Hello fellow paddlers! My brother in law and I are planning to head to Boulder Lake In mid may on our 4th trip, In our research we found it Shorter to enter at #37 Kawishiwi lake, also avoiding the big water of Snowbank and Ima(windybitch), the reason we are looking at this lake is because we would like to see fewer canoes and more fish! we are good fishermen with bad luck in the BW, anybody base camp and fish that area that time of year? we will be paddling by 1:00pm on the 17 of may (pending the lottery)

Take the NICE Island site on Adams and skip the headache of Boulder. Better fishing anyway

paddlefaster,
Boulder is a pretty lake and has a great island campsite. A few considerations from one who has "been there, done that": 1) going in at Kawishiwi Lake will send you thru Malberg. Malberg is a good fishing lake with some isolated campsites offering reasonable solitude. 2) You will see very few, probably zero, people after you pass Malberg 3)If the water levels are low, don't try for Boulder. During low water levels the portage from Adams to Boulder is a carry the whole distance. A lot of which is thru waist high moose grass. It is not worth the effort. Going in May, you probably won't have to worry with low water levels 4) The times I have been on Boulder have not produced very good fishing. This doesn't mean there isn't any fish, just that we didn't do well there.
I like bumabu's suggestion to try Adams first, maybe move on up to Boulder and if you still have hit it good - go back and give Malberg a shot. What ever you do, have fun and enjoy the time spent in the BW.
canoerone

We always came into Boulder from the north through Sagas, Ledge, Cap.....long portages. Boulder was always empty of people. We caught a lot of good sized Northerns in Boulder. The portage into Adams was very muddy in the 70's and 80's We haven't been back there in a while. Photo of portage into Boulder from the north...1975

Is it worth it??? You must be jesting.

Look at a map of the BWCA and put your finger on Boulder Lake. Now look to the east, west, and south for the nearest entry. Hey, they are about equal distance right? That means solitude to me, and you have to work for it. It is my favorite area.

I have been in that country 2006 and 2007. If you come in from Adams, and water levels are low, you might want to reconsider :)

My most favorite portage is the Beaver-Adams portage that we call the stairway to heaven. (A monument to the works of the CCC)

Oh, one more thing. Get going about 6 hours earlier than your current plan :)

You can browse my trip report Little Saganaga by way of Boulder

Yes that is why we picked that area, half way between everywhere. We don't plan on making it all the way in a half day. we will be leaving home that am and weather permitting try for Koma by evening. I had read your trip report yesterday,and it sounded like a challenge! But nothing good ever comes easy, like fishing, if it was easy,everyone would do it! thanks for the reply.

Koma is a great walleye lake too!

Paddlefaster, My wife and I went there at that time in May 08.We went for the true canoe trip and started at Lake 1 and went to Boulder via Insula and the Kawishiwi river and came back via Frasier, Thomas, Insula and back out at 1. Did it in six nights. The water was high and it was chilly. Spent the fourth night on Boulder. Our only regret was that once we got back there we had to start our way back. Sould have planed on at least another day. Just buzz through the crowded # lakes to Insula for good Fishing and you will be secluded with the right campsite. Ditto on the Adams better fishing. Just a thought if you have permit troubles. tom

My son Nate built that nice notched out log seat at the island site a year ago. We just got back yesterday after a 10 day trip(went in 2 days before the fire ban was lifted). Went in at Kawishiwi up to Polly, Malberg, Adams to Boulder. A 25 and 35 rod portage turned into 200. Water level down about 2 feet. With that in mind went no further north in anticipation of 100's of rods of portages through Sagus, Shepo, etc....no thank you. NO PEOPLE....in 10 days only saw 2 canoes in Polly on our way out.

paddlefaster: "Hello fellow paddlers! My brother in law and I are planning to head to Boulder Lake In mid may on our 4th trip, In our research we found it Shorter to enter at #37 Kawishiwi lake, also avoiding the big water of Snowbank and Ima(windybitch), the reason we are looking at this lake is because we would like to see fewer canoes and more fish! we are good fishermen with bad luck in the BW, anybody base camp and fish that area that time of year? we will be paddling by 1:00pm on the 17 of may (pending the lottery)"

Lottery? I don't think I've ever seen Kawishiwi Lake on the entry point lottery. It's remote location and 9 permits per day usually are plenty. Especially when you are talking that early in the permit reservation season. (Unless you are talking about the PowerBall or MegaMillion Lottery?)

I don't know your travel style (single/double portage), etc. But from Kawishiwi to Adams/Boulder in a single day is extremely aggressive even starting much earlier. Depending on weather/wind etc., even getting to Malberg in one day is a good bit of work. Double portaging we are usually on Polly in 4-4.5 hours of travel. Malberg is 6-6.5 hours. Don't underestimate the distance/time it takes to paddle Malberg Lake. (Invariably when we arrive the afternoon wind is blowing in our faces. The narrows also channel wind and the narrows are longer than you might think.)

Another idea for you for more solitude is Amber Lake. The east campsite is the better of the two. Have heard reports of good fishing here as well. Kawishiwi River/River Lake should not be bypassed as a fishing spot either.

Hope you have a good trip.

drmau1: "My son Nate built that nice notched out log seat at the island site a year ago. We just got back yesterday after a 10 day trip(went in 2 days before the fire ban was lifted). Went in at Kawishiwi up to Polly, Malberg, Adams to Boulder. A 25 and 35 rod portage turned into 200. Water level down about 2 feet. With that in mind went no further north in anticipation of 100's of rods of portages through Sagus, Shepo, etc....no thank you. NO PEOPLE....in 10 days only saw 2 canoes in Polly on our way out."

We were on the Adam's island last week tues/wed(13,14th?). Kip has great video of a bull moose in NW arm. The portage route to Boulder was a shore to shore portage....not fun. And....we did go all the way to Sagus. Boulder to Cap was a bear and east end of Roe was barely paddleable. On the way up,, we saw the channel into Amber. It had no water and was grown in with vegetation. BTW, The o.p. is 12 years old when the lottery was still in place.

Boulder lake is definitely worth it! The island site has some of the oldest stand of cedar trees in SNF and bwca.
We had a grouse that wanted to bunk in our tent with us on an extremely windy cold and rainy day. Beautiful

Trip report from a couple of years ago.

The original post is from 2009.....and they mentioned Snowbank.

Mocha: "Boulder lake is definitely worth it! The island site has some of the oldest stand of cedar trees in SNF and bwca.
We had a grouse that wanted to bunk in our tent with us on an extremely windy cold and rainy day. Beautiful"

Well said - I totally agree!