BWCA Hog Creek - a few questions Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Trip Planning Forum
      Hog Creek - a few questions     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

05/17/2017 06:15PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
We are camping at Crescent Lake on Sunday of Memorial weekend and entering at Hog Creek on monday morning with the idea that the crowds will have thinned a great deal. WE will be basecamping on Perent Lake for a mostly relaxing 6 days with considrable fishing and a couple daytrips. So the questions are:
There is a small river to the south and west of the Hog Creek entry into Perent Lake, is that navigable for a while and worth checking out?

What is the Perent River heading west towards Isabella like? Mostly low wetland type paddling, or any high hills? Seems like on the topo maps there might be a few bluffs. Is it a pretty nice paddle and any fishing opportunities in the river itself? Is it narrow like Hog creek or does it widen in spots? We are thinking of a long daytrip to this area, going in half a day as far as we can get, having lunch and heading back to Perent. Realistically how far do you think we could get?

Photography is a big priority, we can make a short trip pretty long by stopping often for interesting shots.

Any other general advice about best campsites or fishing for Perent Lake?

Just so my expectations are correct, stairway down to the creek from the parking area> And a 15 or so rod portage shortly after? Then its just Beaver dam pullovers until Perent?

Appreciate any responses, getting pretty pumped for the trip.

 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
05/17/2017 06:36PM  
As I recall there was a few more rocky areas I had to carry around. It was the early 90s the last time I was there though. I do remember seeing Moose on both of my Hog Creek trips. Out of nowhere one walked right in front of our canoe, peed in the creek and went on its merry way. I had a very short video of it
05/17/2017 09:07PM  
I love this trip.

You park and take a very short walk/portage/stairway to the landing site. I remember there were lots of bugs along the creek so maybe keep a headnet and some spray handy just in case. Then off you go on a very twisty and narrow stream to the lake. We had to pull over two beaver dams. If you decide to try to ride over them going with the current, a little extra speed might be needed to get you over. DO NOT dump yourself in. We had to get out to pull over one on the way back. I slipped off the wet timber and sunk one leg into the bottom of the creek. That creek has some serious boot sucking mud and you do not want to step into the water. Its wall to wall marsh too so you can't really get to shore either.

You have to take it slow and the bow paddler needs to help lead the nose into the turns if you go too fast. It's pretty common to bounce off the shoreline and nose into the bushes. It's a hoot, you'll love it.

The lake itself is wonderful. We found lots of fish, all small but plentiful to the east of the islands on the east side of the lake. The lake is not very deep, somewhere around 20 feet if memory serves me correctly. We stayed near the fishing holes on an island site. It was beautiful. The large bays on the north side were worth a visit as well.

The Perent to the SW has a few boulder gardens and a few portages to go around. It leads to Isabella Lake. We only made it about two miles down this before turning around on a day excursion. I can't help you after that point. The portages were easy and scenic.

I really like this trip although others in my trip found the creek to be annoying. Their paddling skills and patience were tested. I thought it was great and would love to do this trip again.
05/18/2017 10:36AM  
Might want to check with the USFS about the burn area on Perent River. I believe at least 1/2 of the forest burned on the river.
salukiguy
distinguished member(597)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/18/2017 11:33AM  
I stayed at a campsite on the SW part of the lake and it was ok for a small party then we moved to the nice island site and stayed there for 4 nights. I caught most of my fish on jigs and twister tails or jigs and a worm. I also used road runners. It was very hot when I was there so we were happy to sit and read books until evening when we went out to fish. We didn't venture very far down the Parent river but it looked pretty scenic.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next