Just back from Quetico.....MAN what a trip.

I literally got back from 20 hrs of driving about 3 hrs ago.....Still a little tired, but not too bad.

Any rate.....if you guys have never been, ONCE in your lifetime, you need to go. NEVER had I seen so many solid fish anywhere.

And get this. The Tuesday before we left, the ranger station was closed, due to ICE on the lake. 3 days later, the ice was off, and we were paddling into the park. We paddled all day Thursday, and fished our first day on Friday before Memorial Day. That Thursday morning, there was skim ice on all the ponds and standing water on the portages, and the day started at a brisk 26 degrees.

Friday was our first day fishing. I tied on a big hammer swimbait, and didn't put it down all week. We caught 57 smallies 20 or so northern pike, 10 or so walleye and a few lake trout all on that bad BIG HAMMER. This was all in about 45 degree water.

It warmed up all through the week, and by weeks end, there were serious numbers of BIG fish on leadin banks and cruising to the shallows, looking for where they would do their business.

On one particular point, on multiple days, we caught over 30 fish. My fishing partner ( someone from here) and I POUNDED the fish.

What an adventure.

Later,

Geo

Man that sounds awesome! I bet it feels hot as hell now after being in those cool temps and coming back to the muggy 80's.
So no mechanical breakdowns on this trip?? Seems like last trip you guys went through some trouble?

Geo, my neighbor took me and my cousin, back in1952. It was a long two day trip from Chicago. That was before spinning tackle came to be available to the public in this country. Not much of a selection of baits either. Pikie minnows and daredevils.We didn't fish for SMB only huge northern pike and lake trout.

[QUOTE=kygorski;515352]Geo, my neighbor took me and my cousin, back in1952. It was a long two day trip from Chicago. That was before spinning tackle came to be available to the public in this country. Not much of a selection of baits either. Pikie minnows and daredevils.We didn't fish for SMB only huge northern pike and lake trout.[/QUOTE]

Ah.......Saganaga. I'm headed there in August with my daughter and god daughter. I've been on that lake 20 or so times.

FUN, FUN...........If you're ever looking for an easy cabin type trip on Sag, checkout Voyageurs Canoe Outfitters on the end of the Gunflint Trail.....Sue and Mike Prohm are the BOMB......they are fantastic at the outfitting business, and their facilities are some of the best you will find.

[url=http://www.canoeit.com]BWCA, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters is a Boundary Waters Area Wilderness Canoe Outfitter and Gunflint Trail Lodge[/url]

My paddeling days are over! But it was a dream of mine. The closest I ever got again was lake of the woods. that was supposed to be"a trip of a lifetime" but the black flys and skeeters drove us out.

[QUOTE=kygorski;515376]My paddeling days are over! But it was a dream of mine. The closest I ever got again was lake of the woods. that was supposed to be"a trip of a lifetime" but the black flys and skeeters drove us out.[/QUOTE]

If you can manage a boat, you can do Sag or most of Sag on a boat, and the place above could do that.

[QUOTE=kygorski;515376]My paddeling days are over! But it was a dream of mine. The closest I ever got again was lake of the woods. that was supposed to be"a trip of a lifetime" but the black flys and skeeters drove us out.[/QUOTE]

Been there done that. The skeeters will just take a little blood but those black flies will take their pound of flesh.

[QUOTE=Tyme2fish;515381]Been there done that. The skeeters will just take a little blood but those black flies will take their pound of flesh.[/QUOTE]

Black flies were HORRIBLE.........around camp, breathing was tough without taking in a few. And cooking dinner was a whole other matter. WOW.

Later,

Geo

Great report I'm glad it was fun by all...fishing sounded awesome.

[QUOTE=GeoFisher;515312]I literally got back from 20 hrs of driving about 3 hrs ago.....Still a little tired, but not too bad.

Any rate.....if you guys have never been, ONCE in your lifetime, you need to go. NEVER had I seen so many solid fish anywhere.

And get this. The Tuesday before we left, the ranger station was closed, due to ICE on the lake. 3 days later, the ice was off, and we were paddling into the park. We paddled all day Thursday, and fished our first day on Friday before Memorial Day. That Thursday morning, there was skim ice on all the ponds and standing water on the portages, and the day started at a brisk 26 degrees.

Friday was our first day fishing. I tied on a big hammer swimbait, and didn't put it down all week. We caught 57 smallies 20 or so northern pike, 10 or so walleye and a few lake trout all on that bad BIG HAMMER. This was all in about 45 degree water.

It warmed up all through the week, and by weeks end, there were serious numbers of BIG fish on leadin banks and cruising to the shallows, looking for where they would do their business.

On one particular point, on multiple days, we caught over 30 fish. My fishing partner ( someone from here) and I POUNDED the fish.

What an adventure.

Later,

Geo[/QUOTE]
[URL]http://www.expeditionportal.com/mscott/Users/mattscott/buildthread/this%20thread%20is%20useless%20without%20pichers.jpg[/URL]