Planning a motorcycle trip up there that is a sort of camp, fish, sightsee. I ride a BMW GS, it is basically a dual sport on steroids. so, remote trail roads are not off the list of possibles. Any suggestions as to what or what won't be available up where the pavement ends?

thanks

What specifically where you wondering?
there's a couple of motels in pickle lake itself. the better one is the princess pat if memory serves me right.
I think every lake up there is full of pike.
casting from shore shouldn't be a problem.
one thing you will see lots of is natives, one thing you won't see much of is moose ( see previous sentence)
At the very end of the gravel road there is a commercial fishing camp for walleye. its kind of neat to see. the lake they fish on is the start of the winter cat road that services the really remote cree villages further north.
any specifics post and I'll see if i can remember. it was about 5 yrs ago my last trip there.

I've been there many times...just a few pointers.

Last time I was there there was no services between Pickle Lake and Lake Windego which is up a gravel road almost 75 miles from Pickle Lake.....no gasoline available after Pickle lake so have a spare can with you if you go north of PL.

Lake St Joseph just south of Pickle Lake is full of big pike and a lot of walleyes.....but it's off limits to non residents unless you buy a special permit.

Don't fish in St Jo unless you have a permit!

Camping permits are available in PL and are required to camp on crown land all over Ontario.....last time I bought them they was $5 per day.......and if you don't have motel receipts you're in for some splaining if you don't have the camp permits.

The Canadiana have turned into pricks!!!!!

When we left our vehicles unattended near PL to fish we had to hire someone to watch them as all the glass would be broken if we didn't.

See Merle Cameron at "Camp Lake St Joseph" for reservations at her place on St Jo for a couple days....thefishing is fabulous and the country is beautiful and they'll guard the bike for you while you're on the lake.

If you bike north of town more than a few miles the risk to your bike is mostly gone and there's a lot of good places to catch walleyes on lakes alongside of the road. Farmer lake is one and Horseshoe lake has more walleyes than you can shake a stick at.

It's one bautiful place and have a ball up there. Just know the rules.....ask and they'll tell you.

THANKS for the info.
ESPECIALLY on the camp permit thing. I am used to being able to throw the tent out at any wide spot where a road and river or lake come together on pblic ground here in the states.

Most of my Ontario time has been spent over in the Chapleau and Timmons and North Bay area but when I found the road to PL it just seemed like it would be a good trip.
Camp permits.. where do you get them and do you know if there is a weekly type camp and fish permit?? Are they available at the stores or is it a Land and Forest type thing?

as for gas, the GS has the legs for 240+ miles on a fill and I hadn't planned on running that far North of PL to make it close... but it WILL get into me into some pretty lonely places where a normal car/truck can't go.

I imagine some goods maps will be available once I get into the area.

thanks again for the info so far.

quote:

Camp permits.. where do you get them and do you know if there is a weekly type camp and fish permit?? Are they available at the stores or is it a Land and Forest type thing?

Before you go find a bank with canadian money for exchange or use a credit card as much as possible. The Canadians rip folks badly on the exchange if you take US currency to Canada.

Go north from International Falls Minnesota to Dryden to Sioux Lookout then to Pickle lake. You can get temp fishing licenses at bait shops and they can also sell you stamped camp permits. The camp permits are good for any public land or as they say...."Crown Land"

I've always found the Canadians to be fine folks and the country among the most gorgeous countries ever.....It's almost as beautiful as the US of A....

Be careful of the roads as moose are not too uncommon on the roads and they make a mess of anything hitting them at 90 KM/HR

As you get near PL you should also be alert for Caribou. There are several woodland caribou there and worth the camera if you see one.

There have been so many campers over the years in that area that black bears have also become an irritation.....don't take a handgun with you as the canadians think it's a real bad thing.....they will turn you around and send you home or keep the gun.

I've had bears in camp several times and it's always a threat!!!!

Hope this helps.....BTW if you haven't been over the Macinaw bridge it's a must see on the way up or coming back!!!!

I LIVE in Northern Lower Mich. I have been over the original "Big Mac" more times than I can remember. The travel route according to my computer takes me throught the Sault and around the North shore of Lake Superior. I am about 950miles from PL. Figure 2 days of steady riding will put me up there about mid afternoon the 2nd day unless I stop along the way... which is a distinct possibility if a stream or lake looks promising. on no set schedule, just going with the flow and the geography. Have about 10 days to play with if I want. just all depends.

don't have to tell me about the stupidity of caribou. My last trip to Quebec hunting them, had a herd of them get pushed down the road at me by another vehicle and I took 3 of them in the grill of my 2500HD all at the same time as I was sliding down the road at about 25mph. I have a serious guard on the front and it took all the hit. 3 dead Boo and the truck was drivable with the only vehicle damage some broken plastic grill. the brush bar was sprung beyond repair but the insurance company didn't bat an eye. they were GLAD to pay for that vs what it would have cost without the bar. Figure it was about 1000 pounds of Boo. NEVER have a truck without one again.
this is after impact. NOT much damage at all,

"...Canadians rip folks badly on the exchange..." That'd be our banks. There's not a whole lot of control on them. They all post billion dollar profits every year. They charge a fee to deposit and withdraw. They're almost as bad as the insurance companies.
Be advised that our gas prices are much higher than U.S. prices. They're currently about $3.80Cdn per gallon in South Western Ontario. $.95 per litre. Gas prices get higher the farther north you go.
You cannot bring any firearms of any kind. Especially handguns. Hunters coming, in season, have other rules to follow, but a tourist cannot.

quote:

"...Canadians rip folks badly on the exchange..." That'd be our banks.

Every time I bought a $5 item and handed the guy an American $20 he gave me the exchange on the $5 item but then gave me the $15 change in all Canadian and no exchange on the change.

This is a ccommon practice. Credit cards is the way to travel in Canada. Been there and done that!!!

WHAT IS the exchange rate these days?

also what kind of weather can I expect around mid August? still fairly hot or we looking at the 40-50s at night? Gotta pack carefully on the bike.

thanks

quote:

Originally posted by LAWCOP:
WHAT IS the exchange rate these days?

also what kind of weather can I expect around mid August? still fairly hot or we looking at the 40-50s at night? Gotta pack carefully on the bike.

thanks

I do travel to Michigan and an exchange rate is for 1USD you get around 1.13CDN.
My advice is to keep exchanging to CDN founds.
If you go North and have to stay in lodge, pay the lodge with visa, bring some staff from home so you do not have to waste money localy or waste it and support our Northern economy.
I say 50CDN for food a day is more then plenty. Local restaurants upnorth the charge about 20 bucks CDN for a nice meal.

Here is a good Weather Website:
Weathernetwork for Canada

Also, make sure you have all licence for fishing and hunting. Download a Hunting regulation and have tel. numbers handy of local MNR offices, if you need to speak to the warden and ask question before you do something bad.

Adervise, good luck, Ontario is beautiful and charming and got plenty space for all American friends.

MNR Ontario website

quote:

Originally posted by LAWCOP:
WHAT IS the exchange rate these days?

also what kind of weather can I expect around mid August? still fairly hot or we looking at the 40-50s at night? Gotta pack carefully on the bike.

thanks

I was talking to a guy in Dryden today. Says it's hotter'n a bitch. Have a look at the local weather. The nights can get cool, but the skeeters will keep you warm.

You can get Ontario weather information (including Red Lake) here