My wife loves the experience of being around Ely before and after a summer trip. I prefer bypassing Ely to enter Quetico from the north (Atikokan). I'm ready to compromise by entering Q from the BWCA around Ely, but I'm a little lost on a route. Anyone have suggestions for good scenery, good fishing, not pushing hard, 6ish nights with a few days of basecamp in there?

Thanks so much.

I'd suggest entering at Moose Lake and getting a tow from one of the outfitters there. I use Latourell's.

Agnes is one of my favorite lakes to access from the Ely area. Starting from Prairie Portage, you go up through Sunday (optionally through Burke) to get to Agnes most directly. From a fishing perspective, Agnes is a Lake Trout factory. There are also Walleye, but the water is very clear so Walleye fishing is best done at dusk or first light. It's a pretty lake, including Louisa Falls. If you want to make a loop, you could come back down the S-chain (Silence, Sultry, Summer, Shade, South.

Another option is to head East from the end of Moose, toward Knife. You could go up the Quetico side of knife or veer north up the Man Chain. Or make a loop out of the two.

-Peter

My wife’s first Quetico trip at least US side entry is going to be Prairie Portage up into Agnes and then down the S chain. Silence, Shade, Sultry. My preference would probably be to do the S chain first and then going South on Agnes due to wind general directions.

Burke, Sunday and the North bay of Basswood are all really nice areas and part of that loop. The little stream rapids between Burke and Sunday is really a pretty little short portage.

My son is going to be in the S chain today coming off of Kahsahpiwi South end last night.

Ryan

Thank you both, quite helpful.

Is that main section of Basswood on the way to Sunday/Burke pretty brutal if there is wind from the west? We'll have one canoeist who is not "weak," but also not terribly strong.

I've heard about the fishing in Agnes. How about Sunday and Burke and the rest of the S-chain? We're going in late July so we may not target lake trout. More SM, walleye and pike.

Lastly, I've never gone to the Q so close to the BWCA. Does it have the same kind of solitude as putting in further away? Maybe not quite the solitude but like 90%?

Thanks again for your help.

"A few days of basecamp" over 6 nights does not give you loads of options; are you thinking maybe 2 nights in 3 different spots?

sdietrich: "Thank you both, quite helpful.


Is that main section of Basswood on the way to Sunday/Burke pretty brutal if there is wind from the west? We'll have one canoeist who is not "weak," but also not terribly strong.


I've heard about the fishing in Agnes. How about Sunday and Burke and the rest of the S-chain? We're going in late July so we may not target lake trout. More SM, walleye and pike.


Lastly, I've never gone to the Q so close to the BWCA. Does it have the same kind of solitude as putting in further away? Maybe not quite the solitude but like 90%?


Thanks again for your help."

Yes, of course, that bay on Basswood gets difficult with west, south, or north wind. It's a big body of water without islands to buffer the wind or provide protection. I usually try to plan my schedule to cross that as early in the AM as possible.

Burke is an excellent Lake Trout lake. I've not fished Sunday.

I think the solitude on these lakes is similar to lakes that are only 2-3 portages from the northern entry points. In neither case do you have the same solitude as you do in the middle of the park. You will likely see people, but it's still the Q so you probably won't feel overwhelmed. I'm curious to see others' perspective on this.

I went through here last summer before they opened up the Southern entry points for the Quetico. We were as close to alone middle and south as you could ever get. Quetico is going to be way less busy than BWCA. Obviously like anything it will be increasingly busier the closer to Prairie Portage you get now that the southern entry points are open.

You also have to keep in mind your entry lake permit. It’s different than BWCA. Agnes is an option. Kahsahpiwi is an option but that is a hard slog to get into and not what you are looking for. Sarah is the other option but that would be a harder push. My recommendation is Agnes. Did I miss a permit Lake option?

Obviously wind on Basswood can have an affect on everyone. Bayley Bay on Basswood to Burke is a really nice beach and an easy portage. I really didn’t think either of the portages into Agnes were horrible. We went from just south of Louisa Falls which by the way would be something you’d want to do. Tub in the middle is awesome although not the prettiest waterfall the tub makes it worth it. Down to Prairie Portage and then back up to Burke in a day with a food pack exchange at Prairie Portage.

You can do an out and back and stay on different lakes each stop. If feeling like you want to do more have the S chain as an option on maps and preps.

Ryan

We've done Carp entry to Emerald and part of the Man chain. There are many places to base camp through there. Emerald is probably the lake I would head for if I wanted to spend most of the time on one lake. There are a few people that go there, but we went 4 nights there without seeing anyone. The northern parts of Carp are really nice too. It has a lot of people going through to Knife, but only one BWCA campsite and it has very few people in the northern areas. If it is not hot, the main Sheridan campsite is fun, but the west sun glaring off the water in the evening make most of it an oven in the afternoon.

May be too far but up through North Bay and Isabella (where I've asked my son's to spread my ashes) to Kashapiwi - great as solitude - Trant Lake and out through S chain or Agnes. I'd say 4 travel days.

Helpful to have your perspectives. Thanks again.
Seth