Hello everyone. I am planning a trip into Quetico with three co-workers, but given the difficulties of all of us trying to get off work at the same time, it looks like we are going to have to enter the woods in the dead middle of May. I've been up there eight times, each and every time was in the middle of June. Can you guys tell me what I can expect going into the park on May 15th, in the middle of the week, with regards to canoe traffic and fishing. We will probably be base camping on Kawnipi for about four nights. Is the middle of May a bit early to expect to catch some fish dinners?

Everything depends on the weather as you well know. I always plan worst case scenarios.......Cold, windy, rainy is a distinct possibility. Everyone has wool undergarments, top notch raingear and glacier fingerless neophrene gloves if it were my group going in may.........A variety of good hats would also have to pass muster.....hats to sleep in, hats to paddle in the rain.......

What are the experience level of your group? Can they handle two or three days of cold rain? Do they have the right gear to stay safe from hypothermia? Will they have the right mental attitude if it gets nasty and stays nasty?

My planning would include a flexible time frame. Make sure your in a good position for departure especially if anyone has to be back at work on such and such a date. If your on big water and it gets snotty you might leave when you shouldn't........little margin for error in the cold water.

On the plus side (I am generally an optimist  ) if the weather is nice and the fish turn on you might have some of the best fishing of your life. Never know.........just be safe and plan for the worst is my advice.

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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

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

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.