Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Meps #2,3,4, and 5
by BigTim

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 08/04/2025
Entry & Exit Point: Skipper and Portage Lakes (EP 49)
Number of Days: 7
Group Size: 2
Day 2 of 7
Tuesday, August 05, 2025

Coffee and breakfast to start the day - egg, bacon, and hashbrown burritos every morning. We savor our coffee, munch our breakfast, then ready the canoe to spy some fish. James decided Meps #4 was the winning lure. I chose Wilbur - my trusty orange floating rapala. Within the first couple of hours, James not only caught 30+ fish, the size of the bass were something to behold. 16-18" was the norm. I caught some off Wilbur, too. The W and S shores were predominantly shallow with lots of downed trees for structure. The N shoreline was deep water right off shore. Didn't matter much. We probably haven't had a fishing outing like that in 10 years. Took a break for a snack, then headed out mid afternoon. Fishing was equally hot. It was incredible. Released every last one of them.

Dinner was an Ellie Asian meal. To eat food like this in the wilderness is amazing. Rounded out the evening with more views, some cribbage, and mosquito induced early bedtime - but not before spying the moon rising over the S tree line.