I've been searching old posts on fishing this area, but I'm looking for any recent reports from this area.

We only have 4 days, so we're planning to base camp. Also it's the kid's first trip! (ages 9, 13)
Looking for any recommendations on walleye and SB spots. Hopeful to find a great fish-from-camp site.

Help this dad show the kids an unforgettable first experience!
:)
Thanks, gang.

I never had a favorite spot on Horseshoe. I like fishing the entire lake. I have caught walleye and SB in good numbers. One of my three pike over 40" came out of Horseshoe.

I've been to the area a few times and love it. I'm a sucker for trying to help people put their kids on fish. On Caribou the campsite directly across from the portage from Lizz is awesome but you will see a lot of people with the portage right there. It can be entertaining to watch people and it can be a great lesson for kids on what NOT to do at a portage ;) My then 7 year old daughter kept pointing out things that people were doing wrong and then when she was telling Mike at Rockwood about it he just shook his head and said " it's probably best if I don't know what they are doing". We caught some bass from shore there. In between the two biggest islands is where we found some walleye for a fish fry.

Horseshoe is one of my favorite lakes and gives you a great chance to see moose. In the arm of Horseshoe that leads to Gaskin on the northern shore and just after the campsite that is closest (furthest west) to Gaskin there is a little bay right around the corner from the campsite. I found walleye just outside of the weeds there.

That's good to know, thanks, Mickeal.

quote ducks: "I've been to the area a few times and love it. I'm a sucker for trying to help people put their kids on fish. On Caribou the campsite directly across from the portage from Lizz is awesome but you will see a lot of people with the portage right there. It can be entertaining to watch people and it can be a great lesson for kids on what NOT to do at a portage ;) My then 7 year old daughter kept pointing out things that people were doing wrong and then when she was telling Mike at Rockwood about it he just shook his head and said " it's probably best if I don't know what they are doing". We caught some bass from shore there. In between the two biggest islands is where we found some walleye for a fish fry.


Horseshoe is one of my favorite lakes and gives you a great chance to see moose. In the arm of Horseshoe that leads to Gaskin on the northern shore and just after the campsite that is closest (furthest west) to Gaskin there is a little bay right around the corner from the campsite. I found walleye just outside of the weeds there."

Thanks, ducks. That's pretty good about the portage lessons. Reminds me what a house mover once told me. His favorite thing to do is get a case of beer and sit and watch people try to move on their own.
After reading a bunch here on Horseshoe, I think we're going to push for that. We're driving up now (traffic is horrible) staying in GM tonight and putting in tomorrow. On our way out we're staying at the new Poplar Haus resort (formerly Windigo). Have spent much time fishing Poplar lake?

It looks like the new owners are working hard at the Poplar Haus. Little duckling and I drove by there Memorial Day weekend before/after our daddy/daughter trip to Swan from Bower Trout. Let us know what you think of the Poplar Haus.

Surprisingly no on fishing Poplar considering how many times I've stayed in the bunkhouse at Rockwood before/after trips. I have only fished Poplar once and that was just from the dock at the cabin at the Trail Center that my wife and I stayed at 2 summers ago.

It seems like Horseshoe gets busier and busier so you may just need to take the first campsite you find open. But, my favorites are the first one on the right/north after coming in from Caribou and then the 3 that are congregated together in the middle of the lake. The one on the north shore is nice and has a nice big open grassy area and the one that is right at the entrance to the southern arm that goes to Vista is my favorite on the lake. That one is close to where I've seen moose.

I will let you know. My girlfriend is fb friends with the new owner and worked with him way back when. I guess we're among the first guests. This is their first fully booked week.

Thanks a lot for the site recommendations, man. I know, going to be very crowed. Road traffic was murder-just entering Duluth now! Saw you in another post mention BDB's and realized I'm one of those guys "doing it wrong!" Haha I'm just getting back into tripping last year after a decade off. Relearning a few things and picking some info up for the first time. I HATE loose stuff on portages. I hope I can pick up BDB in Grand Marais. Thanks again.

I hate traffic. Yuck. Try Stone Harbor and superior trading post. Bdbs are like duct tape... you can never have too many

So we're back and the mosquito bites have mostly healed. It was a great trip, and a great first trip for the kids. It was VERY busy, however. It was more busy than I think I've ever experienced so far. I'm sure much of that has to do with the fact that it was a holiday week, though.

The first couple nights we stayed at the campsite on the south arm of Horseshoe. It was an ok site. We saw quite a few different critters around. Fishing from camp wasn't too good. On the third day we got ambitious and decided to get back over to Caribou so we could get an early start on the way out in case the wind kicked up on Poplar.

We camped at the site across the lake from the portage from Horseshoe into Caribou. The fishing improved remarkably. My daughter caught her first walleye. My son could catch nothing but smallies. I pulled in fish after fish on a hot evening bite. Later that night we got some stormy weather. The kids did better than I did with that, I think. First time dadding in the bush can be nerve wracking! haha

Great news and thanks for coming back to share with us!

That area has always been popular but it seems like it's "over the top" now. I think I will only return there in the off season like the last time I was there. In May of 2016 I was there before the fishing opener and in 4 days I only saw 2 people (2 rangers clearing portages), but saw 4 moose, 2 wolves, and 1 bear. When I stopped at Rockwood after my Memorial Day trip to Swan with little duckling this year they said that both last summer and already this year they have lots of customers that end up not finding a site open on Horseshoe. It's been about 4 or 5 years since the last time I was there during the busy summer months.

There is definitely nothing better than sharing canoe country with your kids. Sounds like they may be "hooked" ;) Little duckling (10 in a month) did her 3rd trip this year and finally caught her 1st walleye. I bet your daughter was as excited as mine ;)

quote ducks: "they said that both last summer and already this year they have lots of customers that end up not finding a site open on Horseshoe. "

Makes me a little nervous for our trip into the area next week, but we will get there early and wouldn't have a problem getting to Gaskin the first day. Hope going in on a Monday helps a little.

Bpneiman, you should be fine. I'm sure Gaskin won't have the crowd issues that Horseshoe has. Horseshoe is just three short, easy portages from the put-in so it draws a lot of campers. The more portage you put behind you the less crowded it gets....

If you are not dead set on getting a site on Horseshoe you will be fine. Monday entry should help as well as your early start. On my first trip to that area it took my wife and I (single portaging) 3 hours to get from Rockwood to our site on Gaskin.

Or from Horseshoe you can go to Allen, Pillsbury, Henson, or to Omega. I have found that stretch much quieter than than Meeds, Caribou, Horseshoe, Vista, and Gaskin.