What were the highlights of your trip to Q this year? Special sights, special meals, great fishing, special paddling partners, you finally did the route that had been on your bucket list forever... what made your trip special?

Well. My wife's and my trip was great as we did a new section. Came in at Beaverhouse and did Quetico, Conk and Jean lakes. Was also nice as we made it a bit more easy going and had some layover days. The big highlight though was paddling out and hitting a heck of a head wind on Beaverhouse lake and whitecaps on it.

2 trips, back to back, and the second was a first (for me) solo for 11 days and having two moose going at it VERY close to my tent the first night of my solo. It was also a bit exciting getting used to the canoe I rented, Souris River Tranquility. There is nothing tranquil about the Tranquility when unloaded... This was also cool....

I fought a decent tailwind going east on Alice lake then had to turn left to get into the bay where the portage starts. This meant getting fairly broadsided by decent waves. Being solo it was scary. To my relief I made the bay and while coasting down the western shore in the lee I notice two small figures swimming along the shore.

Suddenly they see me and stop. Their periscope heads came a foot out of the water and we had a staring contest of maybe five seconds before they scurried off. Seeing otters is always a thrill and this one was really close.

My first trip to Quetico, made better by being joined by my son (1st paddling trip anywhere) that I hadn't seen in nearly four years. Wonderful experience!

This was the first year I felt old and limited. I have two bad knees but normally they function. I twisted and popped one a couple of weeks before we left. I went up with two other guys I always trip with and we all went solo from Prairie. Our plan was to meet on Sunday Lake for our last night.
The portage from Sunday Bay into Sunday Lake about had me in agony. I had a rather ambitious route planned and knew then it was not to be. I ended up on the marginal but private island site on Lost Bay for most of my stay, far different than what I had planned.
Met the other guys on the Sunday island site and had a great time.
My next BW trip didn't go much better, at least with my knees.
But the last two BW trips were great. Was able to portage the canoe and a light pack on the Stuart River portage and some other portage on the east side that was two miles long. I learned to love flat portages.
Next year I have a couple of Q trips slotted, including one to Chatterton and the Death March route. Can't wait! Never say die!

Biggest freshwater fish I have ever caught was from Quetico Lake in August, a trip made even better with a crew consisting of my son and two granddaughters.

Nice fish! I think the aging process first hits the knees... We will go until the body can go no more!
My biggest life regret is that I didn't "discover" Quetico until my 50's.

The "kanoes Memorial Trip" with Kiporby, Suncatcher and butthead. Up the Falls Chain, down through Agnes, Louisa, McEwen......90.5 miles worth.
Paying our last respects to Jan as we laid his ashes to rest where he has a gorgeous view of Quetico sunsets.

My wife joining me! She loved it, and we are looking forward to next year.

quote Eyedocron: "Biggest freshwater fish I have ever caught was from Quetico Lake in August, a trip made even better with a crew consisting of my son and two granddaughters. "

That is one heck of a fish you got there Ron!

Took my brother and two nephews. I mostly sat on a rock on Jean, drank coffee, rested and visited with my brother. My nephews fished till they dropped. They caught walleyes, bass and northerns on fly rods from shore and canoe. Great weather. Easy trip. Very fun.

quote Eyedocron: "Biggest freshwater fish I have ever caught was from Quetico Lake in August, a trip made even better with a crew consisting of my son and two granddaughters. "

Hi Ron! Congratulations on a beautiful fish! Tell us more, like where did you catch it and how long? Happy for you that you are still at it and had such a special trip.

My flyin trip to Clay Lake,.....Paddle out Kawnipi and Falls Chain.

* Staying on Crown Land a night
* Fishing Kawnipi
* Back to Back Stellar days on Murdoch
* Crazy good....best walleye fishing in 30 years
* 10lbs of Spaghetti and Meat Balls....yea, we packed it in :) :)
* Monster steaks 24 oz steaks........They were CRAZY.
* 2 growlers of beer from my favorite microbrew.
* Monster waves and 1 hr from Rose Island Area to Kenny Portage....Surfing
* Lake Trout 4 ways on Saganagons.

