Does anyone have any ideas for creating your own marker buoys or ever used any up in the BWCA? I'm not sold on the idea yet, but a couple group members are pushing for them. We're heading out in a week from Mudro.

I've thought of possibly cutting up a couple sections of those "floating noodles" that kids use at the swimming pool and then attaching string and a sinker (or some weight) to the end.

They can be useful but that's one item you can certainly do without. If you're near shore it's just as easy to use landmarks and if you're in open water you can triangulate your position.

If your guys insist, you can use light weight foam with light nylon cord attached to a small nylon mesh bag that can be filled & emptied with rocks.

Better yet a four lb. window weight and a large channel marker bouy with 100' of ski rope. Tell 'em if they want to use it then they'll have to carry it.

That would certainly work. Just wrap string on outside and let go. The problem would be not having extra string unwind. The "made for that" ones you buy in the store don't do that. But all you would have to do is find bottom and tie off string. I have a "made for that" one and it comes in very handy. They are very useful on a big lake where you are working an open water reef area. Find the spot, mark it, back off, drift or anchor. Then you always have the reference point. Sometimes very hard to keep track of where you are in windy or wavy conditions without it. Also you can see how you are drifting by having it in the water. Then you can change your drift the next pass if you want. Obviously you don't use that often, but it is useful piece of equipment IMO. Also depends what kind of trip you are going on. Serious fishing, or hit and move fishing.

Use the foam but don't tie it off. Just cut slit in foam and wedge string in slit once right depth is marked.

Big sinker, a bobber, and some extra fishing line. Probably not advised to do it in the BWCA as it is certainly leaving a trace - even if you do remove it at the end of the trip. Other fishermen may stake out your spot if they see it marked on a busier lake.

ahhhh...million dollar idea. seagull decoy buoy! Jan

The heavier balloons used for helium work well. Tie them with light line on a short stick and rock. Just pop them when your done and carry out.

The standard type markers are not that heavy, except for the weight. I'm thinking if you removed the standard lead weight and rig up some kind of small mesh bag that could hold a rock or two, you would be all set.
I've never brought a marker, but there were a few times I wished I had one.

I thought that it was illegal for marker bouys in the BWCAW. I for one would not want the wilderness spoiled by seeing them. Use a GPS or do a compass resection to find your spot. If that fails, paint an "X" on the side of your canoe. (no malice intended.)

I don't think rowshow was talking about permanent buoys. I think he meant the kind that you use to mark a hot spot on a reef or point. When you're done fishing that spot, you pull the marker in and move on. I can't see how that would spoil anyone's wilderness adventure, anymore than seeing someone else's tent across the lake.

Thanks for all of the input and ideas fellas, it's appreciated. Billsta is correct, if used, they wouldn't be in the water for more than a couple of hours max.

We'll be in the water on the 15th. Looks like we might run into some showers while we're up there according to the forecast...

One word. well, one acronym. 3 words.

GPS.

9 actual words. contoured(1) foam(2) block(3)....dacron(4) line(5)....bell(6) sinker(7)....no(8) batteries(9). :) kanoes, jan, whatever