Hi all – looking to firm up plans with my son, brother and nephew for what will now be a mid May BWCA trip rather than June. Last year my son and I canoed approx 5 hours to Polly from EP 37, and then camped on Island for three nights. Would like to get to another base camp location in roughly half a day or so this year as we’ll likely only have 3 nights, looking for walleye, bass, northern fishing.

Received some other suggestions, looking for any feedback on any of these ideas or other suggestions, recommended EP’s.

Agnes Lake – fishing on Boulder River, LLC, Oyster Lake

Sawbill up to Cherokee.

Little Indian Sioux to Shell Lake

Mudro into Fourtown

Poplar to Lizz entry, on to Gaskin or Omega?

Brule to Winchell or Omega

Ham Lake to Long Island

Thank you all!

If you do the Agnes trip I hope you'll do a trip report. A friend and I are going in EP 16 planning to camp on Agnes and fish Boulder River too.
We're going in May 31, coming out June 5.

How old are the boys?

quote canoe212: "How old are the boys?"

14 & 20.

Thanks!

I think Agnes would we a good one. Lots of water variety with large and small lakes, stream, swamp, good moose habitat. Agnes is going to warm up earlier than the deep lakes, altho that may not be a problem this year. Great sightseeing opps as well. Many campsites, portages not hard.

quote Kevlar: "I think Agnes would we a good one. Lots of water variety with large and small lakes, stream, swamp, good moose habitat. Agnes is going to warm up earlier than the deep lakes, altho that may not be a problem this year. Great sightseeing opps as well. Many campsites, portages not hard. "

Thanks Kevlar. Couple of questions - what EP do you recommend to get to Agnes? about how long to get there? Also, are there any island or other recommended campsites on Agnes? Thanks again.

Entry Point 16, Moose River North is the one. My son and I made it to Agnes in about 4 hours, with a lunch stop on Nina Moose. We spent the night at camp 1802, on the point up on the North East shore. It was just a one night stop over, but I remember it being pretty nice. I saw a pine marten there in the morning. If you want to go a little further there are some really nice sites on Boulder Bay on LLC.

We went from Long Island and out through Ham Lake in one day. Long Island is a beautiful lake with plenty of islands. We stayed on an Island site on the East end of the lake....it was quite large so there was plenty of room to roam around if you are base camping. We didn't do much fishing, but there are lakers in Long Island lake and mid-May should be good (although I am not sure what date the season actually opens) The travel between there and Ham Lake includes some of the prettiest little lakes around and the portages are like highways. I think it would be a great trip!

I agree with Old Gentleman (I'm probably older). About 4 to 4.5 hours. Good overlook on the stream approaching Nina Moose Lake ...some call it Top of the World. Campsites on the east side of Agnes are generally better...look at Agnes, St. Louis Co., for campers ratings. East side gives you more wind (good or bad) and sunsets, closer to portages to Boulder River for fishing. For moose sitings, go back down the stream very early in the am and very quietly.

quote oldgentleman: "Entry Point 16, Moose River North is the one. My son and I made it to Agnes in about 4 hours, with a lunch stop on Nina Moose. We spent the night at camp 1802, on the point up on the North East shore. It was just a one night stop over, but I remember it being pretty nice. I saw a pine marten there in the morning. If you want to go a little further there are some really nice sites on Boulder Bay on LLC."

Thanks 'Old'! How would you compare the two lakes (Agnes & Boulder Bay) - in terms of serving as base camp, fishing or access to other sites to see?

quote oldgentleman: "Entry Point 16, Moose River North is the one. My son and I made it to Agnes in about 4 hours, with a lunch stop on Nina Moose. We spent the night at camp 1802, on the point up on the North East shore. It was just a one night stop over, but I remember it being pretty nice. I saw a pine marten there in the morning. If you want to go a little further there are some really nice sites on Boulder Bay on LLC."

Just checked and nothing available for EP16 on May 17, limited window for us, so we'll have to consider another route. Other suggestions?

quote onajourney: "We went from Long Island and out through Ham Lake in one day. Long Island is a beautiful lake with plenty of islands. We stayed on an Island site on the East end of the lake....it was quite large so there was plenty of room to roam around if you are base camping. We didn't do much fishing, but there are lakers in Long Island lake and mid-May should be good (although I am not sure what date the season actually opens) The travel between there and Ham Lake includes some of the prettiest little lakes around and the portages are like highways. I think it would be a great trip!"

Thanks for the suggestion. We only have three nights - what EP did you use, how long is the trip to Long Island?

Thanks again!