I've fished every trip to the BW, how do I do a trip with out fishing, I plan on trying to move every day to somewhere new each day to see new stuff and take lots of picture, I,m afraid of having withdrawls from not fishing, how would you handle it or how should I handle it?

I would just bring one rod and reel and the smallest tackle box you ever brought. I'm talking 7-8 lures. That way there's minimal weight and it's there for you just in case. I found a real nice rod sleeve at cabelas and I just tie the rods in the boat and pack the reel and box away.

Travel more, slow down, and take more pictures. Enjoy the return trip on your portages. Follow the shore line where maybe you wouldn't have before, or take the long way around the lake.

Why are you not fishing? If that's what you enjoy, I'm baffled as to why you would cut it out of your trip.

Geez, I broke out in a cold sweat just thinking about going on a canoe trip without FISHING!!! Sorry, I can't help you here.

i'm not really a fisherman and i like to travel really light. i can't imagine being in the bwca without a fishpole and tackle. it just seems wrong.

quote TomT: "I would just bring one rod and reel and the smallest tackle box you ever brought. I'm talking 7-8 lures. That way there's minimal weight and it's there for you just in case. I found a real nice rod sleeve at cabelas and I just tie the rods in the boat and pack the reel and box away.


"

What Tom Terrific said.

Last year was the first year I didn't take any fishing gear. I wasn't spending a lot of time fishing because I was doing what you are planning to do. Obviously something has prompted you to consider it, so... I'd just go for it if I were you, maybe taking TomT's advice just in case ;). I've been taking hundreds of pictures and enjoy it.

Take your time traveling, look at things - not just the big scenic vistas, but the little things like the rocks, leaves, flowers, bark trees, etc. Take several pictures of a thing with different camera settings or different angles. Watch how they change as the light changes. Take notes. Remember, two of the best times to take pictures are morning and evening, same as fishing.

Keep a journal.

You may find you enjoy it, you may find you don't, you may find a new balance.

have fun, enjoy your trip. Where and when do you plan to go?

quote canoe212: "Travel more, slow down, and take more pictures. Enjoy the return trip on your portages. Follow the shore line where maybe you wouldn't have before, or take the long way around the lake.


Why are you not fishing? If that's what you enjoy, I'm baffled as to why you would cut it out of your trip."

I'm doing 3 trips this year and 2 of them I plan on fishing, just wanted to try and see more lakes and not moving as fast. I've been base camping, this trip I'm trying to go as light as possible.

quote boonie: "Last year was the first year I didn't take any fishing gear. I wasn't spending a lot of time fishing because I was doing what you are planning to do. Obviously something has prompted you to consider it, so... I'd just go for it if I were you, maybe taking TomT's advice just in case ;). I've been taking hundreds of pictures and enjoy it.


Take your time traveling, look at things - not just the big scenic vistas, but the little things like the rocks, leaves, flowers, bark trees, etc. Take several pictures of a thing with different camera settings or different angles. Watch how they change as the light changes. Take notes. Remember, two of the best times to take pictures are morning and evening, same as fishing.


Keep a journal.


You may find you enjoy it, you may find you don't, you may find a new balance.


have fun, enjoy your trip. Where and when do you plan to go?"

Not sure where yet have 2 weeks to decide, either 9th or 16th of May for 8 nights.

quote housty9: "

quote canoe212: "Travel more, slow down, and take more pictures. Enjoy the return trip on your portages. Follow the shore line where maybe you wouldn't have before, or take the long way around the lake.



Why are you not fishing? If that's what you enjoy, I'm baffled as to why you would cut it out of your trip."

I'm doing 3 trips this year and 2 of them I plan on fishing, just wanted to try and see more lakes and not moving as fast. I've been base camping, this trip I'm trying to go as light as possible."

I have learned that if you are going on a fishing trip, go fish. If you are going to trip and explore, bring a rod with just in case you get some free time. Often I am just too tired at the end of the day paddle around looking for fish. If I lay over for a day I might spend some time fishing or go exploring. Also, in my younger years it was hard to put down the rod. As I get older I just realize there are too many places left I want to see and not enough time.

has anyone here gone from bear trap to Iron, crooked to basswood out at mudro. And entering at mudro to, thanks for any input.

quote housty9: "has anyone here gone from bear trap to Iron, crooked to basswood out at mudro. And entering at mudro to, thanks for any input."

Housty-

You can find several trip reports on that route or sections of it by clicking on "Route Guide" on the left and clicking the Mudro entry point. That should help in addition to the answers you get, plus the pictures will whet your appetite ;).

I'm not a big fisherman either, but still enjoy it. On my 40 day I'd forgot my rod in my truck back in Mtn Iron and had gotten a ride to the Gunflint. I remembered in Grand Maria and stopped and picked up a twenty dollar rig at Holiday. Fishing was not a pleasant time on this trip. I missed my good rod!

quote nctry: "I'm not a big fisherman either, but still enjoy it. On my 40 day I'd forgot my rod in my truck back in Mtn Iron and had gotten a ride to the Gunflint. I remembered in Grand Maria and stopped and picked up a twenty dollar rig at Holiday. Fishing was not a pleasant time on this trip. I missed my good rod! "

Yes I going to do some fishing, it would be hard not to fish.

quote boonie: "

quote housty9: "has anyone here gone from bear trap to Iron, crooked to basswood out at mudro. And entering at mudro to, thanks for any input."

Housty-


You can find several trip reports on that route or sections of it by clicking on "Route Guide" on the left and clicking the Mudro entry point. That should help in addition to the answers you get, plus the pictures will whet your appetite ;)."

I,m going in May, just wondering about water levels.

Stupid ? does the water run east or west on the border, thinking east just want to make sure.

on the border the water at iron lake is flowing to the west, towards international falls. it doesn't matter, the current is in one waterfall that you will be portaging.

quote housty9: "Stupid ? does the water run east or west on the border, thinking east just want to make sure."

North to Hudson Bay, but along the border East to West, Basswood 1300 ASL, to Horse River/L Basswood 1265 ASL, to Crooked 1255 ASL, to Iron 1220 ASL.

butthead