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Jim525
member (17)member
  
01/03/2022 07:27AM  
I have thought of doing a solo trip ever since my first trip into the BWCA. I have done about eight trips now. As of now, my thoughts are to do a loop from EP16 into Lac La Croix and back through Gebe and Oyster, spending the most time on Gebe. I have done this loop before, but just paddled through Gebe, and thought it needed a longer look.

Would it be better from EP14? I have entered there before. How is the fishing on Gebe? I am an older person, but in good shape for my age and have nothing but time. Bought a Wenonah Prism a couple of years ago.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
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Loony_canoe
distinguished member (421)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/03/2022 08:31AM  
I just finished the EP16 loop in October 2021. It is an easier and shorter travel route, then through EP14. You would be able to spend more time on the lake that way.

I camped on Gebe. There are three nice sites on the northern end of the lake. One closed site on the west, and a less desirable site on the south. I ended up fishing on the north side by the small islands. Bass seemed to be energetic, even for October (that's most likely because they knew they would be released).

The Lac La Croix portion of the loop was long for me. I'm not a fan of open water paddling, but the portages are all reasonable.
01/03/2022 11:34AM  
Jim, the EP16 loop was my first trip. My second trip and first solo was a loop through EP14. On the EP14 solo, I kept to the small lakes south of LLC - North, Steep, Beartrack, Finger, Pocket, and then south through Gebe. Both are nice trips. The EP14 trip is still one of my all-time favorites. It's been 15-20 years since those trips so I'm not a source of current info.

Since you've already done the first and have time, I'd recommend the EP14 loop. There's more portaging, but if you're OK with that, it's a nice loop.
straighthairedcurly
distinguished member(1921)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/03/2022 02:46PM  
Come check out the Solo Tripping forum to gather more info specific to a solo trip.

Solo Tripping

Be careful, solo trips are known to be quite addicting.
01/03/2022 03:24PM  
I second everything said above. I’ve also done both loops, and like Boonie would give the edge to starting at 14. It’s a bit longer and harder, but rewarding with more isolation. Both great loops.
01/09/2022 10:34PM  
I'm retired as of next week and consequently am planning my first-ever solo this year, perhaps in May, with a group trip to follow in Aug/Sept. I thought I'd do EP16 -Oyster-Gebe-La Croix pattern. In my case, a major decision input was to stay with a route I'm very familiar with, since this is a first-time event - especially after a number of non-outdoorsy family members opined that going solo is a terrible idea :.).
For me fIshing on Gebe has yielded bass, northern and walleye in order of frequency. I've only been there in August, so it was a bit slow, but there were fish.

johnson1451
member (15)member
  
01/29/2022 11:29AM  
What is the route of the ep16 loop?
01/29/2022 12:32PM  
The loop mentioned in the OP - in at EP 16 thru Agnes to LLC (Lac la Croix) back through (Pocket) Gebeonequet, Oyster, out 16.
YetiJedi
distinguished member(1449)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/29/2022 01:14PM  
Jim525: "I have thought of doing a solo trip ever since my first trip into the BWCA. I have done about eight trips now. As of now, my thoughts are to do a loop from EP16 into Lac La Croix and back through Gebe and Oyster, spending the most time on Gebe. I have done this loop before, but just paddled through Gebe, and thought it needed a longer look.

Would it be better from EP14? I have entered there before. How is the fishing on Gebe? I am an older person, but in good shape for my age and have nothing but time. Bought a Wenonah Prism a couple of years ago.

Any thoughts would be appreciated."


Hi Jim,

Sounds like a great trip and I hope all goes well for you. A few questions...what time of year are you going? Besides fishing, what else do you enjoy doing to take a "longer look"? How much time will you have? Do you take a fish finder?

The DNR website has a recent (2019) fish report and it looks like numbers/size are down a little but they do stock walleye fry every three years so you should find them. Getting intel ahead of time from folks could make a big difference. I've never fished Geb so I can't help more.

I'm planning a solo through the same area in September. I have a permit for 14 and plan to do the loop of small lakes above the Weeny Lake PMA and then exit through Gebe down to 16. Working on the details of a shuttle and will decide exit point later.

Enjoy planning and then have an awesome trip!
 
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