It may be a long shot, but what are the odds being able to complete a Kawishiwi triangle trip on the 3rd-6th? If not, are there any other recommendations for open water near Ely that time of year? I'd assume it will help if its someplace with a current.

I think the odds are in your favor. Temps have been unseasonably warm so far this fall. My guess is that there will still be open water during the first week of November.

Thanks! That's what I was guessing. Plus, we won't be going far in so getting out if things freeze up won't be too difficult.

Minnesota Median Ice IN Dates The odds are in your favor - Median ice In at Shagawa (downtown Ely) is Nov 20 - Burntside is Dec 2.

Larger bodies of water you would have less chance of ice forming on. So avoid small slow streams and smaller lakes and you should be fine.

You will probably find thin ice near shores and at landings.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm feeling your optimism that I'll be able to find some open water to paddle on. For now I'll just continue monitoring webcams near Ely and checking overnight lows. Happy paddling!

I think your pushing it, but last few years and now the temps at night are running 7-10 degrees above normal. Temps do change fast this time of year. Small shallow waters could ice over in one night.

Clear lake has lot of shallow water.

quote Pinetree: "I think your pushing it, but last few years and now the temps at night are running 7-10 degrees above normal. Temps do change fast this time of year. Small shallow waters could ice over in one night.

Clear lake has lot of shallow water.
"

Do you think I'd be ok between Little Gabbro and EP #30? It seems that water moves a little more which I'd guess translates into being one of the later to freeze over.

I'm no meteorologist, but given how warm this fall has been, it's hard to see much if anything being really frozen by early November. Current 10 day forecasts call for a quick cold snap (that's really more of a normal snap), then a return to Augtober. Perhaps if there's a cold night during your trip you might get some thin coatings of ice in still, shallow water, but it should be fragile enough to be easily broken up with your paddles.

That's my sense, anyway.

You may not have a problem with ice, but you may need to think about packing
your snowblower, nobody shovels the portages.

quote Main Streeter: "You may not have a problem with ice, but you may need to think about packing
your snowblower, nobody shovels the portages."

You just slide down the hills in the canoe than.

A good site to judge water temperatures

This will give you some idea what is going on. Water temps still very warm in my opinion. Also plan accordingly your campsite that night for if it does get cold.

So, as far as fall fishing goes, is it generally assumed that fishing is good until the lakes ice over? Will fishing north of EP 32 be any good or am I better off just leaving the fishing gear at home?

Mid October to mid November should be prime time up there for walleye.
Down here in New Mexico December is AWESOME. All my 10 pounders have come in December from my local lake.

If on a lake when the water hits like 45 degrees the walleye start moving away from shore until ice up.

Just don't camp on an island.

I see the water temp in the Kawishiwi river today is 47 degrees so it is looking good if you do a Nov. 1 trip. Weather suppose to warm up this week and be above normal,as the last few falls have been much above normal.

What is normal anymore?

Average normal high for Ely is 45 degrees and low of 27 degrees on Nov. 1.

I'm not ruling out a trip Nov 11th. Long-term forecast looks a bit above normal. If I went, it would likely be an entry lake that I could theoretically hike out of if I got stuck.

quote landoftheskytintedwater: "I'm not ruling out a trip Nov 11th. Long-term forecast looks a bit above normal. If I went, it would likely be an entry lake that I could theoretically hike out of if I got stuck."

Had friends that had to do that one year. I know one thing you might be the only canoe in the BWCA that late.

quote landoftheskytintedwater: "I'm not ruling out a trip Nov 11th. Long-term forecast looks a bit above normal. If I went, it would likely be an entry lake that I could theoretically hike out of if I got stuck."

if you camped on Ham lake and got iced in you could hike out.

Thought I would post this here rather then start a new thread as this seems to be more "weather" related at this time.

I will write up something on here or give a link to the site I'am forecasting for this winter,,, but things (many) are pointing to a dramatic reversal in temps come around the 3rd week of NoV. Now sure many will say the "normals" or Avg temps go down in NOV and things should start to cool off. True,, but what many of my colleagues and myself are seeing is a dramatic shift to full blown winter in the said time frame. Analog years we are using are 1950 and 1995 and 2014 to try a mimic this. I still am of the belief that if I'am correct on the above,, that it will not be winter "locking in"-- just yet. I still believe the last half of winter and certainly March will be much colder agst the normals then the first half and NOV.
A lot of football games (esp college) could get quite interesting in the middle/late of NOV weather related.

AS far as those going on trips in early to up to the middle of NOV-- stay in moving water and bigger, deeper lakes and I see no issues. At the same time, shallower, smaller lakes could have ice fishing done on them right around Turkey day. Not abnormal ,, I understand, but quite the change is anticipated for the middle/late of NOV.

Whit Wolf, thanks for the warning. Looks like the kids better get the Ely house winterized before Turkey Day and maybe even find the snow shovel!.

