So my tripping buddy told me that his wife is pregnant and due in July. Therefore, he doesn't want to have our annual trip in June and we are looking at going the opening fishing weekend in May instead. It's the only other week that works for both of us. I've been going on trips in June since 2014 so I'm used to a variety of temps, but is there anything I should really know about early season trips?

We have been planning on a longer week long loop starting at Sawbill, going through the Lady Chain, up to Little Sag, then back to Sawbill through Hubbub and Mesaba. Is ice a concern at this time of the year? I'm going to be bringing warmer clothes of course, such as long underwear and layers. I'm thinking about liner for my sleeping bag too. Mine is a 20 (or was it 30?) degree bag and I don't really want to risk being cold. Anything else I really need for this time of year? Or things I need to know about what I am already considering?

I know we are probably going to be carrying a little more weight due to warmer clothes and more food for extra calories to keep us warm, but at least we should save some weight from the bug spray, right?

I've been on May trips with snow, and I've been on May trips in the 90s with humidity. I even paddled amidst ice-out one year. I think it's a great time to go. Yours is a fairly early trip, so you're likely to see cold(ish) more than warm. However, I think you've looked at the issue correctly. We're going in the week after you this year.

Some thoughts:

Watch the weather forecast leading up to the trip. That can give you an idea if the week will be predominantly cold or wet or hot or whatnot. That can help you with clothing choices. If you bring extra clothes, they need not be heavy or bulky. As you've known forever...it's all about the layers. Also, it can be warm during the day, but once the sun goes down, the temp can drop quickly.

Nice rain pants can be warm in the morning. Long johns might be too warm, though I am unsure as to your cold tolerance. One option: bring nylons. Seriously. They are light and pack very small, and work very well as a light base layer when the mornings are just a bit cold. I learned about wearing nylons for warmth from a Navy SEAL I served with in the Army. I scoffed at first....but they really work.

I would not leave bug spray at home. Our May trips usually correspond with the black fly hatch, so bug dope is vital. If it's an early thaw, you might find mosquitoes, too. So, though you won't experience bugs in May like July or August, they may still be out.

As for sleeping bag, that goes back to watching the forecast for the predicted range of overnight lows. I wouldn't get a new bag. Instead, invest in a cover or insert that can add 10 degrees to the rating of the bag. Or, get a poncho liner. They weigh a few ounces, but are extremely warm. Drape that over you and your bag and tuck it in under your sleeping pad, in essence "tenting" yourself. My prediction is that you may actually get too warm doing that! Also, wearing socks or a hat while sleeping makes you warmer.

The tone of your post leads me to think that you've looked at the new dates carefully and taken into consideration what you should.

Good luck

Mike

Mike covers it very well. May is shoulder season and weather can vary so definitely watch the patterns in packing and use a good weather radio to check as things do change. And wear your life jackets, the water is still dangerously cold.
My first trip was nine days in May. We had hot and cold, wet and dry. And we had hungry mosquitoes. It is a great time to go. Portages and campsites are fresh from the winter.

I would add that even if you are going to an area you have been to many times before that the currents above and below river portages can be quite extreme. Be extra careful and stay low and strategic if cutting across an eddy to the main current for example.

There was one year back in 1994 I think when we were camped in lower basswood falls and you could hear rocks/boulders flowing down the river and the currents were wicked. A 2 person/1 canoe group came through and sure enough tipped when the eddy caught them and we paddled out to get them.

This was maybe about 4-6 days after ice-out.

heavylunch

I go usually the 2nd weekend in May and the 2nd weekend in September every year. As has already been said pack long johns, hat, gloves, heavy raingear, bug dope, swimming trunks and sunscreen. Last Memorial weekend we swam everyday to cool off, some years we've had to break ice for the first 25' from shore. We never consider single portaging at those times and bring both a saw and an axe as a hot fire can make or break the trip.

As we all know last May was horrible, cold and wet. I was there. The one thing I learned is that early in the spring, you need an additional layer under your sleeping pad. That granite, rock, whatever you want to call it retains the cold. I took my 10* bag and still was chilly at night because of what was below me. I've never woken up so sore and stiff as did on that trip. Adding another layer will make all the difference in the world.

