I'm going up on Insula in two weeks, any advice on changing early season tactics due to the late ice-out this year? Hotspots other than the rapids? We'll be targeting Pike and Walleyes. I'm just hoping it doesn't snow at the rate the weather has been going so far!

Fish the pinches and adjacent points/rocky areas....there will be current there and the fish will follow.

included in bloody stumps advice: especially the pinches between shallow warmer bays and open deeper water.

does anyone know what the ice-status is for the the area lakes? Maybe I'll bring my ice skates along...

I just read yesterday that Lakes 1-4 are all ice free, but Ima, Alice, Fishdance, etc still have some ice. I didn't read anything specifically about Insula, but I'd guess that there's still a bit of ice floating around. The weather looks relatively warm over the next couple weeks so I doubt by the time you get there ice will be a problem at all. I went up to Insula last June. As others have said, fish the pinches and if you're looking for walleye you'll probably want to fish in 4-6 feet of water. Good luck!

I don't know you but know offense but I hate you! lol its my favorite lake and I just learned I wont be going to the bdub this year. So I hope you don't take it the wrong way I'm just jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like you wouldn't believe!!!!!!!!!!!!

What makes Insula your favorite? This will be my first time on the lake. Any reccomendations for nice campsites with good fishing?

quote Rich11: "I don't know you but know offense but I hate you! lol its my favorite lake and I just learned I wont be going to the bdub this year. So I hope you don't take it the wrong way I'm just jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like you wouldn't believe!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Rich, maybe if you changed your messageboard quote...

quote PikePetersen: "What makes Insula your favorite? This will be my first time on the lake. Any reccomendations for nice campsites with good fishing?"

I've basecamped on Insula twice. It's a beautiful lake with many islands and channels. Great fishing. Best walleye fishing I've had yet in the BWCA. In 2007 we camped on site #1345. This is generally ranked as a 4 star campsite on this website. We liked it quite a bit. Nice rocky point with great views. We caught several large pike and walleye near the campsite, some right from shore. I caught a 26" walleye in the channel behind the campsite (island campsite) my first morning fishing. My buddy caught a 36" northern fishing from shore.
In 2008 we went back to Insula and camped at site #1333. Nice campsite too, but we did have a bear get into our campsite while we were out fishing for the day. Bear tracks everywhere, but it walked right by our blue barrels and didn't bother with them. Instead, the bear got into our garbage, which was hung in a tree. If I were going back, I would try to get campsite 1323 at the north end of the lake. On this website it gets a 5 star ranking. It lies near a narrow channel where we caught several eater walleyes bottom bouncing with leeches. Where the kawishiwi pours into Insula, you can easily catch dinner - smallies and walleye hit in the eddies. It's a nice basecamping lake with great day trips to Kiana, Alice, Fishdance.

Thanks for the info!

The late ice-out this year has me thinking about trying to catch a lake trout... are there any lakes on the route from Lake One to Insula that hold lakers? Or any good daytrips from Insula for a laker hunt?

The only lake in that area that I've chased lakers on is Thomas, but someone may chime in with a spot closer to Insula.

Got my TRIPS maps back from Stu at BWJ, and he didnot mark any lake trout spots on the map for Insula