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05/14/2024 06:23PM |
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05/26/2024 08:04PM |
BassmasterP: "Hey Old Hoos...
Or June trip in 2 weeks has us spending 2 nights on Badwater with day trips into Omeme and Bee. We've never fished these waters, but as I understand it, Omeme is a great walleye lake and Bee has superb bronzeback action. Sound about right? Weather is looking good for us - can't wait to get going!
Tight lines,
Bassmaster P "
Jackfish is accurate - for sure no smallies in Badwater or Bee (or Omeme.) I have caught exactly ZERO in there in the last 30 years.
One other point of info - the preferred portage from Badwater to Omeme is at the far west end of Badwater - not from the "mid-lake" inlet of Badwater that flows west.
Old Hoosier
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05/06/2024 04:09PM |
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05/06/2024 12:52PM |
Ryan
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05/06/2024 03:27PM |
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05/06/2024 04:05PM |
bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Magic Paddler and I might just pass by your camp on our way to Mack via Ross on May 25th.
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05/04/2024 02:56PM |
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05/05/2024 05:12PM |
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05/06/2024 04:13PM |
portagedog09: "bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Magic Paddler and I might just pass by your camp on our way to Mack via Ross on May 25th."
I know guys know this, but that 240 rod portage out of Ross into Cullen is a long one. I had to cut my way through there a couple of years back. Pretty area. Saw a cow moose and her calf on the way into Ross early one morning. Not many folks in that area, but the First Nations have a few motorboats at the put-ins.
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05/16/2024 12:44PM |
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05/07/2024 11:44AM |
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05/07/2024 11:51AM |
portagedog09: "bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Magic Paddler and I might just pass by your camp on our way to Mack via Ross on May 25th."
You might pass our campsite, but we won't be on it till the next day. We enter on May 26th and target the Bonsai site or area.
I have met up with other members on occasion... sorry to miss you.
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05/07/2024 11:56AM |
HighnDry: "portagedog09: "bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Magic Paddler and I might just pass by your camp on our way to Mack via Ross on May 25th."
I know guys know this, but that 240 rod portage out of Ross into Cullen is a long one. I had to cut my way through there a couple of years back. Pretty area. Saw a cow moose and her calf on the way into Ross early one morning. Not many folks in that area, but the First Nations have a few motorboats at the put-ins."
Oh boy! I have a partner who always wanted to go early, ahead of our group. So I suggested 4 extra days and a trip to Mack. The Ross-Cullen portage was a show-stopper for him! I guess he is getting weak-in-the-poop. But we always take Dickie's Portage (1.3 miles) on our way out...
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05/07/2024 01:02PM |
apk: "Thanks cburton103, was contemplating this route myself but I'm working with fewer days this year and double portaging, so probably too ambitious!"
Sure thing! I've heard great things about the route. I always like getting into more remote areas in the park, and it sounds like this should fit the bill. I would imagine four days on this route would be about the minimum required for all but the hardest travelers. A week plus sounds about right to spend some time fishing and smelling the roses.
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05/04/2024 10:44PM |
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05/05/2024 12:45PM |
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05/04/2024 06:46PM |
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05/04/2024 10:21PM |
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05/04/2024 08:34PM |
EmmaMorgan: "I have a Carp Lake entry reserved for early August, planning a 15 night solo with my dog, to explore Man Chain, Falls Chain, Kawnipi and Agnes, likely with some side trips depending on energy levels and weather. "
Man this is my dream. Once my little kids get older I plan on doing solos. Wife won’t let me while they are little. :-(
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05/04/2024 08:36PM |
Apparently they no longer allow fly-ins into Mack if the creek out of Clay is too low, so will see!
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05/04/2024 10:49PM |
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05/05/2024 01:30AM |
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05/05/2024 06:01AM |
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05/06/2024 12:22PM |
Aslowhand: "I have a permit for the day after Victoria Day, Pickerel Lake. It will be my first visit to Quetico. Looking forward."
We will just miss you. the wife and i leave on that monday. we will be there 5 nights before that. enjoy your first trip !!
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05/05/2024 09:27AM |
bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Nothing wrong with auto-pilot!
My group is schedule for late July. Same route as last year too. Beaverhouse entry, Nym exit.
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05/05/2024 09:38AM |
Crappiekillah: "First week of June-10 day solo. Pickerel Lake EP. Shuttle from French to Stanton Bay courtesy of Quetico North. B chain to Antoine to Scripture Island area, maybe heading north thru Jesse to Pickerel Narrows…….ahhhh decisions, decisions."
