BWCA Trip Report

[ted4887]

Just got back from an impromptu BWCA trip. Had the opportunity to have a Father/Son/Son/Son trip. Most definitely had to take advantage of that opportunity.

So we left Thursday afternoon to head up to our outfitters lodge for a night of anxious sleep and many thunderstorms. By 7 a.m Friday we were all ready to head out to the entry point.

For this trip, we launched out of entry point 34 which is the Island River. This section was part of last years fire zone. However, we had heard many reports of moose and bear sightings so we weren't too turned off by the idea of a few days in that area.

Unfortunately, we weren't going to see any wildlife. And when I say none, I mean it. No moose, no bears, not even a deer! That kind of bummed us all out. The good news is that there is a lot of new life springing up, and in a few years this route will be amazing once again.

Our first nights camp was made at Quadga Lake. Since this route had just re-opened a few weeks prior to our arrival, we were one of the first to use this site. In fact, this was the only site on the lake that was open to camping that day. We set up camp, on a beautiful point on what I would say was the best campsite we had the entire week we were there.

In fact, we liked it so much (or we were too tired to break camp) that we stayed for a second night.

Now, I should mention the fishing. For almost the entire trip we faced off with pretty windy conditions. Not ideal conditions for a fly fisherman. Quadga lake was smaller, and definitely offered up some of the best fishing for me. However, I just couldn't connect with any fish that were very large. Throughout the whole trip I probably caught about 2 dozen fish. Plenty of largemouth and bluegills, along with some smallies and some feisty pike. Nothing big... at all. 25" pike, and 14-15" bass. A good time, but I was a bit flustered by the wind and eventually just focused on putting my brothers and dad on some fish so we could have a fish fry later in the trip.

Our next days paddle took us into Bald Eagle Lake and out of the fire zone. It was a welcome site from the blackened forest we had been in.

This was a relatively large lake, and is one of the busier lakes in that area. After the 1/2 mile portage or so into the lake, we needed to find a site to stay for the night. Now that's easier said than done up there. After making our way out of the lower area of the lake, we encountered 30 mph winds heading straight down the lake creating some most trecherous conditions for paddling. I'm talking nasty! Whitecaps that I wouldn't ever paddle in by myself in an open boat, let alone take 2 relative newbies and one other relatively experienced paddler.

After paddling close to shore for the next hour or so in those miserable conditions, we finally found a site. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. There was no way we were leaving an open site in search for a better view. I was exhausted!

A pretty cool view that night once the sun started and wind started to fade away.

The next two days were spent on Gabbro Lake.

(This was the time that the batteries in my camera died)

It was just a fantastic lake. The fishing finally picked up for my brothers and father (not me, it was still a windy S.O. and they ended up catching a good handful of eater walleye. This was the scheduled fish fry night anyways, so it couldn't have worked out better. After keeping about 8 walleye for a very large dinner, we headed back to camp to prepare our last dinner of the trip.

The last morning of our trip was spent fishing a little more for some smallmouth. This was first day with just a nice calm breeze. I had even managed to catch a few this time around. By 2 p.m., we were making our way out of the BWCA and back to the outfitters for a MUCH needed shower and shave.

After a long, late night drive back in some rain showers I finally arrived back in Winona. God bless pillowtop mattresses and running water.

Overall, the trip really couldn't have been much better. Time spent with the family is always great and to spend it in such a beautiful area is icing on the cake. We're already talking about doing another trip next summer.

A couple other pictures from the trip.

[reinhard1]

Thanks for the nice pictures and your story. what a wonderfull place to be. good luck.

[MN BassFisher]

Living my whole life in MN and being an outdoorsman, I'm pretty embarrassed to admit I've never made it up to the BWCA. I really need to go...

[Powerstroke]

THanks for the recap. I have been in the Bald Eagle area a couple times and that lake can get real interesting in a hurry. Way to play it safe.

THanks for the pics. This is my first year in the last 15 that I haven't been to the BWCA and I am seriously having withdrawls. It looks beautiful.

[ted4887]

You aren't kidding about that Powerstroke.

The one good thing about all the wind was that it kept the hordes of mosquitoes off us us for the most part. I think only half of my body got eaten alive, instead of my entire body being one big mosquito bite. Those portages were brutal. My hands look like I have a case of the chicken pox! Any bare skin was fair game apparently.

BassFisher - If you ever have a few days off, I would highly recommend it. Just day tripping into some of those untouched lakes is just great. It's one of the more beautiful places I've ever been to. It was really nice to go 3 days without seeing a single person. Surely it would beat those busy metro area lakes.

[nofishfisherman]

Looks like a good trip. I'm heading north this afternoon and putting in at entry point 49 (Skipper/Portage Lake) tomorrow morning.

I had been to the BWCA years ago but just started making regular trips again recently. Last year was the first year my wife and I went on a trip by ourselves and its becoming a yearly thing now.

One thing we look for when planning our trips is a long portage early in the trip. Almost everyone shys away from long portages so on the other side you usually find a lot less people. This year our first portage is right around a mile long and last year we did one that was just over a mile. Its a good hike for sure while carrying a canoe and a pack but the extra work has always been worth it for us.

[grasshopper]

Nice trip. I love going up there. Last 3 trips, went by myself. My get away.

[Slabasaurus]

Nice lookin trip.

I like this pic a lot.

[Stick in Mud]

Great reports and great photos!