BWCA Father son 3-night trip suggestions? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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JeremySpartz
member (10)member
  
01/28/2021 11:59AM  
Hey all,

My son wants to hit the BWCA for his 16th, which gets me fired up. However, I haven't been there in 20 years. We're both experienced campers and fishermen, but not knowledgeable about the best route or places to camp and fish.

We're planning now and I would be grateful for any recommendations. We'll be coming in from Park Rapids on a Sunday morning and plan on leaving at any point on Wednesday.

We don't mind a bit of work to get to some good spots to camp and fish.

Thanks,
Jeremy
 
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cyclones30
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01/28/2021 12:15PM  
Want to stay in one spot all 3 nights or move a time or two?

Start out of Ely or don't care where you start? Need an outfitter or have canoe and gear?

Lots and lots of options......help us narrow it down. So you'll drive from PR that morning, stop at an outfitter, and then head in...if you need to rent anything. So you'll not have an early start necessarily and need a shorter first day travel.

Fishing sounds like it's most important?
01/28/2021 01:38PM  
I would suggest getting a very early start and heading to Lac La Croix from Entry Point 16. There is good fishing in the area and lots of day trip opportunities. This trip makes for a long exit day, and campsites between LLC and the entry point can fill up fast!
bombinbrian
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01/28/2021 04:13PM  
Awesome that he wants the trip! My son wanted another trip for his high school graduation present. We still talk about that trip.

Little Indian Sioux North would give you some great options and as stated before Nina Moose North up to Agnes could also provide some options. With hard work you could get to Iron the first day or get close. Mudro also has a ton of options.
01/28/2021 05:35PM  
Three days is short so you may want to maximize fishing and not only getting there to turn around.

Consider a tow (Anderson’s is good) from Crane Lake to Snow Bay on the western end of Lac La Croix. You can fish some nice areas right away and all of the US side of LLC is quite nice given little motor traffic due to the border being closed. And little to no portaging, unless you want it on day trips. Mark Anderson knows the fishing area well and has good advice...and that’s a trip worth doing at least once.

Another option to give some thought to is a tow out of Moose Lake (EP 25) up to the Birch-Sucker portage and head into Knife Lake. Knife is a clear lake with good fishing. You will be on Knife by 12 noon, if not earlier. You can’t go wrong with any of the outfitters on Moose Lake.

And it’s not that I’m a high fan of tow services so much...it’s more of the limited time you have with a three day trip. I would really try to maximize the fishing time and getting to camp site by 1-2 PM...if it were me.


cyclones30
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01/28/2021 05:56PM  
Put in at Mudro (if you can get either of the EP 22 or 23 permits for your date) and head through Sandpit to Jackfish Bay of Basswood. Paddle north of the no-motor line and setup camp. You'll have legendary fishing opportunities within view of Canada about 3-4 hours from your vehicle and only a few easy and one moderate portage away.
JeremySpartz
member (10)member
  
01/28/2021 06:22PM  
Hello and thanks for the response.

I'm open to starting from any point.

We have the canoe and gear, and moving at least since is no problem. Hoping for a good day trip as to fish and explore as well.

We'll definitely fish, but I won't be familiar with the water so expectations aren't too high.

Mudro route sounds solid. I'll definitely explore that and do some research.

Thanks again!



JeremySpartz
member (10)member
  
01/28/2021 06:31PM  
In my original reply to Cyclone I thought it was a one at a time reply set up. Looks like I was wrong.

Thanks for the suggestions and info. I'll take a look at the suggested entries, lakes and EPs and map out the possibilities. It sounds like some of the best spots fill up fast so we'll get on it.



JeremySpartz
member (10)member
  
01/28/2021 06:38PM  
Hoping for a similar experience bombinbrian, thanks for the info.
cyclones30
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01/28/2021 07:07PM  
If you do the Jackfish Bay/Basswood trip, the day trip would be to Upper Basswood Falls just to your west. Ditch your canoe up in the woods along the portage and just hike the long trail w/ your fishing stuff and camera. I could spend all day along that area. (or you could pack up camp and move to one of those sites if you really wanted)
outsidethebox
distinguished member (175)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/28/2021 07:53PM  
I would get the tow on Moose to Splash...paddle to the north end of Ensign and do the moderate+ portage to Vera and camp there. Vera is a very nice, very clear, very low traffic lake-only 4-5 campsites. Good walleye but the clear water makes them a challenge. There is a world class fishery at a nearby lake...if you are interested in this type of scenario. And you can do a long portage to the south arm of knife from there if you are into/up to a nice physical challenge.

01/28/2021 08:16PM  
JS, If I had only 3 days for a trip I would not want to spend a lot of it on the water paddling, portaging and looking for a campsite. We enjoy paddling and portaging but as a means to an end: scenery, solitude, fishing, relaxation and photography. I have an idea for you that works great for a short trip.

Homer Lake entry, make your way to Vern Lake. Two campsites to chose from, both decent. If by chance those were taken which I think is unlikely, there are a total of 11 campsites within a few hours of the put in. Several daytrip options but the Vern River is a great one that offers good scenery, peace and quiet, and very good fishing. Vern Lake is probably a 2.5 to 3 hour jaunt from the entry point. For a short trip, that's kind of a good thing. It's a lesser used entry point in general and usually offers good solitude. I have been there twice and had good luck fishing for smallies, walleyes and a few pike of decent size. Last summer I caught 7 19 inch walleyes from our campsite on Vern - not bad.

It may not have the fishing reputation of Basswood or Lac La Croix or even the trophy potential but if you are okay with 16-20 inch smallies and 14 to 20 plus inch walleyes it's pretty darn good. A lot less work to get in, more time to fish and relax and plenty to do and see. No big water either and the potential wind issues that go along with that. Only 2 permits per day allowed.

For comparison purposes, in the first 20 days of June(2021) the Mudro entry, which has 120 permits available, has no open permits. The Homer entry which has 40 available in that time span, has 27 available.

There are tons of great entries and routes but this one works well on a shorter trip and checks off a lot of the boxes most people enjoy.

Here's a trip report if you are interested:

Homer to Vern

Wherever you go I hope you have a great trip.
JeremySpartz
member (10)member
  
01/29/2021 09:21AM  
Lindy, Cyclone, OSTbox, PLander, Brian and Wobles,

Good points regarding setting up shop close. The day trips and fishing opportunities sound perfect.

This is all exceptionally helpful. I'll show your thoughts and suggestions to my son tonight and get the permit reserved.

I appreciate you all taking the time to provide some advice to a rookie.

JS




 
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