I'd recommend Bob Cary's "The Big Wilderness Canoe Manual." 1983, Arco Publishing.   "Jackpine Bob" lived in Ely and was editor of the Ely Echo newspaper.  His book covers the basics, specifically focused on the BWCA Quetico experience.  I highly recommend it for an instruction and planning manual and to get pointers on canoeing, camping and fishing on the Border Lakes.

I've always thought Cliff an entertainer. Be sure to check out Bill Mason's ...of the paddle books. He was the real deal. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Those sound like a good start. 
... I just ordered them used from Amazon, so I'll report back after I get & read them.

Thanks!

Tom, I HIGHLY recommend Cliff Jacobsen's "Expedition Canoeing". As you know, Cliff has several different books in print, but many of them are shorter versions on various topics. Expedition Canoeing covers all of the bases in one volume. I believe there is now a second edition of this book in print too. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Ranger

Mk631,
I had done some canoe camping before I discovered the BW/Q, but it was only weekend river camping. You know...aluminum canoe, cooler the size of a freezer, lawn chairs, etc.

I read several books on canoe camping before my first trip, but the best one, IMHO, is "Canoe Country Camping" by Michael Furtman.

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It taught me everything I needed to know to do a 10 day fly-in solo trip in Quetico as my first trip. I highly recommend it.

Cliff's books had some good info too, but the "whole package" is in this one from Furtman.
CK

My last trip made me wish I'd been a Boy Scout as a kid.  I'm an adequate camper  -- we stay mostly warm & dry, have food to eat, don't break our gear & come back alive -- but it's not my strength & I spend way too much time setting up & tearing down.  Before next trip, I'd like to move past "adequate" and on to "halfway decent".

Toward this end, I'd like to do some reading & I'm looking for a recommendation for a good basic camping skills book &/or canoe camping skills books.

I've done some searching & have some ideas (Cliff Jacobson - which ones?), but I thought I should ask for recommendations from y'all on this one.

Thanks in advance!
-Tom

PS: a 2nd motivation for this is that even what I do know, I don't know well enough to communicate effectively to others (like my kids), so I need to know things well enough be able to teach others also.