Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: May trip to Lynx Lake area?
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lindylair |
Would love to hear any info you might have about the area - fishing, solitude, scenery, portages, campsites or general thoughts. Is it a good choice? (are there bad choices up there?) What would you recommend instead (if I have not already been there). Planning another trip for late August or early September - would this trip be better then for any reason? Appreciate any comments. |
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analyzer |
We were on a big clockwise loop, having gone up through Slim, North, Gun, Pocket, Gebe, Oyster, Hustler etc. When we left Lynx, we paddled and portaged all the way out. I think we probably left camp around 7 or 730 am (I don't recall exactly), and were in ely by 3 pm if memory serves. And that's with load up and drive time. The portage out of Shell to little indian sioux, was mucky on both sides, and had a little beaver pond in the middle of the portage, that I found you can't wade. Funny, I thought maybe I could wade through, and next thing I knew, the water was up to my arm pits, with a canoe on my shoulders. I had to back out, and put stuff in the canoe. The rest of those portages where relatively easy. I would definitely go back to lynx. it's a pretty lake, and interesting trip getting there. I don't think I would recommend a day trip into Ruby/Hustler. There is a hill when you're headed east across that portage that would be brutal going that direction. Many people have posted about good walleye fishing on Shell. Seemed like a lot of traffic on that lake. I've heard people catch alot of eaters on Upper Pauness. My wife and I aren't fast, and not particularly strong. We double portage. I think you could do it in 6 hours. |
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preacherdave |
lindylair: "After 50ish trips I have never entered from LIS #14 so I think we might give it a try. I have this idea in my head that Lynx Lake is a beautiful place with good fishing and nice campsites and a good place to enjoy the BWCA. Also intrigued by Heritage Lake as a place to explore or possibly camp on the northern campsite. Thinking late may for 5-7 days. Any thoughts or comments on this area as a destination? About how long would it take two aging but experienced BWCA trippers to get to Lynx Lake from the entry at a moderate pace? Love that area. The campsite mentioned above is an excellent choice. Heritage is fun to fish for both smallies and walleyes. I think that north campsite on Heritage could be buggy if there during a wet season. Looks like a very “moosy” area. I’ve got pretty good marked up maps of that area. Email me if you’d like them |
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lindylair |
Photography is a major activity for us on these trips . Although we are not on your level Ethan we enjoy it and get some decent results. How would you rate the area for photographic opportunity? |
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egknuti |
Lynx is a very clear lake so fishing can sometimes be a challenge. I’ve had days where I’ve caught over 20 walleye and days where I’ve caught none. The wind can be a good indicator as to where the walleyes might be. Also, late evening has also been a productive time for me. I’d definitely spend an entire day on Shell as it’s been a little more consistent. I’ve also caught several 40” northerns on Shell too. I’ve only fished Heritage a few time so I can’t give any advice there, but I’ve heard Walleye fishing can be good. All three lakes are places I’ve seen moose and wolves. I’n fact I had a moose almost crash through my site on Lynx during the middle of the night before I scared it off. |
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egknuti |
There’s a creek that flows from Yodeler Lake into Lynx and also offers some small falls opportunities for photography. If you’re up for a little adventure, portage into Yodeler for largemouth bass. I’ve photographed moose in the bay on Lynx where the portage to Heritage is located. Many opportunities to photograph eagles on Shell and of course loons. Also, beautiful white pines on the portage from Lynx to Ruby. |
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lindylair |
"Love that area. The campsite mentioned above is an excellent choice. Heritage is fun to fish for both smallies and walleyes. I think that north campsite on Heritage could be buggy if there during a wet season. Looks like a very “moosy” area. I’ve got pretty good marked up maps of that area. Email me if you’d like them"" preacherdave, I would love to see your maps of this area but there is no envelope below your name so I don't know how to email you. Feel free to send them to my email and much obliged. Any other comments other recommendations from you or others are much appreciated. |
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minnesotashooter |
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pswith5 |
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Banksiana |
pswith5: " Butthead and I did hear some dopes shooting at trees on that north site on Heritage. We packed out their brass. Idiots. Enjoy the area though." Spent brass, empty shotgun shells and cigarette butts are not considered litter by avid outdoors people. |
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Lawnchair107 |
Fish the points on Lynx, the NE corner has excellent structure. OH yeah, we didn't see a soul for the entire week which was pleasant. |
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papalambeau |
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LetsGoFishing |
I really liked Hustler. Good pike and smallmouth fishing. We took a day trip to Oyster and my partner caught a few lake trout. If you are going to Lynx and have 7 days, you might want to spend a couple days on Hustler. We camped on Little Shell on the way back. The elevated site on Lynx was taken, but we fished all around the south end Lynx. Only caught small walleye. Beautiful lake though. We exited from Little Shell with minimal effort. We spent the morning on Shell on our way out. We caught some fish, but it's a crowded destination lake. You will see others there. Still a nice lake. As others mentioned, be careful on the Shell-Pauness portage. I sunk up to my waist in the muck. The beaver dam on the portage was quite the site to see. LIS river is a serene paddle. |
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rdgbwca |
The time I tried to camp on Lynx, all the sites were taken. We spent the night on Little Shell. After sleeping in and stopping for lunch and a coffee break on Shell, we also stopped to do some fishing on Lower Pauness. We reached the parking lot in time to change a flat tire and make it back to Ely in time for dinner. We double portage and take our time. When I went through in June 2020 we had to float the beaver dam and named the portage from Shell to Pauness the double feature portage. -rdg |
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egknuti |
LetsGoFishing: "I entered EP14 in June 2016, so it's been a while, but I really liked the area. Much different than the Gunflint side, which is where I usually go. Double portaging, we made it to Hustler by mid afternoon. We were exhausted, but we made it. The beaver dam blew out last spring and I was able to walk the entire portage without a problem mid June. |
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Deeznuts |
We came into lynx through heritage in 2017 and I have to say that personally it wasn't a very memorable lake. We are also looking at staying on heritage next August and giving the pike fishing a go as it's supposed to be pretty good there. I Read that the northern site was best and a great site for hanging. Ruby also has a lot to offer as far as scenery and water clarity if you have an extra day and the motivation to do that long portage. My advice regarding ep 14 and routes would be to take the northern portage into lower pauness if you go in August as navigating through the lily pads is pretty difficult. If you go in may, the southern portage is very steep but very short and if the water is high enough you could potentially just walk the canoes through. Good luck and happy planning! |
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mc2mens |
Here's a few photos of the Con Island campsite and some fish tacos made from the eyes caught on Shell. |
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AceAceAce |
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BigPaul |
Previous trip, and our first time on Lynx, we did get campsite El Supremo… it’s magical. Fishing was better (June), and did a couple explorations to Heritage and that little lake to the South who’s name escapes. Not impressed with Heritage. The paddle in is uneventful, portages aren’t too difficult and Shell wasn’t too windy. Little Shell is a cool little lake with only one site IIRC. |