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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 06:12AM
Polly Lake

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
A1t2o 12/07/2018 11:35AM
Cretbo: "A1t2o: "Cretbo: " Malberg is my ultimate destination ... just not sure weather will home base out of Polly and Base camp there? Or just trek it all the way in to Malberg Lake. As of right now ... might be my first solo trip :)




Bob "





When are you going? My buddy like groups of 4 so we have 2 canoes in case anything happens but always have trouble getting a 4th person. We are planning a June trip."





As of right now ... some time end of May into June. Not edged in stone yet. I like to fish once i got a base camp. This might work ... keep in touch. So many places to go ...so few vacation ha ha"



Yeah, I'm not certain on our plans yet but my idea so far for this route option are base camping on Malburg and taking a day trip to Fishdance to see the Pictos and possibly do a little cliff jumping too. I was thinking maybe 4 days since my wife doesn't like me being gone for too long. If that sounds like it might work, send me an email to my linked address.
A1t2o 12/07/2018 11:29AM
DrBobDerrig: "For our group it would be a slug. We stayed at Polly for a couple days, then went to Malberg for few days ( with day visit to Fishdance Lake,) then back to Polly for a day or two. That made for a nice trip. If you have hot muggy days those two longer portages can take it out of you if you double portage and have newbies which we did each trip. You don't want to make this death march.



dr bob"



You should have seen our trip last year. We went from Round to Gillis day 1 when it was near 90 and starting at about 2:30 because of a mishap with the permits. There are a lot of crappy portages on that route from Brant so I'm familiar with death marches. I have a trip report on that trip from June, the title is Late and a Wrong Turn. I'm getting the impression that this route would not be that bad.
Cretbo 12/07/2018 10:11AM
A1t2o: "Cretbo: " Malberg is my ultimate destination ... just not sure weather will home base out of Polly and Base camp there? Or just trek it all the way in to Malberg Lake. As of right now ... might be my first solo trip :)



Bob "




When are you going? My buddy like groups of 4 so we have 2 canoes in case anything happens but always have trouble getting a 4th person. We are planning a June trip."




As of right now ... some time end of May into June. Not edged in stone yet. I like to fish once i got a base camp. This might work ... keep in touch. So many places to go ...so few vacation ha ha
DrBobDerrig 12/07/2018 08:10AM
A1t2o: "Do you guys think getting to Malburg in a day is reasonable? I was looking at making a 4 day trip to basecamp on Malburg and have a daytrip to Fishdance to see the pictos. Seems like it is getting towards the upper limit of how far I would want to travel in a day. What do you guys think?"


For our group it would be a slug. We stayed at Polly for a couple days, then went to Malberg for few days ( with day visit to Fishdance Lake,) then back to Polly for a day or two. That made for a nice trip. If you have hot muggy days those two longer portages can take it out of you if you double portage and have newbies which we did each trip. You don't want to make this death march.


dr bob
cyclones30 12/06/2018 11:06PM
We have a trip report from this June there. We slept in the truck at the EP and got a very early start. We single portage but weren't in a hurry. We were on Malberg by noon and had plenty of sites to pick.
lindylair 12/06/2018 09:00PM
A couple years ago in mid July a buddy and I went from Kawishiwi entry to Malberg on a warm and humid day. We are not exactly youngsters nor are either of us in great shape so the heat and humidity took its toll but we were able to get to malberg in 7 hours, double portaging and not exactly hurrying. Left at 9am and got there at 4 pm. Funny, at a busy time in the BWCA we found the lake almost completely empty and had our pick of campsites. It's a great lake and nice area.


North of Kawishiwi we found a few beaver dams we had to pullover but minimal portaging until you get past Kawaschong. You will be going through a burn area north of Kawishiwi until you get to Polly which is interesting to see.


Here is a trip report if you are interested with many photos that will give you an idea of what to expect:


Kawishiwi entry
boonie 12/06/2018 07:29PM
BuckFlicks: "Yes, Malberg in a day is doable. You'll have to push yourself, and you also run the risk of not being able to find a campsite on Malberg if you get there late in the day. It's a popular hub. "
Another to note: Malberg has a lot of shoreline if you're paddling each "arm" looking for a site, probably at least 4 miles.
BuckFlicks 12/06/2018 06:48PM
Yes, Malberg in a day is doable. You'll have to push yourself, and you also run the risk of not being able to find a campsite on Malberg if you get there late in the day. It's a popular hub.


A1t2o 12/06/2018 02:51PM
Cretbo: " Malberg is my ultimate destination ... just not sure weather will home base out of Polly and Base camp there? Or just trek it all the way in to Malberg Lake. As of right now ... might be my first solo trip :)


Bob "



When are you going? My buddy like groups of 4 so we have 2 canoes in case anything happens but always have trouble getting a 4th person. We are planning a June trip.
Cretbo 12/06/2018 11:39AM
Malberg is my ultimate destination ... just not sure weather will home base out of Polly and Base camp there? Or just trek it all the way in to Malberg Lake. As of right now ... might be my first solo trip :)

Bob
inspector13 12/06/2018 09:21AM

Plenty of people make it to Malberg from the EP in a day. Just get an early start.