Layers Layers Layers and extra wool socks

You should be fairly safe where you are going as far as ice out goes, but it's not a sure thing. The last two years Brule, which isn't far away, was covered with ice opening weekend. As a matter of fact several of the lakes to the north and east of Brule also had ice cover last year. We were going in on the morning of the opener and I had to pull a different permit at the last minute since we couldn't get to EP #47 Lizz/Swamp because Poplar was covered with ice and you have to cross that to get to Lizz. Just two days before the area received 11" of snow which made portaging very difficult. This time of year would be good for hangers since the ground could very well be frozen in areas that don't receive sun. As mentioned previously the rock will be very cold. The water will be cold so you will likley want to incorporate other methods for personal hygiene other than swimming. I don't recommend wet footing but I'm sure many others won't agree. Last year my brother was building a snowman at our site on Caribou on the way out and I had several large mosquitoes land on my arm while trying to take pictures/video of it. It's cool being the first one to walk across a portage or stay at a campsite for the season. I have the lowest tolerance to mosquitoes of anyone that I know and I don't bring bug dope in before late-May or after mid-September.

bombinbrian: "The one thing I learned is that early in the spring, you need an additional layer under your sleeping pad. That granite, rock, whatever you want to call it retains the cold."

Completely agree with this. I go so far as to add a 1/2 inch ridgerest on top of my Exped 7. World of difference. It does not add much extra weight, but bulk. I store mine under my canoe seat. That way if something goes wrong with your air mattress at least you have a foam back up. The cold ground will suck the life out of you.

Lets talk about the important stuff...

Find the current, you'll find the walleyes.

Leeches aren't necessarily a good option that time of year, as cold water can make them curl up in a ball. Some guys bring minnows, but that would be tough if you're not base camping.

The shallow bays should hold pike, as they warm up quicker, and they will be in there feeding.

I don't know about where you're going, but that time of year you can catch lake trout surface fishing. I don't think lady chain has lake trout though. Someone can chime in on that.

Small mouth will be pre-spawn. See the fishing thread and find QueticoMike. He's a smallmouth guru and fishes early season. He'll have great info. He loves his plastics, ShadZ etc, for smallmouth.

I think an insulated pad makes a big difference. We bought a couple exped megamats with an R value of 5 as I recall. The temp dropped into the low 30's and we were still toasty.

I think many would dry foot, with knee high boots or similar. If you are going to wet foot, I'd definitely wear wool socks in your shoes.

I've always appreciated having my Under Armour base layer (top and bottom) along.

May is one of my favorite months to paddle!

Watch the Sawbill Outfitters blog for ice thickness monitoring and ice out info.
Their archives say in the past 15 years the earliest ice out was April 18th and the latest was May 14th.

Definitely be aware of currents and eddies on the rivers. I nearly capsized on the Kawishiwi River heading towards Insula one year 4 days after ice out when I hit an eddy at a pinch point. I was very lucky!!!

I'm not 100% sure but I seem to remember that the current on the Phoebe River runs in the same direction of your proposed trip direction up the Lady Chain. Not sure if that will be a huge factor in high water melt off or not. I have found that sometimes I have had to land short of portages on rivers due to swollen rapids that have grown so that portage is now within the rapids.

Also watch out for submerged water logged logs that can lurk beneath the surface as they travel downstream just after ice out.

Layering clothing is key as mentioned. Warm knit cap and gloves are also on my must have list. Dedicated warm wool socks for once I'm in camp and another thick wool pair to change into when I crawl into my sleeping bag.

I layer my 10 degree EE quilt with another 30 degree bag over it during my early May trips. I also use an Exped Downmat for insulation under me. I like to be warm at night.

I also pack more "hot" food items... Cup a Soup, tea, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, etc.

Bring a saw/hatchet to clear branches if need be off any trees down across the portages. It is likely you will be some of the first walking some of the more remote portages.

Sleep with your water filter in the sleeping bag with you. Temps frequently dip under freezing at night and that can ruin your filter if it freezes with water inside. I also sleep with my pressurized gas canister in the foot of my sleeping bag. The warm canister on the Jet Boil performs better in the low temps of the morning. Also remember batteries can be adversely affected by the cold and don't last as long.

Bring a head net! I had a miserable experience on Kelso during fishing opener due to a bumper crop of black flies and no head net. I never trip without one now.

I prefer to keep my feet dry in early May. Chota hippies or Muck boots are my go to. Once it warms up in late May I switch to wet foot system.