Hi, I'll be going through LLC this year, going across the entire lake. I've been reading some of the campsite reviews on this site and there are multiple reviews stating motorboats came down south of Twentyfive Island on the west side of Coleman Island. This is way beyond the motorized zone on the US side. Anyone experienced this firsthand? Is it Canadian boats crossing the border?

Most likley it is Canadian boats. On the Canadian side of the lake there are no restrictions on motors and there are some resorts.

Some of it is ignorance some of it is defiance. Some local First Nation guides do not necessarily recognize international or park boundaries on their ancestral lands… someone many years ago posted a link to a news story where the FS tried to stop it and took the case to Federal Court where it was thrown out.

I’ve also heard of Americans renting boats on the Canadian side and ignorantly or purposely going into the BWCAW side.

I would be surprised if this happened all the time or would ruin a trip, but yes it happens.

T

It has happened here or there, but I'm not sure its an every day or even week thing.

I know one canadian said they took that route to avoid the bigger water on a windy day. Not sure anything was done about it

The only time I've been there (July 3, 2022), I had a couple boats come up from way south while we were sitting in the water between Twentyfive and Coleman looking at the map. Since I had the map in my hands I was certain that they weren't supposed to be there, and it's among my jotted notes from the nighttime brain dump. The wind was calm on both sides of Coleman, so it wasn't a weather thing, I assumed it was just for the fishing. But LLC is big and it wasn't really a bother.

Last time I was on LLC about 12 years ago, a First Nation motorboat came across the border with a few fishing clients. There is a reef known for amazing fishing that we found by chance long before this event. The First Nation boat parked right on top of it.

Okay, with that. The First Nation people have lived on that land long, long before we showed up and chopped up the area with invisible lines. They have almost no economy and while I used to detest rule breakers and motorboats, I now sympathize with them and will turn away from complaining about their attempt to live on their land.
There also used to be an Indian Village on Kawnipi but small Pox wiped them out.

Tom

tumblehome: "Last time I was on LLC about 12 years ago, a First Nation motorboat came across the border with a few fishing clients. There is a reef known for amazing fishing that we found by chance long before this event. The First Nation boat parked right on top of it.


Okay, with that. The First Nation people have lived on that land long, long before we showed up and chopped up the area with invisible lines. They have almost no economy and while I used to detest rule breakers and motorboats, I now sympathize with them and will turn away from complaining about their attempt to live on their land.
There also used to be an Indian Village on Kawnipi but small Pox wiped them out.

Tom"

This is a great perspective. Thanks for posting.

tumblehome: "
There also used to be an Indian Village on Kawnipi but small Pox wiped them out.
Tom"

I am very sure it was the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-1920…

Chief Blackstone traveled to Ely/Winton by snowshoe in the middle of the winter for help, was able to radio Canadian officials for help, but then passed away on Agnes on the way back. No one came to help until spring and the village was decimated. The Canadian government used it as an excuse to force relocate them to Lac La Croix, since they had cancelled their reservation rights to Kawa Bay a couple of years before. A formal apology was given in 1991 by the Canadian government.

I agree with your sentiments/perspective though.

T

timatkn: "

tumblehome: "
There also used to be an Indian Village on Kawnipi but small Pox wiped them out.
Tom"

I am very sure it was the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-1920…


Chief Blackstone traveled to Ely/Winton by snowshoe in the middle of the winter for help, was able to radio Canadian officials for help, but then passed away on Agnes on the way back. No one came to help until spring and the village was decimated. The Canadian government used it as an excuse to force relocate them to Lac La Croix, since they had cancelled their reservation rights to Kawa Bay a couple of years before. A formal apology was given in 1991 by the Canadian government.


I agree with your sentiments/perspective though.


T"

Thank you for the correction. I didn't know the details. Dying g on lake Agnes in the middle of winter is no way to go.
Tom

Yes, I've seen this happening about 1/2 the times I've paddled through LLC...and I'm only on the lake for a short time. They appear to be from north of the border.

The ones I saw were shuttles to Bottle portage and back. So no First Nations nor were they fishing, had canoes on racks and people hauling

Thanks for all the insights everyone. In closing, I would agree with timatkn that encountering a motorboat in this area would be unlikely to ruin a trip. Regarding the First Nations boaters mentioned by wxce1260...I detest rule breakers and if I had to come down on one side or the other of this issue I suppose I would oppose what they're doing. Ultimately there is nothing to be done about it so I will just accept it as something that may happen.

cyclones30: "The ones I saw were shuttles to Bottle portage and back. So no First Nations nor were they fishing, had canoes on racks and people hauling "

The two groups that do shuttles are Anderson’s and Zups…they display their business prominently on their boats? I have a hard time believing either violated the border because it would be easy to catch them but if you saw their boats call’em out. If you didn’t see their logos then it was probably First Nations doing a shuttle. You can get them out of the village or through Cambells.

Also there is no advantage to crossing the border anywhere near Bottle with a motor…bottle portage is far into Canadian waters…almost a mile from the BWCA, why would they be in the BWCA? Of course the portage is open to American’s too…there isn’t any advantage to any tow to cross into the BWCA to do a Bottle or any Quetico tow…the most direct route from Crane Lake to any Quetico entry is entirely through Canadian waters. As I look at a map of the border to cross into the BWCA would add time and distance to any Quetico tow. I am not saying you are wrong but it doesn’t make sense?

During the pandemic the tows couldn’t make it to Bottle for awhile because the only way to get there was using Canadian water?

T

Something like this???

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

It took me a few tries to get it. Wait til the admins see this. Then it’s Curtains.

I think the main hangup on the lack of tows to Bottle was the closure of the customs checkpoint the boats were using on the route. But yes, lots of reasons were used to explain the lessening or lack of tow boats for that year or two

Yeah... I camped at site 150 a few years ago; south of Coleman Island about 2-miles west of Fish Stake Narrows. Woke up in the morning to two motorboats parked in the lake. I assume they were fishing. They ended up taking off about the time we were finishing breakfast. I can only assume they were Canadian registered. But I can attest that it does happen.