There are ways to improve your odds for catching fish on a Boundary Waters canoe camping trip. I'll share with you five sure fire ways to experience success on your BWCA canoe trip.
Make sure the Boundary Waters lake you are fishing in has the type of fish in it you are trying to catch. There's no bigger waste of time than jigging for walleye when you're on a lake that doesn't contain walleye. The MN DNR has a listing of most of the lakes in the BWCA and what type of fish are in them. Make sure you're using the right technique to catch fish on the right lake.
When you're on a Boundary Waters fishing trip make sure you bring along a good variety of lures and plenty of them. There's nothing more depressing than losing the hot lure and not having a replacement one in your tackle box. You'll no doubt lose a lure or two by getting them snagged on logs or rocks so bring along plenty of them so you don't find yourself without the one lure that was working the best.
Before you head into the wilderness waters of the BWCA make sure you have good line on your reel. Replace old fishing line with new 8-10 pound test and plenty of it. Remember you'll get snags and tangles and you want to have enough line even if you have to cut it a couple of times.
Go through the hassle of bringing along live bait. Chances are you'll be able to catch plenty of fish in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness without live bait but why take the chance? You can increase your chance of catching fish by having a good variety of bait for the fish to choose from.
Lastly, spend plenty of time fishing while you're on your Boundary Waters canoe trip. If you're constantly paddling from campsite to campsite then you won't have as much time to fish. You'll lower your odds for catching fish if you don't spend enough time fishing. Plan to set up a base camp and spend the majority of your time with your line in the water.
Consider these five BWCA fishing tips when you're planning your next Boundary Waters Canoe camping trip. You'll improve your odds of catching fish and of enjoying a fresh meal of fish while on your Boundary Waters fishing trip.
Have you ever spent 77 consecutive days in a canoe? A few friends and I spent our summer between the mesh seat and the portage pads of a couple of Wenonah Champlains. Wenonah makes awesome canoes and the Champlain was nothing but impressive. It's the perfect canoe for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the perfect canoe for any trip! It is obvious that Wenonah got it right when they designed this boat. It has plenty of room for packs, gear, fishing tackle, and even a duffer (or two). The canoe tracked like a dream across the big water of Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg. In the white water on the Hayes and God's Rivers in Northern Manitoba it did exceptionally well! Even though the canoe measures at about 18 feet, it paddles like a 16 footer in the rapids. Easy to maneuver around obstacles and keep pointed down river. Voyageur Canoe Outfitters outfits their BWCA canoe camping trips with Minnesota Made Wenonah canoes. You can test out the Champlain on your next Boundary Waters or Quetico Park adventure with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
Name: Andrew Spaeth City: Truckee State: California Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
We set up base camp on Gneiss Lake in Minnesota's Boundary Waters and went portaging up the Granite river to go fising for the day. It was overcast and no wind - great for BWCA fishing or paddling. We were catching lots of Smallmouth all along the way and stopped for lunch a few rapids up on shore. I cast my top water popper out from the bank and boom, got a hit, set the hook only to find the lure and leader gone from my line. That was a bummer - Northern must have bit above the leader and cut the line. We went up another rapids and continued to have a blast catching fish. A few hours later as the sun was setting, we decided to turn back towards camp and shoot every rapids. Two rapids down we were enjoying the beautiful scene when my canoe partner points out something in the water...it was the top water popper I had stolen by a fish 5 hours earlier floating in the middle of the glassy lake two rapids down stream. UNBELIEVABLE! I snatched it up and rigged it up and caught many more fish. I also hooked myself in the arm with it the next day flinging it from a tree. You could say I developed quite the relationship with that lure on this Boundary Waters trip. Stuff like that just doesn't happen anywhere. Chad and the Voyageur Canoe Outfitters were great to us. I hope to be back to the BWCA next year.
Name: Chris City: Peoria State: IL Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
The Voyageur Crew paddled over 20 miles today on Lake Winnipeg. Their weather was nicer than ours today with temperatures in the high 60's. The water temperature up there in the narrows is in the high 60's and there were just small 1.3 foot waves to contend with. Our temperatures in the BWCA hovered around the mid 50's and it rained on and off almost all day long. It appears to be smooth sailing so far for the Voyageur Crew on Lake Winnipeg. I bet it's awesome paddling someplace new never knowing what's around the next bend. Here's a little information about one of the historical sites along the way it's the Wanipigow River that leads to Wanipigow Lake.
