I am in the early stages of planning a walleye fishing trip into Wabakimi for next summer. I do no that I will be flying into the park. My question is should I take my Souris River kevlar , or my old Grumman? I guess I am worried about all the vibration from the plane ride on my Souris? Is this something that could create problems , or am I just over thinking?

You are overthinking.

Remember even recently cleared portages can be a mess of blowdown a week later. Now envision a typical 200 m portage. 4O rods. 40 big chest high logs across the portage.

Your choice..


Your SR may be defective. Mine has been on the pontoons of one of Don Elliotts planes more than once. Phil Cottons Souris Rivers some hundred times. Phils and my boats are just fine. I do admit to worrying at 2500 feet at 97 mph. Not the 97 mph, but how good the knot? Don's pilots are experts at knots.

I haven't seen a Grumman since '91 on the Lookout River. It was in four pieces. Your brain matters. Nothing can run a waterfall.

I will take the Souris.

I was just kidding on the defective boat. Pilots are well trained in tieing on canoes.

The DHC 2 Beaver flies at 90 mph. Not much more than your car speed.

Yes it is disconcerting to look out the window and see your canoe poised 2500 feet above ground! Because it is a great shot keep a tight hold on your camera.

I was too busy looking out the window at the scenery below and worried about my own skin to think about the canoe. Those Beavers are loud and small, thought my head was going to explode.

i prefer a royalex canoe if i am planning on a lot of river travel, a bit heavy but it is sure takes the stress out of whitewater travel, plus you can have fun. kevlar is too fragile and aluminum is awful in moving water, they stick on rocks and often cause the canoe to come to a complete stop.

I am not going to do any whitewater travel on this trip. My only. travel will be one main lake, with some day trips to close lakes separated by portages of 1/2 mile or less. We may move camp a time or two, it just all depends on the fishing.

kevlar

I agree Kevlar but be careful. Wabakimi is notorious for portage landings being less than one boat length from bad stuff and for being very narrow. Its not usually possible to come in side in..but nose in only and only one canoe at a time.

I've always brought my Old Town Tripper up there, because our trips often got onto rivers like the Ogoki, Misehkow, Greenmantle, and Albany. A bit heavy to portage, but WAY preferable to a Kevlar in whitewater or big seas.

That said, if your trip is a lake trip, take the Kevlar.