Angleworm to Stuart River 7/17-7/25
by Eglath
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
07/16/2004
Entry Point:
Angleworm Lake (EP 20)
Exit Point:
Stuart River (EP 19)
Number of Days:
9
Group Size:
2
Day 7 of 9
Friday, July 23, 2004
Sterling Lake, Bibon Lake, Nibin Lake, Stuart Lake
We got up, ate breaded walleye (nothing found the fillets overnight!) and boiled crayfish (see picture below) for breakfast, broke camp, said goodbye to our island and headed for the 148 rod portage to Bibon. It climbs steeply in the first 30 rods or so, but then evens out and slopes downward the rest of the way. There was a portage listed between Bibon and Nibbin, but we were able to paddle directly through the connecting waterway (I love traveling in that little canoe!). But then the trouble began. We couldn't find the portage from Nibbin to Stuart Lake. We pulled in twice and searched to no avail. We finally landed and bushwacked inland, looping through the woods for nearly an hour, until we found it, then followed it back to the shore--there was a downed tree blocking the landing and the view of the landing from the lake. Then we duplicated our plan from the Sterling Creek portage, taking just the packs to make sure this was really the portage. Halfway to Stuart, we took a wrong turn without realizing it (this portage, like the Sterling Creek portage, was little more than a moose-path) and ended up at some moose-beds in a marsh. So we retraced our steps, found the correct fork (hidden by underbrush, of course), finished the portage and went back for the canoe and the fishing gear. Stuart Lake was windy, but the waves weren't too bad, only 8-10" or so.
Unfortunately, at this point we had to deal with the reality that there were other people on the lake. Four out of the five sites were taken, so we took the only remaining site, the one out on the point on the north side of the lake. Not a great site, but definitely workable for one night. We set up camp, fished the shallow north bay for a bit and generally enjoyed our last night and our last sunset (see pictures below).
Sterling Lake, Bibon Lake, Nibin Lake, Stuart Lake
We got up, ate breaded walleye (nothing found the fillets overnight!) and boiled crayfish (see picture below) for breakfast, broke camp, said goodbye to our island and headed for the 148 rod portage to Bibon. It climbs steeply in the first 30 rods or so, but then evens out and slopes downward the rest of the way. There was a portage listed between Bibon and Nibbin, but we were able to paddle directly through the connecting waterway (I love traveling in that little canoe!). But then the trouble began. We couldn't find the portage from Nibbin to Stuart Lake. We pulled in twice and searched to no avail. We finally landed and bushwacked inland, looping through the woods for nearly an hour, until we found it, then followed it back to the shore--there was a downed tree blocking the landing and the view of the landing from the lake. Then we duplicated our plan from the Sterling Creek portage, taking just the packs to make sure this was really the portage. Halfway to Stuart, we took a wrong turn without realizing it (this portage, like the Sterling Creek portage, was little more than a moose-path) and ended up at some moose-beds in a marsh. So we retraced our steps, found the correct fork (hidden by underbrush, of course), finished the portage and went back for the canoe and the fishing gear. Stuart Lake was windy, but the waves weren't too bad, only 8-10" or so.
Unfortunately, at this point we had to deal with the reality that there were other people on the lake. Four out of the five sites were taken, so we took the only remaining site, the one out on the point on the north side of the lake. Not a great site, but definitely workable for one night. We set up camp, fished the shallow north bay for a bit and generally enjoyed our last night and our last sunset (see pictures below).
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