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EP 14 LIS North Loop

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Date/Time: 04/28/2024 05:44PM

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EP 14 LIS North Loop

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
rdgbwca	05/28/2020 12:15PM sns: " 17.5 ft (NS NW 17). The western crux through the steep rocky area was especially hard." I have read some that say going the other way (fat to slim) would be easier on this portage. Would you agree? Would direction make a difference with the 17.5 foot canoe?
sns	05/28/2020 12:08PM rdgbwca: "sns: "We did part of this last week. EP 14 to Fat via the unmarked portage in 5.5 hours. We did single the unmarked portage in about 50 minutes, including unloading and loading times. But that effort kicked our asses, and while we had no real trouble following the trail, I can easily see how once the foliage grows in it could become much more challenging. " How long was your canoe?" 17.5 ft (NS NW 17). The western crux through the steep rocky area was especially hard.
rdgbwca	05/28/2020 10:27AM sns: "We did part of this last week. EP 14 to Fat via the unmarked portage in 5.5 hours. We did single the unmarked portage in about 50 minutes, including unloading and loading times. But that effort kicked our asses, and while we had no real trouble following the trail, I can easily see how once the foliage grows in it could become much more challenging. " How long was your canoe?
egknuti	05/27/2020 08:06AM Dfrank89: "Thank you everyone, this message board is fantastic. Does anyone have experience with Ramshead lake? I haven't been able to find much recent information. I know it's a bear to get into. Worth it on the way out? " Getting to Ramshead from Oyster or Agnes is fairly easy. There is a nice site on the island and another on the east side of the lake. I’ve spent many days on Ramshead without seeing anyone. I’ve caught some decent pike on the lake as well. Be ready to employ a variety of techniques if the fish aren’t biting. The portage to Lamb is flat and not difficult but watch for the poison ivy and the end. The portage into Nina Moose is more challenging. It’s not one of my favorites but it’s not a game changer in my opinion.
HawkInCT	05/27/2020 03:59AM Dfrank89: "Thank you everyone, this message board is fantastic. Does anyone have experience with Ramshead lake? I haven't been able to find much recent information. I know it's a bear to get into. Worth it on the way out? " It's been a while since on Ramshead (>20 years, so not recent). Outfitter swore by the HUGE pike in the lake. Spent two nights there - nothing but perch and a few hammerhandles. Got out of there quickly and moved up to LLC. Did have the worst horde of blackflies ever on the stream/river up to Agnes. so, not worth it IMO
analyzer	05/26/2020 10:35PM We did the loop last June. We moved each day, and I'm glad we had 8 days. We triple portaged though, so we were slow. Even triple portaging, we went from Lynx to the car at 14 in half a day. We caught a nice 28" Laker on Gun. I've heard fat is full of lake trout, but we didn't fish that one. The guys we talked to on Pocket had good success for small mouth. We had several really pretty/memorable campsites. Liked the mid-peninsula one on Oyster the best, but several were very nice. Oyster is supposed to have Lake Trout as well. We really enjoyed this whole loop. We called one portage, lady slipper lane, and another the emerald creek. Everything was moss covered. Loved the elevated Lynx campsite too. And Lynx has crystal clear water. Have you watched this? Love the video, and borrowed their itinerary (for the most part). LIS north
Dfrank89	05/26/2020 09:41PM Thank you everyone, this message board is fantastic. Does anyone have experience with Ramshead lake? I haven't been able to find much recent information. I know it's a bear to get into. Worth it on the way out?
sns	05/26/2020 09:41PM We did part of this last week. EP 14 to Fat via the unmarked portage in 5.5 hours. We did single the unmarked portage in about 50 minutes, including unloading and loading times. But that effort kicked our asses, and while we had no real trouble following the trail, I can easily see how once the foliage grows in it could become much more challenging. We looped from Fat and singled it again on the way out (exiting 14). Finger is a neat lake, though we did not have great fishing there. We made it back out from Finger in one day, but I would not recommend doing so. The Pocket Creek to Pocket Lake portage involved...staying in the canoe. Water was high enough to float over the rock garden.
cowdoc	05/26/2020 09:36PM We made Slim the first day quite easily, even with some rain and wind on Loon/little loon.
