Jimbo wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2010 at 2:31pm:


I want to go on an adventure.........

Anybody that so wishes may fish in front of our campsite without suffering harassment or ridicule.

Of course, you'll likely have to travel a few hundred miles further north than you were planning to and THEN you will have to find us.  By the way, only 1-2 guys have been through the section where we're headed in the past 75-100 years but maybe you'll get lucky.  Chances are there will be a pink flag or flamingo marker of some sort out front... that should help distinguish us from all those other campers in this remote area of WCP.  

Should you manage ALL of that, feel free to paddle right up to the front of our campsite!  Fish all you want!  We'll even bring out a sample of whatever we're drinking.

*************************************
Solitude ranks high among the factors that influence where my paddling party trips.  I, for one, find myself tripping more & more off the beaten path each year.  Even those years when we take a fairly large contingent with us (5+ paddlers) we will split up on separate permits to minimize congestion & disturbing wildlife-spotting opportunities.  Last year I think we saw two other small canoeing parties in two weeks.

I understand the irritation that comes with paddlers right on top of you when you camp in the more-travelled parks.  I have definitely felt that.  I guess I came to the conclusion that my expectation in a well-travelled park was simply too high.  Rather, I decided to paddle where rules of etiquette aren't really necessary, mainly due to the fact there ain't anybody else around.

Such indulgence seems harder & harder to accommodate these days but it is still do-able.  When my sons reach my age, I'm not so sure....

Jimbo  

Don't even think about fishing in front of my campsite!
On my first trip to the BWCA I was taught to avoid occupied campsites, which includes campsites which you are not sure are occupied or not.  If you are paddling down the shoreline and you see on your map that a campsite is coming up, you paddle further out into the lake.  The idea is that people have come a long ways to have a "wilderness" experience and we should allow them to have that, or at least the illusion of wilderness, and not interrupt it with our presence.  If there are others around, don't be loud, be quiet.

Many times I have had fishermen anchor directly in front of my campsite less than 30 feet from shore.  A couple of times there were only two campsites on very large lakes and the people at the other campsite paddled all the way across the lake to anchor in front of my campsite.  No other place on the entire huge lake was good enough for them to fish at. And, these people never catch any fish in front of my campsite, so it's not like it's a hot spot.  This makes me furious. If you fish in front of my campsite, I will immediately get in my canoe and paddle out to you and ask you how many fish you are catching, I will tell you that I have fished and fished right where you are fishing and I didn't catch a thing.  I will harass you until you leave.

Do not bring a guitar because the sound travels across the water and you are forcing everybody camping on the same lake with you to listen to your music.  As with fishing by my campsite, I would yell loudly across the lake to request all my favorite songs and boo the songs you pick and generally harass you.

AH     NO

I guess came late to this one.   

Ancient_Angler wrote on Apr 24^th, 2010 at 4:27pm:


Kiss a frog and you get a prince.

Strangle a pig and you get solitude, a pest-free environment, & breakfast.

Take your pick.

Jimbo   

Quote:


Depends on whether you ar stationary or trolling.  No problem passing by, even slowly, passing by people is a normal experience.  Staying put (depending on how close) is rude.

Magic...

Our man Jimbo has some serious explaining to do. And I'm getting ready to finalize my check list for this spring. If I'm going to coach my rookie companion, I need details! I'm willing to learn, but I've never done this.

Tim

Ancient_Angler
I was wondering the same thing and where do you blow in to one of them. Jim needs to explain how this is done.

Magicpaddler

So, Jimbo...I assume you play the pig the same way the bagpipes are played. Tuck it under your arm and squeeze. I can imagine some secondary effects to the squeal.

Tim