Wanipigow is a Cree word meaning "hollow water" or, more literally, "hole in the water." Legend states that in the past, a river flowing west from the country of many hills to the great lake ran into a hole and disappeared. The Wanipigow Lake Archaeological Site contains a wealth of information about past Aboriginal lifeways, making it one of the most significant sites in Manitoba.
The earliest habitation began approximately 6,000 years ago. More intensive use of the site occurred about 2,000 years ago by an Aboriginal people known as Laurel, after their distinctive pottery, which was the earliest in Manitoba. The presence of Laurel people represents a shift from a reliance on grassland to forest and aquatic resources such as fish, small mammals, waterfowl and wild rice. The first solid evidence of intensive harvesting of wild rice and goosefoot in Manitoba was found at the Wanipigow Site.
The most intensive and continuous utilization of the site occurred between 1,200 and 300 years ago. Distinctive types of pottery known as Blackduck, Selkirk and Sandy Lake were recovered in large quantities. These were made by different groups of Aboriginal people who occupied much of current day Manitoba between 700 and 1640 A.D.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has been in the news lately. They say, "Bad news is better than no news." but they also say, "No news is good news." I don't understand or agree with either of these statements but the BWCA is in the news.
Last Thursday night around 7pm a son left a campsite where he, his brother and his father were camping. He paddled away from camp to go fishing for awhile but he never returned. He wasn't wearing a life vest and maybe if he had he'd still be alive today. We'll never know because since Thursday his body has sat at the bottom of Swan Lake in over 80 feet of water. Recovery efforts have not been successful due to the location and weather. I imagine they will be able to retrieve his body or it will eventually float to the surface. But the life in his body is gone and no amount of time or effort to retrieve his body will bring it back. Tonight it will be a full week since he sunk to the bottom of the wilderness lake. Even if the life jacket wouldn't have saved his life it would have made recovering his body alot easier and it would have made things a little less painful for his family and loved ones. Please wear your life vest, it only works if you wear it.
On Monday a small fire on Gaskin Lake was reported by a group camping in the Boundary Waters. It's a small fire on a peninsula that isn't expected to grow in size and the USFS is keeping an eye on it. Similar to the small, cigar shaped fire back in 2007 that was expected to burn out into the wilderness never to be seen again. Only Mother Nature had other ideas and that was the start of the Ham Lake Fire. Structures were burned to the ground and people's homes and lives were disrupted and changed forever.
One person was responsible for the Ham Lake Fire. An individual who was careless with his campfire. Something many of us have been at one time or another. Maybe we've thrown paper on a fire, left the fire from breakfast smoldering while going out fishing during the daytime or not made sure the coals were cool. Then "Poof" that's the time a major wildfire starts and we're responsible. It could happen to any of us and maybe the Gaskin Lake Fire was from a lightning strike, then again, maybe not. Being responsible for a wildfire is a huge burden to bear and the person who started the Ham Lake Fire couldn't handle it and took his life. Be careful with fire folks.
I don't want to read about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the news unless it's a report of a great canoe camping trip. I don't want to read about you in the newspaper unless it's because of some great achievement. The BWCA is a great place let's keep things positive by using caution with fire and always wearing your life vest.
The Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew are a group of over achievers. It shouldn't be suprising that they have already paddled to Lac La Croix when their itinerary doesn't have them there until the 5th of June.
The paddling crew has planned for days they won't be able to paddle due to weather. It's the wind in their face that is causing them the most trouble this canoe trip so far. Today the winds are steady in the high teens with gusts up to 30 miles per hour out of the West and WNW. That's the direction the Voyageur Crew is attempting to paddle and Lac La Croix is a large body of water that must have huge waves rolling today.
Lac La Croix makes Saganaga look small and it's 8500 acres larger than Basswood in the BWCA. It stretches 28 miles along the Minnesota/Ontario border and covers 34,070 acres and it's the largest of the Boundary Waters Lakes.
Saganaga is a large BWCA lake and today our tow boat drivers saw what she can do in the wind. It isn't a pretty sight unless you like waves coming over the sides of your boat or canoe. The wind pushes water one way, the waves move another and islands divert the waves in yet another direction. It's better to sit and wait for the waves to calm down rather than try to canoe a wilderness lake on a windy day.
More about Lac La Croix courtesy of the First Nation Website.
