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BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog

March 18 2024

Entry Point 57 - Magnetic Lake

Magnetic Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Gunflint Ranger Station near the city of Grand Marais, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 47 miles. Access Magnetic Lake and Granite River from Gunflint Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 3
Elevation: 1554 feet
Latitude: 48.0969
Longitude: -90.7621
Magnetic Lake - 57

Clove Lake Canoe Derby 2013

by jungro
Trip Report

Entry Date: July 29, 2013
Entry Point: Magnetic Lake
Number of Days: 5
Group Size: 6

Trip Introduction:
A return trip to the BWCA with last years rag tag crew, hoping for something other than rain!

Day 1 of 5


Monday, July 29, 2013 We awoke at Tuscarora Lodge and Outfitters after spending the night in a bunkhouse and had a great breakfast of French toast and our last drop of 'civilized' coffee. This year we had the same cast of characters as last year. Rowan is 6, my son, head full of blond curls and couldn't be happier chasing grasshoppers and fishing. Marissa is also 6, my niece, loves socializing, s'mores and playing cards. It's both their second time up in the BWCA and have been looking forward to a return trip all year. My older brother is the assistant to the leader, has a plethora of enthusiasm and novel ideas, yet lags behind everyone in basic outdoorsmanship. My mom is 64, raised three boys, still a full time professor of theology, puts up with all of the typical BWCA shenanigans but insists on bringing a super duty thermarest mattress that inflates to a larger size than the twin mattress I used through college. But it's your mom, so you portage it anyway. My dad turned 70 this year but that didn't stop him from helping carry the packs at the portages, which didn't stop him from falling over at the portages...

Sue and the crew got us loaded up and trailered us to the public landing on Gunflint where we put off. 

The paddle on Gunflint and Magnetic was great, with very little wind we relaxed and took our time. Even circled the island with the Swiss Chalet on it.  

As we made our way down the Pine river, the scenery was gorgeous, the portages were rocky and the blueberries looked promising! We had a lunch of gorp, granola bars and jerky overlooking the falls.

When we arrived on Clove, the northern campsite with the sandy beach was taken, but the western campsite was available so we took it. It's a solid site, getting in and out is a little tricky but otherwise fine. We did some fishing from shore and had some luck with a few northerns and bass. Rowan caught the big fish of the night with a three pound smallie, when you're 42 lbs yourself, that's a big fish! 

 



Day 2 of 5


Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Early to rise we had a great sunrise to greet us. Mike and I paddled over the the Pine River rapids on the eastern side of Clove -- the forums, are outfitter and other canoers promised great fishing. We fished with leeches on jigs, slip bobbers, floating jig heads and tubes for about three hours -- nothing. It was pretty defeating. We headed back to camp for a big breakfast of sausage and potato's. 

The day was spent swimming, fishing and snacking from the 12 lbs of gorp we brought.

My brother Mike has been 'taking' me fishing ever since he was 7 and I was 3. As long as I remember, I've always needed to bait his pole and take the fish off -- and this year was no exception. 

Supper consisted of three northerns made up into fish tacos -- delicious. We breaded the northerns with shore lunch and a 1/4 packet of taco seasoning. Had a cream sauce ala allrecipes, hauled in a head of cabbage and plenty of lime. I'm getting better with filleting northerns, but they sure do make Lake Erie Perch look easy!

That recipes is here: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fish-Tacos/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=fish%20tacos&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

 



Day 3 of 5


Wednesday, July 31, 2013 The sunrise crew consisted of my Mom, Dad and I -- probably because we are the only coffee drinkers of the group. The jet boil isn't great at much, except for coffee.  My dad fishes once a year, the canoe trip, but once the fishing fever sets in, he can't let go! Mom paddled us around through the weeds and he was throwing rapalas and I was throwing top water horned toads and a zara spook and it seemed like we were basically catching northerns at will. I see why everyone crimps the treble hooks on the rapalas, I finally got one through my hand while it was still attached to the northern -->not happy making. I crimped the barb and just pulled it back, could have been much worse though. 

We did find a honey hole for bass that was working like a charm. I assumed that most of clove was just northerns except for the Pine River scour hole, but we lucked into a nice little spot. 

While taking Rowan to the 'potty', I followed a lightly used trail and came to the top of our 'hill'. While I had heard of great blueberry picking this time of year, I had thus far been disappointed, well disappointed no more. Endless blueberries were to be found just 30 yards from the throne! The crew could not have been happier. 

Took a trip up the Granite a few portages and explored the area, wish we would have fished a little more but it's tough with the little ones. 

After our Bear Creek Soup supper, we got out for a little more fishing and Rowan caught the fish of the trip! His Kool-Aid mustache and face painted forehead say it all.  

 



Day 4 of 5


Thursday, August 01, 2013 Blueberry pancakes for breakfast -- I was happy to have some vegetation in my diet again!  At this point in the trip -- my dad still couldn't tell you what a Senko was but he was catching a lot of fish with them. Rowan liked his tubes and I convinced my brother Mike that catching a top water fish is worth pulling three in on a rapala -- life was good. Had a few bites on a white Zulu of QueticoMike fame, still found it difficult to set the hook but it was good to see it in action.

We tripped into Larch -- seemed nice enough, the island campsite looked great. Half heartedly tried for some crappie, didn't get a single bite. 

Spaghetti for supper was the call of the day -- accompanied with the 'pizza dough' bannock with sprinkles of garlic and parmesan, delicious!

 



Day 5 of 5


Friday, August 02, 2013

The weather was so great that we took our sweet time breaking camp, probably didn't leave our site until after noon.  Nice little paddle out. The wind had really kicked up on Magnetic and Gunflint on our way out, fortunately it was on our back. The 'surfing' was a little nerve racking at times but we made it through just fine. 

I'm a bit of a lurker on the site, if you're a regular you've probably helped us out and didn't even know it. Thanks everyone!

 


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