I'm looking at overnight motor permits for a 3-day fishing trip with my son. I know Basswood is incredibly popular for fishing, but the Fall & Moose Lake EP's are booked pretty much all summer.

This will be my first BWCA trip so I'm looking for opinions on the OTHER overnight motor lakes -- Snowbank and Farm, perhaps Little Vermillion? We'd be looking for a smaller sized lake that doesn't get too rough.

Our primary targets would be walleye and lake trout and we love to troll.

Thanks in advance!

If you're after trout, Snowbank would work. Trout Lake north of Vermillion would also fit the bill.

Thanks Carmike. After further research I'm thinking Snowbank will be a good place to start. Digging in to the nitty gritties now!

I am going to loon lake in a week for some base camp fishing. Definitely holds lake trout and walleye. I have done this trip several times and I have had good fishing and it is incredibly scenic, I love the loon river after little vermilion. If you haven’t done this route I definitely recommend it

Fishingforfry: "I am going to loon lake in a week for some base camp fishing. Definitely holds lake trout and walleye. I have done this trip several times and I have had good fishing and it is incredibly scenic, I love the loon river after little vermilion. If you haven’t done this route I definitely recommend it "

Loon Lake looks nifty, but with a 14ft motorized boat and an 11 year old kid, I don't think we're up for the trip down from Crane/Little Vermillion -- I've read there is a section of rapids as well as a portage involved. Out of curiosity -- do you launch your boat at the marina just south of Baylis island, then go up thru Crane narrows and around into Little Vermillion? How long does that take to run?

Thanks!

The first time I did this route I was in my 15ft boat with a ten horse power motor. It took us about three and a half hours from crane to loon. There is a portage but they pull your boat out of the water on a railroad track and up over the hill, you walk up the hill and pay the track operator and he lowers your boat down into loon lake.

Fishingforfry: "The first time I did this route I was in my 15ft boat with a ten horse power motor. It took us about three and a half hours from crane to loon. There is a portage but they pull your boat out of the water on a railroad track and up over the hill, you walk up the hill and pay the track operator and he lowers your boat down into loon lake. "

Thanks for the info. Sounds fun, I'll definitely keep this on my list.

Just outside of the BWCA, but Burntside Lake is a good option for several night's stay. The lake has walleye and lake trout, along with bass and pike.
Not as much traffic as one would expect, and an easy trip.