What a freakin AWESOME trip........I'm still working on the trip report.

In the meantime my GeoFisher page has video, routes, and some pics.

Later,

Geo

Eight days in early September, out of Prairie Portage, sticking close to Basswood, too early for leaves, too late for fishing (the entry date was not my call). The trip was shorter (8 days) and less ambitious than usual due to several age-related physical impairments amongst the three of us, and heavy weather and unfamiliarity with the lakes we visited (base camped on Jeff Lake and Lost Bay) meant fishing success was sub-par. I was also in a solo canoe (a modified SR Q16) so I didn't get as many action shots of fish being caught as usual. It was the first trip I have taken since I had my right shoulder joint replaced in January and I am extremely happy that I was able (with the help of a great physical therapist) to get back in paddling and portaging shape and to be able to use a fly-rod again--things I didn't think I would ever be able to do again a year ago. The full moon put on a show for us, we had some lovely campsites and campfires, caught a nice 6 lb. lake trout in Jeff that fed all of us--one of the best fish I have ever eaten--and caught some largemouth on the flyrod. Otters visited and wolves howled on Jeff. Even though we were close to PP we didn't see a soul for 6 days.

Sounds like a great trip. Glad you were able to make it. Must have camped at the spacious campsite at the mouth of Lost Bay. Were the swans gone?

quote GeoFisher: "* Lake Trout 4 ways on Saganagons. "

Is "Lake Trout 4 ways" a recipe or fishing technique? Eager to hear more about Saganagons!

quote GraniteCliffs: "Sounds like a great trip. Glad you were able to make it. Must have camped at the spacious campsite at the mouth of Lost Bay. Were the swans gone?"

We saw two adult and two young swans in the back bay leading to South Lake but not Lost Bay, although we saw them there several years ago. We actually camped on the big site in Lost Bay (trying to get out of the south wind coming up from North Bay).

quote bobbernumber3: "Is "Lake Trout 4 ways" a recipe or fishing technique? Eager to hear more about Saganagons!"

Doyon, a master chef...........he cooked the lakers 4 different ways. All baked, with a aluminum tent. On cedar paperwoodplanks he brought into the park.

I should also say that while explaining the grand slam or super grand slam, I mentioned that in a single day, on a single bait is a thing.......

GadgetMan got the Grand Slam. Laker, Smallie, Walleye, Northern Pike. On on one day, all on the same bait. East end of Saganagons.

3 days of epic smallmouth topwater bite.
they finally broke the hook off my jr spook. need to get a gopro for next time.

had what sounded like bigfoot jumping into the lake at 1am while in pickeral narrows, just waiting for a bear to swim up on our island any second

perfect weather until the last night, come figure out i didnt have my tarp over my hammock secure enough for storms that rolled through all night, need to get the warrbonnett superfly :)

and just being in the Q, unplugged is a highlight

It was a great year in Quetico. I did 2 solo trips and was in the park for 36 days. Even though I have canoed over 40 trips I had never done the se corner. So I went in May at Cache up the Falls chain then over to Louisa and South and back through the Mann chain up to Blackstone and then down and out through Ottertrack. The weather was especially good and I only had one problem. On the fifth day I tripped on a root and sprained my wrist to twice its size. Fortunately I could still paddle but I couldn't lift packs with my hand. Since it was all new territory I really enjoyed the whole experience.

My long late summer trip was just the opposite. I did all my favorites: Jean, Sturgeon, Bent Pine, Fred, West Camel, Cutty, Heronshaw, Kawnipi, Alice,
Russell, Jesse and Batchewaung. On my fifth day the plunger on my stove broke so I had to go old school for 17 days. I found a piece of rebar on an old hydro dam and a 15 inch nail on a raft at the west end of Sturgeon and cooked on that. The conditions were wetter and buggier than normal and the fishing was above average. All in all it was a great trip and brought back many memories of previous trips.

