Heading to Stuart River for the first time this May. Wondering how the river travel is and what footwear to take. I generally wear rubber boots, but am worried about stepping out a lot and getting water in the boots. Wondering if the river requires getting out and wading a lot.

Is it more like Little Indian Sioux or the Horse River?

Did Stuart to LIS last summer. It's more like LIS. Did a trip report that has good info on the route to Stuart Lake and some decent photos. Good luck on your trip!!

Stuart River to LIS Solo

We did Stuart last year. There was a lot of water at the end of the first portage so we put in there and circled around in the river loop. It flows around to the right. However we encountered a massive beaver dam. Not the end of the world. On our way out we did the opposite and plowed right through the water (it was over waist deep as I recall). All in all, the river levels are very passable in the early season with the spring snow melt. There are some big dams that are real feats of engineering.

Stu was much more full than we expected. We got the last spot on the lake over Memorial Day. Fishing was good. Hope you have a great trip. We enjoy this entry very much. A long day trip to Iron Lake produced good fishing too.

I went last may also. I didn’t know going right at that first creek was an option till I was on iron lake. They also mentioned the huge dam. I just floated across that creek and kept walking. Kinda sucks loading up to float 40 feet and unload again but sounds like the fastest way? There is a huge dam somewhere on that trip...I “think” I counted 8 portages counting the first creek and beaver dams. I’ll be heading to Stuart on my way to sterling end of may, and I can’t wait.

Rockriver: "I’ll be heading to Stuart on my way to sterling end of may, and I can’t wait."

Ah-Ha!

So you're why I could not get that PMA Authorization then! :-)

sns: "

Rockriver: "I’ll be heading to Stuart on my way to sterling end of may, and I can’t wait."

Ah-Ha!


So you're why I could not get that PMA Authorization then! :-)"

Quick question. Who does one call to get a PMA permit and what info is needed? E.g., BWCA permit, date for PMA entry, anything else? Thx.

You need to obtain your entry point permit first, then you can call the Ranger Station that is responsible for your PMA area. They will check the book and make sure the PMA you want is available. If so they will add the PMA number and zone number. For instance you could book Sedative Lake in PMA #5 zone 5 one day, and Solitude Lake in PMA #5 zone 2 for several other days. Just make sure and have PMA #' with zones for each date you want before you call.
PMA

Are you guys talking about Swamp creek? That's navigable?

Speckled: "Are you guys talking about Swamp creek? That's navigable?"

Yes, in high water Swamp Creek will lead you into the Stuart River avoiding the last portage.

MidwestFirecraft: "You need to obtain your entry point permit first, then you can call the Ranger Station that is responsible for your PMA area. They will check the book and make sure the PMA you want is available. If so they will add the PMA number and zone number. For instance you could book Sedative Lake in PMA #5 zone 5 one day, and Solitude Lake in PMA #5 zone 2 for several other days. Just make sure and have PMA #' with zones for each date you want before you call.
PMA "

Thx a bunch....very helpful!!

MidwestFirecraft: "

Speckled: "Are you guys talking about Swamp creek? That's navigable?"

Yes, in high water Swamp Creek will lead you into the Stuart River avoiding the last portage. "

We're headed there in October...probably will have to take the portage. Good to know though.

Portage landing on Stuart, this is really sucky mud. Pulled my sons shoes off, got to spend some time poking in the muck to find it

sns: "

Rockriver: "I’ll be heading to Stuart on my way to sterling end of may, and I can’t wait."

Ah-Ha!


So you're why I could not get that PMA Authorization then! :-)"

Maybe so. My PMA permit is only 6/2 - 6/5. She also added F.Y.I. that there was a permit issued for 6/5 also. Sounds like pma’s may be busy this year. Hope everyone plays by the rules. I have a strange feeling that with the surge of visitors and surge of misconduct, for lack of better words, is gonna cause some kind of restrictive changes. It’s just a feeling and I hope I’m wrong, but nothing surprises me anymore.

Rockriver: "

sns: "

Rockriver: "I’ll be heading to Stuart on my way to sterling end of may, and I can’t wait."

Ah-Ha!



So you're why I could not get that PMA Authorization then! :-)"

Maybe so. My PMA permit is only 6/2 - 6/5. She also added F.Y.I. that there was a permit issued for 6/5 also. Sounds like pma’s may be busy this year. Hope everyone plays by the rules. I have a strange feeling that with the surge of visitors and surge of misconduct, for lack of better words, is gonna cause some kind of restrictive changes. It’s just a feeling and I hope I’m wrong, but nothing surprises me anymore."

