Mark

With my usual streams blown out, I'm looking for somewhere to camp out of my truck with some wade fishing. Figuring I'm going to be limited to the upper reaches of smaller streams that may drain faster and water goes down fast. Is there any place on the upper Bryant (or upper NFOW) where I can pitch a tent and wade fish?

Agree, at first I was hoping by June 1st, then July, now I'm starting to doubt all summer for a vacation. Not just for my own personal safety, just the idea of everyone being on covid alert everywhere I go.

Good point about the covid. I'm kinda on hold too. No point in going on vacation if I can't have a few beers in a bar or brewery.

I'm thinking July. I'll probably do as you say for camping and ,yes, plan to take US 61 along Lake Superior. You seem to know your way around there...besides streams, if you had to pick one area for scenery and fishing, where would you go? I've never caught a walleye, pike, pr nuskie. And more interested in smallies than trout. If you said "go here and you'll catch walleye" where would that be? Also, travelling solo after a couple days I'll be ready to find a brewery or bar and socialize a little, so I'm going to camp within a half hour of a town.

I've researched quite a bit and am on BWCA forum. I get it that the real way to experience the boundary waters is by canoe or boat where permitted. For various reasons (mainly I'm 62 and some physical issues), I'm wanting to base camp out of my truck on the water preferably for free and on a small stream to wade. The BWCA forum posters gave me a few good leads for lakes for free camping. But I've been amazed that there are so few free camping places on water with the thousands of lakes in the Northwoods, and haven't found one on a stream. (Yes, I know I can primitive camp in National Forest but must be 300 feet from water for dispersed camping.) Guess I'm spoiled in MO with so many free places to camp on our streams. I did find last night an Ash River State Park for $14 per night w/well water and vault toilets. I can handle that, but amazed most campgrounds at resorts were $25-30+, and cabins are out of my price range travelling solo. I'm hoping to explore the area in 10-14 days but travelling on a frugal budget. I'll want a shower and bed (and civilization) every 3rd or 4th day, and long travel days, so there's $400-500+ in lodging alone. Thanks for tip on resort people hauling you in and out. I can handle that. Or I can afford to rent a canoe for a day or two from base camp. Solo camping out of a canoe can be a lot of work I guess I'm hoping for someone to give me their secret free honey hole not on the map! LOL I am amazed that with all the wilderness that there aren't primitive Forest Service camp from vehicle sites on the water for $10 per night everywhere. Quite the opposite.

wily, ash river is on my radar. Can I drive to the "remote camping sites" or are they water accessible only sights? For expense purposes, I am wanting to camp like 3-4 nights out of my vehicle and grab a room for a couple nights. I would appreciate more info, esp on camping sites. It seems like someone mentioned on another forum something about a bridge on the Ash River with free camping under it. I may be confused on that.

Thanks Al, since posting that, I found where ONSR are closed until at least May 10th when further determinations will be made. Guessing that includes Eleven Point too.

If the state is reopening tomorrow, May 4th, is it legal to gravel bar camp on a river?

HAHA Watching a show on the Mississippi River in MN right now!! Don't have a jet and don't want to haul my johnboat that far. I would like to float a day or two. Maybe you can help?? I would really like to find a good stream to camp out of my truck and wade fish, preferably free/cheap dispersed camping. I've been disappointed in my research. There doesn't appear to be many free/cheap camping spots on water in MN, unless they aren't advertised. We are spoiled in MO with so much free public camping.

Big Bass, refer to the second thread "Float Trip Planning Question" in this section - it was saved by the moderator and gives good brief descriptions on different sections of the Eleven Point. IMO anything over 1,200-1,400 cfs is tough fishing for me, but Al is a better fisherman than me. I watch the Bardley gauge near RIverton and it has been dropping about 50 cfs daily. SO best case, it's at 1,700 cfs today, so it may drop to 1,450 cfs by Sat. And spotty showers tomorrow. It's up enough that you will cover some miles fast. Mileage will depend on how much you pull over and wade fish, tho wading will be tough with more current. It's been too high all spring for me to make the trip.A couple of buddies went a couple weeks ago and said it was tough fishing, but didn't say if they got skunked and I didn't ask. And you didn't say if you were targeting trout or smallmouth. The thread above describes that as well. Don't let me discourage you> It will be easy floating by the weekend. Greer to Whitten is the prettiest section IMO - about 12 miles.

Good info Mitch. I am thinkng about a MN trip this summer and am looking for a good smallie stream to float.

