I'm going to the BWCA for the first time this year and would like to hear from experienced folks advice regarding gear...specifically clothing, footwear, and gear bag.  I will be traveling with a seasoned BWCA afficianado who is a great teacher, but believe it is useful to hear a variety of viewpoints from both men and women.

Thanks much!

To get a good answer, you need to ask a good question.  What you bring depends on the time of year.  You need to give more details before it pays to answer your question.

Westwood

The first list I was asked to follow is always a kick for me to look at. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) That was for the last 2-3 weeks in May. Season and duration matter as well as wether you are tripping or base camping. First and foremost bring a positive attitude.

Some general ideas:
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I'd also suggest having "seasoned BWCA aficionado" take a look at all your stuff. Throw some extra in the mix first so s/he can delete some stuff. Be sure to fight for what you feel you really need to be comfy. It's your first trip and everyone has different needs only you don't know yours yet. Don't be miserable to save a pound and some space. You can always refine on subsequent trips.

FWIW - All the women I've ever gone with love a sun (solar) shower.

what you need to bring depends of course on how the trip is set up - I'm reading your original post to mean that you are "coming along for the ride", rather than being a semi-independent trip participant.

if you are going with an experienced BWCA tripper, more likely than not, all that you will be asked to bring will be your own personal items, and will wind up packing along some of the "group" equipment.

if that is correct, then about all you might be bringing is the clothes you'll be wearing, raingear, a complete spare set of clothes including a pair of camp shoes, raingear, your own fishing gear, and most likely a good sleeping bag and sleeping pad; and "personal" stuff such as toothbrush, TP, bug dope, headnet, sucscreen, first aid kit, medication, spare glasses or contacts - anything you can't leave home without - and if any of that is essential (like you can't see at all without glasses), you must bring spares in case of loss or breakage.

"wetbooting", more commonly called "wetfooting" means that you will be stepping in the water to enter and exit the canoe as it floats near the landings - noone wants to trash tthier expensive kevlar canoe by dragging it on shore and getting out with dry feet.  often, the landing area at hte putin will not even offer a choice.

if you are expected to be semi-independent, then you'll need the whole "kit and kaboodle" (bring spare kaboodle) - break that down into the major "topics" -  - what do I need to bring to camp/sleep;  to cook and eat, to fish etc.

the gear lists are a big help as a starting point, and then refind from there

don't go undergunned in the sleeping bag or raingear area - those two tend to be the areas that can give you the most misery if you can't sleep warm enough or stay dry in cold windy conditions, and nobody is going to have spares for you to use.

search for and read the threads on here about packing, and take to heart the advise about keeping your sleeping bag and spare clothing dry by double or triple waterproofing your packs

there are a lot of other threads you can find with specifics on footwear and packs - unless your partner objects, any decent backpack will work if it is large enough for your gear - I'll recommend the OTB Abyss boots you'll find reference to, but there is a big variety of choices in any of those categories.  You might also watch the "classifieds" on here to see is anyone is selling a pack you might be interested in -  I recommend a pack that has a padded hipbelt and padded shoulder straps

My best advice-
     Listen to the group leader.  He/She will tell you what's needed.  Everytime I taken someone along, I give adivice (take this, not that...and so on). Most of the time they half-heartedly listen but still manage to take extra stuff, that ends up being an anchor. 

Have a great time!