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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: EP 14 in nine days for nine days
 
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TMakela
06/11/2013 07:23AM
  
First solo, first time in that area.

Looping clockwise through Loon. Bringing a 5 and 9 weight fly rod.

Have a pseudo plan of either taking the inner lakes around or Lac La Croix depending on weather conditions.

Smaller interior lakes don't look all that promising outside of green sunfish.

My wife took a new job which was the factor in going it alone. Plus I guess I had it on my to do list.

Plan on double portaging the first couple of days. Then bucking up if travel is the thing to do.

Any recommendations are welcome. Looking to meander around stay here or there... Ge-be-on-e-quet and Oyster are so far a couple of places I plan on visiting.
 
Exo
06/11/2013 09:38AM
  
No idea on your experience, but a few of the solo trip reports might help shaving some weight off your gear to make portaging easier. I know for sure I brought to much gear and a bit to much food. And I know there a lots of posts about the single portage quest as a solo canoeist.
 
armydaddy
06/11/2013 10:31AM
  
I did a solo last August out of EP 16 and am kicking myself for not writing my report (excuses, excuses)!! I stayed on Finger for two nights and agree with boonie; great lake! Pocket was actually one of my personal favorites but never camped there.


LLC is VERY BIG WATER and I would recommend a loop through the interior lakes instead, which are great fishing lakes if you research more about them.


I entered EP 14 LIS a few weeks ago and loved the area. We headed east to Shell and Lynx but never made it to Loon. I will be putting in for a solo later this year via EP 14 and plan on heading up through Loon, Slim, Fat, Eugene, Beartrack, Finger, Pocket, then back down through Gebe, Oyster, Hustler, and back to starting point! Enjoy your trip, I hope this helped a little!

 
bumabu
06/11/2013 12:27PM
  
I would go interior. Less chance to get turned around, less big water, and more in and out to keep my body (and more importantly my brain) moving.
 
boonie
06/11/2013 08:33AM
  
Loved that entry - did the smaller interior lakes. I loved the more intimate, remote feeling there. I'm not a fisherman, so can't help you there. You should have time with nine days to sample some of both. Enjoy your trip.
 
TMakela
06/11/2013 08:29PM
  
Thanks everyone.


I will probably repack, again... and see what's up. Overall I'm packing light. But rethinking how I'm packing, as usual, to see if I can go for one and done, is only in my favor.


The portages haven't sounded all that bad conditions-wise from what references I've read. So, the first day having a mere three or four of moderate length shouldn't be an issue.


I'll have to check out the DNR lake finder a bit more. I have time...


Nice report by TomT. The photos are great and have kept me from being wishy washy. It's a sound route with sights, good spots and sport. Not to mention the decent layovers and sight seeing...


I also feel guilty and feel I should post a report of my own having neglected that in the past.



Thanks all for pushing me in the right direction!


T
 
nctry
06/11/2013 09:31AM
  
If you like paddling for hours on end Lac La Croix is the way to go. The good thing is you gain time to fish and your on a great fishery. There is a lot to be said about the interior lakes also. One of the biggest Smallies I've ever seen was on Pocket. No matter which way you go, your in for a treat.
 
TomT
06/11/2013 06:48PM
  
I went last Sept. and did the clockwise interior lakes route. I also went up to Gun which is a very pretty lake and rumored to have very nice bass fishing. Finger is another one to fish. There is a great soloist site on the "north" side of the big island. There's a bunch of pics in my trip report. Sept. 2012 LIS Loop solo



 
boonie
06/11/2013 08:38AM
  
BW, Finger's a nice place to stay too.