Throughout the year the most common question I get about wildlife and safety is what to do if you encounter bears in the BWCA. The concern is funny to us because we live here and know there is nothing to worry about but we’ll go ahead and try our best to set you at ease. First off, it is highly...
Lake Trout Dreams Over the years I have come to recognize Clearwater Lake as a fickle temptress for BWCA fishing. Every spring afternoon she beckons me to continue my eternal investigation into the whereabouts of the furtive Lake Trout that call her waters home. I have returned fish-less more times than I would like to divulge and every time the...
The totem pole at Clearwater Historic Lodge is a magnet for that one last family photo before heading home; almost on a daily basis people are posing next to the pole for a photo opportunity. Seventy years ago Bill Needham, already famous for his diamond willow furniture and intricate hand drawn maps of the area, presented a hand carved and...
There are moments of discovery in life that make you question your decision making abilities. While most habits are hard to break these discoveries immediately take the place of your old ways and make you wonder why you ever did it that way to begin with. Everyone has these moments I am sure, one of mine was discovering the hammock...
What is the best footwear for portaging and camping in the Boundary Waters? This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get here at Clearwater Canoe Outfitters. The short and easy answer is whatever you are most safely comfortable in, but if it’s your first time in the BWCA you may not know what makes you comfortable. Like...
It has been four years since I was lucky enough to spend a month paddling and portaging my favorite place on Earth, Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario Canada. Every fall I cherish those memories on the water more and more, and am grateful I spent the time to record my experiences so I can continue to revisit and share them....
West Pike Lake is a long, narrow and beautiful lake which can be accessed from both east and west ends. The quickest way in is from Clearwater Lake using the 214 rod portage. Fishing on the lake is predominantly for Lake Trout and Smallmouth Bass, but recently large Northern Pike have been caught. The lake is popular in the spring...
Mountain Lake is a big, beautiful, and sometimes dangerous Canadian border lake. Its massive length gives way to stunning views, but can also make for difficult to downright treacherous paddling conditions on windy days. Compared with other lakes in the area during the spring, Lake Trout fishing on Mountain is second to none. Although the size of trout in Mountain...
Due to its distance from roads, difficult access portages and lack of day trip paddlers Moose Lake is one of the most remote lakes in the eastern section of the Boundary Waters; even in the heat of summer. Its remoteness gives it a more wild feel, and allows for better opportunities to catch larger than average Northern Pike, Lake Trout...
Pine Lake is one of the largest and most stunning lakes in the area. It offers abundant fishing opportunities for Walleye, Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass. Access to Johnson Falls and the Border Route Trail make it an excellent place to basecamp. The 10 campsites that line the shores of this massive lake are amongst the best in the area....
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