I have decided on McManus Lake, Access 21, mainly because I have been here before and I love the area and like Sec Lake, no portaging involved. I am also going to try to catch my first muskie ever, a fish that has eluded me over the years.

If all goes well, I will try to meet up with PaPaddler at Achray the morning of July 31st (and just possibly he might have some gin he still owes me from a hockey wager I can't remember when LOL) and then proceed back to the start of my trip on McManus. After all, from put in to the site I want (nice sandy beach on both sides of a small peninsula) is only about a 10 minute paddle.


Bo

Sweet! The wager was from the first Penguins/Senators playoff meeting a few years ago...I think it was the 2007 first round series and you guys thumped us pretty well. But the following year we returned the favor.

I expect we'll be packing up our camp in Carcajou Bay quite early that morning and will have to do a little car shuttling (we're leaving 1 vehicle at another access location) but hope to leave the area by 9am or so if everything works out as planned. I doubt we'd be able to get out of the area much earlier than that with all of the stuff to do with a large group. I'll be looking for you!

PaPaddler

Pa Paddler:

It just dawned on me that this is a long weekend with August 1 being a National Holiday. so I have decided to go into McManus on July 29th in order to get first crack at a good campsite.

I will however paddle out and meet you at Grand Lake campgrounds on Sunday, July 31st around 9:00 a.m.
I will be wearing my AA t-shirt with Bo Knows written on the sleeve. Finally, I am looking forward to meeting you. I believe I will be able to recognize you as well from past photos.

Tracy.....if you and your mate John and family and friends would like to join me on McManus, that would be awesome. The more the merrier I say. My plan is to arrive Friday morning and leave on Tuesday late afternoon.


Bo

Bo, I would be a pleasure to finally exchange greetings in person but if it is an inconvenience for you in any way I would not want to "put you out"...especially if it means interrupting your time in the park. It's completely your call and I understand if you decide for any reason not to make the paddle and drive around. I will have the agreed wager payment awaiting your arrival, in any event!

Worst case scenario is we run out of Gin earlier in the week and as we're paddling past the campground where the cars will be parked that we choose to raid the stock! But I wouldn't do that.

Also, at the McManus access...be sure to go "left" up the lake and not "right"!

PaPaddler

Hey Bo, if you can get the second campsite to the left on McMannus, you should get a musky from shore. It is a nice sandy point with some weeds on one side and deep enough water to hold muskies.

If that does not work, try the large weedbed across the put-in, near the river outlet. I have also tried fishing on many occasions below and above the Smith Lake portage and only caught muskies above the swift..on Smith.

Good luck and have fun.

PaP:

Not a problem at all. Only a 5 minute paddle to access point and then a short drive to Achray. I am up early anyways so this will be a nice excursion.

Dano.....that is exactly the site I am aiming for as I have camped on this site a few times.


Boi

WOW Bo..... as it stands as of now, I have no plans for that weekend!! What route are you taking Bo? I'm off work on Friday and usually like to jumpstart my weekend by going into the park the night before.... on Thursday.

I am heading to McManus Lake on Friday morning, July 29th and then heading upstream (no current) to a nice sandy beach campsite. Then daytripping to Smith Lake (150m portage) and possibly even Whitson Lake (500m portage) in search of muskies.


Bo

Tracy:

My email address is [email protected] if you want to email and I can give you info on any lake you and your friends wish to visit as I've been to pretty damn most of them.

Bo