Looking at doing a trip this fall (after Labor Day). With just my wife and me, we are limited due to my bad back. Any recommendations for a scenic base camp lake with good fishing (walleye) that is no portage or minimal portaging? I could probably handle one long portage or a couple small easy ones as long as it is not coupled with a long day of paddling.

I was looking at Brule, Gabbro, or a tow up Moose or Sag. I have been to all those areas except Brule but have never base camped or spent much time fishing. If we are going to post up for multiple nights, I will need a good campsite to keep the wife happy and good fishing to keep me occupied. :)

Areas of Seagull have come back nicely, a site on the northside of 3-Mile, maybe a good option?

You mentioned Brule and Sag , both big water like Seagull is, too, but a site in this area is a very short paddle either from the landing or Seagull Outfitters and have some protection from the wind and still enjoy the BW ;)


Pic of the palisades

Take a tow to Red Rock Bay, there's about a 5 rod portage into
Red Rock Lake, which has some nice campsites and fishing. Then, if you like, one 40 rod fairly easy portage into Alpine, also a nice fishing lake. Alpine is in a burn area, Red Rock for the most part is not.

A tow to Washington Island on Basswood will save your back and the fishing is great. The scenery might not be quite as nice as some smaller lakes though.

BearRaid: "A tow to Washington Island on Basswood will save your back and the fishing is great. The scenery might not be quite as nice as some smaller lakes though."

If fishing is the draw, Basswood is hard to beat. Certainly my plan when it's time to set the packs down.

I've done this exact trip several times... Around Memorial Day, my wife and I do a "no portage" trip. We go to Seagull lake. It is a huge lake with lots of attractions. You can put right in at Seagull Outfitters and paddle away from their dock. At the end of you trip, you paddle back to their dock...

Brule is a walleye factory. Not to mention the smallies and pike swimming those waters to boot.

Is the fishing on Seagull decent? I know the lake is nice but have never heard anything about the fishing.

The problem with Basswood is the motor allowance. We are used to paddling into the interior and so it would be nice to have some sort of solitude, which I know will be hard with our situation.

ellroy2: "Is the fishing on Seagull decent? I know the lake is nice but have never heard anything about the fishing. "

Fishing can be good. What are you chasing? Seagull has good lakers. It also has a lot of pike and walleye.

Are you willing to portage to fish? that is what I do. I basecamp in Seagull. This year, we never left Seagull. In most years, we portage over to Alpine and spend a lot of time fishing that lake. Alpine has more smallies and is generally better fishing than Seagull (except for Lakers...)

Mad_Angler: "

ellroy2: "Is the fishing on Seagull decent? I know the lake is nice but have never heard anything about the fishing....


"

Fishing can be good. What are you chasing? Seagull has good lakers. It also has a lot of pike and walleye.


Are you willing to portage to fish? that is what I do. I basecamp in Seagull. This year, we never left Seagull. In most years, we portage over to Alpine and spend a lot of time fishing that lake. Alpine has more smallies and is generally better fishing than Seagull (except for Lakers...)"

Preferably walleye....

Take boat tow from LaTurelles Moose Lake to Washington Island. About a 2 hour paddle to North Bay or Ranger Bay. Also there is a lake just northwest of White Island that is easy to portage into and a beautiful clear lake with excellent fishing. There is a great campsite at the end of portage. Some call this lake Day Off and others call
It Green Lake. No name on any map that I have seen.

If you want a small water option, you could enter at Baker Lake and head up to Kelly Lake. There is a very easy 34 rod portage from Baker to Peterson and a 5 rod portage from Peterson to Kelly that you will probably not have to take, either float through it or get out and walk the canoe through a small riffle.

Kelly is a very nice lake with several good campsites. it is also a pretty good walleye lake and an area known for moose sightings. The northern half of the lake narrows down and is a long stretch of very pretty river like paddling. At the north end of the lake there is a campsite with running water on both sides of it, the temperance River on one side and Pipe creek on the other. Many have reported very good fishing below the Temperance River which is right at the edge of your site.

You can also walk the Kelly to Jack portage and when you get to the end, there is a short side trail to the left that will take you to an old abandoned gold mine. Kind of cool to go into and look around the area at many artifacts left over from his adventure.

A nice easy trip with minimal portaging, good scenery and fishing and a better than average chance of seeing Mr. Moose.

If walleye are what you're after, then I'd suggest Brule. Great walleye lake.

Or the other suggestion for Basswood would be excellent if you want to chase a greater variety of fish. I prefer getting out of the motor zone, but with a tow from an outfitter, it wouldn't take long to get some isolation on a very fishy lake.

If walleye size doesn’t matter, you could also consider Perent (Hog Creek entry). Smaller water, and the paddle down Hog creek is different from most BWCA routes. There is one short portage near the entry point. We also caught a few pike and many perch on Perent. Several nice campsites. Downside is that you basically get just one lake.

My vote would be Brule. I've made 4 trips to Brule for eyes and have always been happy. We have caught several in that 27-28 inch.