Great route! We did a very similar one a couple years ago.
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05/05/2024 12:01PM |
.
This year, we're heading to Agnes Lake, then loopIng counterclockwise thru Silence, Noon and Shade, or up further north to Hurlburt and down through Kahshahpiwi. Not sure yet as we've never been in that area. Any advice or recommendations are welcomed.
This time we're really not going to push, just relax explore and catch some fish. It's just going to be two of us this year and we're figuring out the watercraft. If we do the longer loop, it'll probably be a tandem.
If we stay on the shorter loop, we're thinking a more laid back trip with two solos. I would like to try out different boats and enjoy being in my own space, then we can fish independently if we want. It'll will be more to portage but we've been pretty much 2.5 to 3 portage packers so far.
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05/05/2024 09:10PM |
I try not to think about either trip because I get so excited it's hard to hold another thought in my head. :)
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05/27/2024 09:14AM |
Old Hoosier: "BassmasterP: "Hey Old Hoos...
Or June trip in 2 weeks has us spending 2 nights on Badwater with day trips into Omeme and Bee. We've never fished these waters, but as I understand it, Omeme is a great walleye lake and Bee has superb bronzeback action. Sound about right? Weather is looking good for us - can't wait to get going!
Tight lines,
Bassmaster P "
Jackfish is accurate - for sure no smallies in Badwater or Bee (or Omeme.) I have caught exactly ZERO in there in the last 30 years.
One other point of info - the preferred portage from Badwater to Omeme is at the far west end of Badwater - not from the "mid-lake" inlet of Badwater that flows west.
Thanks, we were wondering about that. We actually did the northernmost portage two years ago thinking it was the long hike into Quetico. Had a rookie deciphering the map. Not a bad portage. We were going to have one group attempt the inlet route. Thanks for the advice. Since there's no fish in any of these lakes, we will just leave our rods at camp and go for the scenery.
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05/28/2024 12:56PM |
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05/04/2024 12:39PM |
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05/04/2024 12:54PM |
TZ
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05/04/2024 04:29PM |
Will take two or three more trips, though I may do my solo in WCPP this year. Much still TBD.
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05/04/2024 05:47PM |
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05/04/2024 01:49PM |
No trip to Quetico planned this year, but that may change. What is booked through is 13 nights in Killarney Provicial Park in August. It will be busy and buggy, but I'm going solo so that will be just fine.
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05/04/2024 01:58PM |
Thinking about a Man Chain/Falls Chain/McEwen/Louisa loop. Also thinking about the Western edge of the park; I'd like to get back there, but like others I'm a little nervous about widow-makers and indecipherable portages in the burn area.
-Peter
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05/04/2024 02:36PM |
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05/05/2024 03:34PM |
Our campsites are often decorated in a pink flamingo motif if you have an interest in dropping in.
DD
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05/06/2024 01:50AM |
Nym, Batchewaung, Maria, Jesse, Elizabeth, work our way to Camel and Cutty Creek towards Montgomery, back out to Russell, then work way northeast out at Nym. Should be good Fun.
SunCatcher
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05/06/2024 12:07PM |
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05/06/2024 08:30AM |
June 18th to Stanton Bay.
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05/06/2024 11:16AM |
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05/06/2024 11:50AM |
June 6th, start at Cache Bay...then up the Falls Chain...camp on Sydney Lake
then to Kawnipi for three nights, then to McEwan for two nights and the last night on Sagnagons. Seven nights.
Wanted to go a week earlier to see how it changes the fishing, but with the really early ice out, it might be the same this year?!?!?! Not sure.
Also, hoping no fire ban this year like last year, but I know things have been dry so we will see what happens the last two weeks of May.
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05/07/2024 10:54AM |
apk: "cburton103: "Doing my annual Q trip the second week of June (a hair later than preferred) up the man chain, falls chain, and back down McEwen creek to Louisa and out. One newbie. We’ll see how he does with all of the portages!"
Sounds awesome. How many days do you allow for this route?"
We'll have 8 days on the water. Planning on three layover days (we usually fish pretty hard these days) and five travel days. We portage very efficiently - single portaging with efficient load and unload times. We're average at best for paddling speed. But after the first travel day into This Man, there will be quite a number of portages per day afterwards. We'll have one newbie along, so if things aren't working quite right travel wise we can head back through Lilypad, Jasper, Ottertrack and back through Emerald and Carp.
