BWCA Early September to Slim Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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08/26/2019 08:44PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
We are heading in to Slim on September 6th. I have never been up there in September. Anyone been there recently how is the bug situation? Suspect not too bad but maybe still an uprising at dusk?

Also not done a lot of fall fishing. I am hearing that smallie fishing on Slim is getting to be quite good, any tips on best tactics for that? Are leeches still available in Ely? Suspect not, will crawlers fill the bill? (I have miserable luck keeping minnows alive).

Anyone had any luck on walleyes on Slim in the recent past? Understand they are in there but not an easy target.

How about the hiking trails on the south end, is there a map of these trails available anywhere? If we happen to not be staying in that south site, how do we access those trails?

Thanks for any help, been a long summer with no trips and really looking forward to it.
 
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08/27/2019 06:53AM  
I can't help you with fishing and I haven't been to Slim, but Sept. is the only time I've been. I've usually gone later than that, but a couple of trips have been earlier in the month and the bugs then have been about like you suspect. Permethrin your stuff, take a little repellent and a head net. I just make sure I'm done eating and cleaning up before dusk. Dusk will come a little sooner. Have a good trip.
Selfsuffi
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08/27/2019 09:06AM  
I would love to hear how you did when you get back.....I am headed into Slim on the 19th of September.
BobDobbs
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08/27/2019 09:35AM  
lindylair:

How about the hiking trails on the south end, is there a map of these trails available anywhere? If we happen to not be staying in that south site, how do we access those trails?

"


If you're talking about the Sioux-Hustler trail, it can be very brushy and overgrown, even in September. We hiked a portion one mid October, and it was terrific...decided to do it again in September and decided it wasn't worth the bugs and potential ticks. YMMV.
08/27/2019 11:08AM  
Leeches most likely will not be available, but you can check with several places in Ely. Slim is a very clear lake. I'd fish for walleyes in the early morning and close to sunset. The south end site has a trail that hooks up with the trail system. There is also another trail access on the west side of the lake. map The trail system is well marked at each intersection, so you should not have any problems finding your way.
08/27/2019 01:34PM  
Just to clarify, you’re talking about the Slim Lake that is accessed via the Slim Lake EP # 6 correct?

I live outside Ely on the Echo Trail. Bugs are pretty non-existent right now. It’s cooler than normal so that will probably stay true. Though you can never be absolutely certain.

Does your map show 4 campsites on Slim? The USFS built a new one in recent years, it’s on the west side of the lake a little bit south of the bay you come in on from the EP. That campsite has direct access to the North Arm Trail system - the Druid Pines Trail comes up from the Slim Lake shoreline just maybe 50 feet north of the campsite. (I hiked to the campsite recently and had lunch there.). It’s actually a bit trickier to get on the trails from the far south campsite as it is not directly connected, but there is a user-maintained trail to Ol Baldy from there. You are better off starting at the other spot though. You can always canoe to it and leave your canoe on shore at the beginning of the Druid Pine Trail since it is not actually in the campsite just right next to it.

There are maps of the trails available at the North Arm trailhead a couple miles from the parking lot for Slim. To get there, just keep going down the North Arm Road a couple miles you will be in the Camp du Nord area and eventually you will get to a well-marked parking lot for the North Arm Trails. At the back end of the parking lot is an EP station for day use permits that has copies of the map for taking. Or you could just print out what egknuti linked to. There are also copies of the maps at every intersection of the trail system including a “You are here” marker which comes in handy as you go. The trails are generally easy to follow but it is possible to get mixed up or even lose one if you’re not paying attention, especially at intersections. Make sure you keep track of where you are coming in and account for all the trails that are supposed to be at any intersection to make sure you are heading down the one you intend.

Ho Ho

08/27/2019 07:25PM  
08/28/2019 05:42AM  
Thanks everyone! I just learned yesterday by clicking on a blue dot on the map of Slim that they had added a 4th campsite on Slim that is not on most maps. Looks like a good one too and close to the trail network.

I will definitely post info and a report upon my return, maybe even some photos:)

Still interested in hearing best fall smallie tactics if anyone's got any thoughts.
08/28/2019 08:59AM  
lindylair: "Thanks everyone! I just learned yesterday by clicking on a blue dot on the map of Slim that they had added a 4th campsite on Slim that is not on most maps. Looks like a good one too and close to the trail network.


I will definitely post info and a report upon my return, maybe even some photos:)


Still interested in hearing best fall smallie tactics if anyone's got any thoughts. "


