I will be taking my 11 year old son on his first ever BWCAW trip in early June. We'll be heading in EP 57 and on up the Granite River to Larch or Gneiss Lake for a 3 night base camp for an out and back trip.

Just a few weeks away. Any words of wisdom or advice on campsites, fishing spots, portages, and/or hiking trails in that vicinity? He wants to stay on an island, so if he gets his way, we're limited to two sites in that area, but we all know how that goes.

I'd like to be able to get him on to some walleye - locations and lures/bait and any other tidbits of info is appreciated.

To encourage responses I ask that you pretend that there will be two females from Montana accompanying us...there won't be, but that post created a tidal wave of responses!

Cheers!

quote MOJO: "I will be taking my 11 year old son on his first ever BWCAW trip in early June. We'll be heading in EP 57 and on up the Granite River to Larch or Gneiss Lake for a 3 night base camp for an out and back trip.

Just a few weeks away. Any words of wisdom or advice on campsites, fishing spots, portages, and/or hiking trails in that vicinity? He wants to stay on an island, so if he gets his way, we're limited to two sites in that area, but we all know how that goes.

I'd like to be able to get him on to some walleye - locations and lures/bait and any other tidbits of info is appreciated.

To encourage responses I ask that you pretend that there will be two females from Montana accompanying us...there won't be, but that post created a tidal wave of responses!

Cheers!"

I've done this trip at least 15 times. Here's a few things to keep in mind. Aside from an island campsite on Larch, there isn't an island campsite until Saganaga, as far as I know. Larch isn't a great lake to basecamp at, in my opinion. Maybe there's one on Gneiss, but I don't remember. If you're doing an "out and back" Gneiss is too far north anyway. See below.

By "out and back" are you referring to coming in via Magnetic (Gunflint actually) and out the same way you came in? If so, with an 11-year-old you're better off getting to Clove Lake and going no further. Bear in mind you'll also be paddling upstream on the way back and that river can have a bit of current to it.

Clove Lake would be an OK place to base camp. There is a seasonal inlet part of the river that enters on the north that may still be flowing when you're up there. Do not run it. I have, and it is not for beginners or 11-year-olds.

The most southernly campsite on Clove (near the inlet to Larch) is an OK site, but it gets a lot of use. The more westernly site, as you continue to go upstream, has a sand beach. Both are OK, but not 5-Star.

Take every portage. I've run nearly every rapid on this route, aside from the falls (to include Horsetail, which is a Class IV, but you're not going that far north).... and they are not to be trifled with. I've swamped plenty. I've run them for fun, without gear. Fishing below the falls is usually good. I once caught a bass on Clove, and a northern attacked it, so I got two fish for one cast.

Lemme know if you have any other questions.

MT

Gneiss might be just a little aggressive for a goal if you have youngsters along, though it could be done if you got off to a good start and did not get bogged down along the way. Clove lake would certainly be a more comfortable goal. That way you can linger by waterfalls, maybe fish along the way, etc. The campsite on Clove closest to Larch Creek worked well for us and bass fishing was fun as well. When you are on border waters you'll want to be mindful about fishing the U.S. side only, unless you have the appropriate Canadian documents. If you do get up to Gniess, we enjoyed the first campsite to the left as you exit Gniess and enter Devil's Elbow lake.

One more hint: After you exit Magnetic Lake and portage around the falls, the next portage you come to after traveling downstream a way may be tricky to see. Look for a U.S./Canada border spike and the portage path will be obvious right behind the rock it is mounted into. Otherwise you might not know to look on the other side of that rock and search for awhile as we did.

Have Fun!

Thanks MT. I like your idea of base camp on Clove and a day trip north if necessary. From the looks, Gneiss seems to have decent fishing on it. I was thinking the bottom of rapids/falls too.

I'm not much of a thrill seeker and generally don't run rapids, so not worries there.

And you are correct, we're coming out the same way we came in.

If open, I am thinking I'll target the upstream site and if we have to double back we will.

Any favorite fishing spots to share?

Thanks again!

I'm not much of a fisherman. I try, but don't have much success. There is nothing much in the line of fishing that I can recommend that you probably don't already know.

MT

I agree with going to Clove. I have taken my 7-13 year old kids and managed the trip pretty well. One of the portages is challenging for an 11-year old, but doable. The fishing in Clove is good, especially in June.

The island camp site on Larch is fantastic, but the fishing in Larch is lousy (you can't have everything).


If you are using an outfitter, ask them about exiting through Larch creek, which is only one portage away from Clove rather than the three or four back to Magnetic. If the water is high, you should be able to exit the creek and have the outfitter pick you up there.

If you can get it? The island site just after you enter Gneiss (from the south) is easily the best in that area. But, if you can get a site on Clove lake you may just want to claim it (all 3 are above average IMHO)& save yourself the paddle/portaging. All of the other sites, for several miles, were hit by the fire.

We came in through Larch Creek, but, still covered most of the area you're looking at. Here's the trip report. Blue Heaven on the Granite river

Both photos taken on Clove lake.

Awesome advice from everyone - thank you! He and I have come to an agreement and we'll try to snag a Clove Lake site and day trip around.

Tuscarora, great call on the Larch Creek EP 80 (recalling from memory) pick up. I think I will pay the extra few buck to see if they'll accomodate us, should not be a problem. I like the idea of seeing some different landscape and making it a loop trip, albeit a small loop.

Glad to hear that fishing on Clove will be adequate, plus with the various rapids in that area should be able to find good numbers of fish in relative concentrated areas...I hope.

Again, I appreciate everyone's input. So far the recipe for a memorable first trip in for the lad.

MOJO

larch water quality is very poor. my son and I went to clove to get water. I would 2nd the notion of Clove.

If you do make it there, Island campsite on gneiss is great. Stayed there a couple of times. Also walleye sit at the bottom of the rapids on your entry to gneiss. They face upstream so you just need to paddle up and float back down over them.

quote bottomtothetap: "Gneiss might be just a little aggressive for a goal if you have youngsters along, though it could be done if you got off to a good start and did not get bogged down along the way. Clove lake would certainly be a more comfortable goal. That way you can linger by waterfalls, maybe fish along the way, etc. The campsite on Clove closest to Larch Creek worked well for us and bass fishing was fun as well. When you are on border waters you'll want to be mindful about fishing the U.S. side only, unless you have the appropriate Canadian documents. If you do get up to Gniess, we enjoyed the first campsite to the left as you exit Gniess and enter Devil's Elbow lake.


One more hint: After you exit Magnetic Lake and portage around the falls, the next portage you come to after traveling downstream a way may be tricky to see. Look for a U.S./Canada border spike and the portage path will be obvious right behind the rock it is mounted into. Otherwise you might not know to look on the other side of that rock and search for awhile as we did.


Have Fun! "

Thanks BTTT! I recall seeing that on the Portage Comments, but a good reminder nevertheless. Thanks for the hint.

Gniess will be reserved for a day trip for fishing, not camping. Thanks!