BWCA Saganagons, Mack, Waiwag, Kawnipi and Falls Chain Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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cburton103
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04/22/2019 12:45PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Getting really excited about our first longer trip to Quetico in the last few years. We’ll have eight days on the water in the first week of June. We’re getting tows to and from Hook Island to start and end our trip, and heading to eastern Saganagons for night one. Then through Bitchu/Ross/Cullen/Munro to Mack. Then down the Waiwag to Kawa Bay and the rest of Kawnipi. Back out the Falls chain at the end.

We’re planning on three full layover days. Our goals are fishing, solitude and scenery, in that order. We especially want to target walleye this trip. We’ve been to kawnipi before (via agnes and the S-Chain) and stayed on McKenzie bay. McKenzie Bay was beautiful, but there were 1-2 occupied campsites the whole time we were there. Quetico has spoiled us to where we expect to not see many other groups, haha.

So out of this route, where would you spend the three layover days? I’ve considered a layover day on Mack if the walleye fishing is hot, and I’ve also considered spending all three days on Kawnipi. We would like to spend the better part of a day fishing Murdoch as well, since that’s been one of our favorite fishing lakes ever. We would prefer to have a view of old growth rather than previously burned areas, so that rules out McVicar Bay and large parts of Kawa and further south. We single portage and can travel about 15-20 miles per travel day depending on portages. Thanks in advance for the suggestions!
 
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04/22/2019 02:56PM  
If you are on Hook Island on June 1, we will see you there. Who is your tow and outfitter?

We intend to spend the week on Saganagons only with maybe a day trip to adjacent lakes. We are only fishing with little travel.

You will cover a lot of good walleye water on your trip. Definitely spend an overnight on Kawnipi.
PineKnot
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04/22/2019 03:12PM  
Mack is so hard to get into and then out of, I'd definitely suggest at least one layover day there. Mack is loaded with trophy smallies around 228 and north of there, and even though I'm not a walleye guy, I caught many in the middle of the day in shallow water in the northeast arm just north of the entry from the main central basin. Mack does is not very scenic since the western half was a major burn area, and the campsites are mediocre at best.
04/22/2019 03:38PM  
I agree with Pineknot. I have never been to Mack but I know guys that have and they have always done well on smallies and walleye. It does offer solitude from what I hear.

I visited Kawnipi over 25 times and it is one of my favourite walleye lakes for sure. Unfortunately I found it getting way too crowded for my liking, so I have moved on to other more remote lakes in Quetico. McKenzie and Kawa Bays are excellent walleye areas but again there seemed to be too many people fishing and camping there.

I have fished Murdock and like it but have never camped there and maybe it would be a possible layover spot for you. It may offer more solitude.

I guess you could layover on Kawnipi if you don’t run into too many paddlers. I was once on the McKenzie Bay 5 star campsite over the 4th of July busy time ... back in the 90’s and there was no one around the area the whole week I was there. So you never know.

I know you are targeting walleye the 1st week of June but that 1st week of June is “PRIME TIME” Smallmouth Time. Especially Topwater.

I still like your trip route though. Should be an awesome trip.
cburton103
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04/22/2019 05:01PM  
Awesome, thanks for the responses guys.

We’re using Seagull outfitters and heading out the morning of May 31st.

We’ll definitely spend two (if not three) of our layover days on Kawnipi. Too good of a fishery to not spend time there! My main purpose for asking is that I’ve read a number of comments that suggest that the fishing has gotten worse in Mack from fly in pressure.
cburton103
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04/22/2019 05:06PM  
Oh and we’ll definitely fish plenty for smallmouth. We spend most of our time fishing for smallmouth. We just want to try to figure the walleye bite out better than we have in the past.
MagicPaddler
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04/23/2019 06:56AM  
I will be following you entering on June 13th for the first ¾ of my trip. A few years ago weather had the fish bite off but we did find Walleyes in Kawa Bay straight in front of where the Wawiag runs in. On that trip we fished what looked like a killer walleye hole just below the rapids where the Wawiag runs into the east side of the park. We could not get a nibble. Any one fish any part of the Wawiag?
cburton103
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04/25/2019 01:09PM  
I haven’t fished the Waiwag before, but I’ve heard fishing can be pretty good there. I’ll try to report back right after my trip so you’ll have some intel. We should exit June 7th in the evening.
BnD
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05/02/2019 11:49AM  
Remember you cant camp on the north end of Kawa Bay anymore. Plan accordingly. I do agree with Wally 13 that Kawnipi has gotten significantly more popular and I have my own rational as to why. My son and I have moved on to other areas as well. I would mention other options and suggestions but, that only fuels my suspicions mentioned previously.
05/02/2019 07:36PM  
I've read this in a few places. Are you able to provide a link or resource? Not questioning, just confirming.

