Planning on fishing Saganaga over Memorial with my 15 year old son. A little nervous about dumping with him with cold water so was thinking of renting a power boat with a 25 hp motor. If I were to do that, any idea where can I fish on the American side (not specific locations but general area like east of American Point, etc) and what other permits we would need. Plan on going back on our annual canoe trip in August when water is warmer, but a little nervous re this time of year. Thank you.

you would need to rent a boat and there is Voyaguer Canoe Outfitters up there on the Seagull River, you could check with them for rental rates.

are you camping on Sag or just doing a day trip? if overnight camping with that motor boat you need a BWCA OVERNIGHT motor permit. VCO can help with that as well. if you're camping at Trails End Campground or staying somewhere else and just doing day trips then you'd need a DAY USE motor permit, or a "J" permit.

you do need to watch the border carefully and you also need to watch for rocks!!! boulders, reefs just below the surface....

look over your rental boat carefully so you know what dings were already present, also look at the prop on the motor and the entire lower unit for dings, dents...

Can't stress enough about being careful of the rocks and reefs, they seem to be everywhere!

quote walllee: "Can't stress enough about being careful of the rocks and reefs, they seem to be everywhere!"

+1. One of those puppies could flip ya pretty fast. Be careful.

I believe Seagull Outfitters may be able to hook you up with a boat as well as they have a dock and cabins on Sag, call and ask. Obviously you can only take a motorboat east of American Point, they're not allowed west of American Point.

You may need an overnight motor permit as others have said. 2 great camps for Saganaga Falls that are accessible by motor boat: the island just outside of Saganaga Falls, and the south campsite on Englishman Island (sand beach). I recall another site on the south end of Long or Gold Islands (can't remember for sure which one, but think it was Long) that would work too. Over Memorial I'd leave pretty early to grab one of those sites.

As far as fishing goes start in Devil's Walk Bay, James Bay, or Red Rock Bay. I know there are smallies in Devil's Walk (decent ones too) and have it on good authority (old outfitter on Sag) that the walleyes are in there too. I also hear there are northerns and walleyes in James Bay.

I think I'm going to rent a boat and cabin through Seagull -- and watch for the rocks. Thank you for the tips, everyone.

quote Brsed: "I think I'm going to rent a boat and cabin through Seagull -- and watch for the rocks. Thank you for the tips, everyone. "

Good choice - they run a great operation.

When I first started fishing the Ten Thousand Islands and its notorious hard bottom I pretty much eased around rather slowly until I got the lay of the land as it were. If I were in your boat I would do the same.........and as long as your easing around you might as well plan on trolling. Depth finder and some clamp on rod holders would figure prominently into the game. On a tin boat I like the down east rod holders which clamp on quite securely and will last you a lifetime. The trolling will also help reveal some clues largely by watching your depth finder and catching the occasional fish. These clues will help when it comes time to drop some live bait.

The invaluable resource would be a topo map of the lake. American side? I'm sure the info is available.

quote mastertangler: "When I first started fishing the Ten Thousand Islands and its notorious hard bottom I pretty much eased around rather slowly until I got the lay of the land as it were. If I were in your boat I would do the same.........and as long as your easing around you might as well plan on trolling. Depth finder and some clamp on rod holders would figure prominently into the game. On a tin boat I like the down east rod holders which clamp on quite securely and will last you a lifetime. The trolling will also help reveal some clues largely by watching your depth finder and catching the occasional fish. These clues will help when it comes time to drop some live bait.


The invaluable resource would be a topo map of the lake. American side? I'm sure the info is available. "

I got a topo map of Sag's lake depths at the Lake Superior Trading Post in Grand Marais.

quote SaganagaJoe: "


I got a topo map of Sag's lake depths at the Lake Superior Trading Post in Grand Marais."

Bucks Hardware/ Gas Station right off 61 also has them but I will say I think they are a bit off, not sure when they were sounded but my depth finder has found more than a few descrepencys.

Take extra care in the Seagull river....... not mine but a friend of mine, lucky we had 3 boats on that trip....

I was on Sag over memorial day a couple years ago. 2015 I believe. I marked a few spots on the interactive map on this site where I caught fish. I mostly fished for Lakers and Walleye with no luck on either. I did catch a nice pike, maybe 12-15# and had another big one follow in a little bay with a small waterfall just to the west of Gold Island. Google maps labels the creek that flows into the waterfall as "Lone Creek". I also caught pike trolling around long island, and caught a smallmouth in Devil's Walk Bay. Struck out on Lakers trolling around Long Island and Walleyes in Red Rock Bay (very pretty bay when you get towards the south end of it). Didn't go to James Bay but that's another well known early season Walleye spot. Good luck, hope you are able to find some fish!