Just back from Minnesota

[Pat Smith]

I grew up in MN and just got back from a family vacation. I couldn't take my Moken with me but my uncle purchased a pair of real cheap sit-in kayaks. I borrowed one and headed into the BWCA for a few hours by myself. If you don't know about the BWCA you need to look it up, a really special place on this planet, Basically it is a string of lakes set aside for canoeing and kayaking with no motors or sails or any other type of contraption.

In about 4 hours of fishing I caught 6 good sized small mouthed bass and two small walleyes. I had hooked into two much larger fish but due to the fact I was using OLD, Light line (6 lb test I think and really dry rotted). I lost them, their fight was fun though as they were able to go on a nice run against the drag before the line caught a tooth or rock or something.

All in all It was a really good time.

[Mark]

I was intrigued by your description so I looked up BWCA on-line.

Absolutely beautiful.

[DonV]

I was considering vacationing in Minnesota last year and happened into seeing some information on the BWCA. Looks like a lovely place. Minnesota in general seems to be a great for kayaks. I'm envious.

[Pat Smith]

It is a dream of mine to get some solid Kayak fishermen, load up the kayaks on a trailer and drive to Northern Minnesota. Spend 5 or so days exploring the wilderness up there and catch a TON of fish of all types. It takes 30 hours to drive from the balt area, but with 3 people driving we cold go straight through.. of course it is 30 hours back wasting 4 vacation days in travel.. but it is still a dream of mine.

[DonV]

It is a dream of mine to get some solid Kayak fishermen, load up the kayaks on a trailer and drive to Northern Minnesota. Spend 5 or so days exploring the wilderness up there and catch a TON of fish of all types. It takes 30 hours to drive from the balt area, but with 3 people driving we cold go straight through.. of course it is 30 hours back wasting 4 vacation days in travel.. but it is still a dream of mine.

Quite a drive, I had already plugged in the route after reading your post has me thinking about it again. I definitely want kayak access if I visit.

[Pat Smith]

You can fly up there and rent all the gear you need including camp food from a place called Clearwater Outfitters (on Clearwater lake). but they only have canoes.. and we all know that canoes are NOT kayaks, and kayaks are NOT fishing kayaks.

[imagine29028]

Fwiw...for those around here, Maine offers much of the same scenery and fishing, with a much shorter drive. Probably get to Maine from Bmore in 14 hrs? Its 10ish to central New Hampshire.

Maine has a lot of smallish lakes that are great for kayaks...many undisturbed. Its a bucketlister for me def.

[icanoe]

I get 20 hours from DC on google maps. Still a long drive. I've driven with a buddy to Utah for elk. About the same distance. Had grand plans of driving through. Easier said than done.

[Mark]

Maine is indeed beautiful. I've fished for SM bass on a few desolate lakes there. Some are so isolated it's almost eerie. But if you go at the right time, the black flies will keep you company!

[Pat Smith]

I drove straight through from Portsmouth VA to Duluth MN a couple times.. I was in my early 20s and all Gorked out on Ephedrine.. but I did it. These days it would kill me I think.
When Googling you have to tell it you are going to "Grand marais" MN.