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.  

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

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

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

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

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

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 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