Heading in next June thru Wood Lake up to Basswood's Hoist Bay & Wind Bay areas. Obviously, I know people don't like to spill their secrets, but any thoughts, tips, advice. *If you want to share.

My husband and I like topwater SMB and our tripping partner (husband) likes walleye. Wife doesn't care, she likes to fish, but is happy w/anything.

Thanks if you want.
Understand if you skip.

Smallies,.....Heard good stuff about Indiana Lake.

I have an article for fishing smallmouth via topwater if you would be interested in reading it. Just send me an email - queticomike@yahoo.com - and request it.

Indiana is a good lake. Didn't catch any monster smallmouth in there, but the numbers weren't too hateful. Had a wolf get pretty close to me once there while sitting in a solo canoe along the shoreline and it didn't see me sitting there. Waited until it got about 15 feet away before I grabbed up my paddle for some protection. Scared the wolf pretty good when I did, it jumped into the air, did a quick 180 and literally took off through the woods high tailing it. Caught some decent largemouth in there as well. Wind Bay along the shorelines and points can be good at times.

Nice little string of lakes, pretty. Indiana is a pretty little lake which is populated with both species of bass and has some exceptional pike as well. Water is super clear and bass can be somewhat educated especially the bigger ones.

Largemouth and pike tend to be at the end of the lake where the up and over portage into Basswood happens. A dandy weed bed is at this end and some stout largemouth and pike which look very much like dark logs laying in the pockets of the weeds. No walleye that I am aware of and I did try for them.

Camped at the island on wind bay near the creek to Indiana. The creek is a pleasant run complete with big snapping turtles and a nice buck deer last time I went through. Wind Bay seemed sort of shallow and devoid of fish in August. In June however, I would have higher hopes for virtually all species. My advice is to float softly and quietly and carry a big stick bait.

Wife and I really enjoyed Indiana and Good Lakes when we did a similar trip a few years ago. As Quetico Mike mentioned, good numbers of decent smallies on Indiana. I caught an absolute toad of a largemouth on Good - decent numbers otherwise.

Wind Bay is mostly shallow until you get towards the main body of the lake. You can pick up small pike all over. For a chance at something a little larger head toward Basswood. As you exit Wind, try trolling a large rapala as it gets toward deeper water, there should be some pike there. If there is wind from the North or west, you can pick up walleye along the shoreline wind is blowing into. I have caught some bass in Wind bay, but most were in the 12"-14" range.

For Hoist, I would try working the channel out to the main lake. I have not had a ton of luck in Hoist, usually just kind of pass through heading for Back Bay. Try casting an inline spinner - #4 brass blade with white or brown fur. Jointed rapalas worked like a jerkbait worked well, husky jerks, etc especially if you can find standing timber. If you make it to Back bay, there are some BIG pike lurking in there. Also caught some good size smallmouth in there too. Big spinnerbaits, or anything that I mentioned above should work well..

If you are traveling through Basswood instead of portaging, I would try the area all along the south shoreline between Wind and Hoist, especially if there is a bit of a breeze blowing that direction. The area between Norway and Canoe islands has also done well for me in the past.

Lots of good fishing to be had in a lot of different areas of Basswood. Talking about it has made me want to go again.

Good luck on your trip!

This map could be helpful - Voyageur Map 4

Here you go. I feel like sharing info today.

Don't overlook Frog Bay and half dog island. Can be very good in the early morning in June

I once had an extremely hot bite panfish bite in back bay. Try fishing in pencil reeds around the north island. This was in may for fishing opener however. Im not sure if june will be very different.

The channel (creek? river?) between good lake and hoist bay is nice and I saw people using slip bobbers where it opens up into hoist bay. It seemed like a good place to find walleye. If the campsite is available at the narrows on good lake, I would take it.

Also I spotted a very very large pike cruising along a rocky point very shallow in hoist bay.

I would share pictures of back bay but im banned from my account thanks to the kind admins.

I had very good luck on hoist bay in June. We paddled from good through the creek into hoist bay and back around to the portage into good. Early June. Caught a lot of nice northerns just trolling in the paddle through hoist.

Wow - thanks so much everyone!

blutofish1: " Here you go. I feel like sharing info today. "

Whadda got marked on Wood Lake??

I haven't fished Wood. Sorry