I am starting to think about routes for next year. The one area I would like to fill in is west of Argo south of Cone and east of Tuck with probably a tow to Brewer from Lac La Croix.

Checked off Swartman Lake pictograph. It's been on the bucket list for quite some time.

Hex

There must be at least a few more highlights. I didn't make it to Q this year. Help me, and any others in the same boat (canoe) live vicariously through you.

I am feelin your pain bro so I will feed you a cool Q snake story.
As I said above, I did a lot of rock sitting. Huge slab rock sitting just watching.
One late morning the boys were back from fishing and I stirred to go get their story when I spotted a slitherin snake in the brush. I am not a fan but I was curious because he was heading toward the water so I watched him for a minute. Said snake slithers to a rock ledge that is about a foot above another rock slab that ends about four feet away in Jean lake. This used to be,five star site near the port north to Conk. Maybe you have been there. Anyway that mostly flat rock porch faces south and gets some water when the wind is up which gathers in a slight depression in the slab. When I go around to this porch, I see sir snake on his rock perch looking like he is just enjoying the view and the morning sun. So I call the boys over to see this bit of nature and they are indeed intrigued by this 18" king of the rock. Then one of the boys looks down and sees that there are some smallish frogs in this little pool of stagnant water previously noted. Being a boy, he pokes one with his toe which sends missy frog into an air escape that would normally be the best course of action.
But not at that moment. We were all shocked when Sir snake launched himself into the air and caught that unlucky frog before it hit the water. Plucked it right out of the air, landed in the pool and calmly swam/crawled back up his rock and slithered back the way he came but with missy in his mouth. It was a Fourth of July moment in June on Jean. We were stunned at this display of speed, accuracy and viciousness. A very cool moment that I hope you enjoy,

Entered Quetico by bushwhacking to where the Wawiag River enters Quetico. Spent the night in a bushwhack camp on crown land at the edge of Quetico. Spent most of the first day paddling the 19 miles (with current assist) down the Wawiag to kawinipi. Spent the first night in Quetico camped in Kawa Bay of Kawnipi. For a trip report check out fall 2017 BWJ page 68 by Darrel Brauer.

Great story, Thwarted. How cool to see the entire event transpire before your eyes. Nature is pretty cool, isn't it?

Sitting by the lake on a solo in my favorite Q campsite. It was just one of those nights that stays with you. Calm as could be. Perfect temperature. No bugs to speak of. A drop dead gorgeous sunset followed by a clear sky and beautiful stars.
I sat and simply watched and listened for hours sitting by the shore on my granite perch above the water. All of the sounds were there, all of the sights were there. I nipped a few bumps and slowly puffed on a cigar. I knew I was the only person within miles.
One of those nights you long for on every trip bur rarely have it all come together. My only regret? I wish I could have shared it with someone.

Wow GC. Savor that. We are right there with you.

MagicPaddler: "
Entered Quetico by bushwhacking to where the Wawiag River enters Quetico. Spent the night in a bushwhack camp on crown land at the edge of Quetico. Spent most of the first day paddling the 19 miles (with current assist) down the Wawiag to kawinipi. Spent the first night in Quetico camped in Kawa Bay of Kawnipi. For a trip report check out fall 2017 BWJ page 68 by Darrel Brauer.
"

MP, I'd be curious to hear about how exactly you got to the Wawiag put-in, but I cannot find your trip report. Do you have a link?