I was up north this past weekend. Besides the dangers of rain and cold combined there is the chance your landings will have ice at them as mine was on Monday. I would be prepared by checking the day time and over night temperatures. Then I would consider what you would use to break through the ice while in your canoe.

Circling back to the cold in general I hope you have a decent set of layers both top and bottom. I had on three insulating layers while around camp which I was grateful for. Glad I brought a wool winter hat and a seperate balaclava.

My one weakness was the need for a more wind proof and insulating like pant like Tru-Spec 24-7 pants that are a cotton poly mix and possibly a wool pair of pants. I got by with my quick dry pants, long john pants and my rain pants but the rain pants weren't a lot of fun to wear and around the fire I worried about sparks from the fire.

Mittens came in handy too.

FYI: the sun comes up later in the morning as well so getting going took time.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

quote SevenofNine: "I was up north this past weekend. Besides the dangers of rain and cold combined there is the chance your landings will have ice at them as mine was on Monday. I would be prepared by checking the day time and over night temperatures. Then I would consider what you would use to break through the ice while in your canoe.


Circling back to the cold in general I hope you have a decent set of layers both top and bottom. I had on three insulating layers while around camp which I was grateful for. Glad I brought a wool winter hat and a seperate balaclava.


My one weakness was the need for a more wind proof and insulating like pant like Tru-Spec 24-7 pants that are a cotton poly mix and possibly a wool pair of pants. I got by with my quick dry pants, long john pants and my rain pants but the rain pants weren't a lot of fun to wear and around the fire I worried about sparks from the fire.


Mittens came in handy too.


FYI: the sun comes up later in the morning as well so getting going took time.


I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip."

Thanks for all the great reminders and input folks! You never disappoint. :)

I am basically now planning to prepare for this trip similar to my winter camping. Just substitute the sled for a canoe. I always forget about how late sunrise is compared to the summer months. I guess that means we will be sleeping in a little more than normal. Hopefully a good plastic paddle will do most of the job for ice breaking...otherwise we'll have a splitting axe that I feel pretty confident will take care of it.

Right now it looks like the forecast has been moving in the favor of keeping water temps high enough for this trip that I think it'll actually happen! Backup plan is always great though...I feel spoiled that heading out on the Superior Hiking Trail or BRT can be a 'backup'. If only MN had real mountains, I don't think I'd ever have to leave.

For layering, I plan to use my Stoic merino wool 1Z. Nothing screams warmth like a head to toe body suit of soft wool. I usually put it on when it starts cooling off and leave it on until the next morning when chores start. My brother wants to do some fishing, but I'm not sure there will be time after we split enough wood for +3 hours of fires.

I have done ice breaking before,what gets dangerous if the ice is thick enough you bow floats up on top of the ice and the canoe will become very unstable.

Also you can tell a lot about upcoming freezing is what is the water temp by shore and than also like 100 yards out into the lake. Also upcoming forecast. Than make a wise decision on your plans.

A few years back, an early ice-out allowed many folks to check off that March BWCAW paddle they had on their bucket list. I'd say that this year is one of the best opportunities to check off November, too.

quote schweady: "A few years back, an early ice-out allowed many folks to check off that March BWCAW paddle they had on their bucket list. I'd say that this year is one of the best opportunities to check off November, too.
"

Fished by canoe for lake trout that year up the Gunflint in March,

The forecast has me strongly considering taking a personal day Friday and doing a 3 day/2 night trip just so I can say I've done a November trip. Clear and h's 50s and l's mid 30's. Hmmmmm where to go around Sawbill or Ely? I've done a few Oct. trips and did a trip 1 week after ice out this year. I'm also thinking it would be better to rent a royalex solo than kevlar for this one.

i know you've done a lot on the gunflint trail, but you could go in w. bearskin over to duncan; clearwater to caribou; round to missing link. stay close to exit area but have the option of doing a day trip w/o your gear

Thanks mocha. Clearwater to Caribou definitely intrigues me and it's actually one of of my top choices for my Spring Solo. I've done Round to Cross Bay on a daytrip and love Missing Link and Snipe lakes. We did a daytrip to Duncan when the girls were very little and my wife and I hiked Caribou Rock Trail to Rose and back in the summer of 15. Beautiful area and great suggestions!!!

No ice on the trip...a little swimming and walleye dinner though! I don't think I'll ever go on a November trip like this again. Once in a lifetime weekend!!!

My guess is that the cold October to mid Novembers will be things of the past. We had one night at 33 in Quetico, late September, and there has only been a couple that cold since then.

quote VaderStrom: "No ice on the trip...a little swimming and walleye dinner though! I don't think I'll ever go on a November trip like this again. Once in a lifetime weekend!!!"

Glad to hear you had a good trip. I'm bummed I wasn't able to pull it together and get up there.

quote VaderStrom: "No ice on the trip...a little swimming and walleye dinner though! I don't think I'll ever go on a November trip like this again. Once in a lifetime weekend!!!"

Nice!