Originally published in our FALL 2000 edition

John was well into the mapping session when it happened. You’d think he’d insulted their mother, burned the flag, and tossed the proverbial apple pie on the floor. He had dared to say it … “PORTAGE” It was like he told them to shoot their dog ... all he said was "If you really want to get off into some great lakes with lots of fish and no people, take these portages into these back lakes."

Starting from a light use entry point (only 2 or 3 permits per day) will help great deal. They are way ahead of the heavy traffic lakes that have 14, 18, or 27 parties pushing-off every day. But even that isn’t the cure-all some folks want. Having anyone else on the lake is too many! That leaves only two alternatives: long portages, or long trips. But few people can get away for an 9 -14 day trip anymore.

So, the one remaining magic bullet is the P word. What’s the problem? North Country’s owners (John & Kathy) are both 51 ... older than a good many of their clients. While she is in excellent shape, John is a few pounds heavier than he’d like to be. And like many men his age, his lower back isn’t quite as strong as when he played high school and college sports. But they still have no problem with portages. Maybe, just maybe, it’s their technique.

First, they cut down on many unnecessary items in their personal pack. John is a pro at dutch-oven cooking, but they don’t want the extra five pounds of cast iron. They also go light on the fresh foods from their menu; great at lunch, or for the second dinner, but much heavier than freeze dried.

Second, they plan their day to hit the longest portages in the morning when their fresh.

Third, they take their time while crossing; methodical and slow saves a lot of energy.

Lastly: attitude. They look at portages as just part of the experience ... a little extra effort for a lot of extra reward.

There are many areas that are avoided by most visitors due to the portages involved. These are the locations that are often referred to as "secret hot spots".

Two bands of lakes between the Little Indian Sioux River and the Nina-Moose / Lac La Croix route, both offer deep, cold, walleye and lake trout fishing. Many of the lakes only have one or two campsites. The Lynx-Hustler-Oyster route can be done in 5-7 days. Add 2-3 days for the Slim-Finger-Pocket route.

Venturing east from Bald Eagle into Clearwater-Pietro-Gull is an area we have touted for years. There were several days this past summer when even these remote spots saw more visitors that usual, but the bass fishing stayed great throughout the season.

Even just a side trip for the day can be rewarding. Heading south into Stewart from Iron Lake can reward the ambitious paddler with solitude and a stringer of walleyes!

TRY IT ... IT AIN’T THAT BAD !