We are choosing between entry points 16, 23, 26, and 33 in mid-late June. After doing some research on previous posts, I would say 23 is the frontrunner and 16 a close second. We're mainly focusing on walleye, smallmouth, and pike, but also interested in some strong panfishing opportunities. We have never fished for lake trout so oyster lake is somewhat tempting to get a first for our group. Some of the posts sound like the e.p. 23 area has a decent largemouth population, is this true? We're looking for a relaxing trip rather than a grueling trek, so let me know what areas mentioned that you like. I'm sorry its kind of all over the board, but thanks for any help!

16 and 23 will be very busy that time of year. Get your permits early and be prepared to hunt for open camp sites.

For 23 we are kind of looking at camping on gull lake, it looks like from there it is more portaging and less paddling. We were hoping that this would cut down on the crowds, is this something we can hope for?

Doesn't look like much of a fishing lake.

Boot, Fairy, and Gun sound like decent fishing, Horse sounds very good, we like the pictographs options. What would you suggest/ your favorite fishing areas?

Spent 3 days fishing Gull last June. Good catches of walleye and smallmouth (and some pike, although they were not targeted most of the time). Most 'eyes 15 - 18" / largest smallie 19-20" / one pike in the 34" range hooked during a very windy afternoon that had us casting spinners and spoons from shore. We concentrated on the southern shore and some on the western shore. Beautiful lake, and the peninsula campsite was nice, a cool place to stay.

We fished Gun on our way to the Moosecamp River and didn't catch a thing (it was cold and rainy). Mainly trying plastics, crankbaits, and spinners, occasionally drift jigging leeches. I was somewhat surprised. Spent our last night on Fourtown and had a nice evening walleye / smallie bite around sunset.....just typing about it makes me ready for next years trip!

When I go back to the area, I'd definitely like to try camping / fishing on Boot and Fairy.

Great info, thanks! A guy I work with raved about gull, it's among his favorites. How busy was it when you went?

I guess the MN dnr surveys are wrong.

quote AmarilloJim: "I guess the MN dnr surveys are wrong."

DNR surveys can be very vague in the BWCA , conditions(wind) can have a lot do to with it, to even be able to get that nets out or how much time they put in on any given lake , 1 lake I had looked up only netted 3 small Lakers , well I quit counting after our group has caught over 30 lake trout

Jim, I'm open to advice and suggestions, but you don't seem to be offering any.

FYI there are multiple Gull Lakes in the BWCA - quite possible that the person who raved about it was referencing the one in the Gabbro area.

I went to the Mudro area Gull about 5 years ago for Memorial Day weekend. We caught a few walleye, bass and pike over 3 days. I'd say it was below average fishing, but we had a really late ice out that year which probably didn't help matters. Really great area overall, but will be quite busy that time of year.

Thanks dude! I know it was the mudro entry because he talked about gun and fairy lake.

quote daveowens286: "Great info, thanks! A guy I work with raved about gull, it's among his favorites. How busy was it when you went?"

We were there in earlier June. (And yes this is the gull through entry 23). Had some people passing through Gull, but I think we were the only group camped there. People seemed to be coming through the portage from Home. I'm certainly not raving about it above its due. It kept our group of 4 interested enough in fishing that we had no need to day trip for fishing excitement. MDNR says No walleye, but use the search on this site and you'll know they're in there in good number.

Thanks, I think we're more excited about some of the lakes in that area more than some of the others. Gun, fairy, day trip to horse, etc. How does that area compare to ep 16 oyster lake area.

Dave, there's Crown Land quite close to the BWCA. You can drive down a logging road, take all the gear you want, park right beside a lake, have the whole lake to yourself, and catch fat fish. Here are a couple bass caught last June under demanding conditions. The lake wasn't even down a logging road. It was right beside an asphalt road. I was there for nearly a week and saw no one else.

I've also included a pic of a pike caught at a nearby, similar lake. There are lots of abandoned, leaky boats in Canada and we used the boat in the pic for the first evening to land a nice pike for a photo because they're harder to land in a canoe. I've also included a pic of a nice campsite at a Crown Land lake. Campsites this open are rare, but they do exist.

Those are some quality Smallies!! I think we're set on 23, maybe base camp on the Western portion (boot, fairy, gun, or gull), then maybe do a day or 2 on horse tin can mike.