BWCA Clothing Selection

The photo above shows some wise choices regarding wardrobe in canoe country... light colored tops and zip-off pants.  NEVER leave camp without long pants- flies or skeeters can get to you any time and anywhere, especially your ankles, if you're paddling in the bow of the canoe where there isn't a breeze near the ankles.  

Fabrics that breathe, dry quickly, and weight next to nothing are readily available for both pants and shirts.  A good pair of pants/shirt will run around $50 each at full-price, but look for deals close to half off if you can time it right.  Light colored clothes help to keep you cool because they don't absorb as much radiant heat from the sun and they also make it easier to see any ticks that may be looking for a free meal.  High-tech fabrics will breathe easy, dry quickly, and some even include built-in tick repellent that is good for up to 30 washes.

A Tale of Two Rivers- 2012/2011

The sun split the sky in a dramatic fashion during a recent Kawashiwi River trip.  Even when the fishing is slow, the scenery is worth the effort.

The Kawishiwi River water level was up by about 18" this July.  My canoe didn't notice the change. but the fish seemed to be on edge, and things seemed a bit "off" compared to prior years.  This year, we were here over a stable weather pattern, during a time that we've had success in the past.   This year, it was hot, humid, and miserable with bugs, which barely put a damper on our efforts.  My good friend Ole and I had two BW rookies along- his cousin Eric and friend Leif.  These guys are welcome back any time!  They were both strong on attitude and ability- what else could you ask for?

Ole's cousin Eric with a sweet small mouth.  The smallies were few and far between on this trip, which is odd for the place and time time that we existed, especially considering how hard we tried to find them.