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02/12/2025 01:26PM |
ItascaBirder: "NEIowapaddler: "In no particular order, South Temperance, Cherokee, Indiana, Alpine "
I've been to all of these.
Alpine is gorgeous.
Spruce Grouse might join you for morning coffee on South Temperance.
Fishing was disappointing on Cherokee.
Fishing was not disappointing on Indiana. "
Ha! I've never seen anyone bring their chickens to the BW before. Fresh eggs for breakfast! ;)
Kidding aside, planning to scratch Indiana off the list this spring. I've heard other people say that Cherokee offers the worst fishing in the BW, but it's supposed to be exceptionally beautiful, so I've wanted to see it for years.
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02/04/2025 10:06AM |
Thought it was interesting how many folks mentioned the Boulder Adams Little Sag area. If you’re still able that is one beautiful area.
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02/04/2025 02:57PM |
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02/04/2025 08:01PM |
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02/05/2025 05:22PM |
MikeinMpls: "chessie: "MikeinMpls: "chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike"
I just finished reading "Cache Lake Country!" My new favorite quote: "Give me food to keep me strong, wood to keep me warm, good friends to talk to me, fine books to read, and I have all I need." (by author John J. Rowlands)"
I love that book. So much I learned from that book...simple things that I still use today. But I still haven't figured out what "sugar of lead" is. (It's in the section on tanning a hide.)
Mike"
Sugar of lead is Lead acetate, a slightly sweet poisonous chemical created by treating lead with acetic acid. Don't use it.
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02/05/2025 09:53PM |
Same with the Fishdance/Adams/Boulder grouping... same basic area and it's available from Kawishiwi lake and/or Kawishiwi Lodge (Lake One). Feeling froggy, it's not far from Boulder to Raven. Though I will mention that we were discussing leaving my cousin stuck in the mud on the "portage" to Raven. Ask the old man "Fearlessleader" who commented above... he should remember that trip.
As for lakes to get to, I love the look of Kawnipi and McKenzie in Quetico. From there, hitting Ferguson would be on the bucket list, mostly because Cache is just too far to carry stuff imo. Love solitude, but I can do it way easier in someplace like WCPP..... speaking of lakes to get to...
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02/06/2025 11:49AM |
Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip.
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02/06/2025 12:41PM |
Speckled: "Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip."
That is the trick of it. Go in the off season and have the popular stretches to one self. I had a November canoe trip one year to the numbers and had the entire place to ourselves.
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02/06/2025 01:25PM |
scat: "Haha - Why does everyone give me crap about my user name. I think it’s the coolest one on the forum.
Note to self - Don’t brush your teeth with a cupful of water from slack water off the campsite on Moosecamp Lake. I knew as soon as I did that it was a mistake. Never left any scat in the woods but 2 weeks later at home oh boy…"
I disagree XD
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02/06/2025 01:26PM |
Speckled: "Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip."
I did this into Alice the week before fishing opener in May. Saw about 4-5 boats the whole trip. Amazing the quietness of the busier EPs when you can't fish.
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02/06/2025 02:23PM |
wxce1260: "Speckled: "Barca: "I'm honestly surprised by the number of people who haven't been to Insula/Alice area. "
For me it always felt like the "Everybody goes there thread". I generally shy away from EP's that have double digit permits per day and lakes that seem to get a ton of traffic...obviously it's still on my list though. Might be an October trip."
I did this into Alice the week before fishing opener in May. Saw about 4-5 boats the whole trip. Amazing the quietness of the busier EPs when you can't fish."
My wife an I spent 4 days on Alice over the 4th of July and never saw another canoe. We used to spend a week on Insula and maybe see 3 or 4 canoes. It helps to get off the main travel route.
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02/03/2025 12:26AM |
For me, many of these lakes are probably beyond my capabilities given my age and physical condition - but they are still on my list.
Moosecamp Lake - I loved the area north and west from the mudro entry. Thunder, Beartrap, Gun and Gull were all amazing but it seems to me that Moosecamp might be the most remote of all of them with good campsites, fishing and a great potential trip down the Moosecamp river in the right conditions
Adams Lake - My trip from Kawishiwi to Malberg, River and Amber was one of my favorites but we ran out of time to explore to the North. Seems like a cool area with lots of decent campsites and a pretty remote area about as far as you can get from an entry point in the BWCA.
Little Saganaga - a classic BWCA lake along the lines of Insula. In fact if you turn it sideways on the map there are similarities except Lil Sag runs more east to west and Insula runs more north to South. A lake that large with that many campsites, bays, points, islands and cool places to explore seems like a great place to spend a few days.
Hook Lake - This one is not too difficult to get to and still on my radar. From Slim Lake out of Ely it would be a fairly easy trip. Seems like a beautiful lake with one campsite and if you get it , a pretty remote feeling to enjoy.
Alpine/Red Rock Lakes - I have read so much about these lakes for their beauty and fishing and on the map they look incredible. Depending on how far a tow can take you these could still be on my radar and I have no doubt it would be the worth the time and money.
Your thoughts?
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02/03/2025 08:48AM |
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached).
