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Date/Time: 03/29/2024 07:58AM
EP 16 loop

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
egknuti 07/20/2019 07:55PM
Bwcajunkie: " I made some replies but I don’t see them. Thanks for all the great info! We are going to do the loop! Sounds like it makes sense to go through Llc and around. Any good fishing on oyster? I hear there are lakers in there. I’d like to get my non fishing buddy’s on some fish- "
I fished Oyster about 2 weeks ago. I caught lakers in 60-100ft. They appeared to be 40-50ft. I used spoons and tail dancers. I caught many before 7 am and 3-until dark. Good luck!
minnmike 07/20/2019 10:34AM
It looks like they have has several nice rain/storms this last week and maybe more rain today. I don't think you will have to worry about fire bans for the foreseeable future.
Bushman 07/20/2019 09:21AM
Richwon4: "Bushman: "I don't know about the river but that loop could be done in two days.
Following thread a I am leaving for #16 next week.
Water levels and dry (burn ban) are always on my mind."




Are you saying there is currently a burn ban? "



No, not at all. I just haven't read much on water levels at #16 and last I talked to VNO he reported that they hadn't had much rain. Burn ban is always a possibility as we head into the dry hot months. I'll be at #16 a week from tomorrow morning.
Richwon4 07/19/2019 10:44PM
Bushman: "I don't know about the river but that loop could be done in two days.
Following thread a I am leaving for #16 next week.
Water levels and dry (burn ban) are always on my mind."



Are you saying there is currently a burn ban?
hoosconnie 07/19/2019 09:15PM
cyclones30 - we went this spring and the fishing was solid. Had great smallmouth and northern action on Pocket around the islands. Also caught lots of fish (panfish, rock bass, and some small walleye) from shore at the campsites on the southern side of Nina Moose and some northerns around the islands on the west end of Nina Moose. Caught a few fish at every river in flow while we were traveling as well. We primarily fished lindy rigs with crawlers and leaches (and jigs once the northerns ruined our lindy rigs).


Bwcajunkie - We caught zero fish on Oyster. We fished quite a bit in the bay on the west side of the lake (with the peninsula dotted with campsites). I'm guessing we just had an off day and didn't know where we should be fishing. Talked to a couple of guys that were camping nearby that had some luck with lakers the day before. Hope you have a great trip! Some really beautiful campsites in that area.
Bwcajunkie 07/19/2019 09:59AM
I made some replies but I don’t see them. Thanks for all the great info! We are going to do the loop! Sounds like it makes sense to go through Llc and around. Any good fishing on oyster? I hear there are lakers in there. I’d like to get my non fishing buddy’s on some fish-
TominMpls 07/19/2019 09:16AM
My daughter and I did this loop two years ago, but we did it the other way - Agnes to LLC to Oyster. Click on the notebook by my name to read my trip report. We took it easy and slow over six days, with a full rest day in the middle. She and I could have done it in four days then without issues; now, the two of us could do it in three days easily if we wanted to. But I do think four or five days is the right amount of time for this loop if you actually want to enjoy the solitude and scenery.


The Pocket Creek area is one of my favorite areas in the BWCA.


We paddled all the way down the Oyster River. It wasn't that hard to follow from the north; although there were various times we thought we were going to lose the channel, it held all the way. But it would have been *really* hard to find from the south - a tiny, winding opening in the reeds.
cyclones30 07/18/2019 10:49PM
hoosconnie: "I will second the recommendation to avoid going up the Oyster River. We did your loop in reverse this spring and regretted not taking the 160 rod portage off of Oyster River into Agnes. Lots of beaver dams and marshy. My wife ended up waist deep, stuck in the mud.



Also, I would have never found the entrance to the river hidden in the marshes if we were going up instead of down it. It was only a few feet wide when we came out into the area between Agnes and Nina Moose.



We spent 7 nights on this route, just because we wanted to travel slow and fishing was a focus. We got a late start on the first day (we ended up just camping on Nina Moose), and we base camped for 2 nights. We fished quite a bit and didn't push too hard. We also went up into Pocket, which is a little further. I would say it could be done in 4 nights. "



How was the fishing? That's why we almost did this route
hoosconnie 07/18/2019 09:55PM
I will second the recommendation to avoid going up the Oyster River. We did your loop in reverse this spring and regretted not taking the 160 rod portage off of Oyster River into Agnes. Lots of beaver dams and marshy. My wife ended up waist deep, stuck in the mud.


Also, I would have never found the entrance to the river hidden in the marshes if we were going up instead of down it. It was only a few feet wide when we came out into the area between Agnes and Nina Moose.


We spent 7 nights on this route, just because we wanted to travel slow and fishing was a focus. We got a late start on the first day (we ended up just camping on Nina Moose), and we base camped for 2 nights. We fished quite a bit and didn't push too hard. We also went up into Pocket, which is a little further. I would say it could be done in 4 nights.
egknuti 07/17/2019 01:00PM
I would not recommend going up the Oyster River. I went down it a few weeks ago. There were no fewer than eight beaver dams to cross. The lower half of the river seems to change every year as well. This year it entered the Nina River Moose about 100 yards north of where it was last year. Go to Anges, then portage over to the river. You can easily get to Oyster in one day, especially if you’re single portaging.
minnmike 07/17/2019 12:03PM
The lower half of the oyster river is pretty iffy. I believe it is quicker to paddle to Agnes and take the portage to Oyster River. I have done that route several time. In my experience it's hard to even find where the Oyster river flows into the Moose. But you can always try and see what it looks like.


That route is very doable in 4 days. The only thing that may be an issue is if you get wind bound on LLC. But you can always turn around and exit the way you came in.
cyclones30 07/17/2019 12:02PM
We almost did that exact loop this spring but went elsewhere instead.


In doing our research, and doing a trip from 16 thru Agnes and back, we figured it could be done in 3 solid days. 4 days moving each day would be easier days, or give you a layover. 5+ days if you're fishing or want to take extra time.
Bushman 07/17/2019 11:13AM
I don't know about the river but that loop could be done in two days.
Following thread a I am leaving for #16 next week.
Water levels and dry (burn ban) are always on my mind.
Bwcajunkie 07/17/2019 10:53AM
Hi everyone. 4 of us are hitting ep 16 soon. I’m wondering if anyone has looped through oyster to ge be and then up and around llc to Agnes. We only have 4 nights, is that doable? Does anyone know if oyster river is open? Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks