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Bdavis171
  
04/06/2021 09:43AM  
This will be my third trip to BWCA. I did a 4 night trip on the Granite River, which I really enjoyed! Great fishing in the current and around the waterfalls, along with the chance to "run" a few of the smaller rapids. I have also taken a short overnight trip out of Sawbill.

Beginning of August I am taking my cousin and his high school son up for a trip from Southern Illinois. Both in great shape. My cousin is retired military, so has the outdoor aspect of this trip down.

Any suggestions on routes involving rivers, great scenery and fishing? Would love to show them the north shore before or after the trip.
 
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cyclones30
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04/06/2021 12:27PM  
I'd check permit availability first for the exact date you're going in. (if you know) That may force your hand on where you can go.

But...if all permits were open for your date (unlikely) I'd say an EP 14 or 16 entry would be fun. Small river travel, though no run-able rapids really. You portage around the rapids/falls. Curtain falls would be a bucket list stop on the EP 16 trip. Fishing galore in that area too for that trip.

Also maybe Kawishiwi Lake (37) up to Malberg and who knows from there. Rivers and lakes, pictographs in range, plenty of fishing spots.
Michwall2
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04/06/2021 03:53PM  
A couple of options:

Entry 37 - Kawishiwi River - Lady Lakes. This route is laid out for your 3-4 day timeline. Day 1 - Kawishiwi to Lake Polly. Half day of travel and the rest for hitting the smb and walleye on Polly. Day 2 Lake Polly to Phoebe/Grace Lake. Day 3 Lay over to smash walleye on Phoebe or smb on Grace. Day 4 Out to Sawbill Lake.

Entry 37 - Kawishiwi Lake - Malberg Lake base camp - Day 1 - Travel to Lake Polly. Fish. Day 2 - Travel to Malberg Lake - Fish. Day 3 - Day trip A. Southwest along the Kawishiwi River to Fishdance Lake to see the Pictographs. B. West to Amber Lake for fishing. C. Northwest to Adams/Boulder Lake for fishing. Day 4 - All the way back to Kawishiwi Lake.

Entry 39 - Baker Lake - Day 1 Fish your way to Jack Lake - Spend time fishing for perch and walleye here. Find the abandoned gold mine to the west of the north end of the Kelly/Jack portage. Day 2 - Travel to South/North Temperance Lake. Hit the walleye and smb here on South Temperance Lake. Day 3 - Day trip to Brule if winds allow, or stay on South/North Temperance to fish. Day 4 - Back to Baker Lake.

Bdavis171
  
04/07/2021 11:37AM  
Thanks! I like the idea of ending at Sawbill as it gives us flexibility on when we pack out. Last year we did a single overnight out of Sawbill. We camped on Beth and fished Ella as well. Good smallmouth in Beth, Ella for some small northerns. Would really like to hit the walleye hard!
TuscaroraBorealis
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04/07/2021 11:58AM  
PointMe2Polaris
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04/11/2021 06:46PM  
Cyclone is on the right track. If you haven't got the permit yet, I'd suggest something other than Sawbill. I have done EP 38 (sawbill) EP 16 (Moose Portage/River North) among several other entries. Since there are just 3 of you in good shape, definitely go with EP 16 Depending on your endurance, you can get up to Boulder and Tiger Bay in 6-8 hours. Your adventure will have good river and lake canoeing and about 8 portages ranging from 1 - 7 on the difficult scale. You won't be disappointed with the campsite selections on Boulder and Tiger Bays on Lac La Croix just above lake Agnus. Nearly all of them are 4+ stars. The fishing options are great. You are also just a short jaunt from Iron lake which provides good fishing as well. As a small added bonus you're not far from pictographs and curtain falls.

Good luck and enjoy whatever you end up doing!
Bdavis171
  
04/12/2021 10:27AM  
Unfortunately EP 16 is fully booked for our dates. Looks like a great starting point though! Maybe next summer when I can book the day the permits go on sale. I am leaning towards Kawishiwi to Sawbill unless there are other suggestions? I've done Sawbill to Beth/Ella last year. A change of scenery would always be nice.
cyclones30
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04/12/2021 12:17PM  
37 to Sawbill on the Lady chain would be nice. You haven't seen most of that trip it sounds and good fishing in most of those areas. Just don't be in a hurry. If you have extra day or time, head to Malberg and then back down to Polly?
 
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