Our Community:
Lac La Croix which translated means “The Lake of the Cross” in the french language originated from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. However, to the Ojibway people, it is traditionally known as Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan meaning “Lake of the Pines”. Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan “Lake of the Pines”, is made in reference to the pines that surround the lake and are believed to provide protection to the community. To the Anishinabe people, the pine plays a significant role in the overall cultural practices, especially during times of harvesting fish and game for spring and fall feasts. This traditional process also includes honoring the spirits and the spiritual connection of Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan with expressions of gratitude and respect for the protection they provide. Historically, the forests were once dense with a limitless amount of pine and the respected elders of the community considered the lake and it’s natural environment as sacred to their people. The Anishinabe people of Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan continue to be guided by the inherent cultural practices and values passed on through many generations. To this day, they continue to maintain a spiritual connection and belief in the preservation of the natural environment. Lac La Croix First Nation is an Anishinabe community with a membership of 400+ people with approximately 300 persons residing in the community. it is located in Northwestern Ontario, approximately 95 km east of Fort Frances. Access to the community is by Flanders Road, an 80 km long all-weather road accessed by Highway 11, approximately 40 km west of Atikokan. The community is affiliated with Grand Council Treaty # 3 within Treaty # 3 territory.
If a man's best friend is his dog then he's in trouble no matter where he goes! But seriously dogs and family pets are very important members of the family and some people would rather stay home than go somewhere without their pet. While I love my dog I do leave him home sometimes but he usually comes along when I go on a canoe camping trip in the Boundary Waters. My dog has grown up at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters in the wilderness where loons call, moose mosy and fish splash next to the canoe. Even with all of his canoe time he is still an animal and an unpredictable one at that. Last year I was paddling a canoe in the BWCA with my nieces and Rugby decided to take a leap for Josh who was in a kayak next to us. Rugby had never jumped from a canoe before and we have no clue what possessed him to do it that day but he did. We struggled in the wind and the waves to scoop him back into the canoe and thankfully we didn't tip in the process. Things could have turned out differently had we capsized the canoe or kayak in the Boundary Waters. I was responsible for my two nieces, my daughter, my son and my dog. The water and air temperature were warm and we were close to shore however I risked the safety of my people family to save my dog. Every time I hike a BWCA portage or let my dog off the leash at a wilderness campsite I risk losing him. If he gets on the trail of a moose, deer or grouse he could easily become hurt, lost or worse. It's very sad to see a sign at a BWCA canoe landing that announces a lost dog. It could happen very easily and I worry about his well-being and how I would feel if something happened to him.
With all decisions you must weigh the risks versus the benefits. Is having your pet along worth risking his safety or a fellow paddler's safety? That's for you to decide.
Consider the following when deciding whether or not to bring your dog into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Taking responsibility for your dog is a necessity if you want to bring it into the BWCA wilderness with you. You must protect other visitors, wildlife, the wilderness and the dog itself. The owner must be responsible for picking up after their pet, keeping the dog quiet, making sure the dog doesn’t harass wildlife or defecate at campsites, dig up lichen or get into someone’s packs at a portage. The dog may always stay at your side while walking in a park but on a wilderness portage it may not act the same when it is unfamiliar with its surroundings. Even if the dog is leashed it can escape with the leash on and become tangled in brush, injured or worse yet, it can become lost in the wild never to be seen again.
How do you choose your BWCA entry point if you've never been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area before? How do you plan your BWCA entry point if you have been to the BWCA before? Do you take a stick pin and spin yourself blindfolded and stick the pin into the map and wherever it lands you go?
It can be a difficult decision to determine where you want to enter the Boundary Waters. There are entry points throughout the wilderness from as far west as Crane Lake to as far East as the Arrowhead Trail. You can even enter the BWCA from the Sawbill Trail or near Isabella, Minnesota. There are so many different entry points it's hard to know just where to begin.
Even though we are BWCA outfitters at the end of the Gunflint Trail we have paddled all over the canoe country wilderness entering through Crane, Brule, Moose and many other Boundary Waters entry points. While each area is beautiful we are obviously partial to the entry points on the Gunflint Trail.
We have deeper lakes, higher cliffs and of course we can outfit you if you choose to enter on the Gunflint Trail. That alone should help you narrow it down to the Gunflint Trail. Once you've determined that you can think about the type of trip you want to take and how much you want to paddle, portage and fish.
