Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

Boundary Waters

cyflier

cyflier

Active Member
Apr 13, 2006
754
104
43
Anyone ever been? I'm going next weekend and was wondering if anyone had any tips on what to take and what to leave at home since we will be portaging in. We are going in on Moose Lake and working our way up to Ensign Lake. I was told smallmouth is the to easiest catch, but hopefully the walleye are biting.
 
Last edited:
Love conoeing around the boundary waters.
What are you looking to fish for most of the time? (that is if you're going there to fish)
 
Did the Boundary Waters last summer. We entered in from Seagull Lake I believe. Hopefully you will not start at the Seagull Outfitter, otherwise it is quite the canoe trip/portage hike to unburned forest.

Don't bring more food than you need... but it is hard to tell because the fishing is so terrible up there anymore that you may want to make sure you have enough food in case you aren't bringing in any fish. The 10hp motorboat lakes are terrible for fishing because locals come in early in the morning hit all the spots and leave you with nothing! Also, if you can survive without hand/dish soap, then leave it at home. The soap is hurting the ecosystem, at least that is what I am told. Finally, I'd say bring minimal clothing... if you have 1 or 2 ExOfficio shirts/pants, that should do it! They are plenty durable and can dry very quickly.

Other than that, I have nothing more to say! Good Luck! (I'm very jealous)
 
From what I've had described to me regarding a boundary waters trip, your in for hell.
 
dualthreat said:
From what I've had described to me regarding a boundary waters trip, your in for hell.
Click to expand...

Some people just aren't ready for the rugged outdoors... there is work involved, definitely! But it is well worth it in the end. Beautiful country!
 
Yes, bring a lot of bug spray. The kind that is 100% DEET.
1b07be70-8f35-406f-9033-c0b1f1c7afe0.jpg

I also took a head net for when it got really bad. That came in handy quite a bit in the evening.
 
Was there many years ago as a kid. The first year it rained 8 out of 10 days and the first day it took us three hours to boil some water. Next year we took a Coleman stove. :smile:
 
Been 5 times in the last 6 years(went to the Missouri above Peck dam 1 year in the middle). Just got back from there on the 18th, absolutely love the iy, both Gunflint and Ely area.
Bring:
-100% deet, bugs are relatively bad year and we were bothered by biting flies at our final camp, regular bug spray didn't seem to be as effective as 100% deet
-Quick dry clothes but not too many, I typically go with 2 sets of clothes 1 that I wear in and a dry pair in case I get wet + a fleece if its cold(was blazing hot when we were up this year so I didn't even pack the fleece).
- I know many will advise hiking shoes or boots for portages, personally I find a sturdy pair of sandals(Keens being my choice) more than sufficient unless you are really do a lot of long portaging.
-A good book
-Really think over the food pack and what you need and don't need, our first year we packed way too much.
Speaking of food we've found our fairly efficient lunch solution to be tortilla pbj + summer sausage(since it doesn't need refrigeration until after opening). Its fair space efficent and has the bonus of not needing to boil water.
- If you have the option/money Kevlar or to a lesser extent Duralite canoes are nice vs Aluminum, you definitely notice the weight difference on the longer portages.

Out of curiosity what lake are you going in on and taking out at?
 
Last edited:
On a related topic, have any of you done the Tuscarora portage? We entered at Round Lake when we went and I got to experience it on my first ever trip up there.
 
crash_zone said:
Really? I've been there twice and loved it both times. Yes, it involves a lot of physical labor, but still amazing and a great time with friends/family.
Click to expand...
I was there about 1995 with my son on a church youth trip. At the time I said it was not much fun. But my memories of it are great. Lots of mosquitoes (bugs - not sure of spelling), lots of work during portages but still it was a great week. I look back at it with lots of fond memories.
 
bosco said:
Was up there in late June in the Sawbill area. Bring your bug spray.
Click to expand...

Been through Lake Sawbill outfitters twice, love it. Went up the chain of lakes and got away from everybody and absolutely killed the smallies, walleyes, and the northerns. Had one hard day of paddling and portaging and found a lake where nobody else was on, and spent 5 days there. We took the bare minimum as far as clothes and food, the food was provided through our outfitter, all we had was a canoe and a tent for the 6 days we were there. Can't wait to go back.
 
cyflier said:
Anyone ever been? I'm going next weekend and was wondering if anyone had any tips on what to take and what to leave at home since we will be portaging in. We are going in on Moose Lake and working our way up to Ensign Lake. I was told smallmouth is the to easiest catch, but hopefully the walleye are biting.
Click to expand...

I've been through those lakes before... don't remember much of them specifically but I know we caught a Northern on Moose Lake. Smallmouth are easier to catch than the walleye, they will be pretty deep this time of year, we had the most success for them vertical jigging from the canoe. Seemed to do our best when we went futher north up into the Canadian part.
 
I've done the same route you are doing. We base camped on Ensign near the portage to Vera. Walleye were great but it was earlier in the year. Did day trips from our base camp, and only fished in the mornings and evenings. Bring 2-3 pairs of pants. Lightweight cargos are the best. I alway avoid jeans when camping. 3-4 lightweight tops, and one mid weight top. Ditto on what the others say about bug spray. Make sure your shoes are broken in. 1 pair of socks for each day, plus 2 backup pairs. Invest in a good and efficient water purifier/pump so you don't have to boil water, and some collapsible water bags so you can pump water for the day in the morning when its cooler.

A good hat, sunglasses, a book and/or journal, and a camera. A head net isn't a bad idea either.
 
They're kind of hard to find these days, but I recommend buying some of those pants that zip off into shorts. That gives you double the options with half the space. If you're not having your food provided, don't pack too much and pack wisely. If you're food comes in boxes, take the food out, cut the instructions out and put it in a baggie. I put everything I need for food that day in one baggie, that makes it easy to dig through the food pack. I would take up some powdered crystal light or kool aid to put into your neutralized water to make it taste better (it doesn't really taste bad). It's really great up there, one of my favorite places to go.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I am really looking forward to the trip. Hopefully the weather is nice and the fish are biting.
 
cyflier said:
Thanks for all the advice. I am really looking forward to the trip. Hopefully the weather is nice and the fish are biting.
Click to expand...

If you get far enough north, you can just drink water out of some of the deeper lakes, its safe and tastes way better than if you use purification tablets. Just paddle out to the middle, cover your bottle, reach your arm underwater, and let it fill up. We basecamped at Lake Agnes last time I was up there and we just draink straight from the lake. Good fishing there too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom
Back