A1t2o 12/06/2018 09:07AM
Do you guys think getting to Malburg in a day is reasonable? I was looking at making a 4 day trip to basecamp on Malburg and have a daytrip to Fishdance to see the pictos. Seems like it is getting towards the upper limit of how far I would want to travel in a day. What do you guys think?
DrBobDerrig 12/06/2018 07:41AM
We have gone there twice from Kawishiwi Lake EP. Find 2 extra days and spend some time at Malberg Lake. This is one of my favorite area. Stay at the CG the night before or at Sawbill and get a good early start. Bruins have been an issue but we have lucked out so far...we go the last week in July.
We brought some fishaholics last time and they nailed the walleyes on both lakes....even on a sunny day.
I gladly washed the dishes
Enjoy that area,,,


dr bob
cyclones30 12/05/2018 10:01PM
ducks: "Good Info from jaywalker and boonie. You can also use the online voyageur map to see the route and portages."


x2, this will show exactly what to expect. The 2nd portage between square and kawashachong isn't needed but there was a large beaver dam before Kawashaching that you had to get over.


All portages are well worn. We got an early start this June on our trip thru there and went from EP37 to Polly in about 3 hours. Even if you take your time it shouldn't be a bad trip.
TipsyPaddler 12/05/2018 09:31PM
We did a four night family trip to Polly mid August this year. Pretty easy paddle and portage from EP37 to north end of Polly. Took us about three hours at a leisurely pace and double portaging with a five year old in tow who didn’t add a lot of paddle or sherpa power.


The two portages on my Fisher and Mackenzie maps between Square and Kawasachong are “variable.” When we went the water levels must have been high and the beaver dams very new as we paddled past/skipped the two portages in a 20 foot canoe pretty easily both coming and going. The turns were a little tight but not very challenging. What my maps don’t show is about 300 yards from the entrance to Kawasaschong there is a tall, well established beaver dam that also requires a short portage. So the portages between Square and Kawasachong could be 1, 2, or 3 in total but all are short and easy. The two portages from Kawasachong to Polly are longer but also pretty easy.


We were a bit concerned about Polly being packed in the high season but we entered on a Sunday and left on a Thursday and had several good choices for camp sites, saw only a couple other parties passing by and occasionally heard a little laughter from a nearby camp site when the wind was still but I wouldn’t call it “crowded”... maybe on a Friday or Saturday it would be different. Overall we had a great time!
ducks 12/05/2018 07:50PM
Good Info from jaywalker and boonie. You can also use the online voyageur map to see the route and portages.
Cretbo 12/05/2018 07:46PM
boonie: "+1 on what Jaywalker said. It's a pretty nice paddle up through there.



Just take the two portages to Polly. As someone once told me, they're there for a reason. The Kawishiwi River from Kawasachong to Polly is reportedly choked with deadfall from the Pagami Wildfire, among other things, and is likely much more difficult than the portages. The portages are not too difficult, but there's not much of a paddle between them. "



Thanks guys for your help here!! Exactly what i needed :)


Bob
boonie 12/05/2018 07:26PM
+1 on what Jaywalker said. It's a pretty nice paddle up through there.


Just take the two portages to Polly. As someone once told me, they're there for a reason. The Kawishiwi River from Kawasachong to Polly is reportedly choked with deadfall from the Pagami Wildfire, among other things, and is likely much more difficult than the portages. The portages are not too difficult, but there's not much of a paddle between them.
Cretbo 12/05/2018 07:03PM
Perfect, Thanks on the Imagery .... when you get to Kowasachong, can you take the Kawishiwi river into Polly Lake or just take the two portages from Kowasachong to Polly?


Bob
Jaywalker 12/05/2018 05:14PM
I'm guessing you are using the map system on this site? If so, go to the lower left, click on the drop down, and select "imagery", and you'll get a satellite view that makes it clear. Yes, there is a channel from Kawishiwi up to Square, and then much of the way onward to Kowasachong with two short portages around shallow, rocky areas. It's a well travelled route and shouldn't be too hard to figure out when you are there. It's also better shown on the Fisher or McKenzie maps.
Cretbo 12/05/2018 04:06PM
Hi ... Would like to take a trip to Polly Lake for (5 day total) What is the best route to get there? EP37? If so, what is the first portage as the map doesn't show it leaving Kawishiwi Lake? Is there a channel or a portage to square lake?
Also, then Square lake to Kowasachong lake? The map doesn't show me the portages very good? Could someone mind explaining the route ... would really appreciate it as never been this way before.

Bob