Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Woodland Caribou Provincial Park :: Lund To Bigshell
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solotrip |
no objections lol. Just know that you may encounter some boats. On the flip side, they may invite you in for a Sauna! Keep in mind that the fire from last summer on Olive took out a lot of nice campsites, still a few on the north end, and some in the east though. I'll be revisiting those trails again in the spring to ensure no blowdown. Personally, i would spend some time on Bigshell and fish "Banana Lake", located up the hill by way of 100 meter portage from the south end of Bigshell. Trophy Lake Trout and Pike in there. 1 campsite awaits you, overlooking this crystal clear lake. Well worth the efforts to get in there. Also note, FN members from Pikangikum FN built a cabin this fall on the beach on southeast end of Bigshell....the big beach. Was an excellent campsite but i would look elsewhere for next year. Yup, tried my hand at some saltwater Salmon...epic trip with Mooching reels....tired arms. Boy those fish can run and run and run! Had Salmon last night for dinner! |
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jcavenagh |
I guess there are some big fish in Gichigami. Remember, pics or it didn't happen. ;) |
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HighnDry |
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mastertangler |
Marten, I checked out several of winter trekker vids and like them almost as much as I like yours. The Sabourin out of Bigshell looks potentially time consuming but has Thicketwood as a reward. I could not find video of Olive into Bigshell.......are you certain he has this? I had originally thought of busting tail and getting to Bigshell or Burntwood and then meandering back and staying at Olive, Linge and now Young as well. Now I'm probably leaning towards that again after watching wintertekkers videos........The creek travel is probably all going to be much the same I suspect. |
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mastertangler |
Sort of bad news about the cabin. I suspect it is in the location I had been looking forward to camping at.......a 5 star site on a point? SE side of the lake? Even if it is just used in the fall who wants to camp near a structure? Blah! So I had considered ending up in Burntwood. Shame to go all that way and not check it out. But you say "Banana lake"? Why is it called that ;-) OK......you talked me into it. Skip the almost 2000 meters of portaging into Burntwood and instead travel into a pretty little hidey hole via a 150 meter portage...... complete with whoppers. That was easy. If I catch a big one in there I will put a plug in for you as the all-knowing guru ;-) Crap.......I want to go now!! (patience grasshopper) |
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mastertangler |
Forums? Who knew? I was completely computer illiterate until my eccentric recluse genius buddy (stereotypes often exist for a reason ;-) suggested I check out Quiet Journey. On more than a whim than anything else I checked it out. At that point I didn't even know what "copy and paste" meant. Fast forward and I now have a "digital scrapbook" in which to record my trips, built a website to promote my business and learned of the Quetico and Woodland Caribou all due to being involved with forums. Places I never would of heard about on my own. Now, thanks to the kindness of people I have never met before, I have an excellent adventure awaiting me. |
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Marten |
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Marten |
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HighnDry |
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mastertangler |
The plan is to be in a shape other than round and cut back on some gear (although you would never know it by the shelf full of fishing stuff carefully arranged in my shop as I revamp my piscatorial strategy for this trip).........tripling instead of 4 carries across like last trip might also expedite matters. Maybe I will bring less food ;-) But I say bring it on.....I will just ease along from daylight to dark and see where I get.........I am hopefully going to be able to carve out a good chunk of time to play with. Not getting any younger.......best have some adventure while I can. Is it just me or does the time seem to be flying by? HighnDry I will eventually post my basecamp plans / dates and will encourage whomsoever to come and visit. It would be great to meet you. I figure most of my time will be spent on Bigshell, Olive and Linge. |
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solotrip |
Harlan |
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dentondoc |
dd |
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dentondoc |
