BWCA Advice Wanted re EP16 Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum


BWCA Messageboard

BWCA and Quetico Park Books and Magazines

Find Outfitters for the Boundary Waters Quetico

Boundary Waters (BWCA) photo gallery and individual photo journals

Boundary Waters Message Board and Forums.

username

password

Remember Me

Red Lake Outfitters
Site Search
	Contact Us
	Route Guide

Chat Rooms (0 Chatting) | Search | Login/Join

* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.

View BWCA Photo and Trip Report Contest Page

Poll: What is your favorite month in the BWCA/Q?
(504 responses)

2012 BWCA Photo Contest Results

Boundary Waters Quetico Forum

Trip Planning Forum

Advice Wanted re EP16

View Boundary Waters Map Locations

Route Guide

community sponsor

Pehrson Lodge on Lake Vermilion

Last Visit: 05/24/2013 05:37PM
Sort by

Author

Message Text

Chicagored

02/24/2012 09:52AM

Last year I entered at EP16 the third week of June. It was my first solo and I intended to get through to Lady Boot Bay. As with all my trips, I did not follow my planning. Lake Agnes was so nice and the fishing was so good that I ended up base camping there for most of the trip.

This year I'm going in at EP16 again. This time I'm taking me (12 trips to BW or Quetico), my 26 year old son (7 trips), my brother (3 trips) and his girlfriend (0 trips). My permit is for Sunday, July 15 and I'm planning 7 days, six nights. Once again, as always, I am spending way too much time creating a plan I probably will not follow anyway. I consider fishing to be a definite bonus but not the primary focus of my trip.

So here are my questions for which I am seeking opinions:

1. Do I go to Lac Le Croix, maybe Tiger Bay or Fish Stake Narrows, or Kelsey Lake? Big water, no portaging after day 1, more likely a base camp scenerio.

1(a). Has anyone base camped out of Kelsey Lake? Nice campsite for 4?

2. Do I go to Oyster Lake, continuing on towards Pocket Lake? More privacy, more portaging, maybe better fishing in July?

2(a) Is it realistic to plan to paddle from the Nina Moose river to Oyster Lake through the marsh into the Oyster River, or is it better to take the portage from Agnes? Last year I looked at the marsh and could not spot a paddling path.

2(b) Do I go to Oyster Lake, and take the portage into Hustler, hoping for the solitude that only long portages bring?

Any advice is appreciated.

Pura Vida

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Arlo Pankook

02/24/2012 10:34AM

Just a thought...Ge-be is a nice lake with Walleyes and Smallies and it is an easy day trip into LLC Lady Boot bay etc. Also, Rocky and Green are pretty little lakes as well as Oyster.

The Oyster river is a good option if the water isn't too low and you don't mind a few beaver dams.

Hustler has good fishing and I don't remember the portage being too bad.

Hold that thought....fish on!

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

schweady

02/24/2012 11:02AM

I have gone in at Moose River North a few times and it is often my hope to travel up into LLC to revisit the pictographs. The guys with whom I have done this entry have settled in on basecamp trips and also want to get back to Ely to shower, have lunch, shop a bit, and still get home (5 hr drive) by a decent hour that evening. As a result, we have based on Agnes each time. The day trip up into LLC and back would be doable, barring strong winds, but much easier yet if a base could be established in Tiger Bay or thereabouts. Of course, that has always seemed "too far" from which to get back home on our take-out day for most guys, so my most recent viewing of those pictos remains 1978...

The same could now be said about my plans to do a Lake One entry and basecamp on Insula this summer... to travel through the recent fire damage but still have a green campsite. That would also have to be with a group not so focused on our "traditional" take-out day experience.

"You can observe a lot by watching." -- Yogi Berra

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Thwarted

02/24/2012 02:24PM

Here was my route two years ago: Nina to Oyster to Gebe (day one). Not advisable with rookie unless you have a Sherpa. Oyster is a good layover. Day two...Gebe. Day three LLC...great camps above Narrows. There is an island 1/2 mile before the narrows with nice rock pad out front for stargazing/swimming. Plan to layover, then Tiger Bay then home.
Tiger Bay to EP16 is a poke but doable or layover on Agnes. Trying to layover on Nina Moose lake is a campsite risk. WE went through. Started from TB before 8:00AM arrived in Ely for dinner.

Sweet loop with good variety. When we went out a couple just in front of us took the Oyster river from the mouth and we took the
portage from Agnes. They had camp set up on Oyster when we got there.
Only works in high water though I guess and they had trouble finding the mouth.

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Kevlar

02/24/2012 04:04PM

Chicago, you have time enough to do a lot. Agnes is a good designation for the first day, and fish/swim in the afternoon. Next day, start the loop, either way. If you head for LLC, grab a campsite in the islands and fish/explore...see the old ranger cabin built by the CCCs in about 1937, paddle up and see the pictographs with afternoon sun on them if it isn't too windy. Next day, daytrip into Iron Lake and see Curtain Falls. Rebecca Falls is in Canada and some people have been fined for going there without the proper Canadian papers. Next day, head north, see the pictographs, Warrior Hill, and head in thru Fish Stake Narrows. Get to Gebeunequet. Next day, south thru the little lakes and out to Agnes. Next day out. I have left out one night...maybe two night on Gebeon? If you reverse the loop, works fine too. You will not see many people in the northern part of LLC or the little lakes, but it doesn't take many groups to fill up the campsites in Oyster, Rocky, Gebeon. Make camp early if possible.

