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hopsing
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I hate to be "Debbie Downer" BUT we have moved our annual trip from the VNP to the BWCA partly because you can no longer access VNP interior lakes with you own watercraft. You cannot even use float tubes. This is due to the potential invasive species spiny water flea and VHS.
Oleary is one of these lakes as is little trout (north of grassy bay in sand point lake). Though Mukooda does have a couple boats available with reservations the other mentioned lakes do not.
I have spent several e-mails and a couple phone calls with many of the representatives who make these decisions to no avail. The local merchants do not like it as well as some of the adventurous explorers such as myself.
contact names regarding this issue -
James_Hummel@nps.gov
Jim HummelOperations ChiefPhone: 218-283-6650
Mike Ward 314-283-6608.
michael_ward@nps.gov>
If you are interested in the e-mails sent to me i can forward them to you upon request.
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Richwon4
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O wonder if anyone knows the current restrictions due to said invasive species?
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Richwon4
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O wonder if anyone knows the current restrictions due to said invasive species?
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jdevries
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I think there are a couple just north of where Kab and Namakan come together.
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Richwon4
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Mort, firegrates and latrines are a great perk, are these lakes motorless, I know I've looked at some up around the south end of Namakan and the Islands in the Narrows that look like nice places.
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Mort
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Rich, I've never paddled/camped around the south end of Namakan and the Islands in the Narrows, so I can't help you there.
Again, I'd encourage you to go to your public library and check out Beymer's book. I think you'd have a lot of fun reading more about your possibilities, ..and probably in more detail than I or others could tell you.
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Richwon4
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Are there any lakes in the Voyageur National park that are motorless or have little to no attention. I'm looking at the park as an option for some obvious reasons, one being the price, and a young family, getting them experience, introducing them to the area. I've been to Mukooda, nice camping, little traffic, but big, windy, wide open, still enjoyable though. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks a lot.
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wb4syth
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There are however they are only accesible by boat and long portages. The are on the water-locked interrior north of Kab so you have to cross the motorized sections.
The cost difference between BW and VNP is only the permit fees which are pretty minimal I think - compared to all the other costs - food, gas... I think the permit fee is just a small portion.
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Richwon4
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O'Leary Lake...what county is that in or is there a lake id? Not sure which O'Leary I'm looking at? Thanks
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ktoivola
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Try O'Leary lake. Its an amazingly clear water lake on the south shore of East Namakan. The portage is really short. I went there a long time ago, but I did see the biggest Largemouth bass that I have ever seen. Also, the lake is known for huge pike....give it a try
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Richwon4
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Thanks for the good start, I'm going to try to stay closer to the sand point crane area. I have some good leads on Little Trout, O'Leary, and a bushwack only lake called Lucille, just west of Sand Point Grassy Bay, if anyone has any info on Lucille I'd appreciate it.
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ktoivola
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O'Leary is in St. Louis County. I heard that some of the crane lake guides would take people into Lucille for some pike action.
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Mort
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Rich, from what you've shared, I think your easiest and best bet would be to utilize lakes surrounding the BWCA in the Superior National Forest. They have similar campsites with latrines and firegrate, can actually be less busy, often have decent fishing, and best of all, ...they are FREE!
There's the Fenske - Grassy - Low - High -Burntside loop. You can check out many other options in the book "Superior National Forest" by Robert Beymer.
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Instigator
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Richwon4
A good option of a bwca-like trip outside the bw is the Whitefish, Elbow, Timber, Frear group of lakes on the east side of the SNF too. Maybe 3 sites at Whitefish you could car camp at if not taken, grates, table, pit toilet. Campsites scattered around the other lakes too, short portages, pretty decent fishing. No fees. Far from VNP, but someplace to consider in the future.
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PortageKeeper
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Also try the lakes south of Jeanette... Astrid, Maude, Picket etc.
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