I'm finally ready to trip! Made my reservation tonight. I've been doing therapy for a number of surgeries: rotator cuff, wrist proximal row carpectomy (3 bones removed), and knees. I've also just begun dealing with fibromyalgia (been using medication and working out using pilates as therapy for this). If any of you have any words of wisdom, I'd love to hear them. I'm doing a 5-day solo on Splash and Ensign - going to fish a bunch, and mostly basecamping in an area I'm very familiar with. I'm using LaTourell's to bunkhouse and might get a tow if the wind's blowing too hard or the wrong way.

Have fun!

It's been a HOT summer, and I'm going to sit back and fish, swim, read, and mostly relax I hope!

Hope you have a memorable trip for all the right reasons!

We'll be coming off the water at Snowbank the 18th. I hope you have an amazing time!

I was in that same area in mid June [during all the rainfall, actually saw the animals gathering two-by- two] but still had a good trip. I guess I would suggest the tow [depending on the wind] if nothing more to than not overwork your shoulder, also do some limbering up exercises before you grab those packs, mainly don't screw up some surgeons work. TAKE CARE, have fun, always wear your PFD, and enjoy the fishing. FRED

Yes, I would piggy back on Fog51's suggestion to play it safe and plan to take a motor tow. IMHO it's worth the price.

Enjoy! I also have the Fibro stuff. Diet, exercise and meds keep me going. Plenty of bad days, but plenty of good ones too... I live for the good ones. :)

nctry, I'd love to hear more about your diet success for fibromyalgia. And anything else for that matter. I',m just beginning to deal with this. Pilates, lyrica, carisoprodol, and walking 4-6 every day, as well as diet is what I'm doing, but I need to know more about the diet. Thanks for any suggestions - fibro can be nasty!

Have a great trip! We are taking the tow on the 16th and most likely basecamping on Ensign.

I'll be looking for you. I hope to basecamp and fish. I'm solo, and I have a Wenonah Boundary Waters canoe with the BWCA.com logo on it. I'd be glad to share a campsite if you'e looking for one, but you'll be a day ahead of me. I just looked at the most recent AccuWeather, and it looks like we will be in a rainy period.

What part of the lake will you be in? Any particular campsite?
This is my all-time best northern (38", 18 lbs) and I got it on Ensign.
my gear
my tent and tarp

Hope to see you!

We will be a group of 6 guys all around 25 yrs old.

We will be bringing two aircraft carrier aluminum canoes and a Wenonah (not sure of the model) in an almond color. We have not put a whole lot of thought into campsites. I've checked the map out and figured we will just see whats available and kinda wing it lol.

I'll keep an eye out for you and the canoe! Rain? oh well, a rainy, chilly day up there beats any day at work ;)

Enjoy the trip! I was in the area in early July and walleye were scattered and deep. Bass fishing was incredible, and of course the northerns were everywhere.

Google maps is telling me that it should take 48 minutes to travel the 19 miles from Ely to Latourells. Seems a little long? Is it close? We are just trying to get an idea what time to leave Thursday morning.

Not off by much based on my going to CCO Moose Lake base - which I think is just about next door to La Tourells. Maybe 40 minutes - not much less. Pretty winding and twisty road.

Perfect, thank you! We are leaving plenty of time to spare.

I'd say between 30-40 minutes

Plan for about 40 minutes. I was at Vosburgh's just up from LaTourell's and it took us about that amount of time. It's a nice drive though so it goes quickly.

have a good one! let me know if you want to borrow any gear