Cheers

BnD: "Remember you cant camp on the north end of Kawa Bay anymore. Plan accordingly. I do agree with Wally 13 that Kawnipi has gotten significantly more popular and I have my own rational as to why. My son and I have moved on to other areas as well. I would mention other options and suggestions but, that only fuels my suspicions mentioned previously."
BnD
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05/03/2019 07:44AM  
Why I'm doing your leg work Im not sure but, heres a link. Quetico Management Plan 2017 Heres another. BWCA Thread discussing Kawa Camping Restrictions Your Welcome.
cburton103
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05/03/2019 01:44PM  
BnD: "Why I'm doing your leg work Im not sure but, heres a link. Quetico Management Plan 2017 Heres another. BWCA Thread discussing Kawa Camping Restrictions Your Welcome."


I suspect you did his legwork for the same reason I went and found the link to the previous thread as well - we really like spending time thinking about the Q!
cburton103
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05/03/2019 01:45PM  
BnD: "Remember you cant camp on the north end of Kawa Bay anymore. Plan accordingly. I do agree with Wally 13 that Kawnipi has gotten significantly more popular and I have my own rational as to why. My son and I have moved on to other areas as well. I would mention other options and suggestions but, that only fuels my suspicions mentioned previously."


I’m aware, but thank you. We’ll be on Kawnipi for 2 full layover days and plan on spending time in Murdoch and the northern section of Kawnipi, so our plans involve a more centrally located campsite. I was bummed to see a few great campsites lost, though!

We vary our routes pretty much every year. I’ve been on Kawnipi once before. After I complete the Man Chain I’ll have seen the vast majority of the lakes in about the southern 1/3 of the park. We enjoy fishing new water frequently - there’s still a ton left to see!
05/05/2019 09:20PM  
Thank you very much Sir.

It helps plan out a "basic" route this early fall.

BnD: "Why I'm doing your leg work Im not sure but, heres a link. Quetico Management Plan 2017 Heres another. BWCA Thread discussing Kawa Camping Restrictions Your Welcome."
05/05/2019 09:24PM  
My last trip through Kawnipi mid-Sept. we had some solitude and great fishing. Didn't see a soul after This Man, through Saganagons, up the falls chain, a night on Wet Lake, then into Kawnipi. We were sure we would see a few groups or an occupied site. Nope.

We spent a night in McKenzie bay then paddled west and south toward Kahshahpiwi and spent another on Heronshaw. It wasn't until the following evening we saw a passing canoe on Kahsh. Most of the trip it was tough keeping our lines dry and paddles in the water to cover some distance.

Depending on where and when we lay our heads (no pre-planned route this trip) we may venture in for a night or daytrip into McKenzie.
billgknapp
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05/13/2019 12:11PM  
cburton103: "Awesome, thanks for the responses guys.


We’re using Seagull outfitters and heading out the morning of May 31st.


We’ll definitely spend two (if not three) of our layover days on Kawnipi. Too good of a fishery to not spend time there! My main purpose for asking is that I’ve read a number of comments that suggest that the fishing has gotten worse in Mack from fly in pressure."


We are going with Seagull the week after you, starting on June 8th with a tow. McKenzie Bay of Kawnipi is beautiful. Consider going through McEwen Lake on the return. Very pretty lake with great Lake Trout.
cburton103
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05/13/2019 09:56PM  
billgknapp: "
cburton103: "Awesome, thanks for the responses guys.



We’re using Seagull outfitters and heading out the morning of May 31st.



We’ll definitely spend two (if not three) of our layover days on Kawnipi. Too good of a fishery to not spend time there! My main purpose for asking is that I’ve read a number of comments that suggest that the fishing has gotten worse in Mack from fly in pressure."



We are going with Seagull the week after you, starting on June 8th with a tow. McKenzie Bay of Kawnipi is beautiful. Consider going through McEwen Lake on the return. Very pretty lake with great Lake Trout."


I spent 3 days on McKenzie Bay back in 2014. Very pretty indeed. If only Mckenzie Bay’s beauty and great campsites didn’t attract a number of other people at the same time!

Thanks for the tip on McEwen. I’ve never been there, but that lake has intrigued me for a few years. Best of luck on your trip! I’ll try to post a brief report of our trip here the night we get out, so if you’re interested then keep an eye out on the evening before your trip.
 
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