Anyone have thoughts on if they have enjoyed staying at one campsite for the length of the trip verses traveling and finding one or two more sites during the duration of the trip?

Obviously, its personal preference. But, our crew has always done a loop and stayed at a site one or two days, and moved on the next. This year, I think we want to do more day trips and cut down on travel. Heres our plan:

7 days: Seagull EP 54 - Alpine - Jasper - Kingfisher and stay on Ogish. Then either we would stay there the duration of the trip, or we would want to split the trip in half and do the second half up on the South Arm of Knife.

The focus: Fishing. We have always done the Ely side, so we have not fished this side of the BWCA. Any suggestions for fishing on these lakes is always appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Seven days at one site would be a lot for me personally, but I know people who love trips like that.

I've grown to like semi-basecamp trips....with three or four days per site, and changing sites once or twice on a trip. This works best when there are multiple day trip options that provide variety of species and the ability to get to smaller water in case the wind comes up.

I'm doing the same basic trip you are this year, entry date July 15th on Seagull. Tripping with 2 of my kids, we're planning on getting at least to Ogish on day 1, then keeping our options open depending on weather, how good the fishing is, campsite availability, etc..

Tentative plan is a night on Ogish, then push further out to either Knife or Kekekabic, (not sure which), stay a couple nights, maybe move, then take a couple of days paddling back, staying maybe on Alpine or Seagull the last night.

Since this trip is not a loop, and we're paddling back the way we came, we want to stay on different lakes on the way out than the ones we stay at on the way in.

We'll probably stay at 3-4 campsites total in 7 nights, depending on the variables above. While I don't mind travel days, I have to admit I do like days where you can wake up and not have to worry about packing up camp.

My suggestion is to break your trip up and stay at 2 or 3 different lakes. Might as well explore a little more while you're out there. You don't even have to plan it, just wing it!

Very personal decision. I get itchy before second night at same site. I love the traveling - sights and sounds and views and even the portages. But thats fat 66 year old me who does not fish.

Do you have to commit to one or the other, or can you leave options?

We are strictly base campers. Our trips are based on fishing, comfort and relaxation. We go as far as we can get the first day double portaging, because we carry too much fresh food and to many comfort items, but after that first day, we eat good, relax and fish. None of our group would enjoy setting up and tearing camp down every day, others have to move daily to feel they accomplished anything.

most trips for me are basecamp with a night often halfway back to exit to make our last day an easy one as it's 1000 mile drive home. On the third or fourth day I'm feeling itchy to move anyway.

You can do really long day trips if you can leave the fishing gear at your base camp for a day or 2. In June and July. with an early start and traveling light, you can expect to travel at least 30 total miles and do dinner at the basecamp. We make sure to not go past the time needed to return by dinner. The dinner can be another lunch if needed due to a later than expected return. You can cover a lot of water and determine the sights that interest you for this day or 2.

On a long day trip, take some extra food, first aid kit, and tent for unexpected weather or other reasons you cannot get back this day. Drink filter or drinking from enter of a lake works too.

For your scenario I like the idea of staying at your "main" site for 5 days and then continue to another site on day 5 or 6 closer to your exit point. This gives you another camp for a night or two and then makes your day getting out easier.

I have stayed 7 days at a single site several trips but there was lots of day trips from that single site. Its fine and dandy especially if the site is nice and quiet.

I'm a big fan of the basecamp. Mostly because I enjoy not having to break/set camp every day. But I also like having new scenery. Moreso, my tripping buddy gets antsy if we stay in one place too long so we strike a balance. If it's a 3 day trip, we move the whole time. 4-5 days, we'll move, stay a couple nights, then move again. Longer trips, more basecamp nights. Honestly, I'd be happy just staying in one spot for 4-5 days rather than having 2 or 3 (or 4) different campsites, as long as there were enough routes to keep me intereted, or if the fishing was good. I've never fished the BW, but I would if I had that much downtime to deal with, and not having the first priority being getting to the next campsite.