I've done three solo trips (and thirteen total BWCA trips). All of my solo trips have been in the BWCA. I'm thinking that I'd like to take a solo trip into Quetico next year (probably June). Fishing is really important to me... bass, walleye, northern, and lake trout (in that order).

Because I'm solo, I'd rather not spend much time on the really large lakes (to avoid big winds). Any recommendations?

How many days on the water are you thinking and how many travel days?

An easier mostly small water trip would be to go through Prairie Portage, North Bay, up the S Chain (Shade, Noon, Silence), through a bit of Agnes, then back through Jeff and East lakes and then back out. All species present along the route.

I also really like the southwest part of the park for smaller to medium sized lakes, although I find that area particularly good for lake trout especially. But beware that much of that part of the park burned a few years ago.

Another good consideration would be the Man Chain. They're long lakes, but not particularly wide, and they have a decent number of islands. So unless you get unlucky with the direction of wind blowing right down those lakes, they fish and paddle more like medium sized lakes.

For a not big water route with good fishing I like the Birch-Man Chain-Saganagons-Falls Chain-McEwen-Louisa-Sunday loop.

plander: "For a not big water route with good fishing I like the Birch-Man Chain-Saganagons-Falls Chain-McEwen-Louisa-Sunday loop. "

Exactly what I was going to post! Great route. Took me 6 days. I figured 72 miles starting and ending at PP (using a ruler on a map). Only a bit of Louisa and then Bailey Bay can be rough, but the paddle and portage through Poacher would let you avoid Bailey.

Thank you all! I'm thinking it'll be 6-7 days.
I'll keep checking these out as I plan and dream!

plander: "For a not big water route with good fishing I like the Birch-Man Chain-Saganagons-Falls Chain-McEwen-Louisa-Sunday loop. "

I did this route in June of this year (2024). It was an enjoyable route overall. Besides the Man Chain, however, I didn't think the fishing was up to our usual Quetico standards. Who knows how the individual conditions of our trip (fairly standard Quetico weather for the most part during and before our trip though). The Man Chain had good fishing and good sized fish for us.

We struggled to catch anything sizeable while paddling through the Falls Chain (except my buddy's PB 27" walleye). And for some reason Saganagons has been subpar fishing each of the three times I've fished it, which I know isn't in line with the typical consensus of it being a good fishing lake.

McEwen was a beautiful lake, but we mostly just paddled through. We caught a few really nice sized smallmouth near some of the big islands in the southern bay though.

Glacier and all of the small lakes until Louisa produced good numbers but smaller than average sized fish. Think mostly 15-17' smallies and hammer handle pike with a few largies thrown in.

Louisa was good for lake trout numbers, but they were all on the small side for Quetico. Out of the the 25-30 we caught there, I doubt one exceeded 24" or so.

It was a fun travel route though, and good fishing by most any standard outside of my Quetico snob standard :) I'll definitely return to the Man Chain in the future at a minimum.

Thank you, cburton 103, for all this info! As I was reading your post, I was thinking "this actually sounds like really good fishing." But then, I haven't spent much time in Quetico...
I've often thought that I'd like to do the Falls Chain. But I'm not sure about doing it solo... what is the current like? Is it similar to the South Kawishiwi River? I went there solo in 2023 and it was not a problem.

FishCamper: "Thank you, cburton 103, for all this info! As I was reading your post, I was thinking "this actually sounds like really good fishing." But then, I haven't spent much time in Quetico...
I've often thought that I'd like to do the Falls Chain. But I'm not sure about doing it solo... what is the current like? Is it similar to the South Kawishiwi River? I went there solo in 2023 and it was not a problem.
"

The current on the falls chain hasn’t been a problem until fairly near the falls - perhaps within 50-75 yards conservatively - the three times I’ve been through there. Two trips in early June, one in September. The key in the falls chain is to know exactly where you are and know where the portages are as you’re approaching. Janice’s (previous Quetico Cache Bay Ranger) map of the falls chain can be found searching this site. Especially your first time through the falls chain, don’t try fishing the current from the canoe, ESPECIALLY from upstream. With proper preparation and attention, this area shouldn’t be an issue. Most issues I’ve heard of have come from people getting too close to the top of the falls by someone lapsing their attention.

Thank you. That's really helpful! I definitely want to do that route someday! It sounds doable as a solo.