I have been a Kawnipi fisherman for 25 years and last year made a trip to Brent Lake via Zups (Crane, Lac La Croix, Bottle portage, Gardner Bay...to Brent...return by way of Argo, Roland... back to Bottle portage) a nice 10 day trip with great fishing. Maybe even better than Kawnipi.

Can anybody recommend a 10 day route from Ely up to this northeast part of Quetico (Brent Lake)? Crane Lake was nice but I am partial to paddling out of the Ely area.  

I've been on Brent several time and all but once was a loop out of Moose Lake "Ely".

The best route would be up thru Burke, North Bay, Isabella Creek to Side then hop thru Sarah, McIntyre to Brent.  We usually tow to PP and can be on Brent early afternoon the second day.

If you're looking for some solitude loop out thru Suz, Burt, Marj, Joyce to Kahshahipiwi.  Easy 10 day loop with several options for fishing and changing your route.  Toughest portage would be the one into Kahshahpiwi.  From here you can loop out thru McNeice, head south to Side or head for the S Chain if you have more time.

qp

QPassage wrote on Jan 1^st, 2008 at 1:30am:

The best route would be up thru Burke, North Bay, Isabella Creek to Side then hop thru Sarah, McIntyre to Brent.  We usually tow to PP and can be on Brent early afternoon the second day. If you're looking for some solitude loop out thru Suz, Burt, Marj, Joyce to Kahshahipiwi.  Easy 10 day loop with several options for fishing and changing your route.  Toughest portage would be the one into Kahshahpiwi.   qp

I'm taking this loop, as QP specified, beginning about the middle of May.  I haven't decide yet whether or not to add William and Conmee before Suzanette and the exit of Kash will be, in part, a function of water level (heading south from Kash to Side last year presented some low water difficulties).

If you want an overview of the route when I return, drop me an IM or e-mail.  I'll be back home before June 1.

dd

Inukshuk, Denton Doc:

Thanks for the help on a route from Ely to Brent. I am taking some 1st timers from Denver, CO...would the loop you guys are suggesting be too tough on some 45 year old 1st timers? I would have no problem with the paddle or portages . How would you rate the loop as far as difficulty? Also, since I am going over the 4th of July...how much of a problem is the low water from Kahshahipiwi to Side...is it a common occurence to have low water?

I went up to Comnee last year and did fairly well for walleye size and numbers near rocky, windswept points.Campsites are below average though.

Any fishing tips for walleye or smallmouth on your suggested route? Which lakes do you like for walleye, smallies?





Any fishing tips for

Wally13 wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2008 at 5:55am:

I am taking some 1st timers from Denver, CO...would the loop you guys are suggesting be too tough on some 45 year old 1st timers? I would have no problem with the paddle or portages . How would you rate the loop as far as difficulty? Also, since I am going over the 4th of July...how much of a problem is the low water from Kahshahipiwi to Side...is it a common occurence to have low water?

I'm over 60 and paddling solo (which means I carry ALL of my own gear).  I sure hope a 45 year old could make this.  My rough estimate of difficulty at this stage is perhaps on the high side of average; maybe bordering on moderate.  Some "flat-landers" complain about the mountain goat portage between Isabella and Side (connecting a couple of no-name lakes), but folks from Denver should be able to laugh this one off if they've done any of the trails beyond the front range.

I've not done all parts of this loop yet, but the only ones that look to present any significant difficulties (based on experience/research) are those portages into/out of Kash.  I would say that it is not typical to have an issue with the water level between Kash and Side.  I've done this one before and, although the put in (north end) tends to be a bit muddy ... at least it not typically a bog.  

One variation of this route I'm trying this year is to take a tow to Lincoln Island.  This will allow me to skip the Burke portages (at least going in ... I'll likely do them coming out).  Hopefully, this will put me on either Side or Sarah on Day #1.

