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Thwarted
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Mid to late May can involve higher water which can be a plus or not.
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dentondoc
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From my experience, the fishing as better in May than September. If you are a laker fisherman, you can often take them in 5 feet of water.
Water temps in May will be much colder than September; air temps will be comparable. (I really dread washing dishes in May. September seems a warm bath by comparison.)
You will not likely see bugs that close to ice out on an 8 day trip. If you were out for 2 weeks, you might see a few the last day or two.
I've seen equally rough conditions in May and September. A multi-day rain event is not outside the realm of possibility.
The one thing that sticks in my mind about a May trip is the "awakening of the forest" ... there are visible signs of life returning.
dd
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mapsguy1955
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I usually am a late September tripper and go out of Atikokan (Stanton Bay). This year, due to too many crummy personal issues, I'm thinking I need my Quetico fix a lot earlier. Any thoughts on early in season trips, like when ice usually goes out and fishing/bugs in May? Any other things I may have missed? The time is completely flexible but would like to spend 8 nights out.
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AmarilloJim
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I've been doing the last week of May for several years and found it to be comparable to the last week of Sept. Few if any bugs. Water and air temps about the same. Fishing better. Less foliage and longer days.
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mapsguy1955
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I guess it all depends on ice out. I think I am going to do it, maybe in on the 17th. I love the thought of higher water levels, though it was pretty high last year in September. I love the thought of the forest coming to life!
Thanks everyone!!
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TomT
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I'm curious to know if the loons are there in May?
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mapsguy1955
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I'm curious too!
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walllee
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If fishing is a top priority, hard to beat the first week of June in my humble experiences .
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Banksiana
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Loons arrive early. They are usually in the area before ice out (following the ice out from south to north), hanging out in water opened by current and making daily fly-overs to see if the lakes they inhabit are open. As soon as there is enough water to land they appear. The exception is years of extremely early ice out- in 09 and 12 I managed a couple of days on the water before I saw my first loons.
The first couple of nights after the return there are often frenzied celebratory loon calls that go on and on.
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tree
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be sure to consult canadian fishing regs before planning your trip. they don;t all coincide with US/MN regulations (for season dates)
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Springer2
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Bugs (especially black flies), wind and cold, wet weather can definitely make you wish it was September instead of May, although it can be wet, windy and cold then also, but after three years of September trips we are really missing the things a May trip offers, like the possibility (not guaranteed) of spectacular bass and lake trout fishing, being the first group of the year to stay on a campsite, seeing the leaves on the trees open and the orchids and other wildflowers bloom over the course of 8 or 9 days, and waking up to a chorus of bird song and falling asleep to the sound of a million frogs singing. 
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Hoaf
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TomT: "I'm curious to know if the loons are there in May? "
Absolutely - I've seen them many times within a few days of ice out.
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carmike
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Have fun, and report back on the fishing!
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deerfoot
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All of our Q trips have in mid May. Weather can be great or not so much. But it always seems to blow thru quickly. Fishing has always been very good, in fact that is usually the main activity in our group. We always see loons. I mostly go to the BW/Q in spring or fall. Last summer trip was July 1999. Too busy and crowded for me.
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mapsguy1955
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deerfoot: "All of our Q trips have in mid May. Weather can be great or not so much. But it always seems to blow thru quickly. Fishing has always been very good, in fact that is usually the main activity in our group. We always see loons. I mostly go to the BW/Q in spring or fall. Last summer trip was July 1999. Too busy and crowded for me."
Perhaps silly question but this is first May trip and I'm sure the water is much colder than late September (my usual trip)... Do you wetfoot or other, and what if "other?"
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Springer2
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Some years in late May and early June there are still snowdrifts in the shade and water in the deep lakes in the 40's so no, we don't wet foot. Bug bites are another reason we wear socks and boots--nothing worse than black fly bites on your feet and ankles--makes it hard to sleep at night. 
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Luckee
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A vaguely related question, but I'll try it out :)
I just had to move my own trip back one week, from the week after June 15 to the week after June 23.
Will my bass, pike and walleye fishing suffer much, in your opinion? I'm not huge on lakers, but it is of course nice to catch one of everything that swims :)
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mapsguy1955
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I can't really answer that for the Q, but my Canadian Shield experience covers most warmer months and the SMB fishing is ALL good in June.
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carmike
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Fishing that early can really, really depend on which lake you're on. Small lakes can be many degrees warmer than the big, deep, and clear ones...I usually try to find areas where I can access both big lakes and small ones because often times one will be hot and the other not.
Current areas are always good, too, but they're especially good in the spring when the suckers and shiners are trying to spawn.
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mapsguy1955
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Thanks Everyone... Planning on going in at Stanton Bay on the 18th, hopefully missing the opening weekend "crowds?" by one day. Walleye season opens on the 19th. Should be farther in by then. Coming out 26th or 27th. Can't wait!
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mapsguy1955
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Just got my permit for the 18th... Can't wait!!!
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