I am trying to plan a trip for next year. My paddle partner has a bad back, knees, and hips. Yes, I know maybe a BW trip isn't for him anymore. It's hard physical work, the ground isn't fun to sleep on even with a pad, etc. No, we wont be doing a hammock to eliminate that, lol.

That being said, I made a promise to go, and so, we need to go. Probably looking at a five day trip, maybe seven at the most.

I am looking at my maps and am seeing the obvious "easy" stuff Sawbill, Lake One, Hog Creek to Perent, etc.

None of that stuff is making me go, yeah, that's the ticket.

Why exactly, idk, it's just not scratching the itch so to speak. So it might be pretty hard to give a recommendation.

I know we would either base camp, or are looking at minimal daily movement. Maybe one or two portages a day. Maybe 4 hours total movement including any paddling and or portages. His body probably won't handle more than that.

Maybe something like a Sawbill, with a direct put in, than maybe a small day trips into something else. Or maybe we put in at Sawbill, then move one or two lakes a day to a "destination" lake. Or maybe we go right for a destination lake.

Fishing is important. Trout is out. Bass is out. Looking for Northern and maybe Walleye who will take a jig or spoon. We won't be bringing bait. Of course you can find that probably everywhere, just throwing it out there.

Bad criteria and examples I know. I am just not seeing something that seems easy and makes me go, yep. That's the ticket.

Any thoughts? Solitude is not a thing, and we probably wouldn't find it on this type of trip anyway.

I think Sawbill is an excellent Idea!

A few years ago we were not in the mood to do ANY portages and just paddled to the northern end of Sawbill to basecamp. It's a very pretty lake and it's somewhat of a shame that so many people just pass through Sawbill without spending any time camped there. If you desire northerns, I hooked into my personal best-ever northern on that lake. It well exceeded the 36" measuring marks that I have on my canoe gunwale and look what it did to the hooks on my lure:



Even more recently, we did similar on Brule. It's big enough for lots of exploring with no portages but on that lake the waves might require some pretty intense paddling so if your friend's physical condition is compromized, you'll want to think hard before doing Brule.

As is currently being discussed on another thread, there are some non-BWCA alternatives too such as some REAL easy trips in Sylvania in the Michigan UP or, as I also described on that thread, the Caddy Lake route in Whiteshell Provincial Park.

Good Luck!

I also second Sawbill. There is plenty of fishing in the Kelso Loop waters for 5 days.

Another way to look at Sawbill is that you also have the option of camping at Sawbill Lake Campground and doing day trips from entries nearby: Kawishiwi Lake, Sawbill Lake, Baker Lake, Homer Lake, Brule Lake. This strategy has the benefit of not needing a reserved permit. Just day use permits that are unlimited.

You could pull a permit for Saganaga and book a tow to Red Rock Bay/Red Rock Lake. I have seen lots of minimally mobile people use this strategy. There is a very short portage into Red Rock Lake where they set you off the tow boat. Red Rock Lake has an excellent fishing reputation. You could complete the loop by returning via Alpine Lake to Seagull. The two public entries(Saganaga and Seagull) are literally across the parking lot from each other.

Pull a permit for Fall Lake and use the available portages that allow portage wheels (rent a set?) into Basswood Lake. There is a lot of fishing available (Fall Lake, Newton Lake, and Pipestone Bay of Basswood Lake. You just come out the way you went in.

Pull a permit for Brule Lake. 1. Stay on Brule and fish there. 2. Trip to the Temperance Lakes (South and North) Easy portages here. 3. Trip to the Cone Lakes. Very easy portages to these 3 lakes.

Pull a permit for Hog Creek. Head to Perent Lake and stay for the duration. I don't think there are portages, but there may be a beaver dam pullover or two.

Pull a permit for Lac la Croix and get a tow to Snow Bay.

The major drawback to a lot of these "minimal portage" options is that the wind can shut you out of the larger lakes. I would say that this could be a problem at Brule, Fall, Saganaga, Seagull, Lac La Croix, etc. Perent is also known for its wind issues. You don't want to venture onto Alton Lake on a windy day either.

Moose lake. Get a tow to the portage into Splash (40 rds to Splash), then 11 rds more to be in Ensign. Ensign is big enough to spend time exploring and fishing but it has islands and narrows so you can find somewhere to be out of the wind. Portage into Ashigan if you want (53 rds) or portage back out through Splash and paddle north to Sucker and Birch(7 rd portage). Not enough? Head west and take the Prairie Portage (31 rds) and you have lots more lake to explore.

Sounds like you're perfect candidates for a tow! As long as you can keep a schedule they can pick you up on your way out, too. I'd look at Saganaga to Red Rock or Ottertrack, or Moose to anywhere.

If a tow is a hard no, maybe put in on Moose and just paddle up to Wind and day trip into Basswood if the fishing is slow on Wind.

The South Kawishiwi River EP has one portage right away but after that it's just a couple hops to fish 10 miles of that river. I hear it can get busy and you probably need to reserve the permit in January, but that just means the fishing will be fantastic!

Sea Gull

Next Year?.. Chief Bay, Lake Nipigon access from Poshkokagan River off Black Sturgeon Cut-Off Road to the Landing just down stream from the Black sturgeon Bridge.
Nice soft clay belt area easy to make base campsite @ The Posh River Landing 49 29 14.48 N 89 02 34.39 W EL 269m 5 miles upstream from Chief Bay, Lake Nipigon or paddle upstream from the bridge see google earth. Check on road conditions with the MNR and shuttle services from Kab Lake Lodge Outfitters just west of the HWY# 527 on Kab Lake.

ep 50 Cross Bay or 32 South Kawishiwi River. Cross Bay to Long Island lake has 6 or 7 portages but you can break them up by camping on Ham lake which is not in the BW but has that feel or there are several camp sites along the route if needed. Long Island lake has great campsites and a lot of potential side trips. I have only caught northerns on Long Island. Snipe lake is also off Cross BAY and a very neat lake (fishing is said to be only so so)
32 South Kawishiwi River is not so much a river but a series of narrow lakes, current (except at the narrows) is not much of a factor. The portage from the parking lot to the river is around 150 rods but is on the milder side for BW portages. There are a dozen or more campsites within 5 or 6 miles along the river most above average IMO. There are 2 short portages around 2 narrow sections if the current is too much. No clue on the fishing but Little Gabbro and Gabbro are close by and considered very good.

TuscaroraBorealis: "Sea Gull"

+1 i've done about 15 openers in SAK , now that i'm 65 , Seagull will be my lake of choice. gonna be there in about 12 days ;)

shock: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "Sea Gull"

+1 i've done about 15 openers in SAK , now that i'm 65 , Seagull will be my lake of choice. gonna be there in about 12 days ;) "

If you want an easy trip I would second Seagull Lake. Beautiful lake, lots of sites, and no portaging! Life is good!