Voyageurs National Park

[flemij1]

We are planning a trip to Voyageurs June 4-9. We will be taking two glass boats with 6 guys total and will camp at a 2-3 different campsites over the course of the trip. My buddy suggests we put in at Ash river.

Looking for suggestions and advice on any aspects of the trip: what lakes (Kab, Namakan, Rainy), fishing, campsites, gear, ect. We are experienced with BWCA canoeing so I figured we would pretty much duplicate the gear but go a little heavier with some additional comfort items.

I am concerned about rocks and beaching my Ranger at the campsites, so any advice on this front would be greatly appreciated. I will probably switch to an aluminum prop for the trip and carry a spare.

I have found a site with gps waypoints for the campsites and a bunch of hazards but I'm sure I will find many that are identified. You might find this site of interest for voyageurs waypoints:
http://www.nps.gov/voya/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Thanks

[dutchboy]

If you launch at Ash River you will need to portage the boats into Rainy. Same if you launch on Rainy you will portage into Kab. & Namikan. Their is a mechanical portage I'm not sure what they charge per boat, I'm sure somebody will hop on and clarify that part.

If you are a Walleye guy I would suggest Rainy. It is a hot lake right now with both numbers and size. If you stay on the West the water is a little bigger but nothing you won't be able to handle unless it really blows.

Kab. and Namikan have tons of shoreline also. Walleye fishing can be good, Pike is good and the Bass is alright to. If your group wants multi species for numbers this may be the route you want to go.

As far as jumping campsites. Sites can be hard to get. You should be OK for Thursday, you will be early enough. Before you pack up to move I would go find another camp site and leave a boat with 2 guys there to hold it. Go back and break down your camp and then move. You CAN NOT reserve sites anywhere in VNP. Sites will be very hard to find on the weekend.

Rocks.................very plentiful :) again pick your camp site carefully and you will be OK. I advise getting a chip for your GPS, it will be helpful. If you use caution when you get off the main "highways" you will be OK. Things are marked pretty well. If you want to be a "cowboy" and go racin' around bring several props, you will need them. :devil:

Another option is there is a state campground right across the street from the public access on the Ash River Trail. That always seems to have openings in it. Lots of tree's also.

I have a seasonal right on the Ash River Trail, just shout if you have any questions. :howdy:

You will have a great time!!:raisin:

[Nimstug]

Last summer the folks at Kettle Falls charged $30 for the portage (both ways), if you were not staying at the camp.

The "mechanical" portage is a Chevy pickup with a trailer equipped with two large rubber straps. Boats seem to self-center in the rig. About 3/4 mile from one ramp to the other.

I think they can handle up to a 19' boat, but you will have to confirm that. Something to consider.

We were there the last week of August and the walleyes were stacked on the reefs at the east end of Rainy.

Nimstug

The most important work you will ever do will be done within the walls of your own home.
-H.B. Lee

[JAK]

Are you sure you want to go to Voyager’s National park? There are very few fish to catch, it is extremely crowded, the scenery is terrible, and they have outlawed jet skis. ;)

The time you have chosen or just a week later is probably the best walleye fishing. Of course it depends on how the season progresses. I have fished and do fish all three lakes. Each has its time of year that has better fishing. During that timeframe I fish from mid Kabetogama to the west end of Kabetogama. Lots of walleye, with many being in the 19” – 23” range.

Many of the campsites on Kabetogama have docks. They have been adding docks to all of the campsites as time and money has allowed. I would expect that is true on Rainy and Namakan as well, but I think there are more sites with docks on Kabetogama.

Another poster mentioned about limited availability of campsites. He is correct, don’t give up your site unless you have people at the next one you want to move to. When we go camping, we normally stay at one site and use it as a base camp. Of course if the site did not meet our needs, then we might consider moving. We just have never needed to re-locate.

There are plenty of navigation hazards on all three lakes, but if you are careful and limit your speed to an idle anytime you are not on the main navigation courses, you will be fine. Just keep track of the map and rock hazards.

If you decide to fish and camp the east end of Kabetogama and Namakan, I would launch at the Ash River Visitors Center. If you decide to fish the middle and west end of Kabetogama, you can launch at either the Kabetogama Visitors Center or at Chief Woodenfrog state campground. Both have very nice ramps and are fairly well protected.

And yes …I was kidding in the first paragraph. If you liked the boundary waters, you will like this area! It doesn’t get any better!!! :)

[jokerjim]

I was under the impression that you have to register at the Kab. Visitor Center if you wanted to use their camp siteson Kab.

[Suzuki]

I'll add that most of the campsites are on the east side so if you have regular speedy boats you will not need to move camps in order to fish where ever you want. I would locate a good one with a sandy beach or dock if that is available then lock it down. Avoid house boat sites as they are for house boats only. If you plan to buy licenses and fish Canadian side then I dont know what to tell you. I have no experience on that side. Unless you want to chance the portage at Kettle Falls you will launch on western (populated) end of Rainy Lake then travel east to the "wild side".
Call the park service up there for details and rules. That is the best source for accurate info. I can tell you from experience no chain saws allowed for cutting firewood (oops) and no firearms for protection (yea right).

[GBS]

I think Suzuki was thinking of Rainey, and not Kab, discussed in the post just before. Kab is all American.
FYI - seriously bear proof your camp site. The bears patrol each site every day (or more often), and I've seen too many in the process (or just after) of that inspection. You really do not want to come back to a totally destroyed camp, when it is rainy and cold.......