Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Moose Lake advice
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Justin |
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IowaGuy |
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walleyejunky |
Start with a tow on Moose Lake up to Splash Lake and then hop on over to Ensign Lake for 2-3 days of walleye fishing. About midweek pack up and head towards Disappointment Lake. You could even stop for a night on Ashigan if you want for easy smallmouth bass fishing. At the end of the trip exit at Snowbank Lake. Just make sure to leave early before the wind kicks up on Snowbank. This is a easy trip for first timers with really only one day of portaging midweek that isn't to rough. You can be on Disappointment in about 4 to 5 hours from Ensign. And you will get to see Cattyman Falls which are impressive. |
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Guest poster |
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YetiJedi |
Thomas is another great area and, depending on your paddling experience, could be a long day to get there. Once there, lots of options for fishing, day trips, etc. The smaller lakes can still be fished with some wind and you could venture in several directions at your leisure. Kekekabic from Moose is a two-day trip for most people to get there. Excellent fishing though! Be warned, if it is windy you won't be on that lake much. You might even consider staying on the east side of Ensign for a couple of nights. Great fishing and then an option to fish the smaller lakes to the south. You could go up through Vera to Knife and loop out that way if you wanted to. So many options! Enjoy the planning and have an awesome trip! |
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cyclones30 |
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Jbultema |
Any thoughts on a few lakes I should have in mind. We were thinking about the Irma/Thomas lakes area, Kekekabic Lake area or Knife Lake up into the South arm of Knife. Any thoughts on those lakes for camping and fishing?? I know the portages up into knife from moose are rough. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. |
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Gaidin53 |
The portages aren’t bad going. Into knife lake the key though is that once you start you have to finish them. Only one pretty poor campsite on Carp lake exists between Birch to Knife. Key is starting them early and getting a campsite on Knife Lake! Big things I’ll say since everyone in your group hasn’t canoe tripped before is try to stay light. Other big thing is try to keep as few a loose items as possible. It’s best if everything possible is in the portage packs(Grey Whales), and Food in the food pack! Ryan |
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nooneuno |
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plander |
gravelroad: "nooneuno: "Ensign is oft overlooked but I have had some of my best walleye fishing in the bdub on Ensign, some nice sites as well." Personally, I'd stay away from Ensign, except for maybe the last night in a pinch. It can get quite crowded and sometimes hard to find a site despite the lake having so many...at least that's been my experience the last couple years. A tow to the Sucker/Birch portage is something you may want to consider (about $30 pp each way). The portages from there into Knife are fine. It takes about 4 hours to get from the tow drop-off to the put-in on Knife. SAK sites are generally fine and you can usually find an open one. Access to some very nice smaller lakes (e.g. Amoeber, Cherry, Ester, etc) for day trip fishing or the start of a shorter loop. Those smaller lakes have nice campsites, good fishing, and not typically crowded. |
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HighnDry |
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Gaidin53 |
I personally like to travel more and go to new areas. That being said I’m set up for that. We usually do one layover day on an 8 day trip. My wife, daughter, and I enjoy that one day and my son endures it. We are all ready to get moving though the next day and get a super early start. That being said some people absolutely love base camping and that is what they do. It’s your first trip so you won’t know. Obviously on trip make it a group decision but that is why it will be important for you to know your options. Ensign for fishing and base camping would be a good choice. Yes it can get busy and you need to get a campsite early. If you go Ensign for A base camp trip I’d recommend pushing for the east side of the lake. Get an early tow in. Knife Lake is great with the Isle of Pines and the bacon rock. Thunder Point which is a high lookout! South Arm of Knife with Eddy Falls. Once you are into Knife you technically wouldn’t need to portage again until you exit back out those same portages. Ryan |
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gravelroad |
nooneuno: "Ensign is oft overlooked but I have had some of my best walleye fishing in the bdub on Ensign, some nice sites as well." This would be my recommendation as well. It deserves a serious look for your purposes. |