I've paddled Rainy River...fishing is ok, a lot of boat traffic though, especially as you get closer to the lake. I don't recommend Lake of the Woods though, unless you are way up on the Canadian side thats full of islands. The US side is pretty much a giant open basin. It can make 21' powerboats think twice, in a canoe or kayak its suicide.  The boats that do run the river are anywhere from john boats with a ten horse on the back up to the big charter boats (think ocean going charter boats) They cruise up and down the river, but usually only at 8:00 am and about 5pm or so. The private boats are usually pretty good about slowing down, but not always. There is a lot to see and explore however. 

If you go, let me know how it went!


I almost forgot!   My profile pic is a Northern I got in the last hour of my trip there last summer. I wasn't paddling, but it was still a good time.  That fish was taken pretty much at the last outfitter/fish camp before the lake.

I paddled some of Namakan in a kayak back in 2000. Ash River to Namakan Island area, a nice and easy 5-day fishing trip. Boat traffic was minimal once we left the landing area, as chandasue said. Definitely an A+ paddle trip, I have plans to return one of these days. Lots of smallmouths, a few walleyes, and one 6-7 lb. northern that took me for quite a ride. I don't recall there being a metal bear box at our camp, but that could just be my memory failing me.

Kabetogama would be okay on a nice day, if you avoid the big water. I didn't paddle it, but some friends and I rented a Lund and island-camped back in 2002. I'd have to look up exactly where we were on the lake, but it would have been a fine place for a kayak or a canoe.