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2021 BWCA Trip
Post 09 Oct 2021, 21:05 • #1 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
I'm very late posting this. This trip occurred the first week in August, right before they closed the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA, Northern MN) due to forest fires. There was a fire ban, so no roasting marshmallows, but only smelled smoke from the fires on the first day. The portage entry/exits were very rocky due to water levels being 2-4 feet low, but on the plus side the portages themselves were bone dry and the bugs were non-existent. Also, the water was warm enough for swimming everyday. With the warm water, we were worried that the smallies would be down deep, but that was not the case - it was the best top water smallie fishing we ever had. Streamers would also work, but why throw streamers when they are hitting on top?

We put in on East Bearskin Lake off the Gunflint Trail and made a 5 day loop going through 10 lakes.

My daughter paddling her Bell Magic - only 26 lbs!


My daughter and wife paddling our other craft - a Wenonah Spirit II - 42 lbs. Nice to portage!


Long portages can be hard!


So it is nice to find a good campsite.

Kick back and relax.


Take a much needed shower.


And get out for some evening fishing.





Thanks for looking!


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 09 Oct 2021, 21:14 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/16/05
Posts: 2537
Location: Georgia
Thanks for sharing! Nice to see regular trips keep going.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 09 Oct 2021, 23:21 • #3 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/02/16
Posts: 515
Location: Georgia
What an amazing family trip! That’s not a tiny smallmouth you’re holding. Were you fishing the Fenwick 806-4?


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 03:46 • #4 
Guide
Joined: 03/12/15
Posts: 269
Location: US-CT
I am so jealous. thanks for sharing and congrats on a great trip.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 04:44 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/09/10
Posts: 1355
Location: US-CA
Nice trip!
Thanks for the pics.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 09:21 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Thanks guys! El Duderino, that was the biggest smallie of the trip and my daughter is holding the smallest. All in all, they trended toward the bigger one. My daughter fished a FF806-4, I was using a FF856-5. Fenwicks are awesome and their pack rods are hard to beat!


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 10:30 • #7 
Guide
Joined: 02/18/18
Posts: 276
Location: US-TX
Well done...what a nice campsite...and adventure. Thank you for sharing.
Carl


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 10:44 • #8 
Master Guide
Joined: 05/08/06
Posts: 796
Location: RenoNV/FranklinWV
I always dreamed about doing that, how wonderful. That smallie, what a toad!


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 15:06 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/22/16
Posts: 1760
Location: SJC
Me, too. Wishlist material for sure. Someday ...


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 18:57 • #10 
Guide
Joined: 05/13/20
Posts: 250
Location: Lake Junaluska, NC
Thank you for sharing a great trip! I have to look up that Bell Magic now.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 19:51 • #11 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/19/14
Posts: 3924
Location: USA - Illinois
That 5 lb.+ Smallmouth is a real treasure, just as I'm sure your BWCA trip and the many memories are. Well done indeed Sir!


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 10 Oct 2021, 20:42 • #12 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/27/14
Posts: 1501
Location: ON, Canada
I love your annual trip reports! Grew up in Northern MN, and these get me all nostalgic.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 11 Oct 2021, 00:59 • #13 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 03/30/09
Posts: 1525
Location: Hamilton,Ontario,Canada
I worked in the mines at Atikokan back in the 60s but I never did get to fish the Boundry waters.For sure they are some of the best smallmouth waters in existence.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 11 Oct 2021, 07:49 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Thanks again everyone!

MtPisgah - I should mention that Bell Canoes is now Northstar Canoes (long story). They are still made in MN by Ted Bell and the Magic is the one holdover from Bell Canoes, which should tell you something. My daughter and I "test drove" a lot of solo canoes, but there was something about the Magic - it tracks so straight, but is still responsive to corrective strokes. I guess you could say it is "magic."


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 11 Oct 2021, 11:01 • #15 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/18/12
Posts: 1712
Location: Bozeman, MT
KOOL!


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 11 Oct 2021, 12:28 • #16 
Guide
Joined: 10/06/14
Posts: 308
Location: US-MN
Looks like you had a wonderful trip! That big one is a hawg! Nice fish, my man!


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 12 Oct 2021, 23:11 • #17 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/11/14
Posts: 1784
Location: urban Colorado
terrific, thank you..

we didn't make it out for our annual BWCA trip this year sadly, missed it something awful. My son at least did a cold spring trip. He's been chasing a big pike on the fly for years, finally got it..



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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 13 Oct 2021, 10:35 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/26/14
Posts: 3578
Location: US-MN
Hey Doug,

Sorry you didn't get up there this year. Nice pike! My son is heading up there this weekend, hoping for some hungry pike. A couple years ago, he was up there at ice out and got a monster laker on the fly.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 13 Oct 2021, 11:31 • #19 
Sport
Joined: 08/18/21
Posts: 31
Location: Southern Maine
I hope to do a similar trip someday as well. Thanks for sharing and nice boats.


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Re: 2021 BWCA Trip
Post 13 Oct 2021, 12:00 • #20 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/09/09
Posts: 2796
Location: US-NM
Enjoyed the pictures.........Thanks Aurelio


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