A few questions

*Advantages / disadvantages of Sabourin river vs. Dutch river including intangibles such as scenery

*Is Thicketwood part of the burn? Desirable campsites?

Despite purchasing maps to do a loop I am wondering if I shouldn't just get to Bigshell and head back out the same way I entered. Thicketwood would be the only new lake I would see on my way back to Lund if I were to do a loop.

Is Thicketwood part of the burn? Is it worth my time? Hows the fishing? Is there lodges and motor boats?

Eastern part of Thicketwood is in the burn. A lodge or outpost near the middle. We used a nice camp a half mile east of the portage heading to Larus. In high ice out water it was a 14 hour day from Bigshell to Thicketwood. It was so late we found a green island on the east end squeezed our tents between a few trees. Having read your trip reports I think you would prefer staying on Bigshell or Bannana.

Thanks Marten you have confirmed my leanings. Initially I had thought to do a loop as I always like seeing new water but I kept feeling a check. So Banana and little Big Shell will be the destination..........portage the swift RR correct? Thanks Marten. Hope to blunder into you sometime ;-)

Anybody fish Little Big Shell (just below Big Shell)? Are there walleye? How about Lakers?

...both routes from Bigshell to Thicketwood are wonderful. We have paddled both ways on the Sabourin River using to the current to float/dream/enjoy the country side...and a nice upstream paddle. Martin and his crew did a wonderful job cutting the snowdown trees across the river. In low water you may find a few more trees to pull over or cut a route through/we did this in September/2014...so the water was low, exposing a few more trees. In one of the lakes above a boulder field there was a small camp/which appeared to be used during the ricing season. The river is constantly changing with the blow downs, some fire, and surges of water with the rain events. Our first time through here in 1991, we ran most of the rapids...now, there appears to be a lot of windfall in the river. This is a wonderful part of the WCCP, special place that brings silence and a unique feel with the woods on both sides of the river...my impression is that the travelers through here have left few signs which makes it even more special...

The route out of the northwest corner of Bigshell is another wild place. There is a long portage from Bigshell towards Burntwood...I know it was cut several years ago, but haven't been in that area since the snowdown. The travel downstream on the Dutch for us was good...and a half day from Burntwood to Thicketwood. Thicketwood does have a fishing camp...but, it a large lake, wonderful views, that can handle several groups of people...the westerly winds have a clear shot to run this lake so the route here is behind each island/wait/fish/paddle again...where the Sabourin enters the lake is a large rice field and the actual river can be hard to find...but the mallards that jump from the rice and the possible moose encounters make the trip worth while...as always in the WCCP, the place holds a lot values for the traveler beyond fish caught or mileage made...and we feel privileged to have traveled through this country...enjoy.

Carol and Tom Heinrich

Thanks for weighing in Oldzip. It sounds intriguing and very lovely. Looks like the decision is made however and I will be doing a route instead of a loop ending at Bannana. I had wanted to check out Burntwood as well but that is a bear of a portage. Would it be worth it? Is the fishing better than at Bigshell? Are the views better? Inquiring minds want to know. Maybe I will hike the first leg of the portage to Burntwood just to go for "A walk in the Woods". Maybe even scamper around that pothole and get a look at Burntwood. Probably doesn't get many visitors.

I am wondering if I should expect to make it from Olive to Bigshell on the portage heavy Sabourin in one day tripling? I am thinking maybe but probably not. Good thing I have Harlans maps which shows a site on the Sabourin river 3/4 of the way to Bigshell. Hoping I can get the gear down to tripling........must force myself to make that the goal especially with so many portages.

6 years ago, Claire and I did a late fall trip clearing trail from Bigshell to Burntwood. We also flagged the trail into Banana Lake, which was cut a year later. Scrambling up what was left of the old trail, we were likely the first ones in decade to visit the lake from this direction Here is a picture of the campsite located just off this trail....such a cool spot...note the spruce growing out of the fire area.....rarely visited indeed!

WooHoo! I like sites which are a bit elevated. Hopefully the landing is decent. Now I just have to keep my arrival a secret lest the denizens of the deep hide themselves shuddering with fear (insert rolling eyes emogee >HERE<)