I find it very strange that Stuart River entry is booked from 13 MAY-27 June. I don't see that as first timers with a cooler full of beer, but I have never seen that entry point booked so quickly, so far out. Regardless, I don't imagine the people who would go to the extra effort of entering PMA's would be the kind who would cut down trees, leave garbage, etc. Will will soon see.

When I went to reserve permits for this year. I was absolutely amazed by how few were available. I had a hard time finding anything that would work. I've never seen it like that before. Previously we'd been successful finding good options available a few weeks prior to entry. A few weeks out, maybe our first choice wasn't available, but there'd be a half dozen other suitable options. This year's spring trip we were planning on chasing either walleye or lake trout and went through the list;
For entry points we were interested in;

Not available;
Snake River
Little Isabella
Island River
South Kawishiwi River
Little Gabbro
South Lake
Pine
John
East Bearskin
Cross Bay
Duncan
Daniels
Clearwater

It was crazy. We intially booked a Missing Link. A Cross Bay came open a week or so later and we switched. In over 20 years of trips, I've never had such a hard time finding a suitable permit.

Rockriver: "

sns: "

Rockriver: "I’ll be heading to Stuart on my way to sterling end of may, and I can’t wait."

Ah-Ha!



So you're why I could not get that PMA Authorization then! :-)"

Maybe so. My PMA permit is only 6/2 - 6/5. She also added F.Y.I. that there was a permit issued for 6/5 also. Sounds like pma’s may be busy this year. Hope everyone plays by the rules. I have a strange feeling that with the surge of visitors and surge of misconduct, for lack of better words, is gonna cause some kind of restrictive changes. It’s just a feeling and I hope I’m wrong, but nothing surprises me anymore."

Rockriver, we may pass each other.

With Sterling (Zone 4) not an option, I booked Zone 5. Entering Stuart...planning on a loop, but not sure which way I'll go yet. Regardless, on one side or the other, I will come thru Sterling to travel between Stuart and Sunday.

I'll be solo.

sns: "

Rockriver: "

sns: "

Rockriver: "I’ll be heading to Stuart on my way to sterling end of may, and I can’t wait."

Ah-Ha!



So you're why I could not get that PMA Authorization then! :-)"

Maybe so. My PMA permit is only 6/2 - 6/5. She also added F.Y.I. that there was a permit issued for 6/5 also. Sounds like pma’s may be busy this year. Hope everyone plays by the rules. I have a strange feeling that with the surge of visitors and surge of misconduct, for lack of better words, is gonna cause some kind of restrictive changes. It’s just a feeling and I hope I’m wrong, but nothing surprises me anymore."

Rockriver, we may pass each other.

With Sterling (Zone 4) not an option, I booked Zone 5. Entering Stuart...planning on a loop, but not sure which way I'll go yet. Regardless, on one side or the other, I will come thru Sterling to travel between Stuart and Sunday.

I'll be solo."

I’m solo as well. I wanted to be on Stuart on opening day but best I could get was 6/1. It did book fast I thought. I never thought to try different sections. I wanted sterling for a week but she said they don’t advise that long at same place. I understand that but my LNT policies are on point. I used to hunt an island in Florida once a year for management purposes with VERY strict rules as it was a preserve. Before you could leave the island, you had to have a ranger inspect where you camped. I was accused of fibbing about where I camped! ( in jest of course). I take it very seriously all the time, even in regular public camp grounds. I still have no idea what I’m gonna do when I leave sterling? Couple ideas but nothing positive yet. Kind of like playing by ear when I’m solo. Everyone have fun, be safe, and good luck with whatever you go for! :)

I'm a Stuart River fan. No doubt it's not a secret. We first went up in 2012....last year we went back and, as I noted, it was packed. Very enjoyable trips.

Great picture. When we were coming out at the Stuart Entry point a decade or so ago a wet spring had blown out most of the beaver dams, & that "sticky mud" went all the way out to the end of where the greenery is in your pic. A member of our party stuck a paddle out to steady himself & was going to hop out & the paddle went in all the way to the handle. That was not a fund couple dozens heave-hos to get us onto marginally stable land!

Tanks everyone for the info, this is exactly what I was looking for.