That is a tough one. I have think about it for awhile?

Easy, mountain lake on the Canadian border.

Due to there being so many great ones... The tipping point for me would be sentimental reasons.

Wind Lake

Alice,also for sentimental reasons and being in the middle of the interior of BWCA.

Without a doubt it would have to be Gotter...

brantlars: "Without a doubt it would have to be Gotter...
"

LOL!

Duncan

Thomas

arctic: "

brantlars: "Without a doubt it would have to be Gotter...
"

LOL!"

I heard so many negative things about Gotter that I was surprised to find it pretty nice last fall, but it's not my favorite.

I'll cast my vote for Adams.

Cherry

I’m a Basswood Guy.

Sag

sentimental Beaver

Red Rock, I think.

Knife

Insula

Iron

Stumpy: "Due to there being so many great ones... The tipping point for me would be sentimental reasons.


Wind Lake"

Have you ever done any good for walleyes on wind ?

Rush It was the last lake I stayed on with my brother

Can’t believe Stumpy didn’t pick this one: No Name.

Winchell

so many to choose, due to it's size, water clarity, miles of shorelines, and history, my choice is knife.

bwcasolo: "so many to choose, due to it's size, water clarity, miles of shorelines, and history, my choice is knife."

I didn't choose Knife but I have a idea Knife might end up with the most votes. For many of the reasons you mentioned. Love the east end of Knife along the border. So beautiful.

Cherokee, I guess. Hard to choose, really.

Crooked (the one on the border)

Sletten if that counts

Niki Lake

shoulder seasons- IRON. Summer seasons- Mountain and lakes around it mentioned by Jwartman

WhiteWolf: "shoulder seasons- IRON. Summer seasons- Mountain and lakes around it mentioned by Jwartman
"

Looking forward to the Mountain and other border lakes for the first time this June. That area, in general, I believe is the prettiest in the whole park.

Mountain is a fun one to canoe when it is nice and calm and you can see down the length of it. I have been there twice in like September and wasn't very busy. I don't know about the summer months.

Clearwater Lake has many great memories for me. Good lake for a starter, or to stay a week. Views are fantastic from up on top of the palisades. Two days there I’ve had 100 Smallmouth Bass days.

Gun Lake out of Mudro/north of Fairy.

Temperence Lakes (N and S, can't remember which was best). Probably a fluke.

Only 2 trips in the BWCAW so far, but I think I have to pick the first Lake I paddled:
Stuart
I worked hard to get there, has a waterfall coming in, best campsite I've stayed at, and a beautiful portage through huge pines to see another waterfall into the Dahlgren River, and I had the lake to myself for 2 days.

ozarkpaddler: "Sag"

Yep. At least so far.

Choosing one is awful hard, as you all know. Some of the ones that were finalists for me include Fairy Lake (out of Mudro, I just felt something mystical there), Crocodile Lake (off E. Bearskin,, great fishing, seclusion and the best wildlife sightings including a pack of wolves right off camp), South Temperance(just a gorgeous lake filled with points, bays and islands, and the best raspberry patch I have ever seen in camp), and Malberg Lake( just a cool lake with great campsites, good fishing, and a lot of daytrip oportunities). My favorite has to be Vista Lake for many reasons including sentimental ones. I have been there many times with many different people and it never disappointed. It is a beautiful lake and we always had excellent fishing, the 5 star site on the south end always felt like home. I have gone there from the north via Poplar, the east via Morgan lake and the south through the dreaded Misquah Hills portages. The memories just propel it to the top. Haven't been there for a long time; my last trip was 22 years ago and my first trip probably 35 years ago and it was much more secluded back then, it always felt like our little secret lake.

Lake is Knife Lake
River is Granite River
Of course there are many areas I haven't been to yet

Iron

...haven't been to very many, but it's a stunning lake with islands like battleships.

The next one...

boonie: "


I'll cast my vote for Adams."

That settles it... I'll be your neighbor with Boulder.

So many to choose.....Gaskin could be it. If wind was never an issue, then Clearwater could be it too.

nctry: "

boonie: "



I'll cast my vote for Adams."

That settles it... I'll be your neighbor with Boulder."

That area gives me a little extra wilderness feeling. More wild like?

nctry: "

boonie: "



I'll cast my vote for Adams."