Send an email to QueticoMike and he will hook you up with some great tactics.
SevenofNine
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08/28/2019 11:23AM  
I wouldn't worry too much about bugs. We stayed there over a Labor day weekend one year and although warm the bugs were not bad at all. Have a great trip.
Selfsuffi
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09/04/2019 06:44AM  
Lindy - I forgot to ask! I know you are going in on the 6th but when are you coming out?
09/04/2019 07:10AM  
Planning on coming out Tuesday or Wednesday of the following week. Should leave me plenty of time to post some info about the trip and fishing before you go in.
Selfsuffi
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09/04/2019 07:30AM  
Sweet, I was wondering if we would cross paths, doesn't look like it. Our plan is to head back to Hook but if that is occupied then we will back track to the site on Rice or all the way back to Slim. I have heard you can see the site on Keneu from the portage landing from Hook to Keneu so I might take a quick peek there before we start going backwards. Have a great trip!
09/05/2019 07:09AM  
Our plan is just the opposite - we are hoping to get a site on Slim and take a daytrip back to Hook and Keneu, probably have lunch on one of the sites if it is open. Mainly because I think that Slim has a more diverse fish population. Pretty sure Hook and Keneu are just Pike. But that Hook site looks great and there would be plenty of solitude back there. We shall see how that plan goes...there are some permits taken in the several days before we go in and also one the same day. Hope it's not too
busy. Weather looking cool with some rain after the first couple days. My guess is that bugs aren't going to be much of a factor:)
Selfsuffi
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09/05/2019 01:50PM  
lindylair: "Our plan is just the opposite - we are hoping to get a site on Slim and take a daytrip back to Hook and Keneu, probably have lunch on one of the sites if it is open. Mainly because I think that Slim has a more diverse fish population. Pretty sure Hook and Keneu are just Pike. But that Hook site looks great and there would be plenty of solitude back there. We shall see how that plan goes...there are some permits taken in the several days before we go in and also one the same day. Hope it's not too
busy. Weather looking cool with some rain after the first couple days. My guess is that bugs aren't going to be much of a factor:)"


Jeff - You are probably on your way in already. We are looking for solitude with a little fishing...lol I read a survey that showed perch on Hook so I will see if there are any there when we get there.....if the site is open. Have a great trip!

Rich
Selfsuffi
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09/13/2019 06:56AM  
lindylair: "Our plan is just the opposite - we are hoping to get a site on Slim and take a daytrip back to Hook and Keneu, probably have lunch on one of the sites if it is open. Mainly because I think that Slim has a more diverse fish population. Pretty sure Hook and Keneu are just Pike. But that Hook site looks great and there would be plenty of solitude back there. We shall see how that plan goes...there are some permits taken in the several days before we go in and also one the same day. Hope it's not too
busy. Weather looking cool with some rain after the first couple days. My guess is that bugs aren't going to be much of a factor:)"


I hope you had a good time. How were the smallies on Slim? Did you get back to Hook or Keneu?
eroom
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09/13/2019 11:27AM  
We went to Slim and Rice for a day trip on Saturday. It looked like all the sites on Slim were taken along with the site on Rice. From the number of cars in the lot, it looks like no one was camped on Hook or Keneu. There was a nice spot at the south end of Rice that we were able to stop at for lunch. I would like to come back to this area for a longer visit sometime.
Selfsuffi
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09/13/2019 12:04PM  
eroom: "We went to Slim and Rice for a day trip on Saturday. It looked like all the sites on Slim were taken along with the site on Rice. From the number of cars in the lot, it looks like no one was camped on Hook or Keneu. There was a nice spot at the south end of Rice that we were able to stop at for lunch. I would like to come back to this area for a longer visit sometime."


Nice, did you fish at all on either Rice or Slim?
eroom
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09/13/2019 02:01PM  
We didn't do any serious fishing. I was trolling a spoon as we were travelling with no bites.
09/14/2019 05:53AM  
We are back and had a good trip. The weather was nice for half the trip and marginal for the other half, one evening of hard rain and wind blowing right into our tarp made it tough to stay warm. Would have liked more sunshine but nonetheless a very good time.

Unfortunately we did not fish that much, partly due to my tripping partner not being much of a fisherman and partly due to the weather and our willingness to just relax and explore the woods around camp. However i did catch quite a few smallmouth in the small amount of time I tried, nothing big but still enjoyable. I can tell you that the smallies seemed to hang closely to the abundance of downed timber along the lakeshore. In almost every case, when the water was calm and I threw a floating rapala near a downed tree it resulted in a fish hitting the lure. Great fun. Also caught some on a slip bobber and crawler from camp and along the shore. But we were in the island site up the west shore which is a great site but for fishing from camp it is probably the worst site on the lake because the water is very shallow all around there. For all other purposes, great tent sites, nice fire area, tarp trees, etc. it is a gem.

We walked the portage to Rice Lake for fun and it is a challenge despite its short length. A couple sections of serious ankle breaker rocks along the way but Rice looked very nice. Didn't get any further than that.

Bugs were mostly non-existent. Slim is a nice lake and a very easy entry. We were surprised about the amount of exposed high rocky cliffs along the shore, it was more scenic than we expected.

I will post a trip report with photos sometime soon, as time allows. Selfsuffi, have a great trip. Hope your weather is better than we had.
Selfsuffi
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09/16/2019 05:38AM  
Thank you for the information. I am all packed (except for a couple things from the freezer). This will be my daughters first trip. I watched a video series this weekend from Larry Ricker (Nibi Mocs) from 2018 when he went through Slim, Rice and Hook. The entry from Slim to Rice didn't look real fun and he mentioned having to cross a couple streams on the portage as well. I can't wait!! Crossing my fingers on the weather. Chance of rain and thunderstorms every day we will be in but pretty low chances. Either way it should be good. I look forward to your trip report. I will post on when we get back.
09/16/2019 09:49PM  
Sounds wonderful.
09/17/2019 06:06AM  
Looking forward to the report Lindy. I always enjoy your trip reports ;)

There's very little chance of it happening, but I'm holding out hope for a possible 2 night solo late fall and Slim is at the top of my list. As you know Lindy, we have very similar taste in trips.
 
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