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       One week countdown to #16
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Date/Time: 03/28/2024 03:57PM
One week countdown to #16

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Previous Messages:
Author Message Text
Jasonf 07/23/2019 09:50PM
Bushman: "hoosconnie: "We were there this spring, so I can't comment on recent conditions. When we were there the portages on the Moose river were very muddy in places. Hopefully they are dryer for you.




We stayed in a particularly beautiful campsite on an island in LLC that faced Tiger Bay. We stopped at some other campsites in the area for breaks and they were all amazing. It's a big lake, so pay attention to wind forecasts. We skipped the pictographs on Irving Island when we went through that area because high wind forced us to paddle on the more sheltered western shore.




It may be prudent to take a satellite communicator given your father's health history. Better to have it and not need it. You can rent one from an outfitter if you don't have one.




Have a great trip!"




Thanks Hoosconnie!



I have read the campsite reviews and seen the pics for a good many of the sites around Tiger/Boulder Bay. They all look pretty nice, especially the one right in Tiger Bay although I imagine that one gets used so much it looks like a county fair tent site by now.



I debated on staying in Tiger Bay due to the fact that it is right next to some big open water. There is a site in Never Fail Bay I also have my eyes on that is pretty secluded and is on the Western side which is great for westerly wind protection but not so great for a prevailing camp cooling breeze or bug protection. I am very intrigued by Lady Boot Bay as well.



Depending on weather I will be flexible on moving campsites to get the most out of our time up there.



We have reserved a SPOT locator device for Dad just in case. Better safe than sorry. "



Last year about this time we did this same trip with my brother and I along with my daughter (13) and nephew (12). We had planned on staying either on Boulder Bay or Tiger Bay but once up there we found every site full, we then starting heading north with site 172 (I think the one your considering) being the only one open we could find. I will say this site ended up being a hidden gem. The cooking area is treed in with nice pines, there is a nice rock platform to swim from if you want as the water gets deep quick facing the east. It has a nice canoe landing around the point to easily pull the boats up. The best part was jigging for walleyes right from shore.
We did end up making this a two day trip, as was said above by the time we got to Agnes we were pretty whooped. So we did three days based on this site including a day trip to Curtain falls and the Pictos.
scotttimm 07/21/2019 09:54AM
Bushman: "hoosconnie: "We were there this spring, so I can't comment on recent conditions. When we were there the portages on the Moose river were very muddy in places. Hopefully they are dryer for you.




We stayed in a particularly beautiful campsite on an island in LLC that faced Tiger Bay. We stopped at some other campsites in the area for breaks and they were all amazing. It's a big lake, so pay attention to wind forecasts. We skipped the pictographs on Irving Island when we went through that area because high wind forced us to paddle on the more sheltered western shore.




It may be prudent to take a satellite communicator given your father's health history. Better to have it and not need it. You can rent one from an outfitter if you don't have one.




Have a great trip!"




Thanks Hoosconnie!



I have read the campsite reviews and seen the pics for a good many of the sites around Tiger/Boulder Bay. They all look pretty nice, especially the one right in Tiger Bay although I imagine that one gets used so much it looks like a county fair tent site by now.



I debated on staying in Tiger Bay due to the fact that it is right next to some big open water. There is a site in Never Fail Bay I also have my eyes on that is pretty secluded and is on the Western side which is great for westerly wind protection but not so great for a prevailing camp cooling breeze or bug protection. I am very intrigued by Lady Boot Bay as well.



Depending on weather I will be flexible on moving campsites to get the most out of our time up there.



We have reserved a SPOT locator device for Dad just in case. Better safe than sorry. "



Hey there - sounds like an awesome trip! We entered EP 16 on June 17th - my 15 year old son, my brother and his 15 year old son. Get an early start if you want to make it up to Tiger/Boulder Bay. We are all in pretty good shape, we were on the water (after waiting for a shuttle to drop our car off at EP 23) at 9:30 am, and were in Tiger bay around 3pm. After all the river portages, we had to work over 4 or 5 beaver dams before we got to Nina Moose. Not horrible - person in front got out, pulled the boat halfway across - second guy got out, hauled it all the way across together, then both got back in. Just slowed us down. Tiger and Boulder Bay was pretty full, though we were able to secure the northern site on the island facing the Bottle Portage. Great spot. We day tripped/fished the Boulder River and I think the two short portages are faster. Pay attention to how everyone is doing on the way up there - if you are dragging by the time you get to Agnes, consider snagging a site on the northern end to cut the trip down. My legs were shaking at the end of the portage out of Agnes with my lightweight Alumacraft on my shoulders, dropping down the rocks into a challenging landing on the other side. We were spent by the time we set up camp. We spent three nights in that area before heading across Iron into Crooked because it was so beautiful and the fishing was awesome. One day we hit the pictos and then paddled back into Never Fail - that campsite looked gorgeous and while everyone was searching around Tiger for a site - that one was still open. Felt very remote as not a lot of traffic comes through there. Have fun, be safe!
Bushman 07/21/2019 06:16AM
straighthairedcurly: "What a wonderful chance to travel together again. Have a great time."