If you're fishing for a particular species then you can narrow the options down even further because not every lake has every species of fish. If you don't want to have to portage at all then you can eliminate quite a few of the BWCA entry points. If you want to hike on a hiking trail while out canoe camping then your options are really limited. How can you find all of this out without spending days reading guide books?
Voyageur has a great trip route finder that will help you pick an entry point into the BWCA. You can enter criteria into the program and it will provide you with trip route options as well as maps. After you narrow it down that way then give us a call or drop us an email so we can talk about your routes. We've paddled the routes and can help you find one that may be more suitable than had you played pin the pin on the BWCA map.
This blog entry was written by Adam Maxwell and edited by me. He and three other young men are paddling from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay this summer.
The most feared experience among people paddling the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is the fear of capsizing. There aren't polar bears, grizzly bears, poisonous snakes or other deadly creatures to worry about in the BWCA but capsizing in the canoe country is a real risk, especially to those who paddle early in the spring or late in the fall.
I experienced the fear of capsizing in the Boundary Waters in early May of 2009 while working at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. I started my canoe camping trip the day before fishing opener for an early season, 8- day solo wilderness canoe trip. When I left American point there were still a few ice chunks floating on Saganaga Lake and plenty of snow hidden by the shade of the trees. After months of winter this trip was just what I needed. The solitude of the woods and the lake trout crusing the shallow water were calling my name.
On the fifth day of my Boundary Waters trip things took a turn for the worst. Just after leaving my BWCA campsite on Ogish I made the mistake of looking at my Boundary Waters map instead of the waves that were hitting my canoe. A gust of wind kicked up and the freezing cold water hit me like a brick. I was completely submerged in the water and at least 100 feet from shore. I could hear the last words Mike had said to me before I left, "Be careful, if you tip in this cold water you have about three minutes to get out of the lake."
I realized I needed to leave my canoe and main pack to swim toward shore with the little dry bag I had strapped to the thwart of my canoe. The bag contained a few items of clothing and some matches. When I made it to shore I was completely exhausted and with my first step onto land I stumbled and hit the ground. Struck with fear I retreated to the woods to escape the wind and put on what little dry clothing I had.
About an hour later I saw a group of canoeists, the first I had seen in three days. I yelled to them and in no time they had retrieved both my canoe and my pack. I knew I would make it through my worst moment in the BWCA.
Looking back I’m glad I experienced what I did. Nothing helps a person become a better paddler faster than a life threatening experience. The realization that a great day can turn deadly in a heartbeat has forced me to think through my actions better. It was a lesson that I had to learn the hard way, but a lesson I will never forget. Adam Maxwell
This lesson will help the Hudson Bay Expedition Crew as they make their way from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay this summer.
What makes an already fun place like the Gunflint Trail even more fun in the winter? Fresh snow! We were blessed with a few inches of the white stuff overnight and it looks like a winter wonderland on the Gunflint Trail once again.
I'm hoping to take advantage of the new snow conditions and venture into the Boundary Waters for a day. The portages should be much easier to travel after last week's warmer temperatures. The wilderness lakes should be less covered in snow and slush and that should make for some faster traveling by snowshoe or cross-country skis.
There are fish to be caught in the BWCA. Our guests who have been out have reported lots of success with the lake trout. Fourteen fish in one day sounds like a great day of Boundary Waters fishing to me.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has gotten a bad rap for its bugs. I personally don't think the bugs are bad in the BWCA. I think there are plenty of mosquitoes, gnats and other nasty insects in abundance elsewhere but people just don't notice them because they don't spend any time outside. Our bugs in the Boundary Waters don't normally carry diseases, lethal bites or deadly stings, they just have a tendency to "bug" people who are outside 24-7 on a canoe camping trip.
If you're looking to avoid bugs in the Boundary Waters altogether then I like to suggest visiting us from November to April. These six months you'll rarely see a bug. Of course you won't be able to paddle the canoe country during these months either.
The next best time to avoid bugs in the canoe country is as soon as the ice goes off of the lakes. The ice usually leaves the lakes of the Boundary Waters during the last week of April or first week of May depending upon the size of the lake and the thickness of its ice. This isn't a guaranteed bug free time in the BWCA but there should be a an open window for bug free paddling especially if you're trying to avoid mosquitoes.
There are over 50 species of mosquitoes in Minnesota and just a little over half of them bite. Not all of them bite humans and each have their own unique life cycle. Some species need specific conditions such as length of daylight or water temperature and these conditions usually can't be met immediately after ice out.
