Ya, the northern part has always produced bear stories. We once stopped at an island campsite on Batchewaung for lunch. Back in the woods we found most of a shredded food pack. As we left, we took one last look around for garbage or anything we might have forgotten. Right where we had been sitting, written in fist sized rocks in two foot tall letters was the word BEAR. It was so big no one noticed it at first. Just a reminder to hang or use bear barrels...

Nym is a busy entry and traffic continues heavy to Jessy. Day 1 destination? I once stayed up all night listening to a boreal chickadee's song on one of Jessy's well worn campsites. Unforgettable! To me there are more birds around there than other places up that far.

Traffic eases by Elizabeth. The portage isn't hard, just long enough to thin traffic. All along your route are good Walleye lakes. Walter has Lakers for variety, Northerns are everywhere and hit anything so fish for your favorites. The biggest ones are also partial to Walleyes on the stringer!

Second day into Lonely seems right, weather permitting. Try around that NE island for good fishing and a campsite. I've never seen the unnamed lakes NE of that. They, and the stream look promising on the map... I'd be surprised if there wasn't a good trail up that way.

I've only looked at Draper - tall islands - pretty. Judging from the portage it is seldom visited. Keep the hill on your left, the put-in was quite mucky when I walked the trail. Too deep for my comfort being solo. It is said to hold lakers. If you visit, please let me know if it has a campsite on it or not.

I've never traveled three to a canoe, except once in a while on long daytrips. I know from experience that fishing is a pain for the stern paddler. There is limited casting area and the stringer always seems to be in your hand or in your way. I'd guess the middle isn't much better. If I wasn't sure I'd paddle bow I'd be looking hard for a fourth.

Posted by db on January 13, 2001 at 12:55