My son and I have made our reservations for our trip to the Quetico at the end of May. We plan on spending two weeks in the park and are very excited to explore this area. We are entering from the north out of Beaverhouse and plan on exploring a good portion of the park during our two weeks. We want to travel at a steady clip taking in as much as we can (without exhausting ourselves in the process), and then exiting out of Nym when we are finished. I have been planning a route through the area, scouring this message board for tips on places and things to see, and have purchased a couple of books to assist us in getting a better understanding of the little details I hope will make this trip a memorable one. Sig Olson’s books have been just another incredible thing this place has brought me to in the process of learning as much as I can about canoe country.

We plan on being on the go most of the time from one place of interest to the next, staying a night or two on the lakes we like, and then heading on to the next spot of our liking. I have charted out what most of you consider to be some of the most scenic lakes in the park after looking through some of the older posts on this board regarding favorite lakes and places to see. Our last trip was for a week immediately after the late ice out last year. From entry point 16 up the Moose river and on into Tiger bay in Lac La Croix. It was memorable, but we had to contend with a lot of rain, a serious lack of fish, and a couple members of our party who for a lack of better words just didn't “get it”. Even though we didn't do so well with fishing, we did manage to catch the BWCA bug and it hasn't let up since.

My son loves to fish and I am looking for any advice you kind folks might be able to offer us in the way of a good foundation for tackle to bring along. And has anyone ever taken an involuntary swim while attempting to land a big fish in your canoe? I have a little anxiety when it comes to this and plan on making certain we don’t get any on the job training in deep water. Probably land a few in the shallows to get the hang of it before we try and tempt fate.

Also, I was wondering how many of you folks have hiked into the interior of some of these woods in the area to explore? It just seems to me it would add a whole new element to the trip and perhaps provide some opportunity to view some more wildlife and perhaps see some interesting things that simply can’t be seen otherwise. Just curious.

Many thanks and best wishes,
Bully

Welcome, Bully. First, it's good to hear from someone who has done a lot of research (and booked the trip) before asking a lot of questions. In two weeks, from BH to Nym, one could do a lot of exploring and fishing.

If you haven't already, please check on a couple of my reports. I won't presume to know that much about catching fish, but for a start I'd say ML spinning outfits are all you need. Any lures made by Rapala -- pay attention to how deep they run and get a variety -- in silver, gold, perch and firetiger would be a starter. 1/4 ounce jig heads in yellow with some plastic grub/minnow-type 3-4" tails in white/yellow/chartreuse/and a dark color would be good. Never had a fish cause me to overturn, but don't plan on standing up while fighting a big one!

Seriously, unless you have a locator or your outfitter has pointed out some submerged reefs on your map, you'll probably mostly be "sight-fishing" near shore and structures along shore. (Be sure to try trolling in mid-lake or at say 50 yards from shoreline, since you are going tandem.) I have not ventured back too far into the "interior," and generally only where I am camped or taking a break, but I have lost sight of the lake and even gotten turned around a couple times. If you pin down your route and are going to be fishing or camping on say, Jean or Jesse, I could give some specific recommendations.

Oh, and if you haven't already, check out QuietJourney.com and the link to the Paddlers Campsite Database (PCD). It may be helpful. (If you join QJ and donate, you can get "Inukshuk" access to campsite evaluations that are hidden from the masses.)

--Goose

Goose is right on with his advice. I would try to take a depth finder. It has been a very valuable tool in my fishing arsenal. Be very careful when exploring the back country. Have a compass and no how to use it. Take a gps along also. It is very easy to get turned around back in those woods.

If fishing is a goal and your first trip was so-so, then I suggest slowing down and base camping from a few spots along your route. You can still do a lot of paddling and portaging if you want for day trips, but you will be able to take your time and fish out of a mostly empty canoe. If you are worried about landing fish, take a small folding net or a BogaGrip. Don't forget to crimp your barbs.

Thanks you all for the pointers. Goose, I read through a couple of your trip reports and I have to tell you, you have certainly done a great job of chronicling your paddles. A lot of good information in your reports and I have added a lot of the information about the lakes you have traveled to my notes. Looking at the little tiny corner I traveled through last year, it is difficult to get my head around how big this place really is at this point. On one of my maps, the little inlet we stayed in that took about 30 minutes to walk around the shore of is like a small sliver compared to the the lakes and land to the northeast.

As for landing large fish; the cause for concern stems from an incident 3 years ago when I was soloing on a river here in Michigan on an extended weekend trip. I had a base camp set up on my favorite stretch of the river, and decided to paddle out into in a small and empty canoe to get a couple casts in early on in the morning. I know the saying goes there is no such thing as a tippy canoe, etc..., so I can probably chalk this up to my carelessness, but after hooking a decent sized catfish I leaned over ever so slightly to pluck him from the water and well, let's just say I had a very invigorating moment with my laundry done all in one fell swoop! I felt like I slipped on a giant banana peel. The canoe managed to right itself and ironically, the fish (along with my pole and the little bit of tackle I brought with) was sitting inside the partially swamped canoe when I floated back to it! I have been on countless trips in canoes, kayaks, and rafts over the years and have had my fair share of close calls in terms of flipping a boat, but this was the first and only time I have ever managed to go into the drink by total accident. I suppose like anything in life, it never truly is a matter of if, and the when's always increase in likelihood with exposure to any given thing.

Needless to say that moment has stayed with me as I am a cautious person by nature, especially when other people's safety is involved. I used to be a lifeguard, and I have had my son enrolled in swimming classes since he was a pup. Before our trip last year I had him going for a swim fully clothed with shoes on to quell that sense of invincibility that is growing in him as he hits his teen years. You can truly never be too cautious especially about water. He has grown a serious appreciation for his life jacket, and never has to be told to buckle up when we hit the water. Good kid.

Here is some rare previously unreleased footage of the incident..

Jerold, I will definitely be bringing a small net and maybe even a bogagrip. I could probably use that bogagrip to great effectiveness if I catch my son slacking on the portage trails as well. Thanks again everyone for the tips and advice!

If you try to solo in an unloaded tandem canoe, you will find it much more unstable. I never fish alone up there.

Find moving water and you will find fish!! If I was you with kids this would be my main focus. Just cast and retrieve yellow or white twister tails with 8th ounce jigs. position the canoe in deeper water that is out of the current and cast into it. I don't see how you wouldn't catch fish all day !!!

Bullmoose, sounds to me like you're well-prepared. Thanks for the video -- I love Buster Keaton. Forgot to mention that in late May you may find trout more shallow that later, and may want to try for them. If fishing is really very important to you, I would also recommend trying to find out (from locals, or whomever) what "stage" fishing is in AT THE TIME of your trip. (e.g., are bass in "pre-spawn," etc., for any species you want to try for) Best of luck! --Goose

I like end of May/early June for fishing a great deal. Paddle trolling with rapalas or thundersticks for lake trout can be great fun. Try plugs that run at two different depths until you catch a couple of fish. Smallmouth bass and northerns are usually in pretty shallow water and can be caught by casting toward shore.

Thanks Pete. This information along with the previous posts from the other kind fellows is exactly what I am looking for. Last trip, one of the few fish we reeled in was a northern, and was in the shallows just like you said.

Anyone think I am tempting fate here?

I would encourage you to scroll down in the Quetico Afficionados forum until you see the thread "June 3 Lake Trout?" that I started last year. Folks gave me some really solid advice.

Yeah, Bullmoose, you're tempting fate. Maybe take the handles off to compensate. =) --Goose