Winter camping/ice fishing trips into the back country

[Bufflehead]

 Anybody into expolring the back country of the BWCA or Voyaguers National park in the winter?

 I just got off the phone with the Voyaguers National Park Service.

 I ran a question by them, woundering what the rules were on bringing a portable ice house and snowmobiling into the back countries remote lakes  fishing and camping.

 They said..not a problem on marked snowmobile trails that lead into or crossing these remote lakes.

 I said to myself..HMmmmmm, sounds exciting too me. I like getting away from people and fishing where very few go.

 I'm thinking of putting together a trip for next winter.

 Ya, thats a long way off but I would like some time to put together a good equipment list and a plan on what to bring.

 I have the spots already picked out.

 Anybody else do this kind of stuff?

[jigglestick]

Dr. Bob is our resident bwca guru.
he has been in there many times both summer and winter.
he isnt at the computer much tese days 9family situations require 99% of his attention right now), but he will be back. he was just in here the day before yesterday?

[DaveO]

Yea I used to do it when I was allot younger,,,,,,,,used to dogsled in for around 7 days.

guess I had no idea we could use the snow machine..

One thing forsure,,,good eqpt. is well in need...
I may be up to it my next year.

[Bufflehead]

 Lets keep this idea in the back of our heads and see how things go for a trip next winter.

 I was planning on getting the 6 person sleeper fish trap to go with my Fish trap Voyaguer.  A person could sleep and fish at the same time.

 This would give a person time to explore the lakes. see what kind of structure and depth a person dealing with, along with what types of fish are in these lakes.\

 Weather could play a roll too. Who nows what kind of weather you could run into next year.

 This years weather would be great, except the ice is not safe and you can't get there right now

[DaveO]

Thats easy,,,next year at this time it will be 20 degrees and we will have 27" of snow.

Anything else you would like to know?

[ChrisWallace]

I snowshoe into the BWCAW every year for Lakers. Its a riot. Did the Duncan/Daniels/Rose chain for three years and this year we are doing the Gillis rock area.

This will be my fourth year in doing so.

I am a chaperone for Andover High Schools Outdoor Adventures trip up there every year. Yup, I am in charge of Brandon, and if he gets out of hand, I guess I really dont care, I just have to make sure they catch fish and no one dies. Sounds easy enough but getting brandon to stay alive and catch fish is a full time job.  :P 

When your snoeshoeing in, you learn to pack light. Somehow clothes is always sacrificed for space to put an extra rod, a flasher and a tackle box into my polk.

Its an absolute blast. I should try and find some pictures from that trip.

The lakers are on my CWO.com page but the other pic, while who knows.

[Lee Borgersen]

Anybody into exploring the back country of the BWCA or Voyageurs National park in the winter?

Sounds like an awesome trip into Voyageurs National Park. Unfortunately you can't use snowmobiles or power augers in the BWCA area.

[Bufflehead]

Quote
" Unfortunately you can't use snowmobiles or power augers in the BWCA area."

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 Thats why I desided on Voyageurs, the sles will get a person way into the hard to get to spots(Secret..Shh)

 

[ChrisWallace]

Quote
" Unfortunately you can't use snowmobiles or power augers in the BWCA area."

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 Thats why I desided on Voyageurs, the sles will get a person way into the hard to get to spots(Secret..Shh)

 

Alot farther to walk than when it breaks down.

[DaveO]

you don't have to worry about it Chris,,,,your not leaching on one of our good sleds anyhow :-*

[Bufflehead]

Quote
" Unfortunately you can't use snowmobiles or power augers in the BWCA area."

---------------------

 Thats why I desided on Voyageurs, the sles will get a person way into the hard to get to spots(Secret..Shh)

 

Alot farther to walk than when it breaks down.

 

 NEVER!!!! those are the old days sleds.

 These days, they are more of a turn key operation and all brands are good.

 Simple maintance every year and they last for years

[ChrisWallace]

you don't have to worry about it Chris,,,,your not leaching on one of our good sleds anyhow :-*

If I wanted to hear snowmobiles, I would just snowshoe out on mille lacs or rush lake.

If I wanted to be really cheap, I would just go to crooked lake.

[Bufflehead]

 Who said you were comming with anyways LOL!

 Ease up Chris, no need to get wound up.

 If you don't like hearing snowmobiles, just stick to the BWCA

 I like snowmobilis and most the folks riding them are some of the nicest people you could meet

 To each his own

[ChrisWallace]

I got a bad sense of humor man, I have no problems listening to them whine. 

I do a little bit of trail riding in the winter, my family does the wyoming/yellowstone/idaho thing every year.

[Fishahollik]

So I can tag along with my wheeler as long as we stay to the lakes I guess. MN doesn't like wheelers. But I'd be up for it.

[Bufflehead]

This from Fishaholik after speeking to the park service

"I called the visitors center at the Rainy lake entry yesterday and spoke with a ranger. His reply this.
"Technically, ATV's are not aloowed in the park but if you kept it on the surface of the lake you probably wouldn't have a problem from anyone provided you could prove this. This means you would need to drive it thru the narrows between the lakes which is typically unsafe ice. Additionally, gas powered augers are also technically illegal but they have let those slide as they are so widespread. They have also allowed chainsaws for cutting spear holes. He said he would reccomend borrowing or renting a snowmobile as he cannot say for certain how other rangers would react to seeing an ATV on Sandpoint or Namakan and thinks many would assume you came across park land to get there. Thus you may be ticketed or you may not."