I am going into the BW through EP 41 in mid July; how is the fishing in Brule and Cherokee lake? Thinking about exiting through Saw Bill and Smoke Lakes, any good trout fishing in those lakes? I caught my trophy Northern last year in Jasper, 43". Now I'd like do catch a trophy Walleye or Laker. Can anyone give me a forecast for these lakes? Thanks much!

Well for Laker lakes check the DNR website - I think the only one in that area is Cherokee but be sure to check (however you may find that Cherokee does not get good reports for fishing - been there twice and have caught one norhtern).

I have caught walleye on South Temperance - in the bay leading into/out of the portage to Brule (smallies there as well), and in amongst the islands mid lake.

I have caught walleye on Flame - the north end leading into the shallow bay with the stream (my buddy caught a pig of a northern there as well). I have caught walleye on Smoke in the east/northeast part of the lake and smallies in the east/southeast shoreline outside the shallow bay.

My uncle did well on Burnt along the north arm's eastern shore (but last year over opener we were skunked there).

Hope that helps.

Brule is a good lake for fishing. Cherokee however is not so good. Check out this thread. Hope it helps.

I think your best shot at a trophy walleye in that area is Alton Lake. Brule lake is turning my hair gray. I used to fish the lake a lot and it is a very consistent producer of eaters along with some fish up to 24". I have only heard of 1 big walleye being caught from there and saw a 10+ pd fish floating on the surface once that probably had been released, but that's it for trophy fish. The lake is deep, has cool water, and is full of ciscos along with some perch for forage. Why don't the walleyes get bigger? Genetics? Are there bigger fish in there that are suspended feeding on ciscos?

My GUESS is that the limiting factor for walleyes in Brule might be genetics. The lake originally only contained pike and lake trout, but the trout pretty much were wiped out after walleyes were stocked (and possibly from over-fishing during the motorized/resort days).

Who knows where the walleyes came from or if they were an ideal strain for that lake. The lake does produce plenty of eater-sized fish, though.

One more thing: Brule is one of a number of BWCA lakes that gets steady angling pressure all season long. Despite its size, I don't know how many pounds of fish can be removed from the lake each year, while still maintaining an optimal fishery.

I talked with a guy on Brule who used to fish it a lot in the motorized days. He claimed the walleye fishing was much better then and he felt the smallie boom in the lake was the reason for the drop in walleye...

Probably very true.