I have not written a trip report. With the use of aerial photos and past exploring I have located the roads that got us to the location where we started our bushwhack to the river. Google earth is a better source than anything we had available when we did the 08 trip. The drop off point is a 2 hour car ride from French Lake parking lot or a 4 hour round trip for the outfitter. Any one attempting this entry needs to make sure they are putting in BELOW the rapids. The hardest part of the bushwhack is the last mile and one might be tempted to forgo that mile by putting in above the rapids. I do not recommend that. That last mile of road is almost all on a old logging road but the brush has grown in so thick in places it is difficult to find the road. At one point after getting off the road to go around some down tree we were yelling back and forth Darrel ask me if I had found the road. After looking at my GPS tracks from a few years earlier I yelled back no but I am within 10 foot of it. I would love to go back and spend more time fishing the upper Wawiag. There are 2 really big bears in that area.

I must be getting old. I did publish a TRIP REPORT

Also a report from a EXPLORING TRIP 2011

MagicPaddler: "I have not written a trip report. With the use of aerial photos and past exploring I have located the roads that got us to the location where we started our bushwhack to the river. Google earth is a better source than anything we had available when we did the 08 trip. The drop off point is a 2 hour car ride from French Lake parking lot or a 4 hour round trip for the outfitter. Any one attempting this entry needs to make sure they are putting in BELOW the rapids. The hardest part of the bushwhack is the last mile and one might be tempted to forgo that mile by putting in above the rapids. I do not recommend that. That last mile of road is almost all on a old logging road but the brush has grown in so thick in places it is difficult to find the road. At one point after getting off the road to go around some down tree we were yelling back and forth Darrel ask me if I had found the road. After looking at my GPS tracks from a few years earlier I yelled back no but I am within 10 foot of it. I would love to go back and spend more time fishing the upper Wawiag. There are 2 really big bears in that area. "

MP, you've given me a bit of an idea. I've been planning this Zephira trip for 2018, and it was based entirely on getting there via the park (Baptism-Trousers-Cache then the creek and walk). I assumed that road to the east of the park boundary was unpassable. If you are saying you got far enough south to be near Wawiag, then I'd think I could certainly make it to a point just east of Zephira.

I assume the road you took is the one that goes south from Hwy 11, starting maybe 15 km (9 miles) east of the French Lake Station? If one goes about 14-15km down that road, you reach a point where it's got a westerly bend, before turning hard back east, and that point is only 1.9 miles from Zephira. Considering we'd end up bushcrashing a distance close to that long anyway from Cache (or the unnamed creek), I think this road idea might be better. Potentially we could have Day 1 be down the road and then do part of the 2-mile bushwhack, and maybe even make it to Zephira. Or at worst, camp one night in the woods, then finish the next day. Either way that's faster than the alternative.

And when you said "Doug" in your trip report, did you mean Doug Chapman? If so, I'll give him a buzz.

The road is open and was in good shape up to that point. Word of caution while the road is wide and mostly smooth up to that point just about .4 mile south of where the road crosses Tilly creek there is a rock in the road just over a rise which you will not see. It will launch your car into the air if you are driving on the right hand side of the road. Always stay far to the right when coming over a crest lest you meet a barreling log truck. The rock is where if you are to the far right you will hit it. This rock is responsible for at least the loss of one license plate, one bumper, one broken motor mount and one broken front axle. Not one driver saw it coming.

As far as using that to get to Zephira. I measure it as being a little longer than going from Cache. The terrain is flatter from the road but more wet non-paddle-able swamp. If you have an outfitter drop you off and you get part way and decide you can’t make it and you go back to the road there will be no one waiting for you to pick you up.
That’s the Doug.

Nothing special about it but I happened to hit Brent coming out of Conmee last August in early morning. It was like glass with the sun slowly rising above the horizon and chasing the mists out of the little bays as I headed for the portages to the little pond-hop and onto McIntyre and eventually Sarah. That trip as well as the family trip into Ensign where I left the canoe and gear and just walked the long portage out of Vera to Knife so that my 12 year old daughter could get a glimpse of Dorothy Molter's island. If I could have bottled that sunny, breezy afternoon in early July, I would have!

