Hello all

I am a avid kayak musky fisherman planning a canoe trip, would like to target musky and trophy northern. I would not be opposed to a day or day and a halfs paddle to get back in to a good lake then spend 2 or 3 days fishing.

Please advise any lakes or routes that come to mind.

I believe East Pike lake (BWCAW) has muskys? Easily reachable in one day as it is very close to 2 entry points. #68 Pine lake & #69 John lake.

Shoepack in Voyageurs Park has musky and can be good from what I here.
I am planning a late trip there this fall/late summer to check it out firsthand.

SHoepack has a lot of Muskies that are native, not stocked, but I don't think they get over 30 inches. Be aware no watercraft are allowed into Shoepack or other VNP portage lakes anymore due to invasive species in the surroundign lakes. You wil have to use one of the canoes already there. I think you go through the forest service to rent or reserve them. They might not even cost anything--just cannot bring in your own anymore.

Shoepack has so many muskies and such good natural reproduction that the DNR tried to stock them in other lakes hoping they would spread---it was then that they figured out that the were genetically predissposed to be smaller but more abundant. Still would be a great a trip and a lot of fun to catch them on lighter tackle.

Love to here how it goes.

T

Speedy- can't tell from your profile where you are from, but if it's musky from a kayak you seek I would suggest the Mississippi River upstream and down from Crow Wing State Park (MN). LARGE fish are not uncommon. Smallie fishing is also world-class.

After a quick search on Google, I found an interesting story on the DNR website titled "A Fish Time Forgot" about the Muskies in Shoepack. It's a pretty spectacular story, and I just added it to my bucket list of things to do before I die.

Though not in the BWCA, Crescent lake (in Superior National Forest) has some big Muskies. It has a campground and the same "feel" as the BWCA.

Yes I know of the Shoepac, great story and a trip there is on my life list. Will most likely be a fly in trip when I go.

I am not getting any info on Ski's in the BWCA... too bad, where are the trophy northern at?

I know of one lake in the BWCA that has Muskies for sure. It's barely in the BW and has no entry point to access it by but it is accessable. You should be able to figure it out from there.

The fly-in trip sounds like it's gonna have to ba a walk- in trip. No outside boats or planes allowed anymore on all VNP interior lakes.

quote fishnfreak: "I know of one lake in the BWCA that has Muskies for sure. It's barely in the BW and has no entry point to access it by but it is accessable. You should be able to figure it out from there."

Cmon freak, that could be one of a hundred lakes, give us a little more to go with...

A post mentioned above is really really close. Do your homework and you will figure it out.

quote gutmon: "Speedy- can't tell from your profile where you are from, but if it's musky from a kayak you seek I would suggest the Mississippi River upstream and down from Crow Wing State Park (MN). LARGE fish are not uncommon. Smallie fishing is also world-class."

I will second that gutmon, from the stumpfield a couple miles up where the Mississippi flows into Little Rabbit lake and southward, there are some Monster Muskies and Smallies.

quote wcummin1: "After a quick search on Google, I found an interesting story on the DNR website titled "A Fish Time Forgot" about the Muskies in Shoepack. It's a pretty spectacular story, and I just added it to my bucket list of things to do before I die.


Though not in the BWCA, Crescent lake (in Superior National Forest) has some big Muskies. It has a campground and the same "feel" as the BWCA. "

The Shoepack Strain of Muskie has one of the most beautiful Patterns you will see on a Muskie, gorgeous fish .

quote speed3: "Yes I know of the Shoepac, great story and a trip there is on my life list. Will most likely be a fly in trip when I go.


I am not getting any info on Ski's in the BWCA... too bad, where are the trophy northern at? "

Due to spiny water fleas floatpalne traffic has been banned since 2006 to all inland lakes in the park. The only way to access the lake anymore is by the unmaintained portage and renting/reserving FS canoes.

No info on Ski's becuase they aren't really in the BWCAW. Must not be good habitiat. The one lake mentioned above they were stocked in the past and I don't think they are very high in population. Big Nortons Basswood, crooked, insula come to mind. Basswood would be the easiest to access wiht a tow if you are using a kayak.

T

That's too bad about the float plane ban, I have some buddies who flew in back around 2000 and had a blast. 12plus fish per boat was common at that time, all beautiful healthy shoepacs, I believe the largest was a 39".

I will be planning on taking a modern kevlar canoe on this trip, the kayak will be staying home.

You could always try crescent .

quote Basspro69: "

quote "
"

The Shoepack Strain of Muskie has one of the most beautiful Patterns you will see on a Muskie, gorgeous fish ."

I agree and would add they are easier to catch and fight much better pound for pound. They attack a bait like a northern and jump like a bass. Not sure were they learned all that.

East Pike and Kinogami are the only Musky lakes that I know of that are in the BW.

winner winner chicken dinner