Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: what can i expect on jean?
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Thwarted |
I rarely go back to a lake but am planning to go back to Jean this year in June and base camp with a group of six. Four adults and two boys. The last trip was in early July and the fishing was great for eyes but so-so for bass and I had an avid bass angler with me. I was only on Jean for two days so this time I plan to cover much more of the lake. You don't need my hidey holes. AdamX has the right idea. In early July there was minimal traffic and all were moving through. Not so on Quetico Lake. It was fairly busy by Quetico standards. Especially near the Beaverhouse portage so don't be discouraged if you see traffic there. |
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QueticoMike |
quote PeterJonas323: "quote ZaraSp00k: "I have caught smallies, walleye, pike, and lakers on Jean. Not saying they aren't there, but I have never seen one on Jean before. |
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earlsrib |
What can I expect to be different related to crowds, bears, fishing, campsite availability? We mainly fish for smallies, but will fish walleye or trout. Is anyone interested in giving up a little known honey hole? |
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tumblehome |
Campsite availability is always not a problem. I remember very nice campsites on Burntside south of Jean I didn't fish it as I was just passing through. You will like the place. Now since I told you all of this, you should join the forum as a member. Much to learn.. much to learn.... |
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earlsrib |
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snakecharmer |
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AdamXChicago |
To address your conerns: Crowds - very low Bears - not likely to bump into one Fishing - quintessential Q Campsites - probably over 50 Not to worry - Jean is a can't miss. One of our favorites. Enjoy your trip... AdamX |
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tumblehome |
quote earlsrib: "done" Cool! Enjoy. Glad you're here. Tom |
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ZaraSp00k |
There are just about any type of campsite you can imagine on Jean, It is a big lake so even if there are other campers, you will see little of them. I will not tell you where but there can be awesome Lake trout and brookie fishing in the area. |
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DancesWithTrees |
quote AmarilloJim: "Has anyone run or lined the old logging shoot coming out of Jean recently?" I did that once, back in the 90's. Though I confess I thought it was a creek and didn't realize it was a logging chute. It was fast enough to be nerve wracking with a loaded boat, but also kinda fun. Did it downstream, never tried walking upstream in it. |
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zski |
quote AmarilloJim: "Has anyone run or lined the old logging shoot coming out of Jean recently?"both ways in 2013 and 2014, no problem |
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dentondoc |
quote Thwarted: "I was there two years ago. My second favorite lake now behind Kawnipi. If you are not having any luck on Jean with Smallies, you might make the hop over to Burntside and head up to the northeast end of the lake. You'll find a point at that end of the lake and on the southeast side of the point there is an underwater ledge close to shore. I was in there once on a June trip and absolutely hammered them there ... not large fish, but continual action for a couple of hours until we moved on. dd |
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mr.barley |
quote dentondoc: "The most fun I ever had fishing topwater for smallmouth was on Burntside (Budside) on a June trip. I'm not a big smallmouth guy, but it was a blast.quote Thwarted: "I was there two years ago. My second favorite lake now behind Kawnipi. |
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jeroldharter |
We had excellent smallmouth fishing on Jean in June. Of course, we also got rained in with 5 inches over 24 hours and the bugs were awful, although not as bad as on Tanner which should be avoided like cholera. |
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marsonite |
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dentondoc |
Compared to lakes like Brent, I'd think you'd see quite a bit less traffic on Jean than what you've experienced further south. The last time I was on Jean (which included a layover day), I only remember seeing but one other canoe paddling through on the way to the portage to Yeh. Technically, I guess we were on Little Jean when we saw them ... around a couple of islands on Little Jean just outside Jean. I remember catching a large walleye in that area. dd |
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QueticoMike |
Sea wolf As I stood at the edge of the island campsite, the full moon slowly drifted downward over the western tree line as the sun began to illuminate Jean Lake on its early morning climb. My soul was full of mixed emotions. A day every Quetico dreamer dreads, it was time to depart and head back to so-called civilization. I had just spent the past week with three of my best friends on this lake. We'd paddle to our campsite in one day from Beaverhouse Lake and had stayed there for the duration of our trip. This group didn't want to be put through the same rigors of past trips. My typical wilderness adventures begin with the Meadows Lake portages heading towards Agnes Lake. My friends didn't want to portage or be too adventurous; they wanted to fish. When staying in only one location, there doesn't seem to be as many opportunities to experience the wonderful environment surrounding Quetico Provincial Park. I enjoy viewing nature and the the optimal way is to keep on the move. It's been said "be careful what you wish for, you might just get it". We were finally going to travel, but not in the direction my heart and soul wanted to proceed. It was time to leave our island paradise. The canoes were packed up, the coffee and granola had been consumed, so we pushed off on our initial leg of four miles on Jean Lake towards the Conk Lake portage. Terry and I cruised in the Kevlar canoe, while Tom and Bo piloted the aluminum canoe. About half way down the lake we spotted something swimming out in the middle. Each of us begun taking turns guessing. "It's a loon" "No, it's too large" "Maybe it's a bear?" "No, it's not that big" "Maybe it's a bear cub?" "That's possible" No one had binoculars and the only real way to determine the species was to paddle towards it. It was several hundred yards away and the canoe race was on. The Kevlar, being the sleeker of the two, pulled away for the victory. When we were finally close enough to realize what it was, I turned and yelled back towards the other canoe, "It's a wolf ! ". Terry and I quickened the pace to have a better view before it reached shore. I didn't want the wolf to panic, so I stayed about 10 yards out away from it. It was mystical staring eye to eye with a wolf and not having fear of the canine. We snapped a few pictures as the other canoe approached and then moved out of the wolf's path. The four of just watched in amazement as the wolf swam to shore, jumped up on rock ledge, shook off the lake water, looked back at us one last time and disappeared into the thick woods. Maybe my wish to travel wasn't so bad. |
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Atb |
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AmarilloJim |
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jberns |
quote AmarilloJim: "Has anyone run or lined the old logging shoot coming out of Jean recently?" We did that last June. It was fast enough that we walked our Kevlar canoes through the curve going down & most of the way going up. No problems with that. |
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PeterJonas323 |
quote ZaraSp00k: "I have caught smallies, walleye, pike, and lakers on Jean. Brook trout? |
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Wally13 |
Cool wolf story Mike. |
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QueticoMike |
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HighnDry |
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QueticoMike |
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