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Jackfish
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Thanks for all the input. I'll be making a decision this weekend. Really looking forward to the trip.
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Mocha
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Great to hear, Pete! i'll look forward to seeing you and your son next week!
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HowardSprague
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quote Jackfish: "Kind of thinking Kawishiwi... from what I can find, it seems like those lakes have good walleye fishing. Anything more to add to that area? Suggestions? Was this a burn area?"
I think that fire got a good chunk of this area, up to Polly.
Lots of cool spots/lakes in the area.
I liked this campsite on Pan Lake.
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Kiporby
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quote Mocha: "quote Kiporby: "You'd like the Granite River for good walleye fishing.
Plenty of good outfitters up here on the Gunflint with bunks and shuttle services. You could get dropped at Gunflint Lake for a Magnetic Lake entry and get picked up on Saganaga. Easy trip with plenty of falls and rapids to fish below."
now, Dan, why would he need to be dropped at gunflint lake when he could just stay the night before right across from the magnetic narrows? :))"
Oh yea.....that other place on Gunflint Lake.... I think I've been there once or twice. I recall a nice lady who worked there. :0
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Mocha
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quote Kiporby: "You'd like the Granite River for good walleye fishing.
Plenty of good outfitters up here on the Gunflint with bunks and shuttle services. You could get dropped at Gunflint Lake for a Magnetic Lake entry and get picked up on Saganaga. Easy trip with plenty of falls and rapids to fish below."
now, Dan, why would he need to be dropped at gunflint lake when he could just stay the night before right across from the magnetic narrows? :))
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Jackfish
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Hey now! I think I know where those accommodations are! :)
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schweady
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The biggest knock on western side trips is the "crowded" feel. A September trip negates much of that. For that reason, I would encourage an Ely-based adventure, hitting one of the more popular routes during this slower time, as AmarilloJim suggests.
I have a bias, of course... due to drive time from western MN, all of my BW trips have begun in Ely (or Cook).
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Jackfish
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Kind of thinking Kawishiwi... from what I can find, it seems like those lakes have good walleye fishing. Anything more to add to that area? Suggestions? Was this a burn area?
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Grandma L
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I am with Schweady - drive Echo Trail to Moose River North entry vs. Gunflint to Seagull entry is about 50 miles and more than an hour less. All that considered, the picturesque Hwy. 61 drive along Superior might influence the decision.
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Mocha
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quote Jackfish: "Thanks for all the suggestions so far, everyone. I talked with my son last night to discuss potential routes, getting gear ready, etc. and we're both excited about the trip. This will be only my second BW trip ever and my son's first. Been going to Q since the mid-80s.
I like the idea of the Gunflint area, but I like a few of the other suggestions as well. We'll be looking at routes and driving time over the next day or so to get things decided. When that's done, we'll get a permit and make plans for an overnight stay someplace on Thursday night
Sheryl, are there any resorts - GFL or others - that have bunkhouses along the Gunflint?
Any burn areas that we might be looking at?
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pete, most outfitters have bunkhouse accommodations and most are still open. there is some burn to see on your way in. the new growth is pretty amazing as well as the exposed rock. it's a wonder anything can grow with little to no soil, but you will find little jackpines, cedars, and other foliage growing between the cracks in rocks and boulders.
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GraniteCliffs
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Echo Trail to Stuart River entry point and up to Iron. Camp on Stuart on the way up. Some longer portages but they are flat, not rocky and little mud. Very few folks on the Stuart River or Lake.
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pswith5
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Hey Pete, if you're paddling out Friday where is dinner Thursday? I should be exiting then
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Mocha
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walleyes are over-rated... :)
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Jackfish
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quote pswith5: "Hey Pete, if you're paddling out Friday where is dinner Thursday? I should be exiting then"
Not sure. Depends on where we're staying and where we enter. Where will you be?
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Kiporby
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You'd like the Granite River for good walleye fishing.
Plenty of good outfitters up here on the Gunflint with bunks and shuttle services. You could get dropped at Gunflint Lake for a Magnetic Lake entry and get picked up on Saganaga. Easy trip with plenty of falls and rapids to fish below.
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Jackfish
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Sounds interesting, Dan. Sent you a message.
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schweady
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quote Jackfish: "Kind of thinking Kawishiwi... from what I can find, it seems like those lakes have good walleye fishing. Anything more to add to that area? Suggestions? Was this a burn area?"
Kawishiwi Lake? If so, I think that the route north from there is a VERY interesting way to see the Pagami Creek burn area. You'd start in the green, travel through the eastern tip of the burn, and be back in the green by your first night's camp.
