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QPassage
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Draper
qp
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PineKnot
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Stay away from Draper. It's mostly filled with smallies of various sizes...the big ones get attacked by even bigger berserk pike that maul them before they get to the canoe....
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old_salt
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After rereading your story, qp, I gotta ask, Are you coming back?
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QPassage
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Hard to say. The tarpon fishing in Costa Rica twice a year eats all my vacation time. I'm actually considering a BW trip this Fall. Still not sure. Giving up catching 200 pound fish it hard to do.
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Ho Ho
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Good thread. After many trips in the southern half of Quetico, we're thinking of a north-side trip. Maybe we will have to head to Draper (a lake I never noticed before). I enjoyed your report QP. You can't really be giving up Quetico of the mere ocean, can you?
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PineKnot
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Can't go wrong for topwater smallies on Draper, Sturgeon Narrows, and Antoine.....hit those three areas on a single trip and you'll have a blast!!
I'd rate those two lakes and the SN as 10 of 10 for trophy smallies.....
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OldGreyGoose
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MM: I have heard that Draper Lake was past Quetico Park Ranger Shirley Peruniak's favorite lake. There is supposed to be a very good campsite on the westernmost of the two large islands. (Possibly a message-jar site?) --Goose
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thinblueline
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The problem with Draper is that it's one way in, and one way out, and the portage, from what I remember from many years ago, isn't a walk in the park. Plus, as was already mentioned, I believe there is only one campsite. This all means that to go into Draper with the idea of camping, is somewhat of a gamble, because you're going to do this somewhat difficult portage, paddle all the way across the lake, and if you find somebody camped there...well guess what, you get to paddle back across the lake and do the portage again the same day.
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Murray McMurray
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Thanks to all for the reports on Draper Lake. QP....a special thanks to you for sharing your journal/story of your experience with your son on Draper. I too go accompanied with a special child, my daughter. She is grown now and 26 years of age but still wants to take a week away from her boyfriend and job to a very special place for both of us. To have one week, seven days, with her all to myself in the Quetico is the epitome of happiness.
Thanks again to all and cherish the time.
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cburton103
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timf1981: "Do you have any updated fishing reports about Draper Lake or the lakes on the rout back up to Pickerel? I read your comments on Draper from 2014
I am looking for some topwater bass fishing"
We fished Draper on a full-day day trip from a base camp on Walter. The portage hadn’t been cleared yet, and had some young trees down across it. Some muddy spots, but it felt overall like a classic Quetico portage.
It was a very windy day, and we struggled with the fishing. We had good luck for good size smallies and large pike in the area between the islands.
Overall, we had better luck fishing on Lonely and Walter except for size of pike. We caught three 35-37” pike on our Draper day trip. We didn’t check out the campsite - too much paddling into the wind since we weren’t staying there anyway.
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arctic
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Enjoy! There is nothing that tops canoe tripping with kids.
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old_salt
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QP started a message jar at the only known campsite on Draper several years ago. You may want to contact him for more info. I've been there a few times and can tell you that it has good smallie and northern fishing. It is rumored to have Lakers and has deep water, but I've never found them. I have camped on Walter.
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Murray McMurray
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Planning my annual trip with my daughter and would be going through Walter and Lonely Lakes. I would like to camp on Draper if there is any kind of a site there. It doesn't have to be anything fancy but for one night a place to setup. Does anyone have information on this. Also...I have heard the fishing is quite good there. Any opinions or help there? Thank you.
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thinblueline
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I should add, however, if you do go into Draper, you could very well have the opportunity to experience some smallmouth fishing you will remember forever, if you hit it right ;)
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old_salt
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quote thinblueline: "The problem with Draper is that it's one way in, and one way out, and the portage, from what I remember from many years ago, isn't a walk in the park. Plus, as was already mentioned, I believe there is only one campsite. This all means that to go into Draper with the idea of camping, is somewhat of a gamble, because you're going to do this somewhat difficult portage, paddle all the way across the lake, and if you find somebody camped there...well guess what, you get to paddle back across the lake and do the portage again the same day. "
That is why we camped on Walter and daytripped. We didn't want to lug everything in. The 'campsite' is pretty rough and has only one or two marginal pads. Nice for lunch stop.
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timf1981
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Do you have any updated fishing reports about Draper Lake or the lakes on the rout back up to Pickerel? I read your comments on Draper from 2014
I am looking for some topwater bass fishing
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