We've got our week locked in now at work for a mid-September entry. Thanks for the feedback everybody. Mid-May would have been nice because I woudn't have to wait as long to get back to Quetico, but I also believe middle September to be the best choice, given the three guys going along have never been there, and would probably enjoy the September time frame much more.

Have been into Q three times in your timeframe, once late May (Memorial Day) and twice in September (Labor Day). Luckily had very good weather each time. Water temps key in where to find and how to fish. We had great SB topwater action in late May, jigs and cranks in September. The water was still cold in May and still warm in early September. Not many people in the park on any of the trips which used Stanton, Nym, and Beaverhouse entry/exits. Walleye fishing was more consistent in September, seemed like fish were much more concentrated once found. Any time you can get in the park is the best time to go but as several previous posts said, be prepared.

IMO, Overall for fishing, camping, and general comfort, I'd think your group would like mid-Sept over mid-May.

Went in on May 16 a few years ago through Beaverhouse. Ice had only been off a few days and found small snow patches in the flooded portages and big ice chunks along the shoreline. We were cold all week and resorted to laying on the rocks to get some comfort and relief when the sun did finally shine. I was glad to have a warm sleeping bag, winter coat and knit hat along, which I ended up sleeping in every night night. Saw sputtering snowflakes one day, rain, wind, some sun and warming temps on the last day of our trip. We saw some amazingly large pike in the shallow but only got the a tiny one to bite, it was 38". Fishing was a little slower than we hoped for, but we caught some big SM and a few bigger LT and only enough W for dinner. We managed to eat all of our food before the end of the trip, probably due to the cold, and our last dinner was only fish (N, SM, W) and some dried fruit. With my limited experience I much prefer Sept. over May.

May can be beautiful too... We had one May trip 20 years ago where it was warm & sunny all week, no bugs, great fishing...then the wind changed direction & we paddled out in a blizzard!  September is not a bad plan!

Thanks for all the input gentlemen. Based on all your comments, we've gone back to the drawing board to find a different week. I didn't realize the walleye opener wasn't until the third Saturday in May. I really don't want half of our six night stay to be missing walleyes at the dinner table. We found one week in mid-September where it might work out for all four of us, so we are going to try to run with that option. Thanks again.

One variable you have to consider is whether the ice will be out.  It wouldn't be the first time there was ice on the lakes in Mid May.  Plus capsizing in mid May can be life threatening.  You really have to respect the cold water as it can be deadly.
Westwood

The middle to the end of May time slot was what I used for several years.  All the observations are accurate, in fact some of my best smallie and walleye action have been in that time slot (although, as mentioned, walleye can be slow).  If you are thinking slam, you probably need to drag a lure Burke, Sunday and Agnes (if you are headed THAT way).  I've had no luck with lakers on Kawnipi.  But hope that the wind is at your back going up/down Agnes ... that is a long haul into the wind (even worse if its raining all day).  I've done very well with white jig heads and twister tail grub bodies.  I'd go with chartreuse for the second color if it were me.  Of course, hard baits (e.g., yozuri, walleye runners) work well too.  If you catch smallies on rock piles, you could also go with spinners.

Swimming (intentional or otherwise) isn't much fun this time of year.  I'd take a solar shower or heat water on the campfire for personal use ... even washing your hands in lake water can be numbing after a while.  Wet footing is also less comfortable.  Good rain gear is a must in this time slot (both for wind and rain).

Mid-May with a mid-week entry ... you probably will see few people.  But, you are likely to still be in the permit window by then. 

All-in-all, I like being in the woods as they are waking from the "winter nap."  Unless you pick an exceedingly busy spot, you hare very likely to the be first campsite site user of the year.

dd

If you plan on going up the Falls Chain to get to Kawnipi, I'd ask for feedback on traveling that route during very high water. Might be dangerous?? The smaller creeks should be in great shape to travel though. Ask some more experienced fisherman, but I'd think smaller lakes should turn on sooner.
You'd be safer, but slower, travelling smaller lakes IMO.

Quote:


I will see your "possibility" and raise it to guarantee.  We trip a lot in mid-May, specifically if there is a new moon around this time.  It's our favorite season to fish in fact. 

Generally speaking:
Water temps are typically in the high 50's to mid 60's.
LT are cruising below the surface.
SM are pre-spawn (feeding frenzy)
NP are shallow
W can be hit or miss but usually on the bigger side