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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum

Trip Planning Forum

Deciding when to go

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Date/Time: 05/06/2024 08:19AM

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Deciding when to go

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
A1t2o	03/16/2020 07:27AM singlebladecanoe: "I'd love to go first part of June however scheduling this year wont allow for it. We have a family vacation planned the last week of May and I have things that won't allow me to be gone from the house for 3-4 weeks at a time. Hence the end of June to give some home time between trips. " If you originally planned on early June then how is mid to late June all that different? A couple weeks is not a big difference, why not just stay as close as possible to the original plan?
jhb8426	03/15/2020 06:41PM I've found the week after July 4 and the week after Labor Day to be ideal. A lot of people plan for a 4th of July trip or a Labor Day trip. The weeks following are generally quieter. I usually do both.
AussieShep	03/15/2020 07:35AM I'm surprised no-one has talked about water temp. I like to take dips...in warm water. So it's July for me. Been there four times in July and bugs were only a problem at night but we have a bug shelter. Fishing has never been a challenge and I'm no Bill Dance.
Spartan2	03/15/2020 04:36AM brulu: "June is my favorite time to be in the boundary waters, and I'm not much of a fisherman. The days are long, the green is still fresh, the Canadian carpet is blooming, the birds are calling, and the summer is young and full of possibilities. The bugs don't bother me much." This is exactly how I would have answered. I do hate the bugs, but with Deet, and Permethryn-treated clothing, and a head net. . .I am good to go.
egknuti	03/14/2020 08:03PM I’d choose the end of September. No bugs, less people, and fall colors. Still good fishing too!
singlebladecanoe	03/14/2020 11:26AM I'd love to go first part of June however scheduling this year wont allow for it. We have a family vacation planned the last week of May and I have things that won't allow me to be gone from the house for 3-4 weeks at a time. Hence the end of June to give some home time between trips.
brulu	03/13/2020 12:31PM June is my favorite time to be in the boundary waters, and I'm not much of a fisherman. The days are long, the green is still fresh, the Canadian carpet is blooming, the birds are calling, and the summer is young and full of possibilities. The bugs don't bother me much.
A1t2o	03/13/2020 08:33AM Everyone keeps going on about the bugs, but you are going to have to deal with them that time of year anyways. Would you rather deal with them at home or in the boundary waters? Most of us are going to want to be outdoors this time of the year anyways, so I would rather be somewhere nice like the boundary waters where I have taken steps to deal with the bugs instead of being home and trying to deal with them without those steps.
HayRiverDrifter	03/13/2020 07:46AM I go every chance I get : - )
Michwall2	03/13/2020 06:03AM singlebladecanoe: "Trying to plan my trip this year. Can't seem to make up my mind between mid-end June or Sept. Planning on a 10 day trip. If you had an open schedule what month would you chose to go and why?" I did my first mid-September trip last year. We were in the wilderness for 4 days and the changing leaf colors was beautiful. The quiet was profound. (As compared to the very busy forest sounds of early June.) Absolutely wonderful time of year and would do it again in a minute. The biggest change for me was the length of daylight hours. In June you are at or near the solstice with the longest daylight hours of the season. In Sept you are at or nearing the equinox. There is a big difference in daylight hours there. The difference for us made for some great long nights for sleeping or star gazing. The shorter days and longer, colder nights make for some chilly water temps for swimming. Or standing in the water and splashing, which is what we did. Haven't been that cold since swimming in the Pike River back when I was a kid. While it wasn't what I would call "busy", we never had a problem finding a campsite or anything like that, there were more people than we thought there would be. We still had some great wildlife encounters - mergansers visiting our island site one morning with lots of vocalizations and splashing sounds and a very memorable otter experience (I only see otters when my wife is along. Good reason to take her more often don't you think? ).
lindylair	03/12/2020 05:51PM My vote would be for September, first or second week after Labor Day. Weather should still be good and water reasonably warm. Bugs mostly gone. Fishing can still be really good with good technique, right place and a little luck. But if fishing is a huge priority June would be better. But...IMO mid to late June is absolutely the worst time for bugs in the BWCA and can range from moderately bad to son of a bi***. And to make it worse, bugs that time of year aren't just limited to dawn and dusk they can be with you all day long. It's doable if you are prepared to deal with it for the fishing. For me it just tampers the enjoyment of the trip too much when it's bugs all day long, every day. I took a mid to late June trip probably 35 years ago, weather was good, but the bugs were so bad that I vowed to never come back that time of year...and I haven't.
tcoeguy	03/12/2020 08:41AM I have done both June and September, as most people have already said, it depends on what you are going for. I think the main questions is this- Is fishing your primary activity? If yes, go in June. My group and I have had a lot harder time fishing in September. I know someone might disagree, but for me personally, I struggle to find the fish late in the year. We have caught them, but not as easily. Less numbers. June is great. Walleye are easier to find and in shallower water. Smallmouth practically jump into the canoe that time of year. As stated, there are downsides. Bugs are in full force. There are more people. Less available campsites. If fishing isn't number 1 on your priority list, definitely go in September. No bugs. Far fewer people. More campsite availability. I love September up there, for everything except the fishing. Don't stress about it though. You'll have fun either way you decide.
A1t2o	03/12/2020 08:00AM papalambeau: "I would go June for the fishing. In September the bow and shotgun are coming out and ready to roll for hunting." This is the big one for me. I like to space out the things I have to look forward to (and spend money on). Duck hunting start at the end of September now so this is simply too close to hunting season for me. If hunting wasn't a factor, why not do both June and September?
CCBBSpeckled	03/12/2020 07:54AM September - fewer bugs
walllee	03/12/2020 07:25AM First week of June for fishing. Last week of September for beauty, weather, less people.
papalambeau	03/12/2020 06:15AM I would go June for the fishing. In September the bow and shotgun are coming out and ready to roll for hunting.
Blatz	03/12/2020 06:02AM September would be my first choice. Less people, bugs are in check, now days the weather is generally more friendly than it used to be.
x2jmorris	03/12/2020 05:12AM cyclones30: "preacherdave: "I’d probably take June because I primarily go to fish. If I wasn’t a fisherman I’d take September. Love the shoulder season for lack of bugs." This...early June for fishing or go in Sept." I do fine fishing in Sept.. I would take Sept for decent fishing and most important no bugs.
cyclones30	03/11/2020 09:41PM preacherdave: "I’d probably take June because I primarily go to fish. If I wasn’t a fisherman I’d take September. Love the shoulder season for lack of bugs." This...early June for fishing or go in Sept.
bwcadan	03/11/2020 09:05PM July: Works best for fellow travelers.
preacherdave	03/11/2020 08:17PM I’d probably take June because I primarily go to fish. If I wasn’t a fisherman I’d take September. Love the shoulder season for lack of bugs.
TrailZen	03/11/2020 07:51PM We're retired, so we have the requisite 'open schedule'. For the past three years, we've hit Quetico for 10-day trips starting in late August and exiting the Park in early September. The trips have been great, with few bugs and fewer people. We've submitted permit requests for the same time this year... TZ
singlebladecanoe	03/11/2020 07:44PM Trying to plan my trip this year. Can't seem to make up my mind between mid-end June or Sept. Planning on a 10 day trip. If you had an open schedule what month would you chose to go and why?