I did my first Quetico trip last fall with a buddy and now I have a June 1 entry planned with my 18 year old daughter. My daughter and I have done BWCA trips twice before. Self outfitted.

We are getting a tow from Moose Lake to Prairie Portage to get a guaranteed quick start to the trip, then going through Sunday and Meadows lakes up to Agnes. The plan is to hit Kawnipi and stay a few days of fishing and relaxation. I chose this route thinking if the weather is wrong, we can always hit smaller waters around Agnes if the paddle up north doesn't work out. Old Dad here doesn't want to do daily portaging this time around. We use extremely seaworthy Kruger Sea Winds, catamaraned up, and can comfortably and safely take on bigger water that may keep some on the shore.

Any suggestions on excellent camping spots and fishing spots are welcomed! I really like camping spots that have descent shore fishing from them...

Am I missing anything here?:
-we have RABC and passports
-have a reservation for Agnes EP
-have Ontario Outdoors cards and fishing licenses
-tow reservation at LaTourells
-Hotel reservation in Ely before and after

SO looking forward to it!!

Joe

If you tow both ways, I think you are fine for credentials. If you think you might paddle pack on Moose - pick up a blank day paddle self permit - free - and have filled out if paddling back on Moose. Nice to turn in so USFS has better records of use.

Oh - credit card or other payment for permit at ranger station. You probably knew that.

Oh, thanks for the tip on the day use permit for the way back! We do plan on paddling out.
Joe

What is your route in and out of Agnes to Kawnipi and how far do you plan to go each day so I can recommend some spots for you

I think we'll try to take the most-western route in, through Keewatin Lake. Might plan on leaving Kawnipi through McVictor Bay and the Agnes River East Channel, just to do a loop.

Hope to leave Prairie Portage early and head as far north on Agnes first day as we can manage. Next day the plan would be to hit Kawnipi and spend several days there in a good fishing area. Might move between sites on Kawnipi if we get bored of an area, but plan on staying on that lake for several nights.


thanks,
Joe

That's a lot of canoe to carry - 2 solos over 60 pounds each. No wonder you want to avoid portages. Sunday to Meadows to Agnes are not easy portages. My son and I would be trippling with those canoes and our usual gear.

Bill, the Krugers (Actually one Kruger Sea Wind and one Mad River Monarch) have wonderful yokes and carry a lot easier than you would think. I've carried them long, long ways and don't complain. I do each portage twice with the boats and my daughter carries a pack each time. It's not really that I'm trying to avoid portaging...I'm trying to avoid the TIME portaging and want to spend more time on a destination lake and fishing this go around.

But maybe IF the portaging of those boats slows you down, their performance on water can't be beat. And you will not find a better fishing platform than two Krugers "catted up". Zero chance of capsize, excellent boat control...hell you could stand up and fly fish if you were into that kind of thing.

I'll brag some more on the boats...rudder equipped and decked, they are a joy to paddle. But you sure don't seem 'em on the Q.

I've been checking the campsite reviews on mncanoeing.com Is that the place to check 'em out or are there other resources? I sure like the ease of use of their map.

Joe

The thing about campsites in the Q, there are a lot of great ones, some marked and some not, and most not occupied. I've never not found great sites. When we are near end of travel we loom around for sites, pull up to ones that look good from afar, and one of us hops out and checks it out. I'd guess more than half the time we stay at first stop and I don't recall going to a third more than once or twice. It part of the adventure, finding the jewels that no one has recorded or put stars to.