I'm currently planning a trip to the BWCA for mid-May with one other person. We've both been there before but its been about 10 years. Our last trips were more of a single portage and basecamp type trip ( we traveled with a larger group that brought in a LOT of gear). This time, however, we're looking to go a bit deeper, travel lighter, and push ourselves a bit.

Our ideal trip would take us off the beaten path and provide access to good fishing (walleye, lake trout and bass). Maybe a full day of paddle/portage in and then followed by a few hours of travel per day with fishing in the morning/evenings.

We are currently circling on Kekekabic and Ogishkemuncie as the "deep" in location. I've never caught a lake trout and it looks like those are two good lakes.

So options to get there would be :
1. Tow to American point, paddle down into knife/SAK, play around in Kek and Ogish then out through Jasper and Alpine.
2. Tow to Red Rock Point, Through Alpine/Jasper/Ogish then back out the same direction

Now to the questions :)
1. Are we right to try to target these lakes for a bit of solitude and fishing? Are there better options for walleye, trout and not in the main traffic areas?
2. Are we trying to do too much in ~5 day trip? I've read that some people say that they can make Ogish in a day from Red Rock...

Thanks all

If you go this route go to Holt lake as a day trip. There's an old portage that isn't too hard to follow and you can cast just about any lure you want and catch smallies and pike.

We did the full Saganaga to Seagull loop in five days, but we were traveling every day and since we had 9 people, 4 canoes, and a ton of gear we didn't have a lot of time to fish. It would be far different with two people and a tow on the first day. You could be at Ester in one day with a tow to American Point (we took 2 days with no tow). That would basically give you one layover day if you did the whole loop from there. An out and back from Red Rock or Seagull would probably be more feasible if you want more down time. You could make Ogish in a long day from the dock at Seagull Outfitters, a lot longer than I would want to do in a day however (approx. 6 hr).

If I was only fishing, I'd probably go in Seagull and over to Ogish that way, staying off Sag altogether. You'll be on what in my opinion are better fishing lakes. In May the walleye fishing should be pretty good in the shallows on Alpine Lake up by Jasper Falls and in the bay as you head up to the falls. There's some good moving water opportunities on Kingfisher that produced well for us in September, imagine they would only be better in May. We easily reached Ogish from Alpine with only a couple of hours of paddling, and Kek is within day tripping distance from Ogish (by way of Annie, Jenny, Eddy, and the Kek Ponds, all pretty small bodies of water and as I have heard not bad pike fisheries either). Shock here on the hangout is the expert on fishing that relative area. This is a popular area but in May it should be a little quieter.

For scenery only I'd go Saganaga-Ottertrack-[Ester, Hanson] - Knife all the way, that area isn't burned out like Seagull/Alpine is. West side of Ogish isn't burnt out, east side is. That's fine since all the good campsites are on the west side anyway.

For fishing, Kek and Ogish are great choices. Red Rock is definitely the best route for those lakes.

If it's just the 2 of you and you're single portaging, Ogish will be easily reachable on day 1. Stay on Ogish 2 nights, Kek 2 nights and then on Alpine or Jasper the last night. Cool areas to day trip around there as well.

quote BigCurrent: "For fishing, Kek and Ogish are great choices. Red Rock is definitely the best route for those lakes.


If it's just the 2 of you and you're single portaging, Ogish will be easily reachable on day 1. Stay on Ogish 2 nights, Kek 2 nights and then on Alpine or Jasper the last night. Cool areas to day trip around there as well. "

Exactly. No need for a tow. Put in at Seagull ... especially at the north put in at Trails End. You avoid the big, open water.

Agree, no need for a tow.

Leave Seagull about 6 a.m. and you can make Ogish by noon, barring any big winds. But Seagull is the only big water lake you'll be on, and if you start early you should avoid wind problems. Take Seagull to the 100 rod portage into Alpine, (avoid the shorter portage) then you can head north to Red Rock or south to Jasper/Ogish.

I fished Red Rock, Alpine and Ogish last summer, all were productive. Fishing the falls where Jasper empties into Alpine for some good evening walleye action. Tons of bass in Red Rock.

Read your second paragraph again: At least once in your travels, forgo the breaking up off camp and stay another day. You will have extra time for fishing what by decision time has been shown to be a good fishing lake for you. the next day, get up a little earlier and travel "double" to where you would have been anyway.

All, thanks for the feedback.