they talked me through the details of the long portage I was facing. On the trail, I met a couple heading out that offered to let me use there iPhone to call home and let my wife know what had happened and my phone was out of commission. So far, 2 super nice groups of people I was lucky to run in to.

Once I got the first load of leap frogged gear to Crab Lake, I realized it was already getting in to evening hours. And I'll tell you, Crab didn't look anymore inviting than Burntside did. Dread washed over me, almost a sick to my stomach feeling. I sat down on a fallen tree to the side of the landing to have a smoke, and heard a bunch of branches breaking in the woods behind me; now what??? Just then a guy walks out of the edge of the trees and says, "you don't look so good". He was trying to find places to fish from shore because no reasonable person would be paddling out in this! I explained my days events, and he explained that their group was camped at the site just around the corner to the left from the landing; insisting I come join them. I didn't know what to do, so I thanked him and said I had to get to a site before dark and I didn't want to intrude on their camp. So I set off to get the rest of my gear from back up the trail. By the time I got back, there were now two of them diligently working on me to reconsider. This time I listened to my inner voice and take them up on their generosity. I managed the short paddle to their site where they gave me hot coffee and some beef stew, wonderful. We all talked through the remainder of the evening and I had truly been blessed to meet this group from Cincinnati.

Without going in to the rest of the story, I'll just tell you that the next morning they insisted I continue to camp with them for the week. It seemed weird, but I felt like I was supposed to. It turned out to be one of the best weeks ever! We all fished together throughout Crab and Clark Lakes for the days to come, really having a great time. They talked to me into staying, saved my trip, and reminded me that there are still good Christian people out there. Best of all, this wasn't the last BWCA trip we would have together. Last year we spent a year on Basswood and had another amazing time. I experienced a lot that week, but gained some wonderful friends. Memories, you bet!

Like others have said, there are so many.

But I will say this. Once you have seen the Northern Lights you will never be the same again. I almost get emotional thinking about the evening I saw them for the first time. Astoundingly beautiful and mysterious and beckons me onward and upward to the Northland.

Man, I hope I get back this year.