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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Bourassa Lake? Just west of Gun Reply
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| Author | Message Text |
| marsonite |
06/24/2020 07:50PM Must be something to do with water chemistry, maybe lack of spawning habitat? Who knows. I fished both Steep and Little Beartrack with no results some years ago. Nowadays the MNDNR lists green sunfish and rock bass as the only species in Little Beartrack. Beartrack and Steep are pretty much the same story. |
| BassmasterP |
06/24/2020 04:45PM Hard to believe Beartrack would have little to no fish - it's almost 60 foot deep. Contrast that to the lower end of neighboring Eugene which maxes out at 20 ft. I fail to understand why one lake in the are would have an abundance of fish and another next to nothing - particularly if the fishing pressure is light. Perhaps I should move the Beartrack ~ fish or no fish topic to a separate thread. P |
| BassmasterP |
06/24/2020 12:41PM Hey SNS, thanks for the reply - and the Beartrack/Contentment notes. I'll shoot you an email regarding a few hot spots in Quetico if you please reply with a few BWCA areas you had luck in. We have always gone in mid-August to September but have managed to find a few shallow areas that hold big smallmouth and easy to fish deeper areas that hold lake trout averaging about 5 pounds. Last September we caught over 20 lake trout in about 30 minute (3 guys) with the biggest being around 12 pounds. On another spot - for the second yer in a row - we pulled in six 15"+ SM from one VERY little hole, in a matter of minutes. And then (and I know this sounds too good to be true)...on our favorite Brent spot...one of our guys pulled in 3 SM, back-to-back-to back @ 22", 22" and 24". He honestly didn't even understand how big those fish were! Keeping my fingers crossed for the border to be open, for obvious reasons! Thanks, Pat   
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| cyclones30 |
06/24/2020 12:23PM Sounds like a fun route. Snow Bay is definitely not a snowflake trip if you're starting at EP 14 and it's windy. But it would be if you're getting a tow to the edge of the bay.... :) I'd think your Bourassa would have fish as it almost looks connected to LLC and/or other lakes. |
| sns |
06/24/2020 10:45AM Nice-looking trip - we did much of the same route from EP 14 right after the BWCA reopened a month ago. LLC was great - you are likely eyeing sites north of Gun we either stayed at or stopped to inspect...all pretty nice. Fishing for SMB and Pike was good on LLC; can circle a few bays on a map for you where we really got into the smallies. There's a really sweet site on Gun too. I liked Fat lake a lot, and we caught a few small lakers, but the second time through the campsite was occupied. Have a plan B for that possibility. The hidden Fat-Slim portage is as advertised, and now that the undergrowth is leafed-in, there will be a couple spots where you may need to hunt around for the trail - there are a couple of 90 degree turns that took me by surprise that may be easy to overshoot, but it should only take a few steps to realize you are not on the trail. Towards the west end there's a short but steep descent through some boulders that can be challenging with 17 feet of canoe on your head. We singled it (twice, 6 days apart) in about 30-35 minutes (carry time), but those were ass-kickers. Went through Beartrack, and I could be wrong as we did not fish it, but I suspect that lake is fish-free. Just looked sterile. Maybe someone else can chime in. An alternative to Bourassa might be Contentment. There is a steep but totally doable unmaintained portage from Thumb to Contentment. Contentment is isolated, scenic and great fishing if you like hammerhandle pike on every other cast. Our real bummer was the plan to lay-up at the Devil's Cascade or the Pauness lakes...only to find all the sites occupied. Had to keep going and exit a day early. Probably (hopefully) not an issue midweek...we were exiting Memorial Day weekend, so perhaps the crowds will be less for you. Like you we were only there because the border is closed. Have fun! |
| BassmasterP |
06/24/2020 08:28AM Thanks for all the replies. Yes, we are getting towed by Andersons - our outfitter when going to Quetico - to Snow Bay. Here's our route: Day 1: Snow Bay to campsite on LLC Just North of Gun Day 2: Day trip to Trygg but remain on LLC Day 3: Move to Beartrack through Gun (short trips as we fish hard all day) Day 4: Move to Fat Day 5: Hang out on Fat Day 6: Exit Fat West through unmarked portage and move to Little Loon Day 7: Move to Lower Pauness Day 8: Paddle out Somewhere in there we might bushwhack in to Bourassa. But...I'm beginning to think that if the fishing were good there would be a portage. Most of the "secret" spots we have discovered in Quetico are along a well established routes but in lakes, or small bays, that are passed by during normal point-to-point travel. I'd consider divulging such information in exchange for similar sweet spots along or near the route mentioned above. Thanks for the input. While I am really bummed that we likely can't enjoy the freedom of the Quetico wilderness, the BWCA should fill in nicely, especially for the first-timers - they won't know what they're missing, anyway. We are hammock campers that set up camp pretty much where ever we are when 3pm arrives. The idea of being restricted to a designated campsite with a toilet is pretty crazy. But...in the BW's defense - the format allows a lot more people to use the area - and if you ask any outfitter...young folks just aren't getting out anymore. The average age of clientele, according to the few I've used is somewhere in the ballpark of 55 to 70. Used to be 30 - 55 20 years ago. Anyway...I'm rambling now. Thanks everyone. Tight Lines, P |
| Voyager |
06/24/2020 07:15AM That should prove interesting. I wouldn't expect any fish. Almost all of the lakes I've been to off the beaten paths seem to be poor fishing. There was 1 exception. (which shall remain nameless, the obscure path into that lake gets more beaten down as word gets out) You might try Yodeler also. It's been several years, but it was pretty easy. There was a blow down in that area since I was there though. Lots of bass, all small though. Yodeler is north of Lynx. |
| Voyager |
06/24/2020 07:15AM duplicate post |
| cyclones30 |
06/23/2020 05:34PM Starting in snowflake bay?? (as in Snow Bay?) You must be getting a tow? Interesting route |
| boonie |
06/23/2020 11:40AM Go to google maps, type in "bourassa lake mn", switch to satellite view, zoom in. Probably best way in is from N, but appears 1st part a little bushwhack to creek, then shallow with blowdown. There's water in there, appears to be beaver dam in SE corner Bourassa, looks like total bushwhack from that end. But shortest way looks to bushwhack from Eugene. |
| BassmasterP |
06/23/2020 11:20AM Taking a group of teenagers to the BWCA as a backup plan to our August Quetico trip that likely won't happen due to the eminent border closure being extended...again. We're starting in Snowflake Bay and making our way, slowly, back to the Little Indian Sioux River access. We have 8 day to fish hard and explore. The boys want to get in to some less-traveled lakes and I have found nothing regarding a small lake just to he West of Gun & North of Eugene - Bourassa. Has anyone attempted to visit this lake? Maps show a creek flowing through it connecting it to Eugene on one side a LLC on the other. None of my BWCA books even mention this lake.! I am seriously considering a bushwhack adventure but was hoping someone here could tell me if we'd be doing nothing but fighting our way in to a shallow boggy pond. Thanks. P |
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