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Outdoorsfan69
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11/05/2019 04:41PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Now that the canoe has more than likely seen its last paddle for the year, I am considering a short solo trip for next year. One of the options I have looked at would be putting in at Larch Creek and making my way to Clove Lake. Any thoughts on this route? Or other ideas for a short, solo trip, preferably in the early fall. Your expertise is much appreciated!
 
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Michwall2
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11/06/2019 09:13AM  
I just did my first fall trip (non-solo) this year and it was a totally different experience than in June-Aug. Loved it.

Some ideas:

Cherokee Loop out of either Sawbill Lake entry or Baker Lake entry. 3 nights are minimum. (e.g. Sawbill to Cherokee, Cherokee to South Temperance, South Temperance to Kelly or Burnt, Kelly to Sawbill.)

Lady Lakes Chain. Get a shuttle from Sawbill Lake to Kawishiwi Lake entry. 2 nights are minimum . Kawishiwi to Polly Lake, Polly Lake to Phoebe Lake or Grace Lake, Grace Lake to Sawbill.

Kawishiwi to Malberg Lake - Enter Kawishiwi and trip north to Malberg Lake and make a base camp. Take as many days as you want to daytrip: Southwest to Fishdance Lake and the pictographs, northwest to Adams/Boulder loop, east out and back along the Louse River, northeast to Makwa Lake to see the cliffs. When you have had your limit, head back to Kawishiwi Lake the same way you came in.
11/06/2019 07:21PM  
How many days/nights?
jillpine
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11/06/2019 09:29PM  
Hi, Outdoorsfan - I purchased a solo canoe last summer and took four short solo trips in the BWCA between Aug and Sept (longest four nights). I did Baker Lake area (out and back), Slim Lake (out and back), Sawbill to Fire Lakes (2x, one solo and one with partner), and Bower-Trout (out and back). All nice areas for solo options.

I'm not a serious fisher so can't really help you there, but all those routes offer some various forms of SMB, walleyes and Northerns. Well, not sure about Slim - didn't fish it at all. I loved Slim Lake area - it had been decades since I had last visited there, and there was no one around (late September, brisk and windy, 23F one night).

I went on Larch in 2014 - water levels were a little low (also early Sept) so you'd want to keep that in mind (although not a problem this past year). I just recall a lot of beaver dam pull-overs. Clove is a nice lake!

It will be nice to hear what you think of solo canoeing and solo backcountry travel. Many on this board told me how great it was - they were right. It is, as Blatz called it, a stone-cold groove. Nothing like it. Have fun. safe travels!
~JP
 
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