My dad started taking me to Quetico when I was nine years old. We took six trips up there together, the last one being 22 years ago when I was 22 years old. I started my own family and we just never got back up there together, although he has been to Quetico roughly 20 times beginning in 1959. He is 73 now and on his second pair of artificial knees and just generally no longer in the greatest shape like he used to be. He has decided to go to Quetico with me on June 10th for nine nights on what he promised me is his last ever trip to Quetico. He just wants to see it one last time and catch some more smallies on his fly rod and enough walleyes to eat. As you can imagine, this has the makings of a bittersweet trip, so we plan to smell the roses and take plenty of pictures and video.

Our route will start at the Nym Lake access and we plan to spend our first night on Jesse Lake. Our second night may very well be into Draper, which I'm a little worried about because after portaging in there, then paddling across the lake, if we find the only campsite occupied, we have to go right back out. Our third and fourth nights will probably be on Fred Lake. Our fifth and sixth nights will be on Camel Lake. We will cut through Cub Lake and spend our seventh night on Baird Lake. After Baird we will spend night eight on Russell Lake. From Russell we will shoot all the way up to the Pickerel Narrows for our last night, and then exit back out through Nym again.

Of course I will give him the lightest pack and have him single portage while I take two trips with the food pack and the canoe. My question for you fine folks is I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to provide some fishing intelligence on these lakes we plan on spending the night(s) on, such as areas to concentrate our efforts for walleyes in particular. Also, I'm curious if there are any good specific campsites we should shoot for.

Thank you all in advance for helping to make this last trip one to remember!

Email sent.

I would skip the idea of camping on Draper, instead camp on north shore of Walter, side trail from portage. Nice site. Good Waldo's off sand beach.

Lonely is a waldo factory. Camp on site just before turn to Sturgeon. Fish south/east shores and big midlake reef.

My only question is-Seeing this might be your Dad's last trip make sure this is the trip he wants to do. You have a pretty aggressive route planned even for people half his age. If he is game for the trip then go for it, but if he feels it might be too much for him respect his wishes and scale it back.

It probably is worth a check in with him each evening to see how he is doing and adjust the trip and route accordingly.

You want this trip to be one he will always remember for the shear joy of the journey. For him it won't be about the places he will see, the miles you put in of even the fish you will catch....but it will be for the time you spent together with him, the new memories it will generate for him and the old memories it will bring back for him from past trips.

Make it be as memorable as he wants it to be and one he can enjoy for the rest of his days.

Jesse used to be good for 'eyes, especially in the western narrows early and late. Camel is great for 'eyes -- have caught dinner from shore on the south side campsite. (I agree with the other comment about Lonely...too many folks just pass through. I also would not spend two nights on Fred, unless you know something I don't.) Have a great trip! --Goose

I had a great conversation with pineknot the other night, and much of what he said jives with what you other gentlemen have pointed out. Great minds think alike. Incidentally, I probably won't spend more than one night on Fred, if at all, so no, I'm surely not keeping any secrets.

Bittersweet indeed. Savor the trip and time with your dad in the woods and water. What a great trip and opportunity.

Just returned from my longest solo May 11 - 23rd through this area - first time checking the site since returning as I always go through some serious withdrawals when I come out and have to re-enter the civilized world.

If you're still looking for information, I can probably help although you've certainly heard from some of the most knowledgeable folks already.

The route that includes Pickerel, (I personally like entering at Stanton Bay) through Pine Portage, Dore, Twin, Sturgeon, and then working outward from there mid-trip (Russell, Heron, Fred, Camel, Cutty Creek, etc. while returning through Lonely, Walter, Jesse, Maria , Batch and Nym has become a favorite. I love the area and have had special times and memories throughout, including my first experience with ice pellets, accumulating snow, and temperatures in the mid-20's this last trip. You will have good memories, too.

Portages for being as early in the season as I went were in good shape, no serious issues at all, and no problem with low water levels although I noticed they were lower than when I traveled the same period last year.

At some point, I will do a trip report - I have never done one and have several that I should write, but for some reason it's just hard to bring myself to do it as every trip has a spiritual element for me and that's really hard to convey. Plus I'm just not the greatest with photography - I really need to get a good camera before the next trip, and I will.

Anyway, best wishes, I know what it's like to have that last trip with Dad - cherish every moment.

quote Bogwalker: "My only question is-Seeing this might be your Dad's last trip make sure this is the trip he wants to do. You have a pretty aggressive route planned even for people half his age. If he is game for the trip then go for it, but if he feels it might be too much for him respect his wishes and scale it back.

It probably is worth a check in with him each evening to see how he is doing and adjust the trip and route accordingly.

You want this trip to be one he will always remember for the shear joy of the journey. For him it won't be about the places he will see, the miles you put in of even the fish you will catch....but it will be for the time you spent together with him, the new memories it will generate for him and the old memories it will bring back for him from past trips.

Make it be as memorable as he wants it to be and one he can enjoy for the rest of his days."

Agree. Sounds like a lot of portaging for someone on their 2nd set of artificial knees.

My last trip with my Dad and with my father in law(2 separate trips) was to Jean and back via Beaverhouse. Lots of route options without much portaging. Jean is a great fishery and is in my opinion the best SMB lake in Quetico.

Well, our government has put my dad's last trip in jeopardy of being canceled. He applied for a passcard, and after a a couple weeks, he received a notice in the mail saying his birth certificate was not acceptable because it did not have a raised seal and did not have a date of issue on it. (The same birth certificate he used to get in the Marine Corps).

So the scramble was on. He had to pay $60 to get a new birth certificate sent to him Asap, then he paid to have it overnighted, along with another $60 to now pay for expedited passcard service. Yep, this was getting out of hand.

Then finally someone calls a couple more weeks later and tells him his new birth certificate is no good because it wasn't issued within a certain amount of time of his birth. So now I have to run over there to his house at night to scan and email them pictures of his drivers license, military Id card, military discharge papers, a freaking yearbook picture (with a picture of the yearbook cover), and a picture of his fishing license.

Did all that, and silence. Can't get anybody to answer calls or call us back. We are leaving Wednesday morning, and he hasn't received a thing. If we don't get it Tuesday, this trip will turn into my first solo. I'm pissed.

I don't blame you for being pissed!!!! A guy serves his country then has to go through this CRAP!!!! I'm all for national security, but really!!!!!! I would get ahold of your state representative Monday. I bet he would help get this done in a day or two.