Hello. I'm getting married in October and my little brother (best man) is the worlds largest procrastinator so the planning of the bachelor party has been put in my hands. The details...4 of us are planning a 3 day trip in mid September of this year. We are all physically fit, experienced outdoorsman, intermediate paddlers, and BWCA rookies. Fishing for smallmouth and walleye is the number 1 priority. Ideally, we'd like to put in some effort to get to a decent basecamp where we will camp the entire 3 days. Then fish on the basecamp and surrounding lakes during our stay. Does anyone have any experience with a trip like this? Entry Point, lake suggestions, fishing recommendations would all be very helpful. First trip we'd like to focus on the east side of the BWCA.

West side of Brule

F&P, If you are willing to give up the smallmouth fishing for easy and virtually guaranteed walleye fishing, along with jumbo perch, Crocodile Lake would be a good destination for you. It is a dead end lake so usually not very busy and it feels very remote for the short distance from the EP. Seriously, the walleye fishing is extraordinary - you would likely catch lots of smallish to eater size walleyes with occasional larger ones thrown in. I have also caught a few northern pike in there and some past reports have claimed that they have caught Largemouth Bass although I have never seen any. Good chance to see wildlife too.

There are 4 campsites and two of them are marginal but the 2nd and 4th(going west to east) are both nice. The Crocodile River on the east end is pretty cool for spending half a day exploring, maybe even make your way up to the closest of the Veggie lakes. There is the possibility that you could have the whole lake to yourselves.

Entry is from the landing at the East Bearskin campground although the permit needed is actually #66 Crocodile River (weird quirk of the system) and you must stay all nights on Crocodile. But its worth it. The other thing to mention is that you won't have to work too hard to get there; it is a 35 minute paddle from the E Bearskin landing to the portage south to Crocodile Lake. The portage is 100-120 rods and pretty steep in spots. But then you are at your destination lake. Getting to the 2nd campsite will be another 20-25 minute paddle, if you go all the way to the east end it could be 45 minutes or better, it is a long lake. Towards the east end it really narrows down and is very cool.
So you could be in camp a mere 2-3 hours from the EP depending on your pace. More time for fishing and relaxing! Maybe this is too easy of a trip for you but with the stated goal of fishing, this will maximize that time.

Here is a trip report form our first trip there several years ago. It is one of my favorite spots and perfect when the time available is short like your trip:

Crocodile Lake basecamp

I have other ideas if smallmouth is a must but this just popped into my head when I read you original post.


Have fun and congratulations.

If you are willing to eliminate the search for smallies I think you would really like Lindylair's suggestion.

I was there last year with my then 11 year old daughter at the end of July into the beginning of August which is known as the busiest week of the year in the bwca and we had Crocodile Lake all to ourselves.

You won't have to work that hard to get there, it's a quiet lake, and it's an easy place to catch walleye. We were catching walleye in the middle of the day when it was sunny and calm.



Congratulations!

Congratulations and welcome to the BWCA forum!