Like I said, I can give you an update on the route after June 1 ... but you'll probably need to remind me (IM or e-mail).  Hopefully, we won't see low water in July ... I'll be back in the Q again then ... northern route trip.

dd

Porterme-

I've paddled this route often, it is absolutely beautiful and offers good fishing through the entire circle. Should not be too tough for 45 year old first-timers unless you go gear crazy and have to triple portage. The first day or so is the most difficult, lots of portages not much paddling. Toughest portages are from Side to Sarah, the 2nd portage from Joyce to Kahshahpiwi, and the portage out of the south end of Kahshahpiwi if the beaver dam is still blown. It is a rugged route, if you don't rush and travel light it is a comfortable ten day trip with at least one if not two or three layover opportunities.

Fishing: Lakers on north end of Sarah, east end of Brent, all of Kahshahpiwi & McIntyre.

Bass on Sarah and Kahsh Shores, West Brent, anywhere on the Dark(y) River.

Of course Brent has every type of fish in size and occasional abundance.

Walleyes everywhere, but harder to fool on the clearer lakes.

DD- getting dropped at Lincoln will you head through Nest or North Bay?

Solus wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2008 at 5:16pm:

DD- getting dropped at Lincoln will you head through Nest or North Bay?

Not really looking forward to doing that nasty bog between Point and the no-namer just north, so I'll likely do North Bay to Isabella ... more paddle, easier/fewer portages (at least going in and fully loaded).  Hey.  Maybe I'll even catch a break and be able to paddle thru the short lift over getting out of North Bay into Isabella Creek.  

I guess I could go Isabella from Point, although it was pretty well overgrown the last time I was thru there.  Of course, the Nest route would be a good option if the wind is up on my put-in day.

Which Side to Sarah portage do you use?  The more direct "hilly" route or the longer "stream side" route?

dd

DD- Usually go through in fall so I take the hilly route, not enough water for the stream. For some reason when I'm soloing that portage seems very long and tough, might be just in my head, it's always at the end of the day no matter where I'm coming from.

DD and Solus:

Thanks for the info. Since both of you guys are solo canoeists...can I ask what type of solo canoe do you use and what do you like and don't like about it? Ever use a kayak paddle with it?

I once took my 18 ft Wenonah kayak up Prairie Portage thru Agnes to Kawnipi and back and had a lot of fun. Fishing out of a kayak worked out well and I could get on big lakes like Agnes and Kawnipi and fish when the wind kept canoes confined to windsheltered bays. One drawback was that it was heavier than most kevlar solo canoes and storage size was limited.

W13

wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2008 at 8:02pm:

DD and Solus: Thanks for the info. Since both of you guys are solo canoeists...can I ask what type of solo canoe do you use and what do you like and don't like about it? Ever use a kayak paddle with it? I once took my 18 ft Wenonah kayak up Prairie Portage thru Agnes to Kawnipi and back and had a lot of fun. Fishing out of a kayak worked out well and I could get on big lakes like Agnes and Kawnipi and fish when the wind kept canoes confined to windsheltered bays. One drawback was that it was heavier than most kevlar solo canoes and storage size was limited. W13

My solo craft is a Wenonah Prism (16.5 feet).  As for your questions ... looks like you already know the answers.

Pros: Light weight (I've got the 34 pound kevlar ultralite version), reasonable storage capacity (I keep a low profile with almost nothing showing above the gunnale line) and "comfortable" seating--with enough room to wiggle around a bit.

Cons: It will handle a reasonable chop, but when the rollers start and the wind is up, you give serious consideration to staying put.  It's probably a little less responsive on turns (since you are steering from the middle), but I rigged a rudder for mine for big water and quartering winds.

I've tried a double blade with my solo canoe, but I feel more comfortable with a single blade (bent shaft).

dd

I paddle a Wenonah Advantage, the little brother of the Prism- same length, a touch narrower and much shallower. Wenonah doesn't make it anymore.
Pros: Fast and light

Cons: Spooky in big waves unless headed straight into them.

Like the good Doctor I am fond of the single blade bent, I've used the 2 blade but am fond of the single blade and switching sides.

DD: The Isabella stream should be navigable in May. Snowpack is very good this year.

A picture of my steed

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