Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Does anyone rent fishing kayaks in the BWCA/Q?
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IndyCanoe |
Pretty sure Piragis still rents kayaks but i didn't remember seeing any like what you are looking for. |
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cyclones30 |
I stood in our SR Q17 a few times while fishing up there this spring. It's not quite as stable as my Jackson kayak back home but not too bad. If I was concentrating on fishing I'd put the extra weight and effort toward a depthfinder and battery setup than standing ability but that's me. |
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ericinely |
Also, +1 on recommending you try out towing something behind the kayak. This is almost guaranteed to frustrate the hell out of you and make your boat more unstable. Sorry it's not what you want to hear, but there's a reason you rarely see anyone in the BWCA with kayaks... |
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flynn |
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nofish |
If you want to fish the BWCA you'd have to let go of the pedal drive idea. So first decision you need to make is whether that pedal drive is a make it or break it deal. If its required then you'll have to stay outside the BWCA. If you're outside the BWCA wouldn't it be easier to bring or rent a motor boat? If pedal drive isn't required but some sort of kayak is and you want to go into the BWCA then what I'd do is paddle tandem in a canoe with your friend and then tow 2 kayaks behind you. You'll obviously be limited to no portage options but sounds like you already knew that. I've got to think those two kayaks will tow a lot easier behind a tandem canoe with 2 paddlers using kayak paddles then you'd experience with each of you towing a floating bag of gear. You'll still want to be mindful of wind and waves when towing the kayaks. If you're trying to tow a bag of gear I could easily see both of you giving up on the idea within a quarter mile of putting into the water. In my opinion its really a bad idea, the drag would be brutal. If you have a head wind and waves it will be just that much worse. If you go that route you won't really have a plan B as the gear won't fit into your kayaks and you won't have a canoe as a back up so you'll be out of luck if/when you realize how much drag you're dealing with. Fishing from a dedicated fishing kayak does have its advantages but I don't think those advantages are enough to offset all of the draw backs that they have in the BWCA. There is a reason that most people don't use them. They just aren't that well suited for that type of trip. If you do attempt the trip report back and let us know how it goes. |
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PowerLizard |
Your best bet is to rent a pedal kayak at home and haul it up there. I suggest the Hobie ProAngler 14 as it has a high weight capacity for gear (at least more capacity than most other pedal kayaks). You need to ditch the idea of hauling a gear float behind your kayak. There are products that were offered but I think they stopped making them as they don't work very well. |
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Ausable |
AmarilloJim: "Maybe outriggers for your canoe?" In 2012, I saw someone on West Lake in Quetico using outriggers while fishing. I couldn't imagine carrying those things over so many portages, but that guy evidently thought it was worth the effort. |
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flynn |
So really it comes down to... does anyone rent fishing kayaks up there, or would I absolutely need to bring my own? I'm guessing, if anyone does, it's gonna be 1 or 2 outfitters in the entire B-dub. Edit: Now that I think about it, I think the pedal drive would not be allowed in paddle-only areas. Could still use it on Saganaga and part of Basswood though (areas I'd be interested in). Edit2: They would technically be allowed on the Canadian side of LLC though...... hmmmmmmmmm.................................. |
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AmarilloJim |
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Savage Voyageur |
Sorry but I only see negative things of a kayak in the BWCA. Kayaks have limited gear space, and that’s important to me. I don’t single portage. We bring a lot of gear along. Don’t get me wrong that I hate kayaks. I own one and I’m getting another one next year. I love fishing out of kayaks on the lake I live on, but would not consider it in the BWCA. Don’t forget about the issue of wind. I would rather be in a canoe fishing in waves than a kayak. If you are sold on the idea of a kayak in the BWCA I would make a suggestion to you. Try out your tow a bag plan on a local lake with all your gear, as a test. See if you can paddle or too much drag. |
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flynn |
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AmarilloJim |
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