quote mastertangler: "but that will give me time to get in shape to climb that hill.......will I need rope? Crampons?" I don't want to deter your preparation, but topographic data suggest that the climb is probably not much more than 20 meters (but that's over a 100 meter portage). So, its definitely up hill and one would assume that the (20%) grade is not uniform over that distance, but I doubt technical climbing gear would be necessary. However, if you string a rope between a couple of trees as you go in, you might have a hellava zip-line coming out! BTW: If you want to confirm what I mentioned above about water clarity, you can easily see the difference between "Banana" and surrounding lakes via a zoomed up view of the current satellite image rendering from Google Earth. dd |
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mastertangler |
Looks like I will have 24 days again. I had thought I might swing 30 but no dice. Now I just have to make the tough decisions on "stuff". Last time was 4 carries but that was only for a few days and then it was mostly paddling........this is a portage trip. Hopefully I can do 3 carries this time. |
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mastertangler |
quote solotrip: "Yes, I have boats / motors on Olive Lake. You may not want to be base camping on the lake as groups will be around most of the summer. All trails from Bigshell to Olive and Olive to Linge are clear sailing. Simple grunt work and a bunch of in and our but both are easily done in less than a day. Linge is an incredible Walleye Lake! I hope you are booked solid this summer Harlan! I am one small boat, hopefully your guests will not object if I poke around for a few days (I stay sort of quiet ;-) Good news about the routes. Hopefully they will stay open. I had hoped to connect with you after this summers trip. Rumor has it you were Salmon fishing in British Columbia if I remember correctly. How did it go? Feel free to throw up a few pics ;-) |
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mastertangler |
quote dentondoc: "You might also find "Banana" Lake being referred to as "Perched" Lake. According to conversations I've had with Claire, the lake sits higher than surrounding lakes and as a consequence, the only direction the water flows from here is out. Apparently, as a result of its position, it is among the clearest lakes in all of WCPP. I'm with you DD.......we simply must find a better name than "Banana Lake" for what is obviously a gem. I find it difficult to get excited about "Yup, I can't wait, I'm going to Banana lake". How about "Crescent lake"? Sounds a bit more intriguing. Or perhaps "Crown Lake".......we could pronounce it in a foreign language to make it sound more exotic ;-) Still pulling my gear together. I had an epiphany of sorts regarding the fishing approach and decided to act upon it promptly rather than let the enthusiasm fade and the "water become murky" with the passage of time as it were. Then the long waiting game........but that will give me time to get in shape to climb that hill.......will I need rope? Crampons? I will save Burntwood for a later time............Perhaps do a Thicketwood to Burntwood trip in 2018. That water between those two lakes looks mighty interesting. Lord willing of course.......who knows what a day may bring! |
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Marten |
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mastertangler |
So thats the plan for next august Lord willing. Hopefully the Bog Trot will be a bit drier than it was last time we met. But what about knox creek to Linge? And how about the Sabourin river from Olive into Bigshell? Any big trees across the river? And how about the lake north of Bigshell............Burntwood.......... a long portage in......... easy or hard? Any decent campsites on Burntwood? Looking at spending a week on Bigshell, a week on Olive and a week on Linge. I see Bigshell has a 5 star site. Olive and Linge look to have several options as well.......any site recommendations? |
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mastertangler |
quote KerryG: "It's never too early. I just talked with Harlan yesterday and nailed down next years trip already. We're going to do the Bloodvein from Larus down to rivers end at Lake Winnipeg. Something to dream on as winter approaches. Oh, I forgot, you don't have winter :>)" Kerry your omitting some very fine portaging by starting at Laurus. Perhaps you should reevaluate? Um, where are the night pics? |
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Mondo63 |
quote mastertangler: "Yo Mondo Man........I would like to see your Utube vids. You can't just copy and paste on this forum but must use "add a link" option > Just scroll down to access. If you give the titles I can just search at Utube as well. Okay, I think I've got the vids linked correctly. And I'm pretty sure I talked to Harlan about his outpost and it did sound like he has motors there. Maybe I'm off base on that. |
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Marten |
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mastertangler |
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mastertangler |