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

mooseplums

02/24/2012 05:01PM

Nice area, I have done 20+ trips to the area. My advice is to forget any idea about Kelsey Lake. We went back there several years ago to fish, and caught more than our share of 18" pike. We wondered if we were catching the same fish over and over. The campsite that I saw looked pretty small and barely ever used.

I would definitely make my way to Lady Boot Bay if I were you, and go back into Toe lake, and see if you can find any Blue walleyes.

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

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

TrekScouter

02/24/2012 08:00PM

I'll be going in this EP in May. Where are the pictographs located? Thanks.

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” - George Orwell

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

cowdoc

02/24/2012 08:30PM

BIG rock wall right across from campsite 170

"What could happen?"

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

TrekScouter

02/24/2012 11:05PM

quote cowdoc: "BIG rock wall right across from campsite 170" Thanks!

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” - George Orwell

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Chicagored

03/02/2012 10:02AM

My crew is now up to 6, including one more experienced person (my nephew, the shot putter/sherpa) and one more newbe. I want to thank everyone for their wonderful suggestions. I think Kevlar's advice regarding making it a loop is closest to what we will do, although most of you suggested basically the same trip and contributed additional useful info.

Now that the party was grown to 3 boats, I will have to rent one. I usually go to Voyeuger North, which has always treated me well in the past. Hopefully they will be able to give me then current advice re the Oyster River vs. the portage and where the fish are most suicidal.

Pura Vida

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

BWCAngler

05/06/2012 01:17PM

I will be going through EP16 from July 7th-11th. I will post a report on this thread if i remember.

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

outdooraddict

05/07/2012 05:45AM

Just a heads up, when we paddled up to Agnes, by the time we claimed our campsite there were only 2 left. Fun trip though. I have some pictures in my gallery from the trip if you're interested.

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

VoyageurNorth

05/09/2012 12:06AM

quote Chicagored: "My crew is now up to 6, including one more experienced person (my nephew, the shot putter/sherpa) and one more newbe. I want to thank everyone for their wonderful suggestions. I think Kevlar's advice regarding making it a loop is closest to what we will do, although most of you suggested basically the same trip and contributed additional useful info.

Now that the party was grown to 3 boats, I will have to rent one. I usually go to Voyeuger North, which has always treated me well in the past. Hopefully they will be able to give me then current advice re the Oyster River vs. the portage and where the fish are most suicidal.

"

We'll know more about the water levels for you when you get up here. And if you want us to go over your map & mark some fishing spots, we can do that too.

When are you coming up?

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

ryebread26

05/09/2012 07:21AM

Nice plan. We're going headed up on the 19 to do that ep can't wait!

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

schweady

05/09/2012 08:56AM

quote VoyageurNorth: "...We'll know more about the water levels for you when you get up here. And if you want us to go over your map & mark some fishing spots, we can do that too..."
That's the beauty of going with you guys. So, who will usually give up more of their best spots... John? or Kevin? :) :)

"You can observe a lot by watching." -- Yogi Berra

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

VoyageurNorth

05/09/2012 09:29PM

With that area they both know quite a bit, but John has probably been up here more than Kevin. :-)

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Chicagored

05/18/2012 07:42AM

<
"

We'll know more about the water levels for you when you get up here. And if you want us to go over your map & mark some fishing spots, we can do that too.

When are you coming up?"

Thanks in advance for the help. I will be up there the third week of July. I talked to you guys at Canoecopia about various canoes for my group, but still waiting to determine the head count.

Pura Vida

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

ChessieDog

Guest Paddler

05/21/2012 03:45PM

I got back from bwca about a week ago. Nine day solo and about 30 lakes/rivers. Very few portages (next to none) were cleared along my circumnavigation of West BWCA. Hustler to Oyster was the last of a 1000 rod day and the Marsh added insult to injury. Waist deep water and dragging my dog, two packs, and canoe over downed trees one at a time. I would have cut those damned trees for you folks as I did for many other portages but my saw met its demise there. First time I ever had leeches on me despite the sleet and cold. Bet it's cleared by Memorial day....Good times.

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

billsta

05/25/2012 10:09PM

My last two trips have been through EP-16.
The first was with my daughter. We spent night 1 on Agnes, then traveled to Iron the next day, spent 2 nights on Iron. Then we spent two nights in Tiger Bay and our last night on Nina Moose Lake. It was such a great trip, we took a similar route with my daughters new husband last year. We traveled to Boulder Bay the first day via the Boulder River and found a great campsite where we made base camp and did day trips.
I preferred the first trip because we Saw more, but both were really nice.

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

Kevlar

05/27/2012 02:45PM

Chessie, my friend's daughter is on a trail crew for the BWCA, and they have been spending a lot of their time working the burned over area, trying to get campsites usable and portages open. Their plan is to get to all the BW portages by this weekend (Memorial Day), but I don't know if they made it.

Chicago, if you make the Rocky-Green-Oyster loop from north to south, you don't have to worry about finding the portage to Oyster Lake, you will have found it easily on the lakeshore. And at the other end, coming into the marsh, just read the map and head towards the creek. You'll hit it. If we are in drought conditions by then, I think I'd portage to Agnes, though.

Reply Reply with Quote Print Top Bottom Previous Next

BWCA Messageboard