I will be going in early Thursday morning for a 4 day solo. Fishing is a priority.

I've gone through Snowbank several times with a buddy or a group, only once solo. On that trip, I went straight to Ima, then go wind-bound for 2 days. Luckily it mellowed and I got back to Ashub for my last night and a short trip out in the morning.

I have been planning to go straight to Ima or Hatchet for 2 nights then come part way back for the 3rd night. But, if the forecast looks windy, I may just decide to base camp either on the north end of Disappointment, or on Jordan, and day trip for fishing. If all I am carrying is a solo boat and a daypack with fishing tackle and lunch, I can cover a lot of ground and fish anywhere. Plus if the wind is unfriendly, I have had good luck right from shore on Disappointment.

Any thoughts or feedback are appreciated.

Sounds like you've thought things through and planned your options. Go forth and enjoy your trip! I've been through some of that area and really enjoyed it.

I'm leading a 7-man group in to base camp Disappointment from Snowbank on Thursday. I think your plans look pretty solid. We are planning on getting an early exit on Sunday in case of high winds on Snowbank, with the option of camping on Parent the night before if the weather report is especially spicy.

What fish are you targeting?

Sounds like a good plan, if you get extra energy and great weather, Thomas is a great fishery....

walllee: "Sounds like a good plan, if you get extra energy and great weather, Thomas is a great fishery...."

Thomas is a good fishery... Snowbank is where I’ve had the worst winds/ waves. I thought I had it on brule, but no... Snowbank out did even Brule. Ima is a piece of cake after that. Disappointment has a lot of little smallies was always my experience.

RougeCanoe: "I'm leading a 7-man group in to base camp Disappointment from Snowbank on Thursday. I think your plans look pretty solid. We are planning on getting an early exit on Sunday in case of high winds on Snowbank, with the option of camping on Parent the night before if the weather report is especially spicy.


What fish are you targeting? "

I fish anything and everything. Like to get a walleye or two, but also love bass and pike fishing. If I get to Ima I will fish trout too. Even if I do go to Ima/Thomas, though, I will backtrack some for a short Sunday. Had a real tough crossing on Snowbank one year.

Thanks, all. I will just watch the wind forecast leading up and decide from there.

Bring a good headlamp. If you do find stiff winds picking up during the day, you could get up and paddle before sunrise to try to avoid them. I've had to do this once. Paddling at night is pretty cool, but has some risks.

Several years back I did exactly this. Awakened by freight train sounding winds while camped on Ashub... Packed by headlamp and paddled through Disappointment and on to Perent by sunrise. We still had a very scary paddle across Snowbank back to the entry.

Crossing snowbank at night was the most calm I have ever seen it. We started from the north end by boot lake as the sun was going down and we got back to the car when it was all dark. One of my more memorable paddles in the b-dub.

nctry: "

walllee: "Sounds like a good plan, if you get extra energy and great weather, Thomas is a great fishery...."

Thomas is a good fishery... Snowbank is where I’ve had the worst winds/ waves. I thought I had it on brule, but no... Snowbank out did even Brule. Ima is a piece of cake after that. Disappointment has a lot of little smallies was always my experience."

If I'm thinking of the right lake, there are also a couple of walleye holes in there to fish. I paddled past a tandem of guys at a campsite who were all set up with minnows and leeches who stated exactly that --- although they were a little coy as where to actually fish!

Thanks all. The wind forecast keeps getting better. Looking like it should top out around 10 MPH. SO I think I will head for Ima or Hatchet to camp the first couple of nights, then backtrack a bit for the last night.