So what I have gotten so far is Knox creek is no picnic and neither is the Souborin river into Bigshell (at least during low water). Covering new ground, even if its tough, is usually fun the first time but usually not so much the second. I had originally intended on doing a "route" i.e. returning by the same way but now am strongly considering a loop. So heres the question........should I take the Sabourin out of Bigshell to Thicketwood or should I portage into Burntwood and take the Dutch river to Thicketwood? |
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KerryG |
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mastertangler |
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KerryG |
quote mastertangler: "Ahem........that was my belief Kerry when I established a campsite on Musclow Lake. But au contraire one must camp at already established campsites. That is the rules and I was informed by several sources including WCPP. What I thought was a valuable enhancement to the park turned out to be a violation. So be aware. " Now that is odd because Harlan has assured me over the years that the mandate of the park is that there are no official camp sites. Maybe that has changed recently or maybe the MNR is interpreting their mandate differently, who knows. For myself, the devastation to the park by uncontrolled fires over the past number of years has me looking to Atikaki Provincial Park over on the Manitoba side for future tripping. Last summer as we made our way down the Bloodvein River I finally ran into Martin Kehoe in the flesh going the other way on a portage. I have been communicating with him for years but we'd never actually met. He was incredibly excited about Atikaki and told me that if I thought the Bloodvein was beautiful, I ought to see the rest of the park. And by the way, the fishing was ridiculous - I have never pulled out so many 26 - 28" Walleye in my life. I caught my first Pike over 46" and enormous catfish to boot (and all, by the way, with a 4' rod after snapping the damn thing after the first week out.) |
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mastertangler |
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mastertangler |
Low water is a concern as I should be there in Late August as well (Lord willing ;-) |
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KerryG |
quote mastertangler: "I have reread the thread and Martin notes a portage on river right to bypass the swift out of Bigshell. Thats good. Still curious as to wether anyone has camped on Banana or the unnamed lake directly below it. I may have to make day trips from Bigshell if no site exists. " I'm not sure what you mean when you ask whether or not their are campsites on Banana Lake. As I'm sure you are well aware, there are no designated campsites in WCPP so you can effectively camp anywhere that you can pitch a tent. That being said, if you ask Harlan I'm sure he knows of at least one or two existing sites, especially since he is recommending that lake to you. |
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SunCatcher |
Getting to Linge not difficult at all the creek going down to Knox is/can be plugged up. it was when I did it, purdy tough going, with the dog SunCatcher |
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mastertangler |
quote SunCatcher: "Been Olive down to Knox and out to Lund. So Knox to Linge "plugged up"? Low water? Rock gardens? Blowdown? Choked with weeds? |
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SunCatcher |
quote mastertangler: "noquote SunCatcher: "Been Olive down to Knox and out to Lund. It is a decent paddle,. I was there late August,. Over labor day,. There is a fair amount Of wild rice and lower water at ends of lakes, in the calmer water, but more than enough H2O to paddle through. Do-able stuff. |
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KerryG |
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Mondo63 |
I went from Lund to Young lake with my boy last summer. Knox Creek was a bit of a challenge for us on the way up. There was some blowdown in sections that posed some problems for us. We had to get out and portage across some oxbows in spots as well as dig out the saw to cut through some spots. I think it took us a little over a couple of hours to get from Knox to the lake just to the south of Young where we spent the night. We did encounter a moose going up the river when we were creating all sorts of racket trying to get off of a submerged log. The moose must have been napping in the tall grass. I think we startled him and he got up and started running, thankfully, away from us. We were tired by the time we got off of the creek so we camped at the bailout lake to the south of Young. The site is nice enough but no real place to set up your tent. Nice sloping rock to the water and decent kitchen/fire pit set up. We had spent some time on Knox slaying walleyes and we hadn't anticipated how long the creek was going to take us. We were happy we bailed on getting