The first mosquitoes to arrive in the BWCA are usually the big, slow ones that don't bite. It usually isn't until the end of May when the biting mosquitoes arrive in numbers. Mosquitoes continue to hatch throughout the summer until we get a good frost but the numbers dwindle quickly and considerably by the end of June. Each month after there are fewer and fewer mosquitoes in the BWCA to contend with and with a little common sense and preparation you'll barely be bugged by them.
Although mosquitoes fly about during the day they most actively feed at dusk. If you can be in your tent before that then you can listen in comfort to their buzz as they descend to the forest floor. If you do happen to be outside then you'll want to protect yourself with clothing, a headnet and some type of mosquito repellent. If you are outside then they will find you because they detect their meal of blood by the carbon dioxide we exhale and the heat we give off. Unless you are better than I am at not breathing and altering my body temperature they are going to find you in a hurry.
Compared to the mosquito the other bugs of the BWCA don't receive much attention. Some folks are worried about the biting flies and I'm never even sure what they mean because I am rarely bitten by a fly. The first biting flies on the scene are what I usually call gnats because they are so small. They sometimes arrive earlier than the mosquitoes because they lay their eggs in moving water that thaws before calm water ice. They peak in the early part of June and since they only produce one generation a year they are almost obsolete after that. A sheet of bounce in a cap, wearing light colored clothing and only going outside at night will keep you safe from these daytime swarming insects.
There are so few biting flies in the BWCA that are out for such a short time most people don't even know about them in spite of their existence. Size and speed at which they fly help distinguish a Horse Fly from a Deer Fly. I can always tell when a Horse fly is attacking my paddling partner in the Boundary Waters. Since they like water, legs and wet skin I'll feel the canoe shift abruptly from movement before I hear the sound of a hand slapping skin. Horse flies fly faster than Deer flies and normally escape the palm of my partner's hand.
Deer flies are more annoying than anything as they buzz around and around your head until you grab them from the air. I can usually pluck them out of the sky, throw them to the ground and stomp on them before they have time to react. Both the Horse and Deer flies appear around July, only produce one generation and are only out during the daytime.
The stable fly is a biter that produces more than one generation and both the male and female bite so they are more abundant than the other types of flies. They too are more of an annoyance(just ask Rugby) and we refer to these flies as ankle biters because that's where they tend to get you when you're trying to set up your tent. As with all bugs they tend to prefer some people over others and luckily for me they don't like me as much as the rest of my family.
The last Boundary Waters bug of any concern is what we call "Jaws." The real name is the No See Um and when I first saw this in print on a product that had "no see um netting" I thought it was a joke but they really do exist. If you've ever been bitten by one then you won't deny their existence because for such a little insect it packs a good sized hurt. It maybe isn't so much of a hurt as it is a shock that you are feeling pain yet you can't see anything. They are so tiny they are difficult to see and the slightest breeze will carry them away so most people don't get to experience them. They are usually around for parts of June and July and only come out on calm nights.
There you have it, the best time for bugs in the Boundary Waters. By the end of July the bugs are barely an issue in the BWCA and in August and September you probably won't know there are any at all. So if you're wondering when a good time to visit the Boundary Waters is when there aren't any bugs now you know. But if you ask me when the fishing is good then that's a different story altogether.
It's that time of year when people are starting their canoe trip planning. The phone is ringing with questions about Boundary Waters permits and people wanting to buy Boundary Waters maps. Maybe the snow and cold weather are keeping people inside and they can't help but think of warmer days ahead. We don't care why they are calling, we're just happy they are.
One question we get asked when people are doing their canoe trip planning is, "When is the best time to come to the BWCA?" This is a good question and thankfully if they are wanting to come canoeing we can eliminate half of the months when the lakes are frozen.
The paddling season in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness generally begins the first week in May and extends into October. The temperatures vary considerably as do the water levels, fishing and bugs. These things are closely related to when the ice goes off and what sort of weather we've been experiencing.
It would be nice to say, "The ice goes off the lakes on May 2nd, the lake trout start biting on the 15th, the walleye bite begins on the 22nd, the mosquitos arrive on the 25th, the black flies begin on June 4th, the smallmouth bass start hitting on June 10th and so on and so forth. Unfortunately that isn't how it works and we must say things like, "Our ice on Saganaga usually goes off the first week of May, but one time we still had ice on the fishing opener and another time we were able to use a boat during ice fishing season."
