BWCA How are things around EP33 (Little Gabbro, Gabbro)? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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anthonylane
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08/10/2021 06:07PM  
Heading into EP 33 next week for a three night stay. Just curious what the conditions are like. How are lake levels, fishing, bear activity, traffic etc.?
 
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Finnboy
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08/10/2021 07:46PM  
I was there last weekend. Water is super low, like everywhere else. It wasn’t real busy. When I left most of the western sites were open. Fishing was a little slow but I caught a few.
anthonylane
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08/13/2021 07:54AM  
Finnboy: "I was there last weekend. Water is super low, like everywhere else. It wasn’t real busy. When I left most of the western sites were open. Fishing was a little slow but I caught a few."


Good deal, thanks
08/14/2021 05:41PM  
Was at BE and Gabbro a week ago. Crawling with people. No bears, no bugs very low water but we did very well.fishing the narrows between BE and Gabbro.
08/14/2021 09:44PM  
Two days ago we went there for a very short day trip with our kids. We were there for about four hours and saw three (maybe four) other groups. But all three of the campsites closest to the entry point were open (we were there about noon to 4:00).

The water is definitely low. We took the 120 rod portage NE of the EP thinking we could then do the two short portages to make a loop but the channel just west of the 120 rod was a completely dry boulder field. The wind was howling so we just hiked around a bit then backtracked.

Fun fact: old maps don't have the entry portage in the right place! The super low water plus an inaccurate map had us very confused at first.
anthonylane
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08/15/2021 09:46AM  
wxce1260: "Was at BE and Gabbro a week ago. Crawling with people. No bears, no bugs very low water but we did very well.fishing the narrows between BE and Gabbro."


Thanks for the intel, given the number of good campsites on both Gabbros I’m hopeful we’ll find something—and really looking forward to fishing both walleye and smallmouth
anthonylane
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08/15/2021 09:47AM  
prettypaddle: "Two days ago we went there for a very short day trip with our kids. We were there for about four hours and saw three (maybe four) other groups. But all three of the campsites closest to the entry point were open (we were there about noon to 4:00).


The water is definitely low. We took the 120 rod portage NE of the EP thinking we could then do the two short portages to make a loop but the channel just west of the 120 rod was a completely dry boulder field. The wind was howling so we just hiked around a bit then backtracked.


Fun fact: old maps don't have the entry portage in the right place! The super low water plus an inaccurate map had us very confused at first. "


Good info, thanks. Are you talking about the section where there was an old dam created by early 1900’s logging company? I didn’t know this, but there are actually two old dams on Little Gabbro.

08/15/2021 05:51PM  
We didn't make it to the portage you circled. We took the long portage marked in yellow on the right of your map from south to north. We planned to paddle west from there to the short portage you circled but the narrows just west of the north end of the long portage was a completely dry boulder field for maybe 20 rods. We didn't try crossing it figuring the water by your circle would be hard to navigate with it so low. We just backtracked on the long portage. I can post a picture when I have better internet.
anthonylane
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08/18/2021 04:44PM  
Gotcha, thanks.

After deliberation we are sticking to our plan and heading in tomorrow through Little Gabbro. Talked to some people in town and it seems like EP33 will remain open. Just hoping the wind direction keeps smoke away from that area. I feel very fortunate to be talking about MY trip while men and women are fighting the Greenwood fire.

08/27/2021 02:30PM  
I went that way in a good water year. Even then '2 portages' was quite an understatement. My wife about killed me before we got through there.

JD
 
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