to Young that evening as the next morning we had a bit of a challenge getting into Young. As you leave the lake to the south of Young, the weeds/grasses become really thick. The channel disappears and finding a way through is a bit of a challenge. Eventually we made it to the portage. Paddling across the wet lawn to get to it would have been too tough the evening before. We spent a few nights on Young and absolutely loved it. We saw moose and bears. We caught a ton of walleyes too. As you look at the map, there is an island campsite near the east end of the lake. It is awesome with a great boat landing, fantastic swimming, great fishing right off the shore, a flat place for the tent, a blueberry patch and lots of wood scattered about. Our plan was to go up to Linge but we kind of don't like moving up and or down creeks and the fishing and solitude on Young was so great that we just decided to stay put. I think your trip sounds awesome. I know Olive has an outpost on it so maybe more time on Young would be better than sharing it with a bunch of boats. Linked are some of our videos. Hopefully got them linked correctly. Let me know if you want to know the fishing spots on Young that we found. Be forewarned, a lot of zany stuff in the vids that keep us entertained. See links below. We are in serious negotiations regarding our route next year. The boy is highly interested in heading up to Musclow. Looks like a lot of fantastic walleye lakes up that way and your report has piqued our interest. Mondo Day 2 Video Day 4 Day 5 |
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mastertangler |
Hey knox creek sounds challenging and fun. Thanks for weighing in. Maybe they will have cleaned up that route by the time I get rolling. If not I have plenty of time. The Outpost on Olive is Harlans if I;m not mistaken. Not so sure there is any motor boats......maybe some one can chime in on that. Bigshell, Olive and Linge supposedly have "marginal or unconfirmed" populations of walleye. I have to get away from all those pesky 20" walleyes and focus on some closer to 30". Yes paddle or fly into Musclow and stay where I did. Very nice, fish galore with lots of options if the wind comes up. Send me a paper map of Musclow and Barclay and I will mark it up for you. Ask Santa for a Mega Bass deep six in sexy shad color.......whack-em lure. |
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mastertangler |
Perhaps I should consider spending time on Little Bigshell. Anybody got the skinny on that body of water? Any decent places to pitch a tent? Hows the fishing? Gravitating towards spending some time there as well as Banana. |
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Marten |
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mastertangler |
quote solotrip: OK, pipe down a little. Do you want the whole world to know? ;-) |
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solotrip |
Fishing for lakers and pike is amazing. Water is crystal clear. Lots of Moose in that area as well. |
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KerryG |
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HighnDry |
quote KerryG: "Linge to Knox was one of the toughest paddles we've ever done. Mid August. Coming out of the first portage out of Young going in the direction of Knox we hit an area of swamp grass so dense that we almost turned back. I was doing the African Queen thing thigh deep in muck. Fortunately I finally found something similar to shore (almost held my weight - ankle deep) and were able to finally make it through. And that was the 1st portage. They got worse from there - seriously." Yikes! |
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mastertangler |
quote KerryG: "Linge to Knox was one of the toughest paddles we've ever done. Mid August. Coming out of the first portage out of Young going in the direction of Knox we hit an area of swamp grass so dense that we almost turned back. I was doing the African Queen thing thigh deep in muck. Fortunately I finally found something similar to shore (almost held my weight - ankle deep) and were able to finally make it through. And that was the 1st portage. They got worse from there - seriously." Ahem.......uh well, have you ever wanted to be an actor? You could play tough guy Bogart pulling the boat through the impassable and, yes, I will play the distinguished Katherine Hepburn looking quite concerned about our forward progress from the bow seat. I can help pick the leeches off when you get back in the boat. Your pics are absolutely amazing BTW. |
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mastertangler |
The bottom line at Musclow is there is a 4 star site at an ideal strategic location where only 1 stars existed previously (f you could even find something). I would challenge any experienced paddler to arrive at the Musclow site and state that it is a net negative for the park. My advice is to go to Musclow, enjoy an excellent campsite at a prime location in total seclusion and catch walleye after walleye until you get tired. And yes, despite my defense of the Musclow site it is my first and last site I will build. I am a team player and had I known it was against the rules I would not have engaged in the activity in the first place. Here Andy, this is for you WWJD |