Canoe trip planning involves alot of things. If you have questions you can feel free to call or email us. Check out our list offrequently asked questions and with a little luck and a little help from us, you'll plan the perfect canoe trip.
It's quite wonderful to live at the end of the Gunflint Trail surrounded by the canoe country wilderness. I can leave my house on snowshoes and be in the Boundary Waters in a twenty minute trek. Our property across the river at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters leads right up to the BWCA. I could go snowshoeing or cross country skiing in the Boundary Waters any day I want. It's right there, outside my door waiting for me to come explore. The Boundary Waters is right outside in the summertime too. A short ten minute paddle and I could be at a BWCAW campsite on Saganaga Lake or Seagull Lake. How awesome is it to be this close to the wilderness? Pretty awesome except for the fact I have a hard time working when the wilderness is constantly calling for me. There are lots of lakes to explore, trails to hike and fish to be caught in my backyard where the Boundary Waters wait.
It always amazes me how people can catch fish through a hole in the ice. Ice fishing in the Boundary Waters requires a little more work than fishing from a canoe in the BWCA during the summertime. It also requires patience and a little luck to get a fish to pass beneath your hole and get interested enough in your bait to bite it. Snowmobiles and power augers are not allowed in the canoe country of the BWCAW. This means you need to snowshoe or cross-country ski into your wilderness lake destination. Once you're there you still need to figure out where on the vast BWCA lake you'll drill your hole. It isn't like trolling the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the summer because it takes a considerable amount of time and effort to drill a hole through the foot or more of ice to get to the water. Once you finish drilling a hole drilling another one doesn't sound like much fun. You hope you've found a spot where the fish will bite and your effort will produce results. Boundary Waters fishing in the winter isn't necessarily all about the catch. But then again, it rarely is. It's about the wilderness experience, the solitude, fresh air and maybe just a little bit about the possibility of action on the line.
With all of the snow on the ground and the sticky snow coming down it's a perfect time to create a zoo filled with snow animals. Why make the traditional snowman when you could make so much more? There are plenty of snow creatures to be made for a zoo on the Gunflint Trail. I'm going to do my best to convince my kids to start working on the Boundary Waters area of the zoo first. They can make moose, otters, wolves, fish, beaver, deer, eagles and other animals often seen in the BWCA. To make the animals functional I'm going to request they use bird seed and other edible items on their snow creatures so the birds and Mr. Fox have a reason to visit the zoo. Maybe the Gunflint Trail Zoo at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters will become so filled with animals people will visit from all over the world. Now if I could just convince Abby and her friend to get out of bed they can start creating the critters of the BWCA.
It happened almost overnight. One day I was outside walking in the woods with leaves crunching beneath my feet in a t-shirt and shorts and the next day there were five inches of snow on the ground. Things can happen like that on the Gunflint Trail because it's a magical place. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area lakes are quickly becoming solid with the recent cold temperatures. Smaller lakes and the bays on the big wilderness lakes are making ice with the below freezing temperatures this past week. Gone are the days for paddling while we wait for enough ice for skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dog sledding and ice fishing. If you have never visited the Gunflint Trail or the BWCA in the winter then you must make plans to do so now. We have our lodge unit available for Thanksgiving and most of the winter so you can stay at Voyageur. We'd love for you to see it, it truly is a magical place.
I must confess, I am in love with the BWCA. I'm filled with happiness when I'm canoeing or camping in the Boundary Waters and I miss it desperately when I'm not. It refreshes me and cleanses my soul giving me a more optimistic view on life. This can only be described as love. I was able to take a solo canoe trip into the Boundary Waters over the weekend and what a weekend it was. Who would have thought a weekend in October in the BWCAW could be so wonderful? The temperatures were perfect for wilderness camping with daytime highs up into the 70's. Sunshine filled the daytime sky and the wind was practically non-existent. None of bugs of the Boundary Waters were out and with just a few other folks out paddling the canoe country it was beyond peaceful. One of my favorite things about camping in the Boundary Waters is looking at the night sky. The night sky was filled with twinkling stars and their reflection could be seen on the calm surface of the wilderness lake. You feel as if you're floating in space amongst the stars as you gaze up into the sky from your Boundary Waters campsite. Fishing in the BWCA was as fun as ever but unfortunately the catching wasn't so good. I didn't put too much time into trolling as I wasn't planning to eat or keep any fish anyway. Good thing since I didn't get a bite. I did miss swimming in the refreshing lakes of the Boundary Waters especially after my long portage. I waded in to cool off but it didn't take me long to head back to shore and out of the frigid water. I really like to swim in the wilderness lakes but I'll have to wait until next summer until I can do that again.
