Hello all. Planning another fishing trip to the BWCA this spring and have a few questions. I've never gone in earlier than July. My best chance for a trip would be mid-May this year. What kind of weather could I expect mid-May? What about crowds? The biggest question is how's the fishing mid-May? I assume it could be a bit early for flies? I guess it won't make a difference as mid-May will be my only chance this year, but wondering what to expect.

Thanks for any info and advice.

Weather - could be cool to cold. Or could be very nice. Be ready for either. And rain.
Crowds - not as busy as summer, weekends.
Fishing - cold water makes the fish a bit slower, but they are hungry! Mid-May to mid-June is the consensus best fishing.
Flies/bugs - this is your only chance this year. Be ready for anything.

Most of my trips have been May and June... can't beat it. Have a great time!

I have made a number of trips starting in May, typically just before fishing opener. While I don't fish my trip mates always did and were successful. The weather varies from cool to cold (as previously mentioned) and from very nice early spring days to blizzards (the snow/cold didn't last long). Generally few to no bugs but some years with an early spring the black flies were out (just bring a headnet).

May is my favorite time to trip.

As already stated about the weather, you could get highs in the 30's with rain, sleet, and snow to sunny, calm, and 70. Even from one day to the next.

Before fishing opener is my favorite because there are very few people out, but that doesn't help you with wanting to fish. When I go in May and want to fish I like the weekend in between fishing opener and Memorial Day Weekend the best because it's a quiet window in between two busy weekends. For example.. in 2018 I went solo that weekend and didn't see 1 other person and there was only 1 other car in the lot at the EP. The following year I went to the same EP with one of my daughters during Memorial Day weekend and the lot was full and we had a hard time finding a campsite.

In 2021 I entered at Baker which has a reputation for an area where people have trouble finding a campsite with my daughter the weekend in between Fishing Opener and Memorial Day and we only saw one other occupied site.

We have been going the week leading up to Memorial Weekend for several years now and have found it to be a great time to go. After fishing opener and the fish are biting although that is not our main purpose. Weather has been pretty good with 50's to 60's during the day, maybe a 70 plus degree day if you are lucky. Nights get cool though, we have had mid to upper 20s on several occasions.

Definitely less people out and about than prime season although you won't be alone. Bugs have been mostly few and far between although one year we did have some black flies that were pesky enough to wear the headnet here and there.

Every year is different but some years a mid May trip could be flirting with ice out on some lakes and the earlier you go snow is definitely a bigger possibility. For us it has worked out great, maybe push your trip forward a week if you can, it will increase your odds of better weather. Even then be ready for 26 degree mornings and frost on the cook kit:)

Thanks everyone. I forget how spotting the weather can be up there. Down here in Georgia, its SLOW changes. Lol. Any weather I can deal with. Just didn't want to make the trip if the fishing is bad. Now, if I can get my preferred permit. Fingers crossed. Lol.

The first year we went, 15 years ago, we went 3rd week of May. Nights were brutally cold, although day time was pleasant. Then we made the discovery that warm temps in May mean black flies and mosquitoes. We never returned in May again.

Now we go in September. Fewer people, no bugs, mild temps.

About 5-6 years ago, I changed my typical entrance date to the week before Memorial Day. I have been in the BWCA in all the summer months earlier than October (OK, that’s actually a fall month, but it’s immaterial) and my experience with bugs convinced me the if I could only go in once a year, then it would be May or September. I don’t mind cold or even light snow cuz those are easy to prepare for and they make it even nicer when you have a fire. You can always stay warm during the day by being active, and if it rains you’re just as stuck as you would be in any other season. To me, the combination of thinner crowds, little to no bugs, better fishing, long daylight hours and possibly nice weather makes the week before Memorial Day my top choice.

I’ll be retired in a couple years so if the week before Memorial Day becomes a popular entry time I’ll just go in September; and hopefully every other time during soft water season.

I'm on the fence about this right now myself. Currently planning on going in earlier in the week before memorial weekend and coming out on that Saturday so I avoid most of the crowding but now considering maybe going in on maybe the 18th and coming out on the 24th of 25th. I'm going in solo on Seagull and headed up through Knife then taking Ottertrack along the border and back down through Red Rock and Alpine. Hoping I will avoid most crowding after I get into Ogish. Who knows...

Seems folks are getting more bold and going in earlier and later. I was in of Sawbill last October during rain and 30 degree weather and it was still crowded.

I have a week to think it over I guess. Probably isn't going to matter either way.

ockycamper: "
Now we go in September. Fewer people, no bugs, mild temps."

I don't think there are less people in September than May. Bugs less of a factor in fall. Temperatures really about the same, both September and May being a crapshoot. Daylight noticeably longer in May

AlexanderSupertramp: "I'm on the fence about this right now myself. Currently planning on going in earlier in the week before memorial weekend and coming out on that Saturday so I avoid most of the crowding but now considering maybe going in on maybe the 18th and coming out on the 24th of 25th. I'm going in solo on Seagull and headed up through Knife then taking Ottertrack along the border and back down through Red Rock and Alpine. Hoping I will avoid most crowding after I get into Ogish. Who knows...


Seems folks are getting more bold and going in earlier and later. I was in of Sawbill last October during rain and 30 degree weather and it was still crowded.


I have a week to think it over I guess. Probably isn't going to matter either way."

I have settled on may 17. I'm solo and hope to go up stuart river, get a pma permit for 19, and 20 to camp sterling lake, then mosey back up thru stuart lake to knife then wherever. This will be my earliest entry in my 15 or so trips. I usually go first week of June, then mid august, and a few years in October. I just hope ice out, and weather cooperates to be the best fishing mid may. Lol. My date is solid but I have a couple back up entry points. Here's to all of us scoring our perfect permit and the best weather.