Even though there are more similarities than dissimilarities from one lake to the other up there, I still like to try to see a good number of new lakes most trips. The Man Chain and McEwen to Louisa will all be new water for me and my group this year.
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05/07/2024 01:09PM |
cburton103: "apk: "Thanks cburton103, was contemplating this route myself but I'm working with fewer days this year and double portaging, so probably too ambitious!"
Sure thing! I've heard great things about the route. I always like getting into more remote areas in the park, and it sounds like this should fit the bill. I would imagine four days on this route would be about the minimum required for all but the hardest travelers. A week plus sounds about right to spend some time fishing and smelling the roses."
Yeah, I have five days for it in the fall... we _could_ do it. But my trip partner will be new to it and also I do like to have room for a layover day or two for relaxation or weather. We'll keep it in our back pocket if we are making good time.
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05/07/2024 02:23PM |
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05/07/2024 01:53PM |
I owe my reverence for this amazing place to Baesley Dahlstrom. I am truly fortunate and blessed to be his son. One of my favorite things is sharing this place with new people hoping they will find the same inner peace that I find when I'm there.
Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations to help the first timers fishing success and enjoyment?
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05/07/2024 04:51PM |
XYpaddler: "Mid-June, I'll be leading a 7-day family trip in honor of my father who passed at the age of 86 back in October. We are going back to the same place as was his last trip in 2016. The Batchewaung Lake outpost cabin offered by Canoe Canada. My first cousin, his 3 kids, son 13- and 17-year-old twin brother and sister and her friend. Also, my second cousin. All first timers except me and my first cousin. We have both tripped and fished Quetico many times with my father over the years. None of the others have done anything close to this and never fished before. I will be providing the newbies with appropriate/capable rods, reels and equipment to help them catch and land fish.
I owe my reverence for this amazing place to Baesley Dahlstrom. I am truly fortunate and blessed to be his son. One of my favorite things is sharing this place with new people hoping they will find the same inner peace that I find when I'm there.
Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations to help the first timers fishing success and enjoyment?
"
sounds like a great trip with some personal meaning. enjoy.
for first time fishing....and i am probably the last person to ask.....i would say try to target the easiest to catch. in my opinion that would be pike and smallmouth. especially when you cannot use any bait. both should be pretty easy to find in that area and both put up a great fight. nothing worse than going out fishing for the first time and spending hours to end up with nothing.
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05/07/2024 06:59PM |
HighnDry: "portagedog09: "bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Magic Paddler and I might just pass by your camp on our way to Mack via Ross on May 25th."
I know guys know this, but that 240 rod portage out of Ross into Cullen is a long one. I had to cut my way through there a couple of years back. Pretty area. Saw a cow moose and her calf on the way into Ross early one morning. Not many folks in that area, but the First Nations have a few motorboats at the put-ins."
Well.....we're not taking the portages.....should be a heck of a story if we make it! :D
pd
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05/07/2024 08:51PM |
XYpaddler: "Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations to help the first timers fishing success and enjoyment? "
Sounds like a great family and remembrance trip!
I think paddletail soft plastics on 1/8 oz jigs are a great choice. Easy to cast, easy to fish, and much easier to remove a single hook than a treble hook or two.
I like the Zman Minnowz. A bit harder to put on a jig, but they’re incredibly durable. Any color will do, but something lighter in color is usually my preference.
And don’t forget Zulu rigs! So much fun to fish, and it’s a particularly easy method for newbies. Props to Quetico Mike for popularizing this method!
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05/09/2024 11:47AM |
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05/09/2024 11:59AM |
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05/09/2024 12:16PM |
BergieT: "Headed in Beaverhouse in mid-June headed towards Jean then backtrack out. 10th trip into Q, first trip in that entry. Looking forward to it!"
You'll love it. Gone into Q through the Beaverhouse entry probably 30 times. You can't miss the signs, but you go ten miles south of Hwy 11 on gravel, then turn left (another can't-miss sign) and it's four more miles to the unloading and parking area. A flat 100 rod portage to the water.
Are you planning to stay overnight in Atikokan the night before going into the park? If you can be there by 3:30 or so, you could pick up your permit at the Atikokan ranger station so you wouldn't have to paddle to the BH ranger station. That would allow you to paddle straight to the portage around the waterfalls into the Quetico River / Quetico Lake so you could be on your way to Jean. (Just my unsolicited suggestion...).