Oh yes, I love the Boundary Waters and can't wait to spend time there once again.
Now that October is here a Boundary Waters permit reservation is no longer needed. Self-issue BWCA permits are available to fill out at the BWCA entry points but no reservation or payment is needed. That's just one of the great things about paddling the Boundary Waters in October. One look at this week's forecast for the BWCA had me jumping for joy and trying to juggle my schedule so I can get out on another Boundary Waters canoe trip. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 60's and sunny skies. Sounds perfect for canoe camping in the wilderness. I love to sit at a BWCA campsite and enjoy the fall scenery and smells that surround me. We had canoe groups out paddling the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park this past weekend. They enjoyed the sunshine, solitude and good fishing that October has brought. It's not every week a forecast in October looks this favorable for canoeing the BWCA so you need to take advantage of this rare opportunity. We're still open for business at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and we'd love to see you at the end of the Gunflint Trail. Call us today 1-888-CANOEIT and plan your canoe trip or resort stay, but hurry, this beautiful weather won't last long.
Mike has returned from his short but sweet BWCA camping trip. He left from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on Sunday and returned on Wednesday. He was on the trip with a writer by the name of Jordan Fisher Smith who was a Park Ranger in the Sierra Nevada for a number of years. He wrote a book about his experience called Nature Noir which is now on my "To Read" list. Mike and Jordan had a great time on their Boundary Waters canoe trip.
They entered the Boundary Waters through Saganaga Lake with a tow out to American Point. They paddled west from American Point and stopped at Benny Ambrose's place on Ottertrack and Dorothy Molter's place on Knife Lake before heading south through the small lakes to Ogish. Dorothy and Benny were the last people allowed to live in the Boundary Waters when it became a wilderness area. After Ogish they made their way back to Voyageur exiting the BWCA via Seagull Lake in the rain.
The weather was pretty good for their wilderness canoe trip with just a little bit of rain and wind. It's always nice to have a rainy day in the Boundary Waters because it makes you appreciate the sunshine that much more. The temperatures were steady in the 50's during the daytime and only down into the 40's at night. Perfect temperatures for paddling, portaging and camping in the Boundary Waters and not a bug to be seen.
The water in the lakes of the BWCA are a little too cold for swimming now but are still great for fishing. Smallmouth bass fishing closed in the middle of the month except for along the border waters of the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park. They are still biting as are the lake trout who are preparing to spawn. The northern pike were aggressive and they enjoyed a nice fish dinner around their Boundary Waters campfire.
Lucky Mike got to go paddling in the BWCA and spend three nights in the canoe country heaven. In spite of the cooler temperatures I'm still hoping to get out in the Boundary Waters for a couple of more nights of camping in the wilderness. The colors are gorgeous, the wildlife is abundant and the paddling is good until the water turns solid.
Experience the real wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on Saganaga Lake this October. This vast wilderness lake has more than just beautiful islands and abundant wildlife it is teeming with fish as well.
October is the time to fish these wilderness waters for the trophy you have always wanted to catch. The Minnesota State Record Walleye was caught in Saganaga Lake and no doubt there’s a record breaker out there in the depths of this BWCA Lake. Monster Northern Pike are also swimming in these waters just waiting for your lure to pass by so they can strike it.
Camping in the Boundary Waters in October can be a bit chilly but not when you’re camping in style. A canvas tent protects you from the elements and the wood stove keeps you nice and toasty. Sleeping on cots keeps you off of the cold ground and keeps you comfortable while camping in the BWCA.
The use of a boat and motor in the Boundary Waters is only allowed on a few special lakes. Saganaga Lake is one of the lakes you can use up to a 25hsp motor on. Using a boat and motor will get you to your fishing spots faster and allow you to explore the hidden bays on this beautiful island studded wilderness lake.
If you really want to treat yourself then consider taking a guide along with you on your Boundary Waters Fall Trophy fishing and camping trip. Otherwise let us pack all you need for a wilderness adventure and we’ll send you on your way.
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