I'm loving this site and would like some feedback about trip options. This will be my fourth trip into BWCA and my son's first. My son is looking forward to the fishing, I'm content traveling and seeking wildlife and solitude for the most part. Obviously, fishing will be the priority!

I've used all the great information within to try to plan a route for us to take this summer. I'm not afraid of portaging and figure we will be doing double across most. We have quite a bit of flexibility and I was planning on 6-7 days.

I'm a little concerned about the bugs as all of my previous trips have been in the spring and fall and I didn't have to deal with them. Unfortunately, school schedules will not permit such timing. I'm thinking the end of June into the week of July 4th. Would we be better off waiting until the end of July/first of August?

I have a few different routes in mind and would appreciate any feedback.

1. Stewart River-Iron and out through Agnes/Moose river. This route really appeals to me but the more I think about it I'm afraid it may be too much for my son. He's no farm boy although I think he will enjoy 'some' challenge. Maybe this is too much?

2. LIS - Several options but the loop up through Fat, Beartrack, Gebeonequet and back through lynx, Shell. I've done a three day loop from Moose river to LIS via Oyster, Hustler, Lynx twice now....great area!

3 Crab Lake. I've done a loop through Western and Buck to Cummings, Korb and back several years ago. Only fished Buck, nice 'eyes. If we were to do this with him, I think it would be more base camping Crab and Cummings with day trips and less of a loop. Not sure, lots of flexibility in this area it seems.

I briefly considered a trip into Wood and the surrounding lakes......limited options and the big water on Basswood is a little intimidating?

Can't wait to reserve my spot and start the planning. Thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

You guys Rock!

MasterBryce: "Would we be better of waiting until the end of July/first of August? "

If bugs are an issue, yes. The later the better. I can’t help you with those routes since I’ve never been that far west.

I would do route #1 in reverse and maybe cut out Iron and do the Dahlgren River to Stuart. Save that big portage for empty packs. You could do day trips to Oyster or LLC. A couple days into the trip you could reassess and depending on weather and enthusiasm you could still do Iron if you wanted.

I've never had the opportunity to trip before July 15th, we're almost always the last two weeks of July or first week of August. That time of year, we've never had any serious bug issues.

I’m doing your #1 choice loop in early June for the 2nd year in a row. I encountered very little insect trouble last year, only if you stopped on the portages would they find you. The fishing was good on Stuart and we had a blast. Another poster suggested heading up the Dahlgren river, I would do that, then head over to Boulder Bay of LLC and head west or south from there. That Dahlgren river area is amazing. The trees and waterfalls are like something out of a movie. If you felt adventorous, you could try and make it back into Batista Lake, there used to be a campsite on the NE ashore but it’s only indicated on old maps. I’ve wanted to get back into this Lake for years to see if it’s a fishing gem...it gets zero traffic. Some others on the forum would love to hear about Batista if you happen to get there. It’s a real mystery. I’d love to read a trip report after your trip!

Best of luck,

Tony

johndku: "I've never had the opportunity to trip before July 15th, we're almost always the last two weeks of July or first week of August. That time of year, we've never had any serious bug issues."

Have your later trips ever resulted in disappointing fishing?

MasterBryce: "

johndku: "I've never had the opportunity to trip before July 15th, we're almost always the last two weeks of July or first week of August. That time of year, we've never had any serious bug issues."

Have your later trips ever resulted in disappointing fishing. "

We fish fairly hard. Smallies have never been a problem, and pike will hit anything, anytime. Walleyes have been a little elusive, so we only hunt for 'eyes right after dawn and just before dusk. Though, my son somehow managed to land this 28" walleye, from shore, at 2:00 in the afternoon in July on Red Rock Lake, with a slip bobber and leech. Shortly afterwards, catching a smaller pike for the frying pan let this walleye live to see another day.

Bugs are sort of hit and miss, but that time of year they have usually settled down to the point where they're only an issue at dusk. If you can get something similar to a Nemo bug tarp you'd have a bit of insurance. Otherwise just plan on going to bed with the sun. You get about a two minute warning when you can hear a roar of insects in the woods and the BOOM you're covered in them.

Thanks all,

We have decided to go in on June 28th. Had to do a complete change of plans on entry though. We are going in at Snake River. I had a route from the Beymer book in mind and I am going to start a new thread with a few questions pertaining to that. I can't wait to post a trip review after. My son will also be keeping a journal that we may share as well.

Take lots of pictures,,,I wish I would have taken a lot more on our first trip. You'll never regret it.

as far as the bugs go....consider a permethrin soak for your clothes. I don't have kids to think about so its a no brainer for me - from everything I've read, it's very safe. Certainly better than contracting lyme disease at 11.

lots of threads on this board, as well as terabytes of information on the interwebs.

Also - the newer generations of non-DEET bug sprays are pretty good (picardin and or lemon-eucalyptus) but do need to be re-applied more often. If it were me dealing with a kid, I'd be more concerned about DEET than Permethrin.

BTW - your doing an awesome thing for the boy...10/10 he will remember this for the rest of his life.

Took my son (Lyonty) when he was 10 the first time and just base camped for
3 days on Disappointment. He paddled in the bow and I didn't know how to trim a canoe. We had a lot of problems with the wind one day.
Then I took my daughter and Lyonty up when she was 10 & he was 12. He was in a canoe with 16 year old. My daughter and her friend were in my canoe. We put in on Seagull and paddled to SAK on a 5 night trip with no problems.
But both kids had plenty of paddling experience.