So you've all read my recent post and I'm heading up Feb 13-16. I've got the tent and stove. blah blah blah.

Where do I go? I've never done BWCA in the winter, but I have 15yrs going in the summer.

My criteria is fishing, mostly quiet.

I've read stories of huge groups on some of the lakes and I'd like to avoid it as much as possible. I'm snowshoeing in and might be solo.

Is it possible to be out of the way from people and still find some fishing on a weekend? I'd prefer lake trout, but I can do pike and walleyes.

Any thoughts,suggestions? I've got so many maps its hard to plan a first winter trip when you've explored so many great places in the summer.

EPFD

I would look at entry 77 Hegman lake, my wife and me did it a few weeks back and had a great time. We've done this entry the last four years and were happy with it. Trips lasted anywhere from five nights base camping, to a nine night loop to Friday Bay and back. No matter were you go foot traffic will be at a minimum. When did you plan on going? I'm planning on going up for another week between the 12-14.

I will be heading in on friday the 13th (dun dun dah!!!!) for the long weekend. I did like the Hegman area as I traveled it this past summer by boat. We went up through Friday Bay in fact and came out through Mudro.

Wow, not sure what happened to that last post I'm in the process of learning how to post these pictures.

Did you decide on your entry ?

Make sure you have a warm sleeping bag !

My advice is too always get a early start, remember that at five it will be pitch dark unless you have moonlight but don't bet on it.

Bring a good bow saw and spare blade, and a 30" axe for wood splinting.

Give yourself plenty of time to set up your tent and stove, this does take a little longer when you haven't used a heated tent. Gathering wood can be tough with alot of snow cover.

Bring a good amount of firestarter, I like the Esbit tablets for starting the stove they do burn for about twelve minutes which can really help when its cold in the a.m.

Are you bringing a ice chisel, bucket for water, and what type of stove do you plan on using ?

You can definitely cook on the woodstove, but I do bring and use a cannister stove lay it on the woodstove and it will heat up enough to work just fine .

I'll be bringing my auger to do some fishing hopefully but that's how I'm getting my water. I'm still kinda working on the sleeping bag thing. I've got a 20*F bag with a fleece liner that I plan on bringing. I also have a 0* bag but its HUGE and I don't know if I can pack it along. It would need its own sled.

If it looks like its gonna be really cold I will get a below zero bag. I have a saw and a hatchet, should be able to borrow an axe. I'm bringing my MSR dragonfly for a stove and I've got fire paste, but I might pick up or make some firestarters.

I haven't decided on an entry yet cause I'm hoping to stumble upon something I like.

I want quiet and I'd like to be able to catch some lake trout. I'm not opposed to heading up the gunflint since I'm more familiar with that area, but its also an extra 2 hrs of driving which means I lose 2hrs of daylight on friday when I plan to head in. I've never taken a "hike-in" winter trip so I'm not sure how much distance to plan into my trip. Where are you planning on heading? Thats the weekend I will be up there.

For those interested, I've tentatively made a plan for Tuscarora. Not positive yet, but I think that's where I'm gonna focus for now. I suppose if I change my mind, S. Hegman would be an easy audible for me.

Good choice. Was there two years ago. However, you may run into other groups. Also had what I assume was a DNR plane land and check a group on the island site. Make sure to have your fishing license and trout stamp.

I already have both thanks to a prosperous summer BWCA trip.

I'm hoping to make it to Crooked or Gillis depending on traveling conditions. Its seems all three of these lakes have good lake trout. I've also caught them in French a couple years ago in the summer so I should have plenty of day trip options.

I'm getting pretty syched up now!!

I just got back yesterday from Ramshead Lake. We went in off the Blandin Trail (#11) and followed Meander Creek all the way to the lake. The trail is now there so it would only be about a 2 hour hike.

We only fished one day and got skunked but supposed to be big northerns in Ramshead.

We didn't see anyone and had a great trip.

hate to say it , but last weekend was good fishing just before the warm front came in on ramshead,we spent two trips puting that trail in glad to see someone is using it

Madtrapper - the trial was pretty much covered over by blowing snow. We could tell someone had been that way before but we still ahd to break trail. We had a great time even if we didn't catch fish.

White ski poles, thats risky.

I'm hoping this weather isn't counter-productive. I was hoping it would firm up quite a bit, but with all the rain I hope their lakes don't look like ours in the cities or I'm in for a rough trip.

It looks like they will have solid freezing temps, but I'm still concerned.

As of today the rivers and lakes around here have standing water on them and the snow level has dropped cosiderably .the lakes have snow and water mixed but either way it isnt pretty.temps have been in the upper 30s since sunday night and rained of and on every day since The good news is they are forcasting temps in the single digits for the orr area starting friday andthe rain is supose to quit thursday nite