Northern Pike are one of the most commonly caught fish in Northern Minnesota. Weather your fishing for them or walleye, odds are you'll be pulling one in from time to time. Northerns can get quite big and make for a great meal when canoeing in the wilderness. One draw back to these slimy fish are a strip of bones embedded in the meat of the fillet called y-bones. Some people leave them in and deal with picking them out while eating them. There is a way however to remove the y-bones while saving ...
Dec 31, 2009•5 min
Looking for a way to communicate with the outside world when on a canoe trip in the wilderness? Some people bring them along for emergencies, others to touch base with the friends and family during their trip. Others may have a situation where they need to be contacted during their trip. Whatever your reason may be a Satellite Phone is the best way to have this option when in the wilderness. Here's how to use a "satphone".
Dec 31, 2009•3 min
We only bring you this HowTo because it was requested by one of our viewers. After getting the initial chuckle out of the request we got to thinking that this is one aspect of camping in the BWCACW that may not really get covered when explaining what to expect to a first time BWCAW camper. We tried to have a little fun while making this episode, I hope we don't offend anyone and that you find the humor in our shooting techniques. Here's HowTo use a latrine.
Dec 31, 2009•6 min
Have you ever wanted to learn how to start a fire with flint and steel? Matches aren't always reliable when in the back country. As soon as they get wet they become useless. Not to say flint and steel is a fool proof option, but its a good skill set to have and something you can throw in your pack "just in case". Glenn walks you through the steps of creating a birds nest and getting that perfect spark to create a nice campfire.
Dec 31, 2009•3 min
One of the most important things to think of when out in the wilderness is making sure you have clean water to drink. As our environment continues to become more polluted and not to mention the ever ready giardiasis looking to invade your lower intestines, having a good water filter is a must. There are a lot of water filters on the market so its important to find one you like using. We aren't supporting a specific brand in this episode, but do talk about the different options you have when pick...
Dec 31, 2009•4 min
Another cooking tip from Jim. How to save money by making your own dry meals. Dehydrated hamburger is the first step in making lightweight delicious meals for out in the wilderness. This is something we have used over the years and feel like we have not only saved a ton of money, but also felt like our meals may have been a little more tasty. If you look at the cost of freeze dried meals in camping stores these days and feel like they are a bit spendy hopefully this video will help you on your w...
Dec 31, 2009•7 min
Have you ever heard the frightening sound of a rock scraping the bottom of your canoe only to see water begin to appear in the bottom of your boat throughout the rest of your trip? Well we sure have over the years!! In this episode of BWCACAST we'll show you how to patch up those holes with a little fiber glass. Its really not as hard as you'd think and with this step by step guide you'll be patching up your own canoe in no time. Jim walks you through cleaning the area, prepping the patch locati...
Dec 31, 2009•9 min
Bent shaft paddles provide more power and efficiency while paddling your canoe. Some people love them while others prefer the standard strait shaft paddle. Some don't like how the bent shaft paddle preform when steering the canoe from the stern. We at BWCACAST.com love to use bent shaft paddles both when paddling in the bow and when paddling in the stern. The design allows you to utilize more of your power being delivered in a manner that propels your canoe forward through more of your paddle st...
Dec 31, 2009•1 min
We start our third trip of the summer into the Mudro Lake entry point. My parents have joined us for this trip making this a very special time for me to show off the BWCAW. You'll see some nice paddling and portaging along with my thoughts on the the DululthPack Northwoods pack. Join us on our journey.
Dec 15, 2009•11 min
Our trip is coming to a close. After being out for 7 days and traveling over 95 miles and packing our gear over 30+ portages we find ourselves paddling across a familiar lake. Knife lake famous for so many reasons from a spot used by many to make the sharp edged tools needed to survive to the home of Dorothy Molter. We paddled under sunny skies making our way back out to Ely. This half of the Voyagers highway was a great trip. The sights are amazing and the history of those traveling before you ...
Dec 01, 2009•13 min
After pushing it pretty hard for the last few days we found ourselves really enjoying the natural beauty of Ottertrack Lake. With the sun slowly dipping behind the horizon and a near full moon brightening the evening sky Matt and I head out for an evening paddle. The water was like glass as we listened to the loons echoing off the surrounding trees and cliffs. Matt was doing a little fishing along the edge of the lake as we paddled along. Even now I can still remember the sound of the paddle dip...
Nov 17, 2009•5 min
With the sun still shining over head and a gentle breeze keeping us cool we continued to paddle west along the voyagers highway. Leaving Horsetail falls we work our way across Saganaga Lake using the islands as a buffer from the wind. Leaving Saganaga we pass through Swamp lake on into Otter Track Lake where we stop for the evening. All in all it was a great day out on the water in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Nov 03, 2009•13 min
We awoke to a beautiful day. The sun was shining with puffs of white clouds scattered across the sky. We left our campsite in Gneiss and continued west towards Saganaga Lake. We encounter a rugged portage and some beautiful scenery at HorseTail Rapids.
Oct 20, 2009•7 min
After a couple days of windy rainy weather we wake up to high overcast skies. We are thrilled to be paddling without the sound of rain drops falling on our rain gear. We paddle through North Fowl, Gunflint, the Granite River, and into Gneiss Lake. Along the way we encounter a beaver preparing for winter and a multitude of other wildlife. It was a great day to be out on the water.
Sep 15, 2009•18 min
After a day of high winds and a steady rain we leave from Rosa Lake on our way west along the Voyagers Highway. The high bluffs along side the lakes makes for some beautiful scenery. We find a campsite on North Fowl Lake right across from a Loon nest. We get a nice glimpse of the egg as well as a chance to see the mother waddle her way up on to the nest.
Sep 01, 2009•11 min
Our big trip for the summer begins on the eastern edge of the BWCAW in John Lake. Our plan is to follow the "Voyagers Highway" through the historic border lakes as we paddle west. We head out from John lake through the Royal River in to South Fowl Lake then northwest into North Fowl Lake and end the episode on Moose Lake. With the recent rain in the are we encounter some vibrant colors on the portages which really makes hauling a pack almost not noticeable. With three of us in the canoe we are a...
Aug 18, 2009•12 min
As we were paddling along the Voyagers Highway we ran into Steve and Ted. 10 years prior in July of 1999 the two were on Knife Lake when the severe storm which caused the blow down raged across the lake. They were luckily having lunch at a campsite when it hit. The two were kind enough to share their story with me. I can only imagine the terrifying experience they had that day. Even though they've had numerous trips into the BWCAW since they decided they should take an anniversary trip 10 years ...
Aug 04, 2009•4 min
Leaving Lower Basswood Falls we head south paddling up the Horse River. Emerging from the thick vegetation along the sides of the river we catch a glimpse of a deer nibbling its way along the shore. The glass like water made for an enjoyable paddle as we find a group of turtles sunning themselves on a log. To add some excitement to the trip I break a paddle on a rock attempting to paddle up a small rapids. No worries though, with a little duct tape we were back paddling in no time. The evening e...
Jul 21, 2009•9 min
Spending the day at Basswood falls was amazing. The numerous falls all packed into such a confined area makes it a playground for your senses. With short paddles and quick walks to explore each fall, its an easy way to spend a day. We found a cable tram crossing the river at one point; we are not sure what it is used for. If any of you know please email us. At one campsite located right next to a falls we found half and old grumman canoe being used as a chimney for the fire grate. We continue do...
Jul 07, 2009•12 min
After a tough day of paddling into the wind we were overjoyed to find calm waters when we emerged from out tents. We head from Half Dog bay through Back Bay, and PipeStone Bay on our way up to Basswood Falls. We encounter some neat bird activity along with some scenic portages. Join us as we continue our journey to Basswood Falls.
Jun 23, 2009•7 min
Summer is here!! Our first trip of the summer places us at Moose Lake on the Fernberg Rd. The sun is shinning and boy oh boy is the wind blowing. Our initial plan is to paddle up moose and take the Prairie Portage into Basswood, but with 20 to 30 mile an hour winds we change our minds a bit. Instead we take a 175 rod portage from Moose into Wind Lake and on to Wind bay on Basswood. We continue our westerly path through Indiana Lake and into Hoist Bay on Basswood. We are fighting the wind the ent...
Jun 09, 2009•16 min
Have you ever heard the frightening sound of a rock scraping the bottom of your canoe only to see water begin to appear in the bottom of your boat throughout the rest of your trip? Well we sure have over the years!! In this episode of BWCACAST we'll show you have to patch up those holes with a little fiber glass. Its really not as hard as you'd think and with this step by step guide you'll be patching up your own canoe in no time. Jim walks you through cleaning the area, prepping the patch locat...
May 26, 2009•9 min
Our final day of winter camping we awake to sunny skies and a warm breeze. Its amazing how warm it can get even though you're surrounded by snow and ice. We packed up camp and headed out off Good Lake back through Hula, and Wood to end our trip. We talk about the sleds we have on our trip and how the different styles have their own strengths and weaknesses to deal with. This is our final winter episode for this season. We had a great time exploring the Boundary Waters in its winter wonderland st...
May 19, 2009•10 min
We woke on our second day of winter camping to sunny skies and warm weather. It was a great day to be out exploring around Hoist Bay on Basswood Lake. We set off in search of firewood and a little exercise. Along the way we encountered dog teams out on a run and talk about how this bay was used back in the logging days. We also talk about how we set up our camp with our canvas tent and titanium wood stove as well as that basics of filtering water in the winter. Join us on day two of our winter c...
May 05, 2009•12 min
On a sunny Friday afternoon we head off into the Wood Lake entry point on the Fernberg Road. Our goal for the evening is to set up camp in Hoist Bay which is on the South side of Basswood lake. This is BWCACAST's first winter camping trip. We have a canvas tent and a titanium stove for our shelter. With our sleds loaded up with warm gear we trudge across frozen lakes and snow covered portages into the night. The temperatures were quite comfortable with forecasts of high 30s to low 40s. We caught...
Apr 21, 2009•10 min
Duluth Pack and canoeing go hand in hand. Talk to any avid paddler and you'll find they either own a Duluth Pack, or have seen countless numbers of them in the back country. Founded in 1911 these rugged canvas packs have been thrown into many a canoe and packed over countless portages. Today we'll take you into the Duluth Pack factory, located in Duluth, Minnesota and show you a pack being made from the cutting of the canvas to the hammering of the rivets. Join us as we watch a Northwoods pack t...
Apr 08, 2009•22 min
We continue our trip on the Little Indian Sioux under sunny skies. Our goal is to experience the Devils Cascade in the winter. Jesse and I had visited this beautiful place last summer and were itching to see how snow and ice would transform the shaded rapids. Along the way we find where a bird had made a kill in the snow. Its wing prints easily identifiable. When we finally made it into the Devils Cascade the hike was totally worth it. Clumps of white snow scattered through the running water. Gi...
Mar 24, 2009•8 min
With temperatures hovering in the upper 20s Jesse and I head out to the Little Indian Sioux River. We had paddled this trip last summer and were excited to see how different things would look in the winter. We encountered a slough of wolf tracks right down the middle of the trail and expiernce some amazing views of open water on the river.
Mar 11, 2009•11 min
With the temperatures hovering just above zero we drove out to the Hegman Lake entry point. With our snowshoes and packs on we headed down the trail. The sun was shining down through the trees, and when we dropped onto the lake it was just georgeous out. We encountered a little slush below the top layer of snow on the lake, but we made great time on our way out to the pictographs. We hope you enjoy our first winter episode.
Feb 24, 2009•9 min
Late fall we load up our backpacks and head out to the Echo Trail. Our first hiking trip on BWCACAST brings us to the Angleworm Hiking Trail. This 14 mile loop around Angleworm lake takes you along a high ridge overlooking the lake. This provides some amazing views and reflections across the water. There were a few trees left with the remnants of fall colors. The golden leaves were just stunning to see reflected in the calm lake water. We set up camp just up the shore from the lake and got a lit...
Feb 10, 2009•10 min
