I'm looking to do a trip into Fall Lake to Basswood Lake and I see that motors are allowed on this lake. We are paddling and would prefer not to hear or see motor boats. Are there a lot of motor boats? Or is it fairly quiet after getting past Newton Lake?

Any insight would be of help. Thanks

I was there last June, middle of the month, and the boats were not too bad. They are mostly fishing boats with the occasional shuttle boats carrying canoes. Most of the traffic was early morning and late afternoon. Where we were , a campsite on the west side of Pipestone Bay not far north of the falls, the boats were always on the other side of the lake not much of a problem. The only concern we had was one time when we were fishing around some islands across the lake from our camp and we noticed a boat had landed at our camp and the boaters entered the camp. We assumed they needed to use the latrine and we found nothing missing when we returned, but it was still a bit concerning. As I recall, all the boats were off the water by evening. The weather was far more troubling, rain and thunderstorms every day, some of them pretty intense. And since the bugs were also bad, we spent a lot of time in the NEMO BugOut.

Motor boats will be on basswood and you will hear/see them. Probably not a bunch but plan on seeing a few.

motor boats allowed in the red zones

WHendrix: "The only concern we had was one time when we were fishing around some islands across the lake from our camp and we noticed a boat had landed at our camp and the boaters entered the camp. We assumed they needed to use the latrine and we found nothing missing when we returned, but it was still a bit concerning. "

It is very possible that the boaters that went to your camp were Minnesota DNR Game Wardens, or Forest Service personnel checking the site.

Thanks for the comments. That helps. I think I'll give it a try.

Once you reach Basswood you don't have to paddle too far until you will be in the non-motor area. Head up towards U.S. Point and you won't see a motor boat. There's a nice island campsite in the bay directly east of Basswood river in the non-motor section. Good walleye fishing on the reefs and humps just south of there. Look at a map, it is easy to get away from the motors once you reach Basswood.

The Great Outdoors: "

WHendrix: "The only concern we had was one time when we were fishing around some islands across the lake from our camp and we noticed a boat had landed at our camp and the boaters entered the camp. We assumed they needed to use the latrine and we found nothing missing when we returned, but it was still a bit concerning. "

It is very possible that the boaters that went to your camp were Minnesota DNR Game Wardens, or Forest Service personnel checking the site."

Thanks TGO. I hadn't thought about that, but I guess it's possible. We were too far away to make any kind of identification, and nothing was amiss when we returned, so we didn't worry much about it.

Nothing like you'll see on the Mississippi river on the 4th of july...
They only allow so many overnight and day use permits . Number can't be that high

If you go through the narrows from Pipestone towards Jackfish and turn North towards Canada there is a section where motors are not allowed. It's the North end of Jackfish Bay. That also happens to be one of the more scenic areas around there. You will see boats on Fall, Newton, Pipestone, and Lower Jackfish though. I'll wave as I go motoring past.

I'll wave back ManMountain, as I'm pitching and rolling in your wake!

A 14 ft boat with 15 hp motor doesn't leave much wake, but I'll kick it down a notch if you flash a piece sign. That's the secret code. Wave a 10 and I'll give you a tow.

ManMountain: Bwaaa... Throw me a line and I'll slalom my 17 foot Souris River canoe, wake jumping a backflip or two. August 7th, 2018 - don't be late.