This last June was my group's first time ever BWCA trip, and I posted the general plan and got good feedback so I thought I'd do it again. Everyone had a blast and is eager to do another trip next year.

Last year's trip started with a tow out of Moose up to Birch, where we took a leisurely two days to get to SAK, then went through Sema and Spoon back to Knife and out for a total of six nights.

This year we're aiming for 4 nights - another leisurely two day trip out, two days back, with two nights in the middle on our target lake. The current idea is Thomas/Fraser area, as my brother managed to not catch a single walleye on our trip this year (shocking, as the fishing was excellent for us otherwise) and wants revenge on the BWCA walleyes.

I figure our day 1 target could be Ima, with a little detour to see the Cattyman Falls on the way out. That would set us up for a pretty solid morning out to Thomas/Fraser, likely trying for a Fraser campsite for two nights there and have plenty of time for fishing.

The trip back is where things get a little sketchy I think: ideally we'd try to get to Ahsub, Disappointment or Parent to camp, then make the shorter jaunt out to the EP but it seems like grabbing a site in that area is very hit or miss. We are two tents and two hammocks, which I think makes most sites manageable for our group.

Anyway, on to the questions:
Are there other areas we should look at as plan B options with a similar trip structure?
The portages between Moose and Knife were absolute traffic jams, should we expect similar here?
Any day trips other than Sagus we should be considering?

Are there any other areas?

Option 1 - Malberg Lake - Kawishiwi Lake entry. Either Day 1 Kawishiwi to Malberg (long day but doable) or Day 1 Kawishiwi to Polly, Day 2 Polly to Malberg. Lot of day trip/fishing waters in the area. (Leaving early, you could actually fish Alice Lake for a couple hours and make it back before dark in June.) Back out is the same as the way in.

Option 2 - Phoebe Lake - Sawbill Lake entry - One day travel to Phoebe Lake. It's a long day, but then you are there. Day trip back to Grace Lake for more fishing waters. Not as much day trip/fishing alternative waters as Malberg area.

Option 3 - Combine the two - Kawishiwi Lake entry - Sawbill Lake exit. Get a shuttle to Kawishiwi Lake from Sawbill Outfitters. Day one - Kawishiwi to Polly Lake. Day 2 - Fish Polly Lake. Day 3 - Polly Lake to Phoebe Lake. Day 4 - Fish Phoebe/Grace Lakes. Day 5 Out to Sawbill Lake.

Hope you have a great trip.

If you stick to the original plan, skip Cattyman falls on way in and see it on you way out en route to Ashigan for your last night and catch smallies all evening. Exit out the Boot route....assuming Snowbank entry.

CON: It's common for a day or three of high winds to screw up a trip in that area. There are no safe-from-the-wind 'escape' routes outside of the Kekekabic trail. If you do make it to Fraser or beyond you'll have a lot of pressure on your second-to-last day to cross 3 not-small lakes that all face different wind directions. Going all the way to Disappointment that night means you might not find a campsite. Laying up earlier means you'll be crossing Snowbank later in the day when the winds are more likely to be up.

PRO: The wind really doesn't blow that much in June and if it's going to the weather forecast will tell you with reasonably certainty 4 days out. Disappointment wouldn't have the 'crowded' reputation if veterans and beginners alike didn't regularly make it across Snowbank and eat walleyes out of Disappointment. The portages should have less traffic than your route to Knife and your destination should be far less crowded. Hatchet is a great little lake with good eating walleye. I've never been to Sagus but I would love to fish it. Good eating lakers in Ima and Fraser; plus-sizers in Thomas.

Michwall mentioned some excellent alternatives. Closer to Ely options are 1 2 3 4 to Insula or Alice or anywhere along the S Kawishiwi river/Kawishiwi Triangle. A little further east, Sawbill/Baker to Cherokee/Temperance might fit your group well. The longer portages are worth it, especially if it's solitude and fish that you're after.

@Michwall - I really like your Option 3 plan. Going to definitely keep that one in the back pocket. The other plans are good too, the Malberg day trips are enticing.

@cowdoc - If the winds look right in the forecast I'd definitely consider that route on the way out. I've got a Zoleo so I should have pretty accurate weather reports, but going north to south on Snowbank in a more serious crosswind gives me the itchies.

@Z4K - Yep, those are the issues on my mind. We'll have a little flexibility too, we might make it 5 nights with a goal of getting to south Disappointment or Parent before noon after the 4th night so we can have the best shot at finding a site and then getting out across Snowbank early in the morning. Saves us a likely hotel room too - a morning exit would give us plenty of time for the 8 hours drive ahead of us afterwards.

Day 1 Nina Moose
Day 2+3 Agnes (day trip to Stuart or LLC)
Day 4 Nina Moose again

All good walleye lakes with plenty of rapids to fish under as well.