1) Solo, June, spent 12 days all on Pickerel Lake at 5 different camp locations. Finally figured out the Pickerel SMB to a certain extent. Weather was great except for one good T-storm and one tailwind that blew me to a sandy beach unplanned camp. Fishing highlights were catching several great bass in the shallows near The Pines on topwater and a nice Pike in the Pickerel river in the rain. Bugs were no issue. Surfed to the French Lake landing the last day on a strong crosswind. Saw very few people except near French.

2) 8-day August trip with son-in-law Joe, starting at Beaverhouse.

Night 1 on Quetico at a high favorite spot after visiting the old cabin. Through Conk to night 2 camp at the Jean narrows camp and great SMB. ("2 Hares" camp.) Down thru Burntside, noname and Clair to Bentpine and a tree-fallen "5-star" campsite where skeeters were awful on night 3.

Night 4 on Your Lake tiny island where it rained on our supper, after a long, hard day thru March, Trail, Little Pine and Snow. (One hard portage and a bushwhack across a bog. Later we learned "John from Calgary"/jdddl8 was on March the morning we were. ) Wolves howled just after dark! Got pounded by rain while paddling up Badwater. Got the high campsite and had the lake to ourselves into the next day. (Layover, nights 5/6.)

Caught my best Pike on Badwater near camp and Joe caught a walleye from shore. Did the improved Badwater portage easily, paddled back to Beaverhouse and took the first beach site for our last nite. Mostly good weather with some very cool mornings, no bad wind issues, mostly no bugs, great food, lots, and lots of logging days relics. Good fishing and resident huge snappers at 3 sites. Great trip!!!

Aurora borealis on Kett lake at 2 in the morning. Just happened to be out of the tent to see the green shimmer. Not my first aurora by any stretch but my first in the north country.

Posted a full trip report with about 20 photos today.
--Goose

Did the Hunters Island Loop solo.

This wasn't in 2017 but in 2015 (my most recent trip), I was casting from the shore at the dam site on Tanner Lake. Pulling my mepps in, I had a follow up from a 4 foot flash of white, and I figured it was the biggest Northern I was ever going to see... as it got closer I realized it was a giant otter and he was right at my feet grabbing at the mepps with his hands! I jumped about 4 feet straight up and jerked the hooks away from him just in time.

It was a great experience because it was unique, scared me, amazed me, and made me laugh all at once.

Don't remember anything more than the normal great fishing. Caught and ate walleye when we wanted to in a short period of time. I think we did either 12 or 13 days. Spent time on Agnes, Kawnipi and Basswood.

TheBrownLeader: "This wasn't in 2017 but in 2015 (my most recent trip), I was casting from the shore at the dam site on Tanner Lake. Pulling my mepps in, I had a follow up from a 4 foot flash of white, and I figured it was the biggest Northern I was ever going to see... as it got closer I realized it was a giant otter and he was right at my feet grabbing at the mepps with his hands! I jumped about 4 feet straight up and jerked the hooks away from him just in time.


It was a great experience because it was unique, scared me, amazed me, and made me laugh all at once. "

A memory that will last a lifetime!

June1-15 wife and I did a 15 day north to south Batchewaung to Prairie Portage trip that went south to Sturgeon, then east to Chatterton falls, Kawnipi, down the Falls chain to Saganagons,then through the Man chain with a side trip to Knife to see Dorothy's Island. Over 100 miles, tons of fish, beautiful weather, hardly saw anyone, and quality time spent with my favorite person. It's been on our bucket list for a couple of years and getting in to our 50's, we thought we better do it now. Only down side is there is less time to fish when you travel that far. Got grand slams on several days, though, so who can complain? A late June 7 day trip to BWCA with friends was a stark contrast of horrible weather, terrible fishing, tons of people, filthy campsites (some not all), and a vow to avoid BW if possible. I love the otter story, reminds me of a loon story, only I did not see her in time to get the hook away. Ended ok, but found that loons can be pretty vicious when trying to remove hooks from their mouth,lol!