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02/03/2025 06:39AM |
Boulder Adams loop
Got giardia on Moosecamp Lake. Don’t remember it being that exciting either. Not going back anytime soon haha.
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02/03/2025 08:50AM |
Malberg
Little Sag
Ge-Be-On-E-Quet
Jackfish (lake, not bay)
I don't do a lot of route travelling...just push one day in (half a day really) and basecamp. These all seem just a little out of reach for that, so they elude me.
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02/03/2025 08:59AM |
Raven - Has always intrigued me
Cash - Hopefully crossing this one of the list this year
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02/03/2025 09:05AM |
scat: "GeBeOnEquat
Boulder Adams loop
Got giardia on Moosecamp Lake. Don’t remember it being that exciting either. Not going back anytime soon haha.
"
Is that where you acquired your username, too? ;)
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02/03/2025 09:18AM |
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02/03/2025 09:10AM |
Note to self - Don’t brush your teeth with a cupful of water from slack water off the campsite on Moosecamp Lake. I knew as soon as I did that it was a mistake. Never left any scat in the woods but 2 weeks later at home oh boy…
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02/03/2025 10:17AM |
It's a tribute to my father, who was an anthropologist, to go to a lake with that name. They're always searching for it after all. He also mentioned in his later years that he would've liked to go on 'one of those fishing trips that you and your friends take', with me. I'd like to honor that in some small way...
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02/04/2025 12:05AM |
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02/04/2025 08:01PM |
Fearlessleader: "I’m getting old but most of my regrets relate to quetico.
Thought it was interesting how many folks mentioned the Boulder Adams Little Sag area. If you’re still able that is one beautiful area. "
For some reason I always thought Boulder was really true wilderness and at the same time mystic and spooky for some reason. Actually from Adams, Fishdance and down feels that way.
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02/03/2025 11:43AM |
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02/03/2025 12:47PM |
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02/04/2025 09:18PM |
1. Fishdance. I've been to Alice from one side and Malberg on the other but have never quite made it there. IF ice out is early enough this year I may trip in before all the anglers hit the lakes in May, just to see the pictos and sing Jerry's song.
2. Agnes. It is one of the few Ely EP's I have not yet tripped, with no apparent reason why.
3. Cherokee- Tackling this one in September this year
4. Long Island Lake-See above
5. Winchell See the #3, and #4. Knocking all 3 of these off my list this year. I love circling islands and seeing cliffs so this Sept. 2025 trip has me jacked!
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02/10/2025 08:33PM |
NEIowapaddler: "In no particular order, South Temperance, Cherokee, Indiana, Alpine "
I've been to all of these.
Alpine is gorgeous.
Spruce Grouse might join you for morning coffee on South Temperance.
Fishing was disappointing on Cherokee.
Fishing was not disappointing on Indiana.
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02/03/2025 12:36PM |
Ge-be-on-e-quet. We went as far as the portage, but didn’t go across to the lake. Always have sort of wished I had seen the “chairs”.
My husband always wanted to complete the border route; we never did the “long portage”, but did almost all of the rest.
None of these are going to happen now. I think of places I would like to return to more than places I have missed. We weren’t like so many of you who could take multiple trips a year, so we didn’t cover nearly as much in our 42 years of canoe-tripping as we would have liked. But if I could go back in time. . .I would revisit Adams/Boulder, Namakan, Caribou, Pine, Weird, and of course Cherokee. I can revisit through my journals and photo books, but it isn’t the same.
Go while you can.
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02/03/2025 01:10PM |
And I know you said up to five, there's just so many.
My second six: State, Elquist, John Ek, Sora, Trine, and Dutton.
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02/03/2025 01:01PM |
Davis - Intrigued with this route between Kiskadinna and the Cones but am guessing the portages are type 2 fun. Would be a partially new loop to/from some longtime favorites; Omega, Otto, Winchell.
Paulson - Another route I've always thought about. It would be cool to go to/from Seagull other than transiting Alpine/Jasper.
Vernon - To camp near and see the falls, if nothing else, and maybe to do the route to or from Bower Trout.
Mountain - Love the border chain but have never been farther east than Rose.
Hustler - Have been close from the LIS side and the Moose/Portage River side but never there.
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02/03/2025 04:11PM |
chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike
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02/03/2025 06:09PM |
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02/03/2025 08:11PM |
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02/03/2025 02:31PM |
Adams and Boulder were tops on my list for years. Having visited them in 2023, they are still tops on my list.
Gebeonequet. I see others with this lake on their list as well. I've never been anywhere near it. When I do go to Gebe I hope to visit Takucmich as well.
Raven is another popular one for others. I booked a permit here once! and didn't make it. Obviously I desire redemption.
Gijikiki, LoTC, Lunar. Might as well add Cherry and Topaz to this list. I want to enter Saganaga with a tow to Rocky Point. More unseen ground, for me.
Trader and Neglige. I struck out fishing on both of these lakes about a decade ago. I would like another chance to compare these two species of trout over the bonfire.
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02/03/2025 04:07PM |
Stuart Lake & Dahlgren River - Read an article about the Dahlgren many years ago. Have wanted to see this place for myself since.