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Bogwalker |
WWJD for many of us means "What Would Jan Do" |
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mastertangler |
quote Bogwalker: "MT FYI-WWJD on BWCA.com is not the same as your definition. Well that explains a great deal now doesn't it! Thank you very much Bogwalker...... I appreciate that enlightenment. I would venture a guess that I am not the only one on the board who is a trifle confused (even though clearly it is obvious that Jan was much known and much loved). Again I thank you for providing clarity. |
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McVacek |
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mastertangler |
Very pleased with my overall fishing strategy which I have been pulling together slowly and with an abundance of monetary expenditure (ouch! ....I asked myself just yesterday > "your not really going to feed that to a pike are you"? ) Some of these large plastic swim baits are a bit expensive to be feeding to a slimy toothy torpedo just to get torn, ripped and destroyed. Oh well..... Whenever I hit the reading room I pull out the map and give it a quick glance. Sure a bucketload of portages between Lund and banana. Probably 4 or 5 days tripling is what I figure even running late in the day. Monday I start training. Whoppeee! |
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AndySG |
Just wondering if you will clear out a new campsite and cut trails to your fishing hole like you did on Musclow and elsewhere. What a total dick |
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nctry |
quote AndySG: " Andy, he's been run through the ringer enough. He's been talked to by the park. I'm sure if he does it'll be his last trip in WCPP and maybe Canada. We can let it rest I think. |
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Marten |
quote nctry: "quote AndySG: " +1 I think more than MT learned a few things through this. |
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mastertangler |
Did you ever catch anything with the Savage gear swimbait? Yes Jcavenaugh I would not want to do anything which would cause me difficulty and remove myself from the pleasure which is Ontario Parks in spite of the best of intentions. I do wish to return to the camp at Musclow however and now consider it an "established" campsite. It is a desirable situation and can be considered a destination lake IMO. |
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jcavenagh |
I think similar regulations exist in some of the more popular Ontario parks, e.g. Algonquin. I believe that, like in the Q, technically it is allowed to camp anywhere in WCPP. But establishing a campsite by cutting trees, building a fire pit, etc. is prohibited. Throwing up a tent and sleeping for a night is OK, but park management wants us to adhere to full LNT in that instance. They strongly encourage using established campsites. There are a lot of established campsites in the park. And most of them are where we would expect them to be. The criteria for a good campsite haven't changed over the millennia so look for rocky points, nice beaches, etc. and you are likely to find an established campsite. MT made the mistake of establishing a site where one did not already exist. Park management reserves such activity to itself. MT isn't the kind of guy who will ignore what Claire told him. Now that he knows what MNR wants he will act accordingly. Best practice is to just use the established sites. That will minimize the overall impact on the resource and preserve it for generations to come. |
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mastertangler |
Harlan has suggested fishing "Banana lake" just below Bigshell. I have noticed however as per having received Harlans Maps, that there appears to be no campsites on Banana or the unnamed lake from which the portage into Banana originates. Is that true? And if so, am I clear in understanding that there is a swift or a chute from Bigshell to the unnamed lake? Is the swift easy to traverse if I were to camp at Bigshell and make the round trip to Banana on day trips? |
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mastertangler |
I want to thank those who have weighed in.......the advice given is appreciated and the trip will be rescheduled. Instead I am eyeing using my 24 days at Isle Royale and using the Superior Expedition decked canoe which has only one trip under its belt. One day drive, no portaging and lakeside screened shelters complete with a picnic table........water taxis for use if I lack the stones to brave the north shoreline. (Better a cowardly dog than a dead lion ;-) Fishing opportunities are potentially excellent especially for fish of trophy size. |