Johnny's Latest Adventure

Boundary Waters Canoe Area

View of Lac La Croix from near Camp

 The million-plus acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota was the setting for this June adventure. Johnny and a long time outdoor partner John Cox left South Hegman Lake, northwest of Ely on the Echo Trail and entered the wilderness. Two portages and a little paddling later they ended up on Little Bass Lake and their first night’s camp.  Some rain fell and was an ongoing event during this trip.

 John with bass on Little Bass Lake                Pictographs on North Hegmen Lake

They viewed the vivid pictographs on North Hegmen Lake, then while fishing, Johnny hooked a bass and while reeling it in to the canoe, a northern pike clamped down on the bass with its jaws, startling Johnny and the bass.

They resumed a northward journey toward the Canadian border, making the notorious Angleworm portage, a 460 rod challenge of muskeg, bogs, boulder fields, and hills to reach Angleworm Lake, where solitude awaited.

Lakeside pitcher plants

Another travel day followed. John and Johnny were ported Jeanie and paddling through a series of legs, heading north. They ended up at tiny Wagosh Lake, where they found a bluff camp and angled for northern pike and perch.

          Johnny on beaver dam                              View from campsite on Wagosh Lake

From Wagosh it was time to hit the big water and the big fish. They got to Crooked Lake and at the Canadian-American border on a windy, dark morning, then headed west along the border and immediately ran into some fish including a big smallmouth John caught and a pike seen in the picture below.

Pike caught on ultra light rod with a spinner

They found a great campsite on the main lake, with a beach access. A couple of rounds of topwater bass fishing was a big success.

                  Crooked Lake                                        Beach Camp on Crooked Lake

Next day they moved on to Iron Lake, portaging around Curtain Falls, on a long day to Lac La Croix, where they were fortunate to find a great campsite, where they spent two days, allowing John's shoulder to recover after he took an awkward spill.

Curtain Falls

                       Muddy Bottle Portage                               View from camp

 Big winds forced a short day as they continued on Lac La Croix. But fortune smiled on them as they ran into a first rate camp at which to while they day away as wind gusts to 45 miles an hour blew!

       Johnny relaxes as wind howls                         Rainbow signified end to bad weather

 Beyond Lac La Croix they turned south into a series of lakes where multiple portages and paddling and fishing led them to their final camp on Oyster Lake. They enjoyed a final cool night in the pines before exiting the Boundary Waters the next day, another adventure under their belts.

Sunset on Oyster Lake