I am heading out on my first BWCA trip solo. I plan to enter at EP38 head over to the Fire Lakes and base camp and fish for six days. Any advice on what to bring and what not to bring or what to expect?

This is not my first canoe trip or by any means camping. I spent three years in Alaska, five in Utah and was born raised in the south. This is mainly planned as a escape and fishing trip.

Thanks. I have been watching and reading the forums here for sometime, just never joined.

That is a pretty simple trip. If you have camped out and canoed in the wilderness before you won't need much in advice I don't think. But I have a few things that might make it easier.... maybe :)

When base camping I like to have a gravity water filter bag so I always have easy access to water without always having to pump. 6 days by yourself I would be bringing a couple books for when I am too tired to fish or it is too crummy out. I would also bring a hammock or a chair as sitting on meta/wood for that many days gets old and its nice to have something soft. Also be sure to have firestarters/matches in different areas in case one area of your pack gets wet.

Since you aren't going to portage much I would also kind of over pack personally. Extra rope, extra tackle, whatever else. Relaxing trip should be relaxing right?

Only thing to expect is you will probably see your fair share of people passing by. Pending the time of year of course but I feel like this is going to be summer time. Worst case scenario is the campsites are taken and you have to go farther than you thought to get a campsite.

There is a solo tripping forum if you don't already know about it.

Plenty of walleye action on Burnt. Around the island on the north side and the islands on the south side
Enjoy your trip

Thanks for the tips and I didnt realize there was a solo forum but heading there to check out now. I was debating on a chair that is one thing after remote elk hunting I wished I had taken with me. Could left a lot of junk I took and packed a chair instead. Went with out it the first 2 times not the third. Thanks as well on walleye tips. Trip is a go heading out try my luck. I chose a easy first trip because of being a solo trip into a area I never been. And what area's had permit open. Figure if it goes well return with my 8 year old son for a 2nd trip there this year.

Bring a chair for sure!

Something like one of these if you don't have one, is worth every penny imo.

Not sure if you have solo canoe experience (it sounds like maybe you do), but one tip on that is to generally try to keep some more gear/weight in your boat. I find they can get fairly unstable if it's just me, especially when trying to fish. And you might want to consider an anchor of some type (people bring mesh bags and fill them with rocks). Any breeze will move your boat around, which can make it hard to target areas you want to target.

I agree that you should bring a chair for sure. However, if you don't have to portage a lot (Which you won't), I think the cheap chairs you can get at Menards for like $8 are easier and more comfortable.

Grummanlugger: "Thanks for the tips and I didnt realize there was a solo forum but heading there to check out now. I was debating on a chair that is one thing after remote elk hunting I wished I had taken with me. Could left a lot of junk I took and packed a chair instead. Went with out it the first 2 times not the third. Thanks as well on walleye tips. Trip is a go heading out try my luck. I chose a easy first trip because of being a solo trip into a area I never been. And what area's had permit open. Figure if it goes well return with my 8 year old son for a 2nd trip there this year."

Consider going straight north to Cherokee Lake and back out same route. Pretty lake w/ 3 island campsite and other nice sites along the perimeter. Easy traveling for an 8 yrs old, too. Takes about 4-5 hrs to get there from Sawbill landing. Hard to get lost or turned around on that route. As easy as going to fire lakes...just further north.

Heading out in the morning thanks for the tips. One last question how many leeches would you take out for a 6 day trip planned on fishing alot? considering minnow basket as well being I have a ton of them not sure gotta check pack room, weight.. I taking a few crawlers jigs rapalas. Slip bombers. I plan to go after walleye pike and bass pretty much what will bite. The 2 things I have learned by watching the forums here is dont leave the chair and sleeping pad behind no mater what.