Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Lake Polly mid-July
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boonie |
I agree with what has been said - it has a reputation as a destination lake. I'd get on the water very early; it'll take you 3-4 hours double portage. You'll probably find a site there, but you might want to take the first open one you see. It's a long drive out there from Rt. 61, but there's a small campground there if you want to go that route. If you go on, I'd take anything decent on Koma, especially if it's just for one night. I can attest to the fact that if you get to Malberg late (it's popular, too) there could still be a lot of paddling to find a site. The long narrow arms make a lot of shoreline to paddle between campsites. Just a guess, but it's probably around 5 miles to circumnavigate. |
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BuckFlicks |
I think Polly is a nice paddle from EP37. We pushed on to Koma the first time and all the way to Mallberg the second time from EP37... both made for long paddling days and lots of portages. Our trips were post-Labor Day with moderate crowds in that corridor, so I suspect there will be substantial business on all three lakes and sites will be scarce during July. The earlier you can stop to find a site, the better. |
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fsupp |
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MikeinMpls |
And while I'm asking, Koma Lake has five campsites, but I've not been able to find ratings. Any input as to Koma Lake campsites, just in case Polly is full? I'd rather trip in May.... and probably wouldn't have needed to ask this if we were going tomorrow. But circumstances necessitated going in July, at the height of paddling season. Thanks! Mike |
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Northwoodsman |
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dele |
We exited on a Friday and the route into Polly was a highway. Nearly every portage was backed up, and nearly every group was headed to Polly. I wouldn't have wanted to be looking for a camp site late in the day there that day. Maybe could have found one, but it would have been stressful. I can't speak to the camp sites on Koma, but I can say that it holds all the small walleyes you could want to catch on the edges of the weedy sunken point that extends out from the eastern shore. Fun fishing, thought not much for size, at least that we found. It's a shallow, somewhat swampy lake, so the camp sites there could be pretty buggy. All in all, if your group size, entry time, and ability allow it, I would suggest seeing if you can get to Malberg on the first night. We made it in about five to six hours, double portaging. |
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Michwall2 |
Koma Lake will take another couple of hours of work to get to from Polly. It looks like it could be easy, but the portages get progressively longer and the paddling shorter as you near Koma. We have stayed on the peninsula site on Koma. It is large and has several tent pads. It is lower ground ( not much for hills) but I don't remember it as being particularly buggy. We have looked at two of the three campsites on the north end of the lake. I remember one as kind of brushy with not much room. I don't remember the other very well. You are only a short portage away from Malberg Lake once you are on Koma. If you have the time, I would head there. The only problem with Malberg is that the bays with campsites are separated by lllooonnnggg sections of narrow lake. I have never encountered the sites on the central narrows unoccupied. If you are not headed out the northeast corner of the lake, I would stay in central or western bays. There are a couple of nice sites up there to the northeast but they are a long way from the rest of the lake. Have a great trip. |
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cowdoc |
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