LOL you were in a boat. We would be bank fishing. Guess we should wait til May 1

Probably all for naught since the river won't be fishable til June due to high water.

I've noticed the same thing about not seeing any cops the little time I am on the road.

I do know all state park campgrounds are closed until April 30th - day use only and restrooms are closed.

I'm seeing more people out fishing than normal with the "stay at home" order. I don't have a problem with that, I can't think of a better way to stay isolated than out in a boat. Personally, I can't wait for nice weather and go "isolate" myself on a gravel bar on a river for a week or two!! I expect there to be an explosion of outdoor recreation when the covid restrictions are lifted, but people are still going to shy away from large crowds and choose to go to parks, campgrounds, lakes, and streams. I heard on ESPN radio yesterday that in a poll, 71% of Americans said that when things open up this summer they will not attend sporting event and other entertainment events with large crowds. I can see a lot more families going camping this summer for vacation instead of going to the beach and Disney World. And I see this as a good opportunity to introduce kids to the outdoors. But I do expect it to be more crowded at our favorite fishing places. We all are going to have to have some tolerance and patience.

Campgrounds on the river open? Turner and Greer? I realize the water is still a little high, but can't think of a safer place to stay isolated than on a gravel bar. Guessing the canoe rentals are shut down??Wonder if I can get a shuttle with my canoe?? Is Brian renting cottaqes? Anxious to get back to normal.

I generally just use the canoe as a taxi when trout fishing. There's something about having a good stretch of wading water all to yourself that I find so relaxing, and take the time to fish a stretch hard to figure out where the fish are feeding, instead of floating thru and getting 3-4 casts. I could spend all day on a 5 mile stretch of water, and pull over every 1/4 mile at a spot. Plus sitting in a canoe all day is tough on these old bones.

Thanks guys!! SInce this is my first time, I will want to do some sight seeing, so I think I will wing it and pull over when I see an enticing place, I sure hope to find a nice campsite on a wadeable stream. Not making reservations as I am travelling on the fly.

I'm making my first trip to The Smokies next week and seeking advice on camping and fishing preferably some place off the beaten path. I've done some research and will check out the popular areas...Abrams Creek, Little Tenn River, etc. I am probably entering at Gatlinburg just because I am meeting friends near there next weekend, but I plan to take several days to explore and sightsee after friends leave on Sunday. I sure would love to have a couple "secret" camp spots on a stream with good wade fishing. Feel free to PM me. Thanks in advance.

LOL I noticed after I posted that this is an old thread. Sorry, I had to defend my former profession.

Sorry jdmidwest, but one of my pet peeves is to hear people making blanket criticism of our public schools . As a recently retired public school teacher having worked at four different school districts and retiring from a highly performing public high school, I am confident in saying that the majority of our public schools in Missouri do a great job of educating student WHO WANT TO LEARN. Teachers can't educate students who are chronically absent, run the streets at night and sleep most of the time they are in school, or on drugs, and parent(s) at home that don't make them go to school every day or have any personal investment in their child's education or their lives. It all starts at home. It's a "societal problem", not an "educational problem". The kids that want to learn and have parents who take an interest in their children's education are receiving a quality education. Probably my biggest complaint with our current public school system is the emphasis on trying to prepare every student for college instead of teaching more trade skills. Most kids don't see being a welder or electrician as a good job. Having said all that, I have seen some really smart kids who can't spell or do simple math in their heads - blame that on technology, i.e. spellcheck, calculators, etc. I also think there has to be a limit on using technology to learn. Today, every kid has a computer in front of them for most classes, and all answers are a "google" away instead of developing problem solving skills, higher order critical thinking skills, and abstract reasoning skills. AND KIDS (AND MORE AND MORE ADULTS) ARE ADDICTED TO THEIR PHONES!! Rant over and out....

Sure, fishing pressure is huge, probably the biggest factor. I'm far from an expert, but consider a trout stream that had stocked fish and naturally reproduced fish. It would seem like the hatchery raised fish that are fed and grow with no predators until released would not be as be as leery as a fish that has survived in nature with predators. It sure seems like after a stocking, the stocked fish are aggressive feeders, assuming I am correct that stocked trout have a whiter flesh compared to the pink flesh of a naturally reproduced trout. Is that correct?? I would think the natural fish would develop better survival instincts.

Interesting topic. I've always thought "survival of the fittest" played a big part - big fish (or deer or most animals) don't get big by being stupid.

Do people use the regular propeller boats on lower Current???