What are the top 3 items you take into the BWCA?

What are the top items you always take into the BWCA and use around your campsite?

Yes, we take a canoe, paddles, life jackets, tents, sleeping bags w/pads and more.  I'm asking what special items do you take?

Couple of my favorites area pliers or multi-tool and Gerber 6 inch blade knife w/sheath that I received as a high school graduation gift. Oh has it been that long that I have owned it...since graduation? These must have items are great for cooking, repair of camping equipment, fishing, etc.

What items do you have to have available around your campsite?

• 2- 50 ft length of rope - use for hoisting food pack into trees or line for drying wet clothes

• Collapsible or Sven saw - many times I don't even use a saw as there is usually more than enough small pieces of wood gathered off the ground. No need to take an ax or hatchet. Most people fail to follow correct handling rules and risk a severe cut. Save your fingers by using a saw.

 

• One or two burner stove with fuel - size of the group will determine size of stove. 2-4 people a single burner stove will be adequate. 4+ people, go for the two - single burner or two burner stove.
• Strike anywhere stick matches in a water tight container. I also like to have a small lighter along as a back up and easy to carry in my pocket.

       

• Water bottle for each person. Keep hydrated and your trip will be more comfortable.
• Compass for orienting your map to north. I have my compass on a landyard around my neck for quick use.
• Map of the area you are traveling. Using a GPS is fine; but batteries wear out, devise may not pick up a signal, or you drop it in the water and now it really doesn't work.  We recommend having a set of maps for each canoe. Keeps peace in the group, allows others to know "where the heck are we?" and to compare locations

Visit Spirit of the Wilderness website at www.elycanoetrips.com or call us at 218-365-3149 and start planning your 2016 Boundary Waters or Quetico canoe trip.

Sport Shows and Seminar Schedule for 2015

We welcomed in 2015 and look forward to a winter and spring full of Sport Shows and Seminars.  Here is a list of places to come visit Spirit of the Wilderness this Winter and Fall.

Do you have a group interested in taking a BWCA canoe trip this summer?  We can personally meet with you and your group near the Minneapolis/St. Paul Area.  We can give a group presentation or just do a question and answer session with any group size.  Just call us at 218-365-3149 or
800-950-2709 to set up a time a place for a meeting or group presentation (all for no charge). 

2015 Sport Shows and Seminars

 

February 12-15, 2015 - LaCrosse, WI Sport Show. 

• Visit our Booth to talk about planning your upcoming BWCA o Quetico canoe trip.
• Steve's Seminars Fishing the BWCA and Unique Sights in the BWCA

 

March 7, 2015 - Quiet Waters Symposium in Lansing, MI

• Visit our booth and plan your canoe trip for 2015.  We can talk about entry points and routes
• Steve's Seminar -  Unique Sights in the BWCA You Should Visit

March 13-15, 2015 - Canoecopia Paddle Show in Madison, WI

• Visit our booth for personalized planning help and have your BWCA/Quetico canoe trip questions answered.
• Steve's Seminars - Planning your BWCA Adventure and Unique Sights in the BWCA You Should Visit

March 20-22, 2015 - Wisconsin Sport Show in Eau Claire, WI

• Visit our booth for BWCA trip planning help
• Steve's Seminars - Planning your BWCA Adventure and Unique Sights in the BWCA You Should Visit

March 25-29, 2015 - Northwest Sport Show in Minneapolis, MN at the Convention Center.

• Visit the Spirit of the Wilderness booth to pay your trip deposits and plan your canoe trips.
• Steve's Seminars will be confirmed as we get closer to the show.

 

April 24-26, 2015 - Midwest Outdoor Expo, Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, MN

• Visit our booth once again. Lets hope this is a nice warm event for our booth this year:)

 

May 9, 2015 - The Minnesota Fishing Opener. 

 

May 5-mid-October, 2015 - Come to Ely, MN to visit us and take your trip! 

 

We look forward to seeing you to help plan your 2015 BWCA & Quetico canoe trips.  Visit us at www.elycanoetrips.com for outfitting packages and options.

 

Also visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bwcaoutfitters  

 

Canoecopia Paddle Show

We will be heading to the Canoecopia Paddle show in Madison, WI this weekend. The show runs March 11-13, 2011. We will have show specials for those that book their trips during the show. Stop by the booth to talk about your summer canoe trip into the BWCA or Quetico.

• Need help with picking a new route? We will have maps to look at route options.

• Need to reserve your trip? Stop by the booth to talk with Steve or Kathy Nelson and set up your 2011 trip.

• Just have questions about how to get started planning? Once again we can help you.

We look forward to seeing past customers and meeting new ones.

Maplewood Camping & Outdoor Expo

We will have a show booth at this Saturday, Feb. 19th, 2011 at the Maplewood Camping & Outdoor Expo. The Expo will be at the Maplewood Community Center in Maplewood, MN.

Stop by and say hi. Get your BWCA and Quetico canoe trip questions answered. You can book your trip in person with us and talk about route ideas you have.