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05/11/2024 10:01PM |
portagedog09: "bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Magic Paddler and I might just pass by your camp on our way to Mack via Ross on May 25th."
Can you report back on what Mack lake fishing is like for you, haven't been there that early, curious.
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05/11/2024 10:25PM |
campnfish: "portagedog09: "bobbernumber3: "My annual trip to the Q is planned again for late May. We fish Saganagons with the same campsites, same group of guys, same menu plan... Man, are we stuck on a rut?"
Magic Paddler and I might just pass by your camp on our way to Mack via Ross on May 25th."
Can you report back on what Mack lake fishing is like for you, haven't been there that early, curious."
I’ll give you an older report from the last day of May and first day of June 2019 on Mack Lake. The water was still pretty cold that year, and we even had frost in camp our first morning on Mack. We caught walleye in about 5-10 FOW and smallies were pre spawn. We caught better sized smallies than walleye, although we caught good numbers of both.
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05/12/2024 07:11AM |
I'll try to remember to post an update. However, we were up on Mack last year at the same time, late May/early June. It was my first time to Mack. It got unseasonably hot May 28-first week of June, like into the 80's for highs. It's every bit the walleye lake and we caught lots. They were shallow, primarily in 2-16 feet of water and we were mostly trolling crankbaits or jigs, some casting, no jigging. Even midday was good fishing. We circled the bay south of the pinch point to the northeast part of the late for about two hours and caught about two dozen walleye each, maybe more. They were mostly in the 20-24" range and we were having a challenge catching eater size fish in the 16-20" range. A few bass and pike, but mostly we caught walleye. There were lots of other folks on the lake and we had a time finding a camp, but the island in that NE bay was nice. That NE bay is really shallow for such a big bay, mostly 5-8 feet deep. Didn't think we'd catch walleye there, but we did - mostly while dragging a line while going to/from the lower part of the lake. Powell Lake Outfitters has access to the lake from the east and we saw plenty of aluminum canoes with PLO on the bow.
pd
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05/12/2024 06:21PM |
I haven’t been on a trip since 2021 and the last time I was in Quetico was 2019. I'm ready to go!
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05/13/2024 06:48PM |
Been wanting to get back over to Jean Lake from there, but an early May injury to my foot might set that back to a long tour all around Quetico Lake (which is itself no sharp stick in the eye).
Can't wait to kick back listening to loons (and mosquitoes) and breathe in that beautiful piney air (mixed with bug spray).
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05/22/2024 08:22AM |
BassmasterP: "...and Bee has superb bronzeback action. Sound about right? "
Bassmaster, my buddies and I have fished Badwater and Bee more times that we can count and I can tell you with no doubt whatsoever that neither Bee nor Badwater has smallies. Walleyes and northerns, yes... but no smallmouth.
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05/22/2024 09:26AM |
Jackfish: "BassmasterP: "...and Bee has superb bronzeback action. Sound about right? "
Bassmaster, my buddies and I have fished Badwater and Bee more times that we can count and I can tell you with no doubt whatsoever that neither Bee nor Badwater has smallies. Walleyes and northerns, yes... but no smallmouth."
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05/05/2024 08:17AM |
AdamX
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05/07/2024 07:14PM |
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05/06/2024 09:04PM |
cburton103: "Doing my annual Q trip the second week of June (a hair later than preferred) up the man chain, falls chain, and back down McEwen creek to Louisa and out. One newbie. We’ll see how he does with all of the portages!"
Sounds awesome. How many days do you allow for this route?
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05/14/2024 08:27AM |
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05/14/2024 10:46AM |
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05/20/2024 09:54AM |
Or June trip in 2 weeks has us spending 2 nights on Badwater with day trips into Omeme and Bee. We've never fished these waters, but as I understand it, Omeme is a great walleye lake and Bee has superb bronzeback action. Sound about right? Weather is looking good for us - can't wait to get going!
Tight lines,
Bassmaster P
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05/19/2024 03:19PM |
Looking forward to an 8 night Quetico trip this year in early October. Enter at Beaverhouse and will basecamp on Omeme. Plan to fish Omeme, Cub, Badwater, Bee and/or Pelee - plus Beaverhouse on the way out to try for a grand slam with a lake trout.
Have not been in the Q since 2018. Way too long! Taking my second trip with my adult grand daughter at her request (first took her at 16, she is now 26.) Her current boyfriend will join us this year.
Pete - glad to see you are still paddling!
Old Hoosier
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05/20/2024 08:40AM |
Have a great trip!