I'll head down the stuart river monday may 14 and probably take 2 days to get to Iron. I'll have a week or so to fish and explore. I'm considering taking the beartrap river route through the PMA and entering iron at peterson bay. I will be fishing for the big 3 plus crappie.

Please leave any advice on what to do and where to stay, this is my first time to this area.

Interested in how you do at Iron as we're heading there in early June.

Iron is busy, so you might consider taking the first available campsite you find, especially if it's "good enough." That might seem silly, but Iron is a popular lake (for good reason), and campsites are often at a premium.

I stayed on the Stuart site across from the Dahlgren portage. It is the nicest site i have stayed at in 4 trips. Also, don't miss the opportunity to walk the Dahlgren portage, a beautiful walk through old pines and a nice waterfall at the end!
The nice island site north of Peterson Bay was taken when I went through Iron, so I used the site in the south west, in a small bay. I was protected from the west wind, but that was about it. Weedy shallow bay, and one small tent pad. Rarely gets used, I'm sure!

I don't mind small campsites as long as they still have a quality kitchen area/ rocks and trees. I will likely be going solo (portages over 10 rods scare my friends) and will likely be hanging a hammock instead of pitching a tent.

Is taking the beartrap river best to do in spring?

This PMA is tough. Maybe better with high water but still a challenge.

carmike: "Iron is busy, so you might consider taking the first available campsite you find, especially if it's "good enough." That might seem silly, but Iron is a popular lake (for good reason), and campsites are often at a premium. "

I’m thinking he won’t have any issues finding a site mid May.

We went thru the Sundial PMA going South on the Beartrap River last August from Iron stopping at Sunday Lake for a night. You need a PMA permit to stay on Sunday Lake. You will be traveling up stream on the Beartrap River which maybe more difficult in May then it was for us in August. I have also done this route going north a few years back and remember going north on Beartrap was a lot easier then going south. The water levels were about the same both times.

These portages are not maintained and the last portage going into Beartrap Lake will be the hardest (about 280 rods). That early in the spring you will maybe the first ones to use that portage so expect lots of lay down trees blocking the portage trail. We did lots of trail cleanup in August and made it better but after a long winter and no use there no telling what you will find.

As far as campsite suggestions on this route I have a few suggestions:
>On Stuart we like the 5 star site just south of the Fox Lake portage. I can send you some picture of the site if you like.
>On Iron Lake we really like the 5 star site on the south side of the lake on an island looking at Peterson Bay. We have stayed there twice. Last time we took the west site on Three Island and it was OK, maybe a 3.5 star. I have picture of both sites if you would like to see them.
> On Sunday lake you can camp anywhere you like but there is really only 2 places that are decent. It is on the north shore and stands out pretty good. Getting out of Sunday Lake was a real pain because of the grass growth at the mouth of the Sunday River going south. You probably will not have the same problems because of the time of year you are traveling. The walleye fishing was excellent on Sunday by the way.

For fishing information on Iron Lake I recommend you do some search work on this site. Look for a lake fishing map posted by mcsweem with lots of good information.

UPBoy

Thanks for the long reply UPboy!

I will be spending my first night on Stuart Lake and I will look for your preferred campsite before checking out the dalgrehn portage. The next day I will take the beartrap River North into iron Lake. Unless I make a wrong turn at the confluence of the Sterling creek and beartrap I won't be going as far south as Sunday lake.

I'm wondering about fishing on iron on the North side versus the South Side versus areas of current. I think I will target peterson bay primarily with a trip up to the current in the north east to fish the falls.

More info is welcome!

Iron has a lot of interesting and variable structure. A fish finder would be essential, but a good bathymetric map of Iron showing the contours will be useful. The Curtain Falls outlfow as well as several of the islands can be very productive depending on flows and water temperatures. You won't be disappointed!

The island site on Stuart is very nice as well. I wouldn't give it 5 stars as its a bit cramped, but very scenic.

My mistake murphylakejim, I did not realize you wanted to get from Stuart to Iron in the "worst way". I have not traveled the route you are suggesting but many on the Board have.

Suggest you check out some trip reports by Eglath (7/4/04) and Bogwalker (May 08) for some descriptions of the Nibin/Sterling Lake route.

http://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=trip.report_view&sel_trp_id=223
http://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=trip.report_view&sel_trp_id=1207

As for fishing on Iron Lake Here is a link to the Iron Lake fishing map mcsween posted a few years back.

http://photos.bwca.com/m/MCSWEEM-140709-122930.JPG

UPBoy

Eglath Trip Report
Bogwalker Trip Report
Iron Lake fishing map

Thanks again UPBoy and everyone else. The trip report from eglath had me worried but the trip report from bogwalker has stoked my confidence, as long as the ice is gone...

I think if water levels are high I will cruise through Sterling creek but in the event it is a struggle I will be fully prepared for that as well.

Mcsweem' s map is a nice bit of info but I'm wondering how fishing might be different going a month earlier.... generally the north bay's warm first but on iron specifically it looks like the warming will be in the south bays? (I'm probably not venturing north past the boarder at all) Either way I'm sure the falls on the east side will produce.

I'm open to expanding my trip to the east or west if I'm sorely missing out on something and if I have time (may 14-20). Is there anything in the area that I'm missing?

How is Stuart River into Stuart water level wise? I went in in Feb, but was on top, as frozen. Is it paddleable in June, August, October?

The Stuart River will have plenty of water anytime of the year. There are a few beaver damns pull overs that may get a little more difficult but other then that don't worry about water levels on the Stuart River.

There is a washed out bridge (called the bridge to "Nowhere") about two thirds down the first long portage that may cause you to wade thru or float across depending on how high the water is or how much rain you have in the last few days.

Go for it.

UPBoy

Thanks a lot. I don't mind finding what ever I find when solo, but taking my daughter and her friend before they head off to college and gondola-ing through eight miles of potential muck would make me feel bad.

Lailoken, kind of a coincidence here.

On my first trip into Stuart my daughter in law and her friend went with us. For both of them it was their first BW trip. For me the first portage (480 rods) was the longest portage I have ever made and for them it was their first portage they ever made and they both finished that portage with smiles on their faces. Because we did some car shuttling they only had to do the portage once but a 480 rod portage for your first portage is pretty darn good.

Another first for them was the second portage landing on the Stuart River leg of the trip was the one of the muddiest landings I could remember. You know, one of those mash landings with a muddy trail out to open water. One of them lost their shoe deep in the muck and had to reach in up to her shoulder to dig it out. They thought it was fun!

Attitude counts a lot for a successful canoe trip.

UPBoy

Lailoken, kind of a coincidence here.

On my first trip into Stuart my daughter in law and her friend went with us. For both of them it was their first BW trip. For me the first portage (480 rods) was the longest portage I have ever made and for them it was their first portage they ever made and they both finished that portage with smiles on their faces. Because we did some car shuttling they only had to do the portage once but a 480 rod portage for your first portage is pretty darn good.

Another first for them was the second portage landing on the Stuart River leg of the trip was the one of the muddiest landings I could remember. You know, one of those mash landings with a muddy trail out to open water. One of them lost their shoe deep in the muck and had to reach in up to her shoulder to dig it out. They thought it was fun!

Attitude counts a lot for a successful canoe trip.

UPBoy

Sweet! I don't think they'll mind the distance, though I am not personally a fan of muddy ones. Thank you again, for the information. Just booked permit for 5 night and 6 days with them. Best Regards,

I did a similar trip but base camped on Stuart Lake. We caught a of walleye off the main big Island in the southwest area of the lake. What I really, really recommend is to take the portage in the northeast of Stewart to Rush Lake. We did a daytrip there and had the best Smallie action of any lake I have ever fished in the BW. We were there in late August, but we caught more 3+ pound Smallies than we could count. We used Chartreuse Mr. Twisters with a small blade on them and the action was unreal! There is only one campsite on the lake and its a great place to have lunch and take a mid-day nap.
Happy Fishing!

on Iron, look for any moving water. Anchor your canoe in the current and bounce a jig and twister!

thanks palooza I will fish Rush on the way back for sure.