Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Pickerel Trip
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timatkn |
wyopaddler: "mapsguy1955: "AmarilloJim: "The Indians guide fishing trips in Pickerel with motors." I believe the list used to include Pickerel Lake. It was 20 lakes, but that rotated yearly to a max of 10 each year. In 2018 (ish) I believe they negotiated it down to 9 lakes, 4 of which allow fly in fishing on rotating basis. They usually stash the boats, then fly clients in. They don't have the same restrictions--usually use portage wheels to get the boats in to the lakes. I remember running into them on the Crooked to Argo Portage. That's a lot of work to get a boat and motor to Argo. It was weird to see motor boats, minnow buckets on Argo... Argo is thankfully no longer on the list either. Most of the time Argo was motor free...was just a surprise when it wasn't. Poohbah is a popular fly in lake for them now I know. Some First Nation Guides do not recognize the Canadian or American governments authority or rules. So they may show up in other areas...Lac La Croix on the BWCAW side is a common one. Not really much anyone can do, nor willing to do. T |
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mapsguy1955 |
AmarilloJim: "The Indians guide fishing trips in Pickerel with motors." I've never seen a motor on Pickerel in 12 trips. I don't think that is one of the excluded lakes. |
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wyopaddler |
mapsguy1955: "AmarilloJim: "The Indians guide fishing trips in Pickerel with motors." Park Map of Motorized Lakes |
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Gaidin53 |
I’d recommend either Camp Quetico or Seine River lodge for shuttles or pick ups. Good thing is you really do have a lot of options where you could limit the portaging. Stanton bay is a decently long portage though. Good thing is it’s downhill. I think I’d recommend Nym over Stanton Bay for several reasons but I have not tripped in that area it’s all second hand knowledge. Ryan |
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uqme2 |
Sounds like a cheap date to me!! |
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Gaidin53 |
I didn’t remember stairs either mainly boardwalk. When I’m on a portage I’m moving and generally always carrying the canoe so vision is limited. It’s a nice portage and entry point. I think it’s too much for Graybeard right now though. Ryan |
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uqme2 |
Jackfish: "uqme2: "What about parking at French, paying for an outfitter lift to the SB lot, walking downhill, spending a few days on a big lake and taking out at French?" I parked in or near the SB lot twice way back when it was a new and exciting thing. 3 vehicles, party of six both times. $100? Per person? With or w/o group outfitting? I am totally serious and wonder how those stairs held up? I'm honestly curious and would love to hear from someone who's been there recently. |
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Gaidin53 |
Ryan |
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tumblehome |
Yup as SNS said, French entry and into the Rawn area permits an full wilderness quetico trip with no portaging. Tom |
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sns |
Barry at Camp Quetico charged us $100 per trip, regardless of headcount or gear. I recall our bill included $600 of shuttle fees in total. $200 to get one of of our guys to the Thunder Bay airport, plus $100 to pick him up early at SB. $100 to take us in to SB after overnighting in one of his cabins, $100 to take us out at the end of the trip. And $100 because when our guy left early they were supposed to grab some gear from our truck & bring it to us at SB but we'd left it locked, so there was an extra trip there and an hour delay. The bigger point is that for someone who does not want to portage, Pickerel/Batch/Rawn is a huge amount of shoreline to explore without portaging...perhaps as much as Basswood. Certainly the biggest motor-free contiguous water in the BWCA/Quetico. |
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AmarilloJim |
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Argo |
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Graybeard |
Gaidin53: email sent. Thanks to all for the help. |
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Jackfish |
uqme2: "$100? Per person? With or w/o group outfitting? The $100 cost was per group. And it was with minimal outfitting. We stayed at Camp Quetico the night before going in and had dinner and breakfast with them before heading to Stanton Bay. They weren't interested in shuttling us if we didn't do some additional outfitting. As for steps on the portage trail, there aren't any real "steps", such as steps by the front porch of a house. There are a few rocky "steps" down from the parking lot and the last 50-60 yards was rocky with a slight decline down to the water. The boardwalk, which makes up at least half, if not 2/3, of the trail, is basically flat. There are a few spots where boardwalk is slightly tilted, and a few spots where you step off the boardwalk to walk on the dirt trail for a short distance, but it was no big deal. I suppose the boardwalk could possibly get slippery if wet, but it was dry when we were on it so I have no experience with it that way. |
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gopackers12 |
But that can probably be said for most lakes within a day of entry points. If you’re focus is limiting the portaging, then you have a good plan to put in at French and paddle Pickerel! A lot of water to explore without any portages needed. Enjoy!! |
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Gaidin53 |
I reviewed the Nym to Batchewaung portage reports and this is what the most recent report said. Nym to Batchewaung portage report On 7/17/2022 7:59:23 AM, sns said: Visit Date: 7/13/2022 Well used, wide open...ran into other folks here going in and coming out. The Batch side's gravel beach is a treat. Going Batch>Nym involved some huffing and puffing as there is some elevation gain - Nym is 17 meters higher. Ryan |
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Graybeard |
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Argo |
Were you on another canoe country bulletin board many years ago? Yours is a familiar handle. |
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timatkn |
You drive to the landing on French…small walk to the beach put in. T |
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Gaidin53 |
Have fun! Hopefully you don’t have a west wind. I worried about it coming out of Stanton last year and we were flat calm! Ryan |
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Gaidin53 |
Ryan |
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uqme2 |
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Jackfish |
uqme2: "What about parking at French, paying for an outfitter lift to the SB lot, walking downhill, spending a few days on a big lake and taking out at French?" We almost did that exact thing in June. However, we ended up changing our minds and stayed overnight at Camp Quetico and had them shuttle us into Stanton Bay and pick us up. Cost us the $100 shuttle fee each time, but it worked out well. Paddling back to French Lake would have been fine, too. Since cars with non-Canadian license plates are not allowed to park overnight at the Stanton Bay parking lot, a shuttle is required. I'll say this, though... it's a rough road in from Hwy 11 and paying someone to run their vehicle on that road is worth it, at least as I see it. |
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preacherdave |
Jackfish: "uqme2: "What about parking at French, paying for an outfitter lift to the SB lot, walking downhill, spending a few days on a big lake and taking out at French?" Sorry, Should have just kept reading the thread. Question answered. |