Boulder - Have been close several times but always choose the pictographs instead.
JAPaulson Lake. Off the beaten path south of Sea Gull. The route is remote and requires a lot more work than most are willing to give. Just my kind of place.
Lake of the Clouds- Just in an interesting spot.
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02/04/2025 12:02AM |
Mocha: "All the lakes that are hidden gems seemingly accessible only by helicopter or parachute.
If I could lose my fear of moving water I’d love to do the pigeon river.
In quetico I’d like to see Brent, the cache lake area and the northern lakes to the west of pickerel."
Just go to the Pigeon in summer or fall. The water is so low that you just end up walking/dragging your boat. Hardly qualifies as moving water.
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02/03/2025 06:30PM |
MikeinMpls: "chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike"
I just finished reading "Cache Lake Country!" My new favorite quote: "Give me food to keep me strong, wood to keep me warm, good friends to talk to me, fine books to read, and I have all I need." (by author John J. Rowlands)
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02/03/2025 08:43PM |
Z4K: "Trader and Neglige. I struck out fishing on both of these lakes about a decade ago. I would like another chance to compare these two species of trout over the bonfire."
Funny how that works - I've got a Lake Trout Lake that i've absolutley slayed them on, like nearly every cast...never went back. Another Lake Trout Lake, that i've been skunked on 3 times (at least for lakers) and it's at the top of my list to go back to.
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02/03/2025 08:09PM |
My plans to visit new lakes this year for the first time include: Gogebic, Trident, and Frost.
Lakes I'd like to visit, but probably never will: Niswi and Kinogami. I just don't risk it when I'm alone anymore and, truthfully, I probably don't train hard enough to enjoy it at this point.
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02/03/2025 07:59PM |
If I could lose my fear of moving water I’d love to do the pigeon river.
In quetico I’d like to see Brent, the cache lake area and the northern lakes to the west of pickerel.
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02/05/2025 08:26AM |
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02/05/2025 10:15AM |
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02/05/2025 01:08PM |
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02/06/2025 12:25AM |
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02/05/2025 01:30PM |
Z4K: Raven is another popular one for others. I booked a permit here once! and didn't make it. Obviously I desire redemption."
Ditto! I had the permit and was all set the year of the John Ek fire. The following year I grabbed the permit again but we got hammered by 3" of rain that robbed us of a travel day we needed to get that far out and back again in our allotted time. The year after that we paddled right past it, wistfully, enroute to Adams from the north and just didn't have the time to turn aside and get a peek.
At this point, Raven is my unicorn. I didn't even try last year, nor do my plans include it this year. But it's only a matter of time before unfinished business nudges me her direction for another attempt. :)
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02/05/2025 02:41PM |
Speckled: "Insula/Alice - Somehow have just never found my way here
Raven - Has always intrigued me
Cash - Hopefully crossing this one of the list this year"
Find your way to Insula and Alice. Bring a fishing rod, plenty of lures, and a depth finder. There are 2 major reefs on the east side that seem to always have fish and a rock sticking up on the west side that is worth fishing. My wife and I fished near the rock and caught several walleyes but had to put them all back as they were too big for a meal for just the two of us.
There are several routes to Alice. My wife and I have come to it from Lake One, Snowbank, and Kawishiwi. We've made it from Lake One in one day more than once but from Kawishiwi we quit at Fishdance spent the night before going on. While you are on Fishdance, of course you need to find the pictographs and get a picture of the elephant.
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02/05/2025 03:35PM |
chessie: "MikeinMpls: "chessie: "Cache Lake (Quetico). Always wanted to go there. Now I fear it's beyond my physical capabilities. :(
Lindylair: I hope you get to Moosecamp -- It isn't necessarily anything spectacular, but I like Fourtown, and I like the river. It's the history of the area that is so interesting. There are logging era artifacts yet in the river (logs with chains/hardware still attached). "
Chessie: me too! I've read Cache Lake Country so many times, and have always wanted to go there. Then I noticed it's over 700 rods to get into the lake. That distance may have been within my abilities at one point, but not anymore.
Mike"
I just finished reading "Cache Lake Country!" My new favorite quote: "Give me food to keep me strong, wood to keep me warm, good friends to talk to me, fine books to read, and I have all I need." (by author John J. Rowlands)"
I love that book. So much I learned from that book...simple things that I still use today. But I still haven't figured out what "sugar of lead" is. (It's in the section on tanning a hide.)
Mike
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02/07/2025 07:19PM |
Deeznuts: "scat: "Haha - Why does everyone give me crap about my user name. I think it’s the coolest one on the forum.
Note to self - Don’t brush your teeth with a cupful of water from slack water off the campsite on Moosecamp Lake. I knew as soon as I did that it was a mistake. Never left any scat in the woods but 2 weeks later at home oh boy…"
I disagree XD"
Deeznuts--- speaking of names...one of my favorite little places to eat in Marshfield, Wisconsin is "Deeznuts". :)
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02/11/2025 06:03PM |
WhiteWolf: "Pan / Fat and No-See-Em "
I’m with you White wolf. Always
Wanted to trip to Pan!