Boundary Waters/Quetico Spring Trip for 2008

May 31st - June 7th, 2008
At the outfitter. This was our towboat we used to get to Prarie Portage. CBO runs a GREAT show, and their boats are fantastic. The tow driver was very attentive, and had all of our stuff loaded before we even finished breakfast. CBO is a fantastic outfitter.
Me and MadNat at the outfitter. This is CBO's Dock. They have a GREAT facility, and I will continue to use them when I visit Ely.
Me and Martinson at CBO. We had a GREAT time together on this trip. Martinson has been on many fishing trips with me. Mostly on local KY and Indiana Lakes. This was his first of many BWCA and Quetico Trips.
Did I mention the bugs were bad. This was the first trip in many moons where we actually had to use bugnets. While I didnt' use mine but 1 time, MadNat and Dave used them quite frequently.
Martinson with a decent 4lb largemouth. We caught TONS of decent fish on this trip. I'd say many smallies were over 3lbs, some over 4lbs, and a few pushing 5lbs. This was one of the best trips for SIZE, and not too bad for numbers either.
MadNat complained a couple times about the cold. This trip was what I expected weather-wise, but it ended up being a little cool for her. She actually ended up using gloves most of the trip. but that didn't effect her ability to slay the smallies.
Natalie took this really neat picture of an eagle. We saw lots of wildlife.......eagles, squirrels, chipmunks, and a moose calf. AND lots fo fish.
Camp on Inlet Bay. This is QPassages tarp, and I'm really GLAD I took it. I've taken a tarp a couple times, but this is the first time I actually needed it. We got rain 3 days, and I managed to use the tarp to cook and get out of the weather.
Me, putting on my boots at the Inlet Bay campsite. All in all, this site was pretty good, but the canoe landing needed a lot to be desired.
This is Martinson in front of his new Big Agnes Seed 3 tent. This tent is BOMBPROOF. It was a FANTASTIC purchase, and I believe I might get one myself.
Martinson with a pretty decent smallie. Like I said, we caught TONS of fish on this trip. Great for Size, and not too bad for numbers.
MadNat with a decent smallie. She ended up catching 42 smallies, a few walleye, and a few northern pike.
Me in my "wrap around kitchen". Martinson found a couple boards, and he put this kitchen area together. We cooked, cleaned, and ate here, and it turned out to be a GREAT little area. Better than most campsites.
Another picture of Martinson's BOMBPROOF Big Agnes Seed 3 Tent. I say bombproof, because we had 3 really rough days of weather, and this tent didn't take on any water, and handled the STRONG winds. GREAT TENT.
My dependable Eureka Apex 3XT. This tent has been on 15 trips, and is due for replacement. While the tent is still GREAT, is is showing signs of wear, and may need to be put out to pasture. I still may use it locally, but I think the BA Seed 3 will be on my wishlist.
Me and Nat, sitting around camp. She had a FANTASTIC time, and I will continue to take her, as long as she wants to go.
Cherry Cheesecake anyone........Desserts in the Q are really easy to do. We take the Jiffy Nobake stuff, and they work pretty dang good. Last year, in the VERY HOT weather, was the only time I had them not set up. We took 3 desserts, and they were GOOD.
Martinson on one of our rainy days, with a MONSTER smallie. This was another of the 4+lb smallies that we caught on this trip.
Madnat.........Did I say she had a GREAT time. She's spirting the Marmot Precipt raingear, which performed significantly better than my Cabelas Rainy River raingear. I need to purchase her some new pants, because hers were a little short, overall the gear held up GREAT.
Can we say.......BIG SMALLIE. Yet another PIG. Notice the belly. All the smallies we caught were spawners, and had HUGE guts.......Kind of like me.
MadNat at the canoe........Taking a break from a 10 hr day in the canoe. This is on the sandy beach at the back of Inlet Bay on Basswood. We used this sandy beach as a get out and stretch point many times during this trip.
MadNat with a nice smallie.
Martinson with the largest northern of the trip. I want to say this was a 10lber, but it really was around 8 or so. I don't know......I didn't have my digital scales working, and I didn't measure it...........I know it was HEAVY and the largest of the trip.
Me.......and another LARGE smallie.
Me, and a Bungee-dealy-bob ZINGER. I left my zinger at home, so I took a BDB apart, put one end through the hole on my clippers, and the other through the split ring on my mini swiss army knife. WORKED GREAT, and another fine use for the Bunjee-dealy-bob. Old Scout would be proud.
Another big smallie.
And ANOTHER.
And yet another. Tired of seeing BIG smallies yet?
Me, MadNat and Dave at our inlet bay campsite. We really had a GREAT time on this trip. I hope to take Dave again sometime. MadNat will be going anytime she wants. SHE was a TROOPER. No complaints.
Enjoying a campfire. There's something about a campfire up there. I think they go hand in hand. This one was after a LONG day of paddling, and it was a little cool.
Enjoying the campfire.
Martinson sitting around the campfire.
MadNat, writing in her journal. She loves to write, and I'm sure these memories will last forever. I sure LOVE taking here up there. SHE is a GREAT kid, and loves canoeing, camping, fishing, and the outdoors.
MadNat and Martinson at camp.
What a FANTASTIC sunset.
The Weapons.........We took 2 poles apiece, and 1 spare, for a total of 7. Now, that might have been overkill, but I think not. MadNat and used all 4 poles each time we went fishing, and I think Martinson used his 3 on every outing.
Another pic of the Tarp. This time, AFTER all the cooking gear was moved there. 3 days of rain will do that to you.
Me and MadNat...........the last night of the trip. I've had GREAT fishing partners, and canoe partners, but MadNat is by far........MY FAVORITE.
MadNat at Prarie Portage.......waiting on the tow. I wonder what she is thinking about. I know, she's already trying to figure out if Mom will let her out of school for 1 week in the fall to head to Kawnipi with me. I'd love to take here along, but I don't think it will happen. Maybe.
GeoFisher, with Mark from CBO. CBO does a FANTASTIC job.
This page was last updated on: December 23, 2022