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pswith5
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quote Jackfish: "quote pswith5: "Hey Pete, if you're paddling out Friday where is dinner Thursday? I should be exiting then"
Not sure. Depends on where we're staying and where we enter. Where will you be?" I am doing a baker lake entry. Not sure if I will loop or go up and straight back down. Either way I am in the middle. If you go east or if you go west. If the weather sucks I might be sneaking out a day early. Looks like we might get some rain. Rain makes me thirsty for beer! ;)
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Michwall2
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quote Jackfish: "Kind of thinking Kawishiwi... from what I can find, it seems like those lakes have good walleye fishing. Anything more to add to that area? Suggestions? Was this a burn area?"
If you are based on or near Mahlberg you have several interesting options. Mahlberg is a crossroads in the BW. Southwest along the Kawishiwi River you can find pictographs at Fishdance Lake. Northwest you will find Amber, Boulder, and Adams Lakes. Little visited and productive fishing waters. Northeast out of Mahlberg you will find Kivaniva, Pan, and Makwa Lakes. Makwa has some magnificent cliff faces. East out of Mahlberg are the final stretches of the Louse River. Frond and Boze Lakes are seldom visited. Amber Lake has a sand beach campsite as does the northwest corner of Mahlberg.
If you are headed east out of Lake Polly, the river travel is the thing. With fewer people passing through you should happen upon more wildlife. Beautiful stretches of long, thin waterways interrupted at various intervals by sections of rapids or falls. There are sections of the river where you are barely skimming over the bedrock and others have deep pools where we have watched river otters playing. I have so many places in the BW I want to visit in the fall. This is definitely one of them.
Despite the frequency of portaging, I think the work is well worth it to visit either area.
Good trip.
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Jackfish
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Talked to my son tonight and we decided to take a September trip this year. To make things interesting, we'll start paddling on Friday, September 9th and come out on Tuesday, September 13th. Five days and four nights. That's only ten days away.
I'm thinking we might make our stays one night-two nights-one night. We're going to fish, preferably for walleyes, but we're flexible. It'll just be two of us so we won't need a lot of eaters.
Planning to enter on the Ely side, but could be talked into the Gunflint side. Any good routes that we should consider? Let me know. Thanks!
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GraniteCliffs
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BW or Q?
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Jackfish
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BW :)
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Michwall2
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Two Suggestions:
1. Kawishiwi Lake (Entry 37) - Day One - Kawishiwi to Polly (or Koma?). Day Two Polly to Amber. Day Three Layover. Day four - Back to Polley(or Koma) - Day Five - out to Kawishiwi.
2. Shuttle from Sawbill to Kawishiwi Lake (Entry 37) - Day One - Kawishwi to Polly. Day Two - Polly to Phoebe. Day Three Layover - Day 4 Phoebe to Beth (Alton, Kelso, or Sawbill OR spend another day on Phoebe?) - Day Five - Out to Sawbill Landing
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Grandma L
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Lots of good options on the Ely side and less driving!
Echo Trail - Moose River North - Agnes, Tiger/Boulder Bay, Nina Moose.
Ely - Moose up to the border - Birch, Thunder Point. OR Fall to Basswood.
Less portage work, more fishing time.
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Jackfish
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I'm liking the ideas so far. Keep 'em coming. I really appreciate the help.
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AmarilloJim
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A good time to consider the more heavily traveled routes.
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schweady
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I will second Grandma L's Moose River North entry, but will suggest:
1: Agnes
2-3: LLC Never Fail Bay area
4: back to Agnes
Fishing on both of these bodies of water have never failed us (pun unavoidable, sorry). Plus, the two nights on LLC -- and the partial days both prior and following -- give you a chance at a stretch of good weather to explore the LLC pictographs in detail. Head back to Nina Moose for your take-out day, if you'd like, but I haven't experienced any decent fishing there.
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Kiporby
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I agree with Sheryl Pete. Try the Gunflint side! The route she suggest is really nice. Or do a tow to American Point and head through Ester and Hanson to the SAK and back through Ogish and Alpine to Seagull.
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Mocha
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how about a seagull entry, head to Ogish or south arm of knife for night one, head through sema to spoon to kekakabic (other small lakes and ponds before kek) for two nights, then return to ogish via the kek ponds and out to seagull and your car.
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Jackfish
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Thanks for all the suggestions so far, everyone. I talked with my son last night to discuss potential routes, getting gear ready, etc. and we're both excited about the trip. This will be only my second BW trip ever and my son's first. Been going to Q since the mid-80s.
I like the idea of the Gunflint area, but I like a few of the other suggestions as well. We'll be looking at routes and driving time over the next day or so to get things decided. When that's done, we'll get a permit and make plans for an overnight stay someplace on Thursday night.
Sheryl, are there any resorts - GFL or others - that have bunkhouses along the Gunflint?
Any burn areas that we might be looking at?
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