Not sure where you want to go this summer? We can help you pick an entry point or trip route and get you started with your plans.

We hope to see you there. Can't make it to the show? You can always call or email us to set up your trip. You can reach us at 800-950-2709 or 218-365-3149. Send your email to info@elycanoetrips.com.

We are looking forward to a great summer.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are thankful for all our great clients. Many have turned into friends over the past 10 years of running Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters. There have been many great Bounday Waters and Quetico canoe trips memories made during this time.

We hope you and your families have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

From our family to yours,
-Steve, Kathy & Ginny Nelson

Live Bait in the BWCA....Still OK.

As we work our way into July we keep getting questions about if live bait can be used in the Boundary Waters. The answer is yes, you can bring in Minnows, leeches and crawlers to name a few of the most popular types of bait. There are no rules stating you have to only use artificial baits. You do want to make sure that any left over bait is packed out of the wilderness and thrown in the trash.

The question for your group and your trip is what kind of bait do we want to pack in and fish with?

Night Crawlers are a pretty basic bait the will entice a number of types of fish. They are easy to put in your canoe pack or canoe. They just need to be kept in the shade and they will make it for most or all of your trip. The key is to make sure you have enough. The middle part of the summer is when night crawlers are most popular with the fish. This typically means mid-June to mid-August.

Leeches are another great mid-summer live bait option. Leeches take a little more care, but are hardy and loved by the Walleyes, Smallmouth Bass and a few other fun fish to catch. Leeches like to have fresh water a number of time a day. It is best to not get them too warm in the container. Leeches are best when the lake water has warmed a bit. Too cold, such as early spring, and you may not have as much luck with leeches. The warmer summer lake water allows the leeches to be a bit more active. Too cold of water and they tend to keep balled up on the hook. To take leeches on your BWCA canoe trip you should plan on having some sort of leech tote that has very small holes. Minnow buckets have hole much too large to keep the leeches confined. You want a container that allows you to easily change water to keep your bait happy.

Minnows are a great spring and fall a bit. The cooler weather makes it easier to keep healthy minnows. The typical types of minnows used in the Ely, MN are are fathead chubs, rainbows, shiners, and a variety of sizes of sucker minnows. You can use minnows year round. They get a little harder to keep when the weather turns hot. So most turn to leeches or crawlers for their mid-summer canoe trips.

Now a quick note to those of you headed into the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada. There is no organic bait allowed into this wilderness area. You also need to make sure you are using barbless hooks when fishing the Quetico.

If you have any questions please give us a call here at Spirit of the Wilderness 800-90-2709. We do stock minnows, leeches and crawlers all summer long. Just give us a quick call if you would like to pre-order your bait for your upcoming BWCA canoe trip. Need suggestions on what bait to take or what lures to pack or buy? Just stop in and ask. We talk fishing!

Thanks for attending!

Thank you for stopping by the Spirit of the Wilderness booth at the Northwest Sport show this last week and weekend. We met and talked to a lot of great people.

Thank you to all of you that attended the Fishing in the Boundary Waters seminar Friday, March 26, 2010.

Keep in mind there is still time to book your BWCA or Quetico canoe trip for this summer. There are still permits open. Give us a call and we can set up your 2010 summer trip.

Fishing in the BWCA Seminar

Don't forget we will be giving a Fishing in the Boundary Waters seminar this Friday, 2 PM, March 26, 2010. We will be in one of the seminar rooms at the Northwest Sport Show.

Steve will talk about fishing tips, techniques and whatever he can to entertain you.

Can't make the fishing seminar? Stop by the Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitter's booth, #537, anytime during the show and we would love to talk to you about fishing and canoe trips.

Don't forget about the show specials. These specials are only offered when you book your trip at the show. So bring your BWCA/Quetico canoe trip dates.

Northwest Sport Show

Visit with Spirit of the Wilderness at the Northwest Sport Show March 24-28, 2010. The Northwest Sport Show is at the Minneapolis Convention Center. We will be in booth #537. Stop by and say hello.

We would be happy to spend some time with you discussing your 2010 Boundary Waters or Quetico canoe trip. Bring your questions and trip dates and book your trip at the show.

There will be Outfitting Show Specials that can be taken advantage of if you reserve your canoe trips while at the show.

Don't forget! Owner, Steve Nelson, will be giving a seminar 2 PM March 26, 2010 at the show. Come listen to the Fishing in the Boundary Waters seminar. This is a great opportunity to learn fishing tips and techniques for your BWCA canoe trip.

Canoecopia Paddle & Sport Show

It's that time of year again! Spirit of the Wilderness will be at Canoecopia Paddle & Sport Show in Madison, WI March 12-14, 2010.

Stop by booth N126. We will have Outfitting Specials for those that book at the show. Bring your trip dates and we can book your 2010 Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) or Quetico canoe trips.

This is a great time to pick an entry point, plan your route and get your pre-trip questions answered face to face.