View topic - Pidgeon River

I paddled the Pigeon in 2011 and again in 2019. Both times were in late July to early August. The water was quite a bit lower in 2019 than it was in 2011. I've also paddled the Berens and Bloodvein. The Pigeon is my favorite of the three.

The Pigeon was easier at lower water. More of the rapids were runnable and more importantly from your perspective since you're planning to mostly portage anyhow, the approaches were less intimidating and the run-outs below the rapids had far fewer swirls and boiling eddy lines.

Although the ground tends to be somewhat lower west of Round Lake, we still had plenty of nice campsites. In particular, we had good campsites at rapids 35, 41, 45, and 47 (numbering system from Hap Wilson's "Wilderness Rivers of Manitoba").

Clearcutting was not at all a problem.

In 2011, the road was not there yet, so we got flown out on a float plane near a power line a few miles upstream of Lake Winnipeg. In 2019, we took out at the road (which is just downstream of rapid 51 on Hap's maps).

FYI, we flew in from Bissett with Bluewater Aviation. However, a couple of months after our trip, the plane we chartered crashed into Family Lake and the pilot and 2 passengers were killed. https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/securite-safety/aviation/2019/a19c0138/a19c0138-d1-a1.html
I'm not sure what the status of Bluewater's operations out of Bissett is now.

Thanks Neil, that's very helpful. We'll be paddling through the month of August, which I would imagine, based on other river trips, should be relatively low water. Still, it sounds like more attention on approaches is due on the Pigeon than either the Berens or Bloodvein. Does the swampiness start from Round Lake west or mostly near the very end? Also, how bad is the clearcutting west of Round Lake - was it an issue? Did you get picked up at the road or paddle all the way through to Lake Winnipeg?

I remember (pretty sure it was you) posting that you were planning a long stay on the Berens to relax and shoot photos. With that in mind, I think you'll enjoy the lakes and the river above Round Lake more, but you'll still like the character of the river below Round Lake.

I'd have to look back at my photos to jog my memory but I could let you know some rapids to target for extra time to hang out. Some were very impressive places to camp.

Would I be correct in assuming that the Pigeon is basically a Walleye, Pike river?

I do like to do some fishing though, given that the best time to fish is also the best time for photography, it is the latter that typically wins out. Would I be correct in assuming that the Pigeon is basically a Walleye, Pike river?

I don’t think you can edit posts from a smartphone but I’m sure there’s an edit function from the desktop version via a computer or laptop.

I do like to do some fishing though, given that the best time to fish is also the best time for photography, it is the latter that typically wins out. Would I be correct in assuming that the Pigeon is basically a Walleye, Pike river?