I really like Mid May. True, the weather is a crap shoot but unless it really warms up it's pretty bugless. I got a permit for a Sawbill entry on the 19th and plan on doing a Louse/Polly/Lady Chain loop. Going solo and plan on being out about 14 days. Plenty of time to cover the distance and spend multiple days hanging and fishing at good looking sites along the way.

In 2022 I did 2 weeks alone in May, exiting on the 29th. There were really no bugs to speak of until the 28th when it got really warm and it was like someone flipped a switch. Never had a problem finding a site and saw very few people. Fishing was great too.

I remember portaging out om my last day and passing all the clean, fresh, young faces making their entry into the wilderness, I was happy for them but could not help but think of them as fresh meat for the bug grinder.

TacoOverland: "I really like Mid May. True, the weather is a crap shoot but unless it really warms up it's pretty bugless. I got a permit for a Sawbill entry on the 19th and plan on doing a Louse/Polly/Lady Chain loop. Going solo and plan on being out about 14 days. Plenty of time to cover the distance and spend multiple days hanging and fishing at good looking sites along the way.


In 2022 I did 2 weeks alone in May, exiting on the 29th. There were really no bugs to speak of until the 28th when it got really warm and it was like someone flipped a switch. Never had a problem finding a site and saw very few people. Fishing was great too.


I remember portaging out om my last day and passing all the clean, fresh, young faces making their entry into the wilderness, I was happy for them but could not help but think of them as fresh meat for the bug grinder.
"

I thought the same thing exiting May 27th last year. No bugs whatsoever. We hit the parking lot that afternoon and had gnats all over us.

BryanW: "Thanks everyone. I forget how spotting the weather can be up there. Down here in Georgia, its SLOW changes. Lol. Any weather I can deal with. Just didn't want to make the trip if the fishing is bad. Now, if I can get my preferred permit. Fingers crossed. Lol."

Last spring taught a bunch of folks that falling snow can be the least of your worries in May and early June. Here’s an example (not my tale):

I survived capsize, rapids and self-extraction. May 14-15, 2022

I have no idea what the 2023 melt will look like, nor does anyone else. But there is a boatload of snow on the ground in many parts of the Arrowhead this winter:

Last spring taught a bunch of folks that falling snow can be the least of your worries in May and early June. Here’s an example (not my tale):


I survived capsize, rapids and self-extraction. May 14-15, 2022


I have no idea what the 2023 melt will look like, nor does anyone else. But there is a boatload of snow on the ground in many parts of the Arrowhead this winter:

"

I haven't seen that story, but coincidently enough I was at EP 50 on the 15th of May last year at probably 12:30pm (according to my photo timestamps), I picked up a canoe from Seagull Outfitters that morning and decided to hike a section of Centennial trail with my dog on the way home, after that we drove down the rest of the dirt road and I stopped to watch the river for a few minutes. The water level was nearly up to the edge of the road and trees that lined the very bottom bank were underwater up to the tips. I felt like I was next to dam discharge, it was so loud. There's no chance in hell I would have put in that day. I remember someone driving out and he asked me if I was planning on going in there and I said "absolutely not"... Might have been OP of that story, he looked super concerned that I was driving down that road with a canoe on my roof. Even if I had a permit, I probably would have skipped it. Had bad news written all over it for me at least.

With that said, last year was a bit anomalous with all the rain we got while the ground was still frozen solid, but even though temps have been milder this year, I suspect we will see flooding again up there given the snowfall this year being more than last. I nearly picked EP 50 this for memorial day weekend but opted for EP 47 instead.

I have tripped in May for the past couple decades or so...Ultimately, (and as the previous posts indicate) my advice is be prepared for just about anything! I've had snow & ice, as well as stifling heat that made it tough to sleep at night and everything in between. Still, in my opinion, it's a close 2nd to September as to the best month to paddle in the bwca.





Photo from last year mid-May.

With the exception of last year because of the flooding, we have made a trip up either memorial weekend or the weekend before for the last 20 years, in my opinion it is the best fishing of the year but as stated nights can either be 20° to 50° Which are perfect for sitting around an evening fire. Three years ago and again two years ago we had temperatures in the afternoon of over 80° which bring out the bugs and to me make conditions much more miserable than the cold weather. This year I have a Hog Creek entry on Memorial weekend and I just bought an Isabella entry the week before:

I went in to EP 47, May 15, 2021.

Putting into Poplar, the water was too cold to stand in. We camped on Horseshoe by the river inlet. Fishing was poor for us that early...small northerns and smallmouth. I decided we should hop over to Gaskin and try bigger water. While we were there, the lake turned over and we started catching walleyes.

It seemed like the fishing turned around just as the aspens leafed out.

We have gone last week of May and all four weeks of September. There is a big difference. It is water temperature. Water temps in May are going to be COLD. If you capsize you have to be prepared for it. Also in May, air temps will be very cold early in the month. If by any chance they warm up, the black flies and mosquitoes will come out in swarms.

September has no black flies, and almost no mosquitoes despite the temps. Water is warm enough to swim in most of the month. Yes, we have had sleet, snow and freezing rain, but it was isolated and the last week of September.

Biggest difference is the risk related to water temperature and bugs

Crowds, not much that early besides fishing opener weekend. For flies, the water temps will still be cool, so lake trout will be biting - I'd suggest streamers or other wet flies. Bugs may start picking up around that time as the blackflies hatch in cool water. It can be a bit wet/cold that time of year depending on how you catch the weather, though I like that time period as the park has been less traveled for the season so wildlife is a bit less wary/is more prevalent.