Hi everyone.

We are looking at a Quetico trip for the first time. I don't know where to go for maps and info but my travel partner has a friend who suggested that we go up Moose Lake entry and turn up Carp into Quetico (with proper permitting of course and I assume a stop at Prairie Portage). His buddy has done this trip and found good fishing. That's what we want.

We are pretty experienced now after all our trips and our sons are great portage carriers. Can anyone out there tell me if this plan is a good one? Or are there other good options in this area?

Thanks!

PJS

Q EPs

A list of ranger stations and the entry points each services.
Carp is at bottom left.


butthead

Thanks Butthead!

Carp seems like a great base camp and fishing lake. Is that what you're after?

Yes we are looking at a Carp base camp. I see another thread here with the same intentions.

We have a friend who is guiding us forward with some maps and such.

Excited. I think this is what we will be doing. If anyone has been there, I'd love more intel.

PJS

It's a nice area, but it can be fairly busy, too. Most of it seems to be people paddling through on their way up the Man Chain, though.

There are lots and lots of places for a similar trip. Saganagons, North Bay of Basswood, Quetico/Cirrus Lakes, Pickerel, etc. If you can swing the time for a longer drive and want to see fewer people, consider entering from the north. Amazing fishing up there, too.

That's a very helpful comment, carmike. We do like getting away from crowds (as many of you do). I will do some more investigating.

Thanks!

Let me know what options you're looking at...or just post them to the boards, as I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice. If you want any specific spots, email me. I usually don't share my hotspots, but you are married to my cousin. :)

Most of my tripping is on the north end, but I find the north end very busy as well. We were up there in the B-Chain south of Pickerel in 2016 and I couldn't believe all the traffic...for the third week of September!?!?!?!?!? We saw multiple parties every day.

Congratulations on your graduation to Quetico! I am sure you will love it and find any area in Quetico less busy than BWCA. You will like the low crowds and less pressure on campsite selection.

Whatever you do, DO NOT go to Saganagons! The fishing is bad and the scenery un-exciting... especially the far east end of the lake where crowds tend to congregate. Silver Falls portage is an absolute hazard.

Have a great time planning!

Thanks everyone. We're going in this way, getting a tow from Latourell's. We'll head up into Carp and explore. Looks like plenty of different directions to try. I have not looked at the map much but Carmike I'll be getting in touch with you fer sure. I enjoy the planning and dreaming before a trip.

Interesting point about the busy-ness on the north end. I've read other accounts like that, but my experience has been different. Every single one of my trips up there has brought me great solitude--including three trips without seeing a single group, in the middle of summer, for at least six consecutive days. We do tend to portage a bit, but even on the big water like Quetico, Cirrus, and Pick, we've been very alone after a bit of paddling away from the access point.

I'm sure there's a lot of luck involved, and I do agree that the areas near the entry points, like west Quetico/Cirrus, Pick Narrows, etc. do tend to get busy.

Anyone who thinks the north side of Quetico is busy should see the boundary waters. That's busy. Some like to see no one, which is unrealistic in either place. My 2 cents. The north side is quiet by comparison.

Hey Carmike can you e mail me at jsackett@celebrationlutheranchurch.com?

I am hoping we could meet up sometime and scour a map if you have one.

Thanks!

PJS

Email sent. :)