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bwcarocks

03/26/2011 01:00AM

Entry: Snowbank Lake (27)
Here is a route I am thinking about doing. I kind of picked it, because it looked like there was some decent fishing. I also have a feeling that I wouldn't see a lot of people back here. I'm thinking June or July.
Any thoughts? Good? Bad? I would also be curious if any of you know of some point of interest that would be worth while checking out.
Thanks!

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snakecharmer

03/26/2011 07:44AM

Cattyman falls is definitely worth a stop. There are some very old and faded pictos on Jordan lake...neat area. There are some smaller lakes off Fraser to check out if you really want to get away from the crowds. With the exception of Jordan, there is lots of great fishing along this route. I think you're gonna like it :)

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after"
~ Henry David Thoreau

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Kevlar

03/27/2011 09:47PM

Great route, but you will see people, especially in Disappontment and Ima. The north end of Ima has some great rock slabs to walk on, and several points have rings and pins from the logging days. The portage from Ima to Hatchet starts in a cliff face, with a 10' wide slot in it. Trust your map, it is there. Alworth lake off of Ima is a pretty spot...great campsite on either end of the portage or channel to Alworth. Make sure you see that waterfall mentioned above...very pretty. Look out for the wind on Snowbank, especially in the pm. If a strong wind is in your face on Disappointment as you are heading towards
Snowbank, go on into Parent and portage into the bay on Snowbank...much safer.

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TomT

03/27/2011 10:24PM

If you want a loop from there where you don't double back, you can get Smitty's resort on Snowbank to shuttle your car over to the Lake One landing. This cost me $10 in 2009. They also can give you a tow across Snowbank if the wind is up or you just want to save some time.

Then from Thomas you can go into Alice then Insula and out the numbered lakes to where your car will be. There's some really great sand beach sites on Alice and Insula. Good fishing there too. Just a thought.

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oldgentleman

03/28/2011 05:31AM

It's a nice loop. Did almost the same trip back in 2002 and 2000, although we didn't go into Fraser. We went to Thomas and down into Kiana, then back out through Boot to Snowbank. We had a headwind across Snowbank on the way out and it was a long paddle. We went in May when it's not crowded, but we saw some people almost every day, usually in the distance. I think we had Ima all to ourselves. I'd suggest June. It will be busier in July.

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bwcarocks

05/04/2011 09:59PM

Anyone know where the pictographs are on Jordan?

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mooseplums

05/05/2011 12:13AM

Pictos are on this rock face, in the narrows, on Jordan lakes west side, right after the 55 rd portage.

"I am haunted by waters"~Norman Maclean "A River Runs Through It"

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jmacna

05/06/2011 05:42AM

The only worry I might pass on is that I hear the mosquitoes are pretty horrific, the further in to summer you get. Happy Trails.

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1BigPaddle

05/16/2011 03:08PM

I am planning on taking the same route in aug. let me know how it is and where you stayed. The wife and I are bringing 4 greenhorns...

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Sloth

05/17/2011 10:28AM

As you enter jordan, the campsite to the left has a nice sandy beach. If no one's there it's a nice spot to stop for a snack or take a dip in the lake.

The island site on Ima is very nice (the one facing the lake, not the one in the channel).

Toss little spinners along the shoreline in Ashub for brookies.

The channel from Jordan to Ima is very cool and offers a nice break if you've been paddling in the wind up until then.

Have a great trip!

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brerud

05/17/2011 12:14PM

I just did that exact route this weekend - the opposite direction. we chose to go across Snowbank in the morning to avoid the wind before it picked up.
It is a nice route - there is one nasty portage on the north route - the 74 rod portage from Boot to Abinodji is up a pretty good sized hill and back down the other side.

Have a great trip.

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bruceye

05/17/2011 10:51PM

I've base camped on Thomas for 15 years. You will be into some good fishing. If the water temps are cool on Fraser the walleye action will most likely be slow. Take the time to go up into Sagus to the N.E as it is a smaller shallower lake that warms faster than Thomas and Fraser. Another goody is Hatchet. Looks like a tadpole pond but has a good population of Walleye.

Bruceye

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bwcarocks

06/28/2011 01:23AM

I got back a couple weeks ago, and wow, this was a nice route. We actually did the reverse also, because wind could have been an issue.

Fishing:
Usually I go during August and we pick our entry permit late. So I don't know if it was timing or location, but I had one of my better experiences fishing on this route.

Bugs:
Black flies were minimal. Misquotes were ok. Depends on time of day, how much deet you have on, and if you have a fire going. I thought it would be worse, but it wasn't so bad.

Pictographs:
These were super faded. Couldn't make out anything. First pass through we couldn't find them, because we were looking for something more obvious.

Cattyman Falls:
This was very cool.

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