BWCA Two week smallmouth route Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Quetico Forum
      Two week smallmouth route     

Author

Text

jeroldharter
distinguished member(1531)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/02/2019 09:25PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I am looking ahead and considering a two week trip, two guys, flyfishing for smallmouth in June. We like to have travel days and then basecamp for a couple days of solid fishing. We don't fish while in transit.

Anybody have a suggestion for an ideal two week (14-16 day) route in Quetico only?
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Frankie_Paull
distinguished member (269)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/03/2019 07:21AM  
Go try and figure out crooked and basswood with that many days you would really be able to get in tune with what’s going.
12/03/2019 08:43AM  
Where do you want your entry to be?
cburton103
distinguished member(554)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/03/2019 10:59AM  
How far do you plan to travel each travel day?

If you're looking to spend two layover days at each site and a travel day to start and end the trip, that's basically 6 days for traveling. With 15 mile travel days, that's enough to traverse Quetico from north to south. That's what I would do personally, but I also enjoy the variety of doing different things and going different places in Quetico.

My favorite smallmouth lakes have been Crooked, Basswood, Murdoch and Kawnipi for size and numbers. However, nearly any lake in Quetico can be a phenomenal smallmouth fishery if you hit it at the right time. With two weeks in June, you should be nearly assured to have some phenomenal days of Smallmouth fishing.
jeroldharter
distinguished member(1531)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/03/2019 11:30AM  
15 miles is a bit much for us. Maybe 15 on the day in. I have done as much as 20 but that was with a tailwind and a very fit traveling partner! But during the trip, 8 miles is more doable. If the fishing is great, we are unlikely to move!

I have fished Kawnipi and Murdoch. We were a little early for Kawnipi to turn on but Murdoch was good! We exited through Saganagons, the Falls Chain, and the tow boat near there. Have also gone in from Beaverhouse to Jean to Sturgeon to Tanner. Did first trip in and out of Wolseley.

We usually depart from Crane Lake but once went in from the east to visit Kawnipi. I have never gone in from Nym because that is a very long drive for us.

I have never fished Crooked and suppose we could easily spend 2 weeks there given its size. But I would like to do at least some portaging (not sure why). It would be my partner's first trip so I want him to enjoy it, especially given that he will be stuck with me for two weeks.
12/03/2019 02:19PM  
Go in at McAree, Crooked, Argo, Darkwater and Minn.
12/04/2019 08:28AM  
I would get the latest fall issue of the Boundary Waters Journal. You'll see what I mean when you check out the articles. Stu Ostoff is a fishing guide as well as the publisher and he likes to fish smallmouth. He gives details which I don't want to post on here.
jeroldharter
distinguished member(1531)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
12/04/2019 09:05AM  
Thanks TomT. Will do.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next