I'm looking at Little Indian Sioux North in mid to late August. Looks like solo.

My question is how far north should I expect to get solo in one day? Lets say six hours, maybe eight. My goal is to hit Loon Lake and find one of those first three sites, then hook back to Heritage, Lynx, Little Shell, Lower Pauness and out, over four days.

Can I make it all the way up in that kind of time or will I need to think of stopping at Devil's Cascade?

I went out on our local reservoir yesterday and did about three miles in 1-1/2 hours, using my heavy and slow 16 foot Penobscot solo.

Planning on renting a solo U/L and keeping my weight down. Maybe I will fish a little after I make it as far north as I want.

With a decent start, you should make Loon easily.

2 mph is a useful planning pace for me when looking at a route. Your goal of Loon Lake is very reachable and a good one.

It took me about 4 to get to Little Loon single portaging so you should have no problem making Loon in a day with an AM start. Enjoy your trip, beautiful area.

Tony

Loon and beyond in a day. Easy-peasy.

Mike

I just got back from an LIS North loop. It was me and a friend in a tandem canoe. This first day is more paddling than portaging (as compared to the rest of the loop). So it will really depend on how much you can paddle.

We pushed up to Little Loon on our first day. We double portaged. I think it took is from 9 am to about 3 pm. It was a long day for us. We don't usually paddle that far in one day. It was my friend's first day of the year paddling and my second.

Wind could also be a factor. Loon is a big lake.

I was glad we made it to Little Loon. The north camp site was very nice. We had the lake to ourselves when we camped on Little Loon.

The camp site at Devil's cascade was occupied when we passed by.

I think you can make it to Loon in one day and still have energy to set up camp and fish.

Agree with others that Loon will likely be about 4-5 hours assuming double portage. You will paddle faster in the solo (2 mph+) and you can walk a portage at 2 mph. You could be on the north end of Little Loon in about 6 hours, so even Slim isn't out of the question in 8.

boonie: "Agree with others that Loon will likely be about 4-5 hours assuming double portage. You will paddle faster in the solo (2 mph+) and you can walk a portage at 2 mph. You could be on the north end of Little Loon in about 6 hours, so even Slim isn't out of the question in 8. "

But Little Loon and Slim would be beyond his route (though getting off Loon if there are motor boats would be good)

As the others have said, I think Loon is a great goal. Not a super quick walk in the park but not a grind either. My one time in at this EP, we got a sunrise start in August and were on Snow Bay of LLC via Loon by around 1 or 2 in the afternoon. It was breezy and we were pushing hard. We were passing those sites on Loon in late morning. We stayed at the site on the western point near the island where Loon really opens up, not good for big groups but for you it would be nice unless you're a hammock sleeper, not great tree options.

My wife and I did a loop out of LIS North last Sept. We move fast and single portage but didn't start particularly early and camped on an island on LLC north of Takucmich the first night. We were on Loon at the 2 hour mark, gun lake at 6.5 hours.

Night two we stayed on the north side of Hustler lake; that was a good campsite.

I went solo into LIS north a week plus ago, and I got to Lynx lake in just under 6 hours with double portage (for an old dude not bad). So on your path, no issues outside of finding an open site in that area. Good luck and have fun.

Was up that way a month ago.

We went from EP 14 to Fat, through Little Loon and Slim (& then the unmaintained Slim>Fat portage) to the site on Fat in 5.5 hours. We doubled the first 4 portages and singled the last two.

Loon Lake should be easily reachable in that timeframe barring significant wind issues.

Persistent problem bear reported on Shell Lake (again) in early June this year. Notice was still posted about this one on the kiosk at Moose River North entry when we came out yesterday (7/2), along with the July reports of multiple encounters with bears and their cubs on Agnes.

BTW....that Portage from Loon over to Heritage is a thumper. Make sure you don't veer off on to the Souix Hustler trail....you could be portaging a while. They intersect at an angle and it's a touch confusing.

schweady: "Persistent problem bear reported on Shell Lake (again) in early June this year. Notice was still posted about this one on the kiosk at Moose River North entry when we came out yesterday (7/2), along with the July reports of multiple encounters with bears and their cubs on Agnes.
"

Damn was heading to Shell on Tuesday. Did they provide any details ? I wonder if there was still any issue since it was posted early June or if any trouble bears have made their way elsewhere.

Will be going in LIS N EP 14 in early Aug, targetting Lynx on day 1 then might push onto Hustler before backtracking.

Will report back on the bear activity

Karl: "Will be going in LIS N EP 14 in early Aug, targetting Lynx on day 1 then might push onto Hustler before backtracking.


Will report back on the bear activity"

Same here Karl. Headed in the 8th. You?

Also headed in on the 8th, CoachBigD, maybe I’ll see ya at the EP, will be an early morning put in. Which way you headed on your journey?

Karl, headed to Lynx or heritage to basecamp. May do a day trip to Hustler.

I keep vacillating between a early start or filling up at Brittons first.

The two of us will be loaded with way more fishing gear than we need, a blue barrel and a couple packs. Maybe see you there.

Was out on Shell at the start of the month, the walleye bite was hot!