Hi all. Given the warm weather forecast for northern MN this week, my sons and I are thinking of making a late season canoeing, camping fishing trip. I've never been to the BW after mid-Sept. What should I expect? Is there already ice along the shores of lakes? The lake I am thinking of is not large. Thanks for any advice.

Several smaller lakes are iced over. Bigger lakes are still liquid. If you go the 6th you should be fine as long as you're out about the 10th. Big changes in the weather pattern around the 10th. I, personally, would not even be on large lakes after the 10th as the early freeze up on some smaller lakes (after a reprieve) is almost certain in this weather pattern on larger lakes, though not the biggest.

IMO, most lakes under 500 acres will be frozen by around Veteran's Day- or just after (2-3 days) based on my near 25 years in forecasting the weather. Water flow and depth of lakes/river is, of course, a big thing, but I wouldn't press my luck after about the 11th.

That's a big cold punch!

Firearm Deer Season begins this weekend so I would wear some blaze orange. There may be hunters in the area. It should be a memorable adventure and experience for you and your sons. Have fun.

Please enlighten me? Most lakes have or frozen over. Are you depending
on someone saving you, or are you bringing a snowblower?

Could go anyway, best advice wear a mask and give up before you put
the rescue squad in peril.

Just go... we’ll find you in the spring. Haha! I think it’s next week it cools back down. I’d go through Saturday and question the there after.

Hell yeah, just go.

As long you have the experience needed to go cold water camping and as long as you don't get iced in, why not?...

Im going!
Tom

PS

Something I learned after reading about people swamping in cold water, I will have an emergency fire starter kit with me. Birchbark, cedar splinters, matches, enough to get a fire going right away. Packed in a zip lock.
There is a good story in the recent bwca journal about a guy that swamped and nearly died but was resuced. And we've read a few stories on this site too.

Air temp will be great next few days!

Yeah, looking good for the weekend. Next week will be back some to reality, but not terrible. Water is cooling though so be careful!
Are ya going???

Honestly, this isn't the year for a November canoe trip. Lakes started icing up three weeks ago. Last weekend, Lake Three (not a small lake) was iced over. Some of those had in excess of two inches of ice already. Unless you are traveling to Seagull, your odds are fairly small. I wouldn't say you'ld be able to get into even Saganaga right now because I know the Seagull River is iced over. It was an early winter, and I doubt this warm spell will break it up.

Just got home last night from 3 days in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the UP. Great weather for the entire time - 40’s at night and 60’s and sunny during the day. Nice reprieve from the snow and cold of several weeks ago. Still some snow in the woods on north facing slopes and a little ice on small ponds in the woods. Other cars were in the lots at both boat landings. Glad I got the opportunity.

deerfoot: "Just got home last night from 3 days in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the UP. Great weather for the entire time - 40’s at night and 60’s and sunny during the day. Nice reprieve from the snow and cold of several weeks ago. Still some snow in the woods on north facing slopes and a little ice on small ponds in the woods. Other cars were in the lots at both boat landings. Glad I got the opportunity."

I also just came out of Sylvania. I saw someone paddle out about an hour ahead of me in a green kayak. If that was you you left your paddle on shore at the landing. I put it on the picnic table. Sorry we didn't run into each other.

Boundary Boy: "

deerfoot: "Just got home last night from 3 days in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the UP. Great weather for the entire time - 40’s at night and 60’s and sunny during the day. Nice reprieve from the snow and cold of several weeks ago. Still some snow in the woods on north facing slopes and a little ice on small ponds in the woods. Other cars were in the lots at both boat landings. Glad I got the opportunity."

I also just came out of Sylvania. I saw someone paddle out about an hour ahead of me in a green kayak. If that was you you left your paddle on shore at the landing. I put it on the picnic table. Sorry we didn't run into each other. "

Not me. I did leave in an old green OT solo canoe Saturday morning about 830am back to the landing at Clark Lake. Interestingly on Thursday afternoon just after arriving at the campsite I saw someone rowing south on Clark Lake in an aluminum canoe.

deerfoot: "

Boundary Boy: "

deerfoot: "Just got home last night from 3 days in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the UP. Great weather for the entire time - 40’s at night and 60’s and sunny during the day. Nice reprieve from the snow and cold of several weeks ago. Still some snow in the woods on north facing slopes and a little ice on small ponds in the woods. Other cars were in the lots at both boat landings. Glad I got the opportunity."

I also just came out of Sylvania. I saw someone paddle out about an hour ahead of me in a green kayak. If that was you you left your paddle on shore at the landing. I put it on the picnic table. Sorry we didn't run into each other. "

Not me. I did leave in an old green OT solo canoe Saturday morning about 830am back to the landing at Clark Lake. Interestingly on Thursday afternoon just after arriving at the campsite I saw someone rowing south on Clark Lake in an aluminum canoe."

I was on crooked lake the intire time.

Boundary Boy: "

deerfoot: "

Boundary Boy: "

deerfoot: "Just got home last night from 3 days in the Sylvania Wilderness Area in the UP. Great weather for the entire time - 40’s at night and 60’s and sunny during the day. Nice reprieve from the snow and cold of several weeks ago. Still some snow in the woods on north facing slopes and a little ice on small ponds in the woods. Other cars were in the lots at both boat landings. Glad I got the opportunity."

I also just came out of Sylvania. I saw someone paddle out about an hour ahead of me in a green kayak. If that was you you left your paddle on shore at the landing. I put it on the picnic table. Sorry we didn't run into each other. "

Not me. I did leave in an old green OT solo canoe Saturday morning about 830am back to the landing at Clark Lake. Interestingly on Thursday afternoon just after arriving at the campsite I saw someone rowing south on Clark Lake in an aluminum canoe."

I was on crooked lake the intire time."

I wanted to get Porcupine campsite on Crooked Lake but it was taken when I got there early Thursday afternoon. I like that site because nobody hikes by like they do on most Clark Lake sites.