Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Quetico weather mid September
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Randy Kuhens |
Folks have covered your options on clothing. Two words of advice - rain suit! Buy the best you can afford. It will be a bad day if you get wet. then cold. In my opinion the most important clothing you can have and very versatile Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. I would take a Garmin Inreach Satellite communicator with GPS. You can send and receive messages and, if necessary, you can trigger an SOS 24/7 to a global emergency coordination center via satellite. Great to have if needed! |
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Eyedocron |
The last day across Bailey Bay and down to the Moose Lake landing was thankfully in a mild wind, but a very heavy snowfall, such that the shore could hardly be seen. Looked like a Winter Wonderland! |
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Minnesotian |
Thanks for the reminder. I'm going in next week to Quetico, and even though the weather looks pretty stable, I'm packing my wool pants. I remember one time, though this was an early October trip, of canoeing down through Basswood and into Horse in a sleet/snow precipitation. If I hadn't been prepared, canoeing would have been brutal. |
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OldGreyGoose |
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David B |
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mapsguy1955 |
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Jackfish |
First night, slept on top of my sleeping bag in my underwear because it was so hot. Second night, I slept inside my sleeping bag wearing long johns and with my mummy bag zipped up to my face. Third day, rain gear all day. I may have unzipped my sleeping bag a little in the night. Fourth day, a little windy. Warmer at night, but bag still mostly zipped. Fifth day... exit day. Absolute DEAD CALM and a nice day. It was like we were paddling in a vacuum. Does that help? LOL In other words, come prepared for every extreme. |
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Atb |
We're going in via Beaverhouse on 9/21, and planning is in full tilt now. It's getting tiresome bringing all the cold weather stuff since we seldom need it, so it is helpful to be reminded that it does become an issue. I appreciate the fishing tips too, we plan to make it more of a focus that previous trips, so we're looking forward to better success! |
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David B |
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AdamXChicago |
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OldGreyGoose |
--Goose |
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Ho Ho |
I've been on three trips to the Q in the middle of September, all about ten days starting on September 12 or 13. The first two trips the weather was unseasonably warm, paddling in t-shirts or shirtless, pleasant swimming, crisp but not cold mornings. On the first of those warm trips there were still a lot of mosquitos, not so much in the day time, but at dusk they came out - and because dusk is 7 pm that time of year, that's more of a problem than mid-summer. But all in all the weather was awesome (despite one day toward the end of one of those trips when it rained so hard so continuously that it shall forever be known as the Day of the Deluge). On the third trip, the weather was unseasonably cold, and stayed that way the whole 10 days. We never went for a swim, mostly wore multiple layers even when paddling, had campfires every night for warmth. Up to a point it was pretty nice, but when it was cold and cloudy and windy for days in a row, the threatening gray weather of fall got kind of old. In other words, be prepared, head out, hope for the best, and have fun. |
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Old Hoosier |
With respect to Quetico in Sept - been going in Sept for 30 years. Normal weather is 40 Deg nights and 60-70 Deg days. See more clear, blue bird days than not, but there is always the exception. We'll discuss that later. Wind is usually very reasonable (but it is NOT zero wind!) and manageable. Low humidity makes for fabulous star watching and wonderful full moons. Almost ZERO bugs and very few people. Fishing is best after Labor Day up to early October - or whenever the water cool down is underway. Fish come back shallow and start the aggressive winter feed -up. So I suggest mid-Sept is best for your choices outlined. I troll noisy crank baits at 6-12 feet to locate fish then work that local pattern hard. If warm, they are still deeper. Fall weather in Q can literally be life threatening. Water is still pretty warm (high 60s to low 70s), so water hypothermia risk is much lower than early spring. But wind can get very ugly and cold rain with snow/ice for 2-3 days is not unusual. This is what can kill you. So prepare with serous thought: 1) take a big tarp that can be your wind shelter (drop down one side to make a wall) as well as allow you to cook outside your tent or dry out some things if needed. 2) Take winter clothes - wool hat, wool gloves, wool socks, long underwear, good rain coat and pants (no cheap parka) And have extra dry clothes in dry bags - a MUST have. 3) Get a 2 day supply of tinder, kindling and wood collected, broken down and dried in from rain/snow BEFORE you start fishing. Never let it get low. Gathering wood in a 30 MPH wind and snow/ice is the sign of a rookie. 4) Take SEVERAL good fire starter methods - quality lighter, matches, cotton/petroleum aids, etc. You might need them all. Keep them separate and dry at all times. 5) Prefer camp sites protected from West and North winds. Just as examples of some "memorable" Q trips in Sept - rained 9 inches in 5 days and never got above 45 degrees, spent 10 days in Q and never rained a drop and temps were 50 nights and 70 days, had to spend over 48 hrs in camp due to wind and rain (glad to have a tarp !), was delayed on outbound trip for 2 days due to headwinds (from west/north), kids were playing with building fires and used/lost 3 of my 4 fire starter methods. Was literally down to one lighter left (in medical kit) -everything else was either wet or gone. I advocate a simple rule - expect the best but plan for the worst. If you are prepared for the worst, then you can COMPLETELY relax and enjoy whatever comes your way. Old Hoosier |
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OldGreyGoose |
As for the reunion, I'd say skip it. I've never been to one of mine! :-) --Goose/Class of '62 |
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Old Hoosier |
David B - one other comment - fall fishing is very different than spring in that the weed beds are absolutely maxed out in the fall while in spring they are at best just starting to grow. The weeds offer shade from the sun as well as cover for ambushing prey. They also hinder water from flow and hence are usually holding warmer water than open areas. All these contribute to fish in and around the weeds. Some of my very best walleye fishing was at high noon on a blue bird day fishing over the tops of submerged weeds. And we even caught the trophy pike (over 40 inches) as they were lurking there as well - often attacking our "eater" walleye as they struggled. Hope you both have a great trip. Old Hoosier |
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David B |
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walllee |
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