That settles it... I'll be your neighbor with Boulder."

Boulder is nice too, Ben. I really enjoyed the traveling through the area between them, too. I wish it had been longer.

Seagull, was Rush for many years.

Starts with a g. Marc

Mesaba.

Frankie_Paull: "

Stumpy: "Due to there being so many great ones... The tipping point for me would be sentimental reasons.



Wind Lake"

Have you ever done any good for walleyes on wind ? "

Not myself, but I've witnessed some nice ones come out of Wind.
They seem few & far between.

Crooked

Eddy

It's 3 way tie between X Lake, Secret Lake, and No Name Lake :) If I can only choose one I will have to go with No Name.

Shell....Not the most beautiful or best fishing lake but it was the lake of many fishing opener's of my childhood spent with my grandfather and dad.

Crooked. I think. :)

I couldn't possibly choose a favorite to camp on, but as far as a cool little lake to explore, I've got to give some love to Mug!

Clearwater

Crocodile

Horse

QueticoMike: "It's 3 way tie between X Lake, Secret Lake, and No Name Lake :) If I can only choose one I will have to go with No Name."

Ha! Touche'.

LLC.
But for a smaller lake I would pick Shell, just because of my fond father-daughter trip memories.

Kek

Well, I had the lake in mind that I was going to vote for, then I started scrolling down the list and read many of the "favorites" on my list. I must have changed my mind about 10 times. It is really hard to choose just one. Many sentimental reasons for many different lakes. But, I will go with the lake that first came to mind... Insula. Lots of great memories with a couple different groups.

Iron Lake is overall my favorite lake, although I have only been there once about 5-6 years ago. I'll go back eventually, I hope.

Pierz - most fun fishing of my life and laughing so hard we cried. Isolated and a few great views from the thrones in the woods. Great times there with friends! Headed back that way in a couple months...if the ice is gone...

Ge-Be-on-Equat. Close second would be Finger.

Basswood.

BWPaddler: "Temperence Lakes (N and S, can't remember which was best). Probably a fluke."

I can think of four or five lakes I could put at the top of my list, for different reasons, but South Temperence is a dandy of a lake! I have some awesome memories of staying at that beautiful campsite (#908) on the south side, and paddling around and between all of those little islands is heavenly....

Of all the places I’ve been so far I’d have to say the far west side of Lac La Croix.

That is a tough one. I’ve been thinking about it. Gull Lake, off Bald Eagle. Because of good memories I shared with my son.

there are a lot but I'd have to say Little Caribou as it was my first trip and most memorable with my daughter, Emily, who just passed away. Beautiful peninsula site on a cliff....only site on the lake. Will always cherish that trip!

Iron

The diverse favorites, is good to see.

Stumpy: "The diverse favorites, is good to see."

I agree,and I am amazed at such a diversity with few lakes named more than twice.

Tough call....but if I must, it would be LLC.

Of the lakes I've been to, I like Jordan & Adams; but I'm planning a solo to Kekekabic in September and from reading about the BWCA, it is the favorite lake I have not been to yet, but Stuart and Fat also sound like fun! So many wonderful lakes, so little time - wish I would have started long before my 48th birthday!

campnscrap: "there are a lot but I'd have to say Little Caribou as it was my first trip and most memorable with my daughter, Emily, who just passed away. Beautiful peninsula site on a cliff....only site on the lake. Will always cherish that trip!"

Sorry to hear, I'll bet the memories of that trip with your daughter will stand out for a long time. Let us know if ya need anything. Hardest thing I could imagine dealing with. You'll have to go back to that spot.

Stumpy: "The diverse favorites, is good to see."

Yes, and consider how many people who have been to many lakes had to choose just one from a diverse list of personal favorites!

campnscrap: "there are a lot but I'd have to say Little Caribou as it was my first trip and most memorable with my daughter, Emily, who just passed away. Beautiful peninsula site on a cliff....only site on the lake. Will always cherish that trip!"

Sorry about your great loss. I hope and sure you can remember the great memories like on Little Caribou.

I was going to say sorry too. But wasn’t sure how. I hope your fond memories can somehow assuage your sense of loss and bereavement.

murphylakejim: "Sletten if that counts"

Yes! Sletten 2006 LMB stringer. Used to do trips on the Burntside loop all the time!

My favorite BWCA lake is Chippewa.