GopherAdventure	05/26/2020 09:33PM Dfrank89: "Thanks for the input. I think we will have an outfitter drop off and pick up so I'm assuming that will solve the different entry and exit points. Is Slim lake doable in the first day? We will be on the water as early as possible, we usually stay in a bunkhouse at the outfitter. Do you think this will allow us plenty of time to enjoy the area and fish or will 5 full days and the last morning be enough to complete it without having to push too hard? " I did that loop 3 years ago and I was on Fat via the unmarked portage in less than 6 hours. Great loop, good fishing, I went in July and saw only a few groups in the 5 days I was there. Slim in one day is no problem. The portage from Little Loon to Slim is deceptively hard. All of the other portages are a breeze. Tony
rdgbwca	05/26/2020 08:55PM Dfrank89: "Thanks for the input. I think we will have an outfitter drop off and pick up so I'm assuming that will solve the different entry and exit points. Is Slim lake doable in the first day? " There are a lot of variables for travel times. I have been researching this loop out of LIS North. I think reaching Slim is doable. I will share the MDNR lake finder links to Slim Little Loon If I head that direction, my preference would be to fish Little Loon. Unmarked portage thread. Unmarked portage trip report.
Dfrank89	05/26/2020 08:31PM Thanks for the input. I think we will have an outfitter drop off and pick up so I'm assuming that will solve the different entry and exit points. Is Slim lake doable in the first day? We will be on the water as early as possible, we usually stay in a bunkhouse at the outfitter. Do you think this will allow us plenty of time to enjoy the area and fish or will 5 full days and the last morning be enough to complete it without having to push too hard?
Dfrank89	05/26/2020 08:31PM Thanks for the input. I think we will have an outfitter drop off and pick up so I'm assuming that will solve the different entry and exit points. Is Slim lake doable in the first day? We will be on the water as early as possible, we usually stay in a bunkhouse at the outfitter. Do you think this will allow us plenty of time to enjoy the area and fish or will 5 full days and the last morning be enough to complete it without having to push too hard?
cowdoc	05/26/2020 07:32PM Just did the full loop in 2018. First night on Slim. Next 2 nights on Finger. Last 2 nights on Hustler. Paddled out to 14 last morning and were back in Ely for a late lunch. I didn't want to mess with different entry/exit logistics. Great loop.
cyclones30	05/26/2020 07:27PM I personally like your idea of going 14 to 16 and your route is good.
boonie	05/26/2020 06:51PM My 2nd trip (1st solo) was #14 to #16, which was entry of my first trip. It's still one of my favorite trips. Fat Lake wasn't on the radar back then and I went through Section 3, North, and Steep, which I enjoyed. Slim and Steep were cool little lakes. Saw a moose at the narrows on Eugene. Finger Lake was another one I really liked. Heard wolves howling there and saw northern lights. I stayed on Gebe and wolves ran through camp at 3AM - a hair-raising experience. There are some pictos on Rocky - more like symbols than pictures. I had been through there from Pocket on my first trip. The two entries are about 9 miles apart, which I ran until I was picked up after about 6 miles. If you've got two cars, it'll be easy for you. Otherwise leave a bike there if you have no runners. I think it might save you a few miles, mostly portaging, if you skip Ramshead. I didn't fish, so can't help you there. I went back in EP#16 last fall and enjoyed the river paddle up to Agnes. I had forgotten how nice it was. Stayed on Nina Moose one night to watch the Trumpeter Swans that were there. I think you'll enjoy it any way you do it.
Dfrank89	05/26/2020 05:02PM Hey all, this is my first time posting although I've been browsing the forums and finding loads of good information. I am planning a 6 day 5 night trip in September. We are a group of 6 all with canoe experience and only 1 of the group is new to bwca. The route I'm looking at is from EP 14 up through loon into slim possibly through the unmarked portage into fat lake? Work our way through those smaller lakes to Pocket Creek and then south through Oyster. Most of the routes I find show looping back toward EP 14 but would heading out EP 16 offer any benefit. Would it be quicker? We want to cover some miles but at the same time we will be trying to fish as much as possible. I was thinking maybe we could have two nights at one site in maybe Finger Lake. Is there a certain lake you guys had the most luck fishing? Another lake I've had some interest in on the way out is Ramshead, based off the idea that it sounds rarely used. I heard that the fishing isn't as great as it once was but the chance at some big pike or just having alot of action sounds cool. Anyway any information you guys have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.