Quetico Report June 2009

[John H]

I did a canoe trip in Quetico Provincial Park in June. It is just north of Boundary Waters in Minnesota. We paddled and camped for 10 days. The weather was great. Temps up to 80 and in the 60's at night. The lakes were at a good swimming temperature. We saw very few people and when we did they were usually in the distance on the other side of a large lake. The bugs were not a problem but they were around. I was worried about them going in. I expect they can be bad at times but we were fortunate. We caught lots of smallmouth and pike and one walleye. We spotted some sturgeon in the shallows but they were not on the grab. We spotted a big snapping turtle that I am sure would have been on the grab if we had given him the chance. We had a moose tromping around in camp one night which was a little unnerving. Lots of loons, eagles, vultures and a pileated woodpecker.

It is a great trip if you like that kind of outing. Below are some photos from the trip. I hope you enjoy them.

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We rented a canoe from an outfitter in Atikoken with a big sign. It was about $40 per day. They got our park permits and our fishing licenses for us. They also gave us a briefing on the park rules to keep us out of trouble.

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There were bird nests on some of the islands.

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There were portages. This one was the longest at 3/4 of a mile. The kevlar canoes are expensive but only weigh 45 or 50 pounds.

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A canoe full of gear at the downstream end of a portage.

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There was a lot of granite and big lakes. Good casting off the rocks but the fishing was best out of the front of the boat.

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A typical campsite. The mosquitos came out around 10 and the fire was pretty good for keeping them away. The only time repellant was really needed was on a couple of the portages.

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We had one big rain. A tarp is essential for a day like this.

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Deer hair divers were our best fly for the bass.

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A bass caught at the bottom of a portage.

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A bass with our favorite fly.

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This was the first fish of the trip. No shoes, good times.

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Close up fo same fish. Chartruse clouser.

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Mr. Pike on an olive clouser and a wire leader.

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A nice bass in the evening light.

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A nice bass in the pollen.

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A nice bass in the wind.

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Mr. Pike's jaws.

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I believe this to be a walleye. We had trouble finding them. Going into the trip I thought they would be abundant but we did not figure them out.

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A quality pike at a river mouth.

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A nice bass. Probably a female. They were getting ready to spawn. Some appeared to be fat with eggs.

[Kneedeep]

Looks like a grand time! Enjoyed the report/pics.
Thanks for posting it.

[David Lee]

Great report and fantastic photos !!!!

I always wanted to do Quentico/Boundary waters .....

David

[jbird]

very cool!

[k.hanley]

Nice going John. Canoes are such great craft. Looks like you guys had a classic trip. Quetico & Boundary Waters have been on my wish list for quite some time.
Cheers, Ken

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks John

This is one of my favorite posts.

I want to catch those Smallmouth.

Great photos.....

Did you drive from here up there?

One canoe for two people?

I have heard about that area for years and would love to make that trip.

How difficult are the portages?

[Hairstacker]

Man, what a great trip and report! What we all wouldn't give to be catching smallies like that. Really enjoyed all the great photos.

[lee s.]

John,
GRAND report and photos!
I would not mind doing that myself. May have to toughen up David's butt for that trip and of course we'll need MUCH more practice paddling one of those craft....which we DO intend to work on. ;-)
.....lee s.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I think a new light weight Kevlar canoe would be great for those portages.

[John H]

Bill -

I flew to Bozeman where my brother-in-law lives. From there we drove about 18 hours to Atikoken. Outside of the airfare and the new rod the trip was pretty cheap. It was kind of a '70's trip - a long drive and no guides. Two people to a boat is the way to go. You can get an 18' canoe with three seats but two in a boat is best.

I talked to the editor of the Boundary Waters Journal, Stu Ostoff, before I left. He said Dahlberg Divers cast to the shore out of the front of the boat with the guy in the back paddling was the way to fish the smallmouth. It took us 4 days of fishing other ways to figure out he was right. Very few people fish flies up there.

The portages were more dificult than I was expecting but they were not a big deal. The trails were rocky and wet and the gear bags put some strain on the shoulders. The key is to get you gear worked out so the portage takes two trips per person.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks John

I think that would be a trip of a lifetime for most of us.

When I think of it I think of the word "timeless".

[harryls]

Wow, John thanks for the pics and report. Brought back memories of a mid '60's canoe trip to Quetico that I took with my best bud, his dad and brother. My canoe partner caught a pike larger and longer than his leg and he was over 6ft/+200 lbs. Real exciting and nice to revisit those days. Beautiful shots of smallies! And on flys! Great trip.
Hey, if you want to do another great canoe trip, check out Bowron Provencial Park in British Colombia. Lot's of info on the internet. It's a rectangular chain of lakes and interconnecting rivers 110 miles long. Takes about a week or at least it did for me and a girlfriend back in the mid '70's. Moose, bear, eagles, mountain goats, osprey, beaver among a long list of critters spotted out there. Thanks again for the post.
Harry