Have a group of 6-8 going up with me this Summer. I have never gone in via the Kiwishiwi EP or Hog Creek EP before and I'm looking for advice as to whether I should just drop down to Parent Lake Via the Hog Creek EP or travel up to the Polly/Koma Lake area via Kiwishiwi route? Here are a few conditions I'm dealing with on this trip that may help you answer:
1. I'll have a 3-4 newbies in our group.
2. We are looking for a base camp that we can get to within 1 day as our trip will be a little shorter than most years. We're looking for a travel day in, 3 day base camp and 1 day travel out.
3. Since our group is a little bigger, we're looking for a nice accommodating site that will suit the group. Of course I realize this is something everyone looks for, but which of the two areas above would you say is the least busy giving us a better chance of landing a 4 or 5 star base camp?
4. Would prefer good fishing, but it seems like fishing is moderately good anywhere I've been in the BWCA. Prefer Walleye and Bass over Pike.

Looking forward to any advice about this area. Thank you sincerely in advance!
Darin

In my experience, entering at Hog Creek will feel less busy. I can’t speak to the fishing.

I've found Perent Lake to be busy. Most everyone that enters has the same thought in mind. Basecamp on Perent. Lots of sites on the lake and as such, lots of activity. Kawishiwi - a portage or two or three in and you'll spread out a bit.

I have several thoughts

Neither area are going to be "least busy". Both are within a few hours of an entry point and both offer reasonable fishing chances.

I have heard of parties being wind bound on Perent Lake, but haven't heard the same of Lake Polly.

Would you consider going on from Polly to Koma/Malberg Lake? A couple more hours of travel will get you away from the crowd. Great campsites on Malberg Lake. Less fishing pressure. More fishing water options nearby.

Other options in the area you might consider:

Sawbill Entry:
Sawbill/Alton Lakes have a great fishery (although the wind can be an issue on Alton)
Grace/Phoebe Lakes have fewer people and a great fishery.
The Fire Lakes (Smoke, Flame, Burnt) have great fishing reps.

Baker Lake Entry:
Kelly Lake always people fishing here.
South/North Temperance Lakes can be busy, but have great campsites and Brule Lake nearby for those less windy days.

Hope you get the permit(s) you are looking for.

Michwall2: "I have several thoughts


Neither area are going to be "least busy". Both are within a few hours of an entry point and both offer reasonable fishing chances.


I have heard of parties being wind bound on Perent Lake, but haven't heard the same of Lake Polly.


Would you consider going on from Polly to Koma/Malberg Lake? A couple more hours of travel will get you away from the crowd. Great campsites on Malberg Lake. Less fishing pressure. More fishing water options nearby.


Other options in the area you might consider:


Sawbill Entry:
Sawbill/Alton Lakes have a great fishery (although the wind can be an issue on Alton)
Grace/Phoebe Lakes have fewer people and a great fishery.
The Fire Lakes (Smoke, Flame, Burnt) have great fishing reps.


Baker Lake Entry:
Kelly Lake always people fishing here.
South/North Temperance Lakes can be busy, but have great campsites and Brule Lake nearby for those less windy days.


Hope you get the permit(s) you are looking for.


"

Thanks for this advice and suggestions. I've been to Sawbill a couple times. Also been above brule in the Gaskins Lake area but not on Brule itself. A couple of the people I have gone with in the past are coming with this year and want to do a small trip with less traveling time/days. I'm the guy that's always putting us in further than most want to go, so I said I'd find an area with less travel if they come. With that said, I'm glad you confirmed the Koma/Malberg area. Those lakes had me a bit intrigued but thought they may end up being just a bit out of reach from where my group would want to go. But at the end of the day, I'm the planner/guide and if I have to take a couple thankless arrows, then so be it. Comes with the title:-)

Less Travel - base camp fishing priority. Not to throw more into the mix, but I would consider;

S. Kawishiwi
L. Gabbro
Lake One to N. Kawishiwi

All have great sites. S. Kawish and L. Gabbro are limited by permits so I've never found the area overwhelmingly busy. Lake One - I think the majority head east vs. west.

Speckled: "Less Travel - base camp fishing priority. Not to throw more into the mix, but I would consider;


S. Kawishiwi
L. Gabbro
Lake One to N. Kawishiwi


All have great sites. S. Kawish and L. Gabbro are limited by permits so I've never found the area overwhelmingly busy. Lake One - I think the majority head east vs. west."

Thanks, I'll look into this one.

We travelled up to Polly from Kawishiwi and back late last summer; beaver dams were a recurring theme, including a couple that were several feet tall. Could pull over some smaller ones but even those required effort to get through. The taller dams were not fun to navigate. I think the most impressive one was just before we got to Kawasachong. You can see these dams on air photos. Something to keep in mind especially if you're bringing people new to the BW.

Polly did not seem busy to me, but we passed several groups on the way in who were really struggling to get over/through the beaver dams.

I went solo out of Hog Creek to Perent about 4-5 years ago in the first two weeks of September. Hardly anyone there, and I had a 5 star campsite on the east end of the lake. There were two beaver dams on the stream into the lake at that time, but things can change.

The big thing for me was the wind out of the west, which blew strongly for several days. It blew so hard that it tore my CCS tarp loops in a couple of spots. CCS repaired them (for a reasonable fee, of course). The west wind would blow all day and night.

I really liked the lake.

Tom

I did an early September trip to Perent Lake a few years ago and it was easily my worst BW experience. Very crowded, and a group of drunken idiots was playing rock music and yelling every night until 10-11PM so loud you could hear them across the lake. I had a great campsite, but I doubt I'll go back to that EP.