BWCA This year's trip 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
      This year's trip     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

01/14/2019 07:31PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I have been going to Quetico the last six trips, but this year I’m taking a newbie and want to break him in more gently. Was thinking about a Lake One EP and base camping at Insula. I know it’s a popular lake and it was affected by the Pagami fire.

Questions are, how arduous are the portages? How long would it take a bumbling crew to get there? How did the fire affect things? What might campsite availability be like May 20? How is the fishing, which is a high priority? We switched to Quetico mainly for the better fishing.

Thanks for the help.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
01/15/2019 07:02AM  
Crowds should not be a problem May 20. What is your targeted fish species?
01/15/2019 08:21AM  
I'd say the portages are all on the easy side for BWCA portages. The first couple are like super-highways; flat, smooth, and wide. The last as I recall has a little hill or two, but still on the easy side overall. Someone else will have to coach on fishing.
01/15/2019 12:22PM  
The fire damage was mostly south of a line from the numbered lakes to Insula and beyond. Most of the campsites are on the north end of Insula and not affected, and there are some nice sites. I visited a couple years after the fire and regrowth is phenomenal. The view of the terrain without its usual coat of vegetation was also a positive for me. A nice side trip down the river to Alice and if you want to day trip on over to Fire to cliff jump or see the native art is an option. Some nice fishing along the way I have been told.
Portages are heavily used and pretty easy with decent landings. The last portage into Insula ends on the east with a steep drop, but otherwise not bad and it is the most difficult of the trip.
01/15/2019 06:43PM  
Thx for the info. We mostly fish for smallies-never keep any. I’ve heard variable reports re smallies in insula. Guess they migrated in years ago and now the fishery is strong but I have never fished insula.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next