Heading here in July through Snowbank Lake. Any recent updates on the fishing this year?

Also wondering if anyone has any tips on campsites?

What can we expect from the Snowbank Lake to Disappointment Lake portage?

6 guys lacking cardio, ha... getting to our EP at about 2pm... Th - Sun trip. Is getting up to Jordan/Ima out of the question?

Others have more experience than me, but 2pm sounds way late to be searching for sites for 6 people. You might want to enjoy the afternoon and evening in Ely and get up early Friday when people will be leaving sites. I remember a long paddle on the first day of this trip over a big lake exposed to the wind. Not something I'd want to do that late in the day. Good fishing though when you arrive whereever.

We're heading out this way later this month as well. This is our first trip out this way, but lots of the trip reports that I've read have talked about sites being hard to find on Disappointment. This could be especially problematic because of your late launch time.

I would think that if your group is interested in spending four hours or so traveling leisurely you could make it to Jordan at least. The portage(s) into Disappointment will be the longest of your trip. The other ones aren't supposed to be very difficult.

We've been there end of May. 7 people two guys are hiking maniacs so they were gonna hike and canoe everyday to different lakes looking for "cool places". But that was really funny how first 140 rods portage killed all their desires )))What I learned about long portages... you have to run them even with the canoe( I have aluminum 90lbs canoe) on your shoulders. Your shoulders and neck getting tired and aching first, so just run this thing while you feel them. We got to Diss-t around noon and got lucky that somebody just left the site for us. Otherwise they're really hard to find. Fishing was good. TGO's method really good to find walleyes, had walleye dinner everyday, all of them were over 20". Lots of notherns closer to banks at transition areas, saw huge nothern(muskie?) chasing my spinner. Look for smallies in shallow narrow channels with some weeds or timber, big rocks would work too.Pink river rocker worked awesome for me, but than my wife snagged it on something and lost((( Good luck

quote DuckBlind: "6 guys lacking cardio, ha... getting to our EP at about 2pm... Th - Sun trip. Is getting up to Jordan/Ima out of the question?
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You may have problems finding an open campsite starting out at 2pm, though entering on a Thursday might work in your favor.

Last year in early July we went to Diss on a Thursday, got to the EP at 8:00, and got the last site on the lake. We did not see another open site the whole weekend. The whole area was over-run with people and I won't be going back. I hope your experience is better than mine. Good Luck!

Well we can't be the first guys to hit the water around 2pm... do you all think getting a campsite on Disappointment Lake will probably NOT happen?

Can anyone tell me how long it would take to get up to Jordan??? If so, what are all the portages like, got a couple guys in the crew who are not looking forward to portaging!

I was on D about a week or so shy of two years ago in mid-June. Went in on a Sunday I believe. Only two of the sites were taken on the whole lake. It is a beautiful lake to stay on and to fish but I think it is more of a transit lake. Too close to the EP for most people and it is on the way to a lot of other great places such as Jordan. We saw a lot of boats going in early in the day and lots going out around mid-day but not everyone staying. Can't say it is always like that though as I have only been there the one trip.
There is a good number of campsites though if memory serves correct.
One day we day tripped to Jordan, I think we were there in less than three hours (closer to 2 maybe) and we putted around quite a bit. It is a pretty quick trip from D to Jordan. Small lakes and short portages. I think there was one portage that had a bit of a hill. Also the last portage to Jordan had a hill. Easy, wide open portages though.
If you are going in at two, you should have no problem as long as Snowbank is agreeable. If not, you can always try a first night on Parent which I think is an underused lake. I have been there a few times.
Happy paddling.

There is a sweet little site tucked back in the corner to the left (as you face it) of the portage into Dissapointment on Parent. Sand beach, cool site.

I went to Diss Memorial wknd 2011. We went in early Sat am and got the last campsite on Diss before portage to Ahsub. We caught lots of smallies, two pike, and lost a very nice walleye at the canoe. Had a depth finder and marked fish, just couldnt get the walleyes to bite. On our way out Mon morning we got caught in 3 ft rollers on Snowbank, not fun. After getting pushed all the way across the lake and beached on the opposite shore, we were lucky enough to find a hiking trail. We left our canoes and fishing gear and hiked out, went back with some boats the next morning to retrieve our gear. So... if it's windy on Snowbank, be careful!

Good Luck!
My opinion..? Spend your first night on Snowbank. Bring beer & steaks! Enjoy!
Portage the next day so you will have time to get all the way to Ima because that might be the first time you'll see an open campsite. That is what happened to us two years ago, late June. Even the Jordan
lake campsites were taken. We left the EP at noon and got to Ima by 10:30, setting up tent at 11 PM. It was a LONG day! :)

If you are not going in on a weekend you might have better luck. There are two nice sites on Ahsub if they are not taken. If you are not packed too heavy and make good time you could get to Jordan before the sun went down? After that the mosquitoes are quite nasty & numerous.

oh and there is always a bear hanging around Disappointment lake.

Just got back from that lake. Fishing for walleye's was great, all I caught were small smallmouth bass however. We got there on a Wednesday and there were a few sites open. It as we left today all were taken. Nice lake no bear problems just extremely hot the last two days!!!!!

Do any fishing on Parent when you were up there? Wondering how the smallie action is right now on that lake? Might stop there on our way or do a day trip.

Can I ask what you were using to catch all those walleyes?

Any good spots to do some fly fishing, just wading in the water... or will I have to plan on my fly buzzing by my canoe partners head?

Lots of smallie action on Parent when I was there 6-7 years ago.

Would you recommend going through Parent to get into Disappointment Lake or just take the portage right from Snowbank to Disappointment?

Never done the direct portage, but going through Parent is not bad at all.

The direct portage from snowbank to disappointment is easier, that way you don't have to take an extra portage from parent to disappointment. I was successful using leeches on slip out bobbers to catch walleyes

Snowbank to Disappointmet to Jordan... estimated time? We are probably leaving the EP on Snowbank at 3pm. If Jordan is full, we will head to Ima.

How are the portages from Disappointment to Jordan... seem short and easy...?

Also, any good places to wade in and do some fly fishing for smallies around this area?

time from snowbank to jordan? there are so many variables (wind, how crowded the portages are, trips on portage, # of people in your group, etc)....everything ideal should be 3 hour tour....

Portages are pretty easy just watch your map, the ones at jitterbug can be a bit tricky (more so heading back towards snowbank).

we did snowbank to thomas on opener, with ideal conditions, 1 canoe, light wind at back, single portages and no traffic in a shade over 4 hours....but we didn't stop to smell the roses, just kept moving.

we did get winded out on the way out, IMA can be a beast (and obviously snowbank)

good luck