Gouging a Souris River Canoe

I doubt that you remember me; you have a lot of customers. I have rented gear and canoes from you a few times. The last time we rented canoes and some packs, the summer of 2005, for a trip in which we entered at Snowbank Lake and finished at your beach. I am putting together a trip for this summer and I am already looking forward to doing some shopping in your store when I get there. I am in the market for a new canoe paddle. Anyway, my point is I know what equipment you have and am a fan of your canoes. I have already reserved an entry permit for Moose Lake (I know not my favorite entry point either) on July 2. We will be taking a 5 day/4 night trip. I need to reserve canoes from you for the trip. My party will consist of my 18 year old son and myself, who both have taken several canoe trips in the BWCA, and my brother, his son, two cousins and their sons. We will have a full permit of 9 people. 6 adults if you count the two 18 year olds two teenagers and a preteen. I know we need at least one three person canoe for my cousin with two sons. I am not sure what would be best for the rest of the group, two more 3 person or three 2 person canoes. I should note here that I am not small. While, I am on a diet regime that I hope will change this fact at least some, by summer, I am currently tipping the scale over 300 pounds and one of my cousins is of similar size only he is taller. In other words a couple of us are pretty big guys. What would you recommend?

Also this is the first trip for everyone except my son and me. I wanted to go in at Snowbank or Lake One and go to Insula area. My son and I have taken several of our trips through that area and wanted to see some new territory. We compromised. We need a route that won’t scare first timers and that offers some decent fishing. (I usually don’t fish much on my BWCA trips.) We saw the west end of Knife Lake on our last trip and I liked the idea of seeing more of that area, which is why I reserved a Moose lake permit. But, I would welcome some suggestions on good places to go (from Moose Lake) that would allow some exploring for me and good fishing for some of the rest of the party.

Finally I was wondering about the rental prices for canoes and if the Bunk House is available the price for it. I don’t know if we are going to need it yet, but I need to check on that possibility. Some want to stay cheap and some want to stay in town so they can go to a restaurant for a last breakfast, so that issue is still up in the air.

A.Bill-
I think you would be best served with a Quetico 18.5 three seater and three Quetico 17's. You'd have ample gear space and a seat for the pre-teen and more freedom in traveling. Three 3-man canoes would also work, but would be a bit more restrictive on gear space ans not knowing how your group packs, more may be better. The other option would be to take 2 Q-18.5's and 2 Q-17's. That would give you more at-camp options, increased cargo space and the ability to haul big guys around a bit better.

Knife lake is a great area to go. Good bass fishing in the South Arm and also lake trout. From there, depending on the motivation of the group, you could head to Kekekabic and then thru a bunch of smaller lakes to Ensign and back out to Newfound which takes you back to your car at the Moose Lake parking lot or back into Jasper via portage.

Another option would be to go north to Wind Lake from Moose and head up to Basswood lake. You'll pass thru the motorized area (which is absolutely NO big deal - you might see one or two boats go by) into the motorless area. Set up a base camp inthat region and hang out, paddle and fish. Come back the same way. This is an easy trip due to few portages. Beautiful area and more suited to a more stationary-oriented group.

The night of July 1, we do currently have the bunk rooms available. Q-18.5 rentals are $37 per day. Q-17 rentals are $33 per day for a 5 day trip.

Let us know which canoes to reserve and what you'd like for bunk rooms as well. Thanks!

Joe
Red Rock

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