Thank you ! I can't wait.
Bushman 07/21/2019 06:09AM
hoosconnie: "We were there this spring, so I can't comment on recent conditions. When we were there the portages on the Moose river were very muddy in places. Hopefully they are dryer for you.



We stayed in a particularly beautiful campsite on an island in LLC that faced Tiger Bay. We stopped at some other campsites in the area for breaks and they were all amazing. It's a big lake, so pay attention to wind forecasts. We skipped the pictographs on Irving Island when we went through that area because high wind forced us to paddle on the more sheltered western shore.



It may be prudent to take a satellite communicator given your father's health history. Better to have it and not need it. You can rent one from an outfitter if you don't have one.



Have a great trip!"



Thanks Hoosconnie!


I have read the campsite reviews and seen the pics for a good many of the sites around Tiger/Boulder Bay. They all look pretty nice, especially the one right in Tiger Bay although I imagine that one gets used so much it looks like a county fair tent site by now.


I debated on staying in Tiger Bay due to the fact that it is right next to some big open water. There is a site in Never Fail Bay I also have my eyes on that is pretty secluded and is on the Western side which is great for westerly wind protection but not so great for a prevailing camp cooling breeze or bug protection. I am very intrigued by Lady Boot Bay as well.


Depending on weather I will be flexible on moving campsites to get the most out of our time up there.


We have reserved a SPOT locator device for Dad just in case. Better safe than sorry.
Bushman 07/21/2019 06:05AM
minnmike: " I haven't been up there this year but it is a great area to go. Lots of nice camp sites in the Boulder Bay, Tiger Bay area. The areas you mentioned are awesome fishing spots. It looks like they have had some pretty good rain/ storms up there recently after a short dry spell so I would think water levels are pretty normal for this time of year. If you haven't been on this route before I recommend the two shorter portages from Agnes to Boulder bay. I can't think of much more to add other than your dad is gonna love his first trip up. "


Thanks Mike!
I loved Crooked Lake and LLC kind of reminds me of that. Paddling through islands and channels is awesome.
I will keep the portage info handy. Any particular reason why the two shorter ones vs one longer one?
Does anyone ever just paddle the Boulder River straight into Boulder Bay after the little 25 rod out of Agnes?
straighthairedcurly 07/20/2019 09:23PM
What a wonderful chance to travel together again. Have a great time.
hoosconnie 07/20/2019 11:20AM
We were there this spring, so I can't comment on recent conditions. When we were there the portages on the Moose river were very muddy in places. Hopefully they are dryer for you.


We stayed in a particularly beautiful campsite on an island in LLC that faced Tiger Bay. We stopped at some other campsites in the area for breaks and they were all amazing. It's a big lake, so pay attention to wind forecasts. We skipped the pictographs on Irving Island when we went through that area because high wind forced us to paddle on the more sheltered western shore.


It may be prudent to take a satellite communicator given your father's health history. Better to have it and not need it. You can rent one from an outfitter if you don't have one.


Have a great trip!
minnmike 07/20/2019 10:25AM
I haven't been up there this year but it is a great area to go. Lots of nice camp sites in the Boulder Bay, Tiger Bay area. The areas you mentioned are awesome fishing spots. It looks like they have had some pretty good rain/ storms up there recently after a short dry spell so I would think water levels are pretty normal for this time of year. If you haven't been on this route before I recommend the two shorter portages from Agnes to Boulder bay. I can't think of much more to add other than your dad is gonna love his first trip up.
Bushman 07/20/2019 09:25AM
Hi all,
I am headed out in one week and will be starting at Moose River north ep.
Game plan is to head up into Boulder or Tiger Bay and set up a base camp.

We want to see the pictographs and explore the archipelago of LLC up around Fish Stake Narrows and into Lady Boot Bay.

We also want to portage over into Iron and see Curtain Falls.

Other than that we are open and will be doing a bunch of fishing and adventuring.

The group started out with four, worked its way down to 2 and is now back up to three with the addition of my Father who has been down for a few years with some serious A-fib in the heart. He has recently been through some surgeries to help and by a grace more powerful than anything I know he has been on the rebound and is feeling fantastic.

When my third person cancelled, he asked if he could go with my son and I. I was ecstatic that he could once again adventure into the wilderness with me. Dad and I spent our lives hunting and fishing all over North America with Michigan our main area.
Somehow we had never heard of the BWCA/Quetico until I discovered it 2 years ago. He has never been and I am super excited to show him what we have been missing all these years.

My questions are:
Anyone been thru #16 in the past week or so? Water levels? Crowds?
Portage conditions?

Anything else worth making a day trip to see?

LLC been crowded up around Boulder Bay and that area?

My son and I will be carrying all of the gear. dad can carry the small tackle box and leeches but nothing else. LOL He said he can carry gear but it's not worth it to me. We will be double portaging so he has that much time to make a light single carry across the portages so he can take his time. He is 66 years old so we are in no hurry.

Anything anyone has to offer I am all ears.
My son and I went thru Mudro last year and loved it!