This will be year 25 for the two of us. Always entered from French, Beaverhouse, or Cache Bay.  Always spent 10 - 12 days out.  Always eaten fish we caught each night. This time there are reports of high water, and a Polar Vortex on it's way.  Any suggestions or tips? Probably headed toward Rawn for starters this year.

Polar vortex? Who knew? When I think of masses of cold air I think of strong winds. When I think of strong winds I start thinking about smaller more protected waters. Who wants to be stuck in camp with cold winds that have 2 or 3 miles to gather steam before slamming into your site?

Time to step outside your normal routine. Pick a different area, make an adventure of it. Smaller, more protected water is the prescription I would advocate. The cooler temps will keep the bugs at bay. Keep an eye out for old trees which might come down in a blow.

Walleye dinners might have to be replaced with largemouth bass dinners. Don't cry, still tasty while out in the bush. Besides, they are a blast to catch on topwater lures.....have I mentioned using a Top Toad?

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I have three for you. Bring a tarp, a stove and something hot and easy like FD food. I've spent a lot of nights on Rawn over the years but one night probably stands out most in my mind because when we started going, I remember those three things were specifically frowned upon as not being manly enough for a group of three couples, at a time when French to Buckingham was three long travel days.

To me, noticing differences over the years is a large part of the adventure but if you two should happen to catch a LM Bass up in that corner of the park...

Enjoy the Quetico vortex as I have no doubt you will!

My introduction to Quetico was at the French lake put-in. Motors were banned and they had changed the level of the lake recently so as I paddled down river with people I barely knew, it literally looked like the intro to a horror film. It was all scary looking dead trees and mud banks. I wondered what I had gotten myself into and to top it off, there was a bloated moose carcass where it meets the lake. Oh, and did I mention the bugs yet?

Over the years that river has become a highlight of many trips and Mat makes an excellent point I've never thought of before. It makes sense to me at the moment anyway.