Hey everyone, I have an entry permit for Moose lake around the middle of June. This will only be my second trip into the BWCA, and I consider this mainly a fishing trip. I’m mainly after Smallmouth and Northern. So here’s the question. Which way should I go? I have a couple of options and I would appreciate your thoughts and comments.

One, I could take a tow up Moose and head for Knife. I’ve heard that Knife is a a nice lake but can also get crowded. Also, I’ve heard that the fishing can be pretty tough since it is so clear and deep. Mainly a Trout Lake, which I have no experience fishing for.

Two, I could head across Wind Lake over into Basswood. I went this way during my first trip into the BWCA. I would be more comfortable going this way and know it’s more a Smallmouth and Northern Lake. But should I be more willing to branch out and see other areas of the BWCA.

I would really appreciate y’all’s thoughts and advice.

Thanks!

Basswood would certianly be better for smallmouth and northern than Knife, but if you're looking to try somewhere new, you could head over to Ensign. That lake has smallmouth, largemouth and northern and has always been a pretty decent fishery. Good walleye too.

i've never fished basswood , but as far as knife goes , a lot of quality smally's - pike-walleyes-lakers which will be deeper in mid june. and yes knife will get crowded from memorial day to labor day. always get an early start .

Knife has its fair share of smallies, though I have yet to catch a walleye there (mostly for lack of trying). Basswood might be less crowded if you get away from the entry points, though you may see/hear motor boats out there, if that matters to you.

Ensign is crowded. South Arm Knife can be crowded but less so than Ensign, at least that's been my experience. Basswood has motorboats, and can get crowded.

There are several smaller lakes to explore between the North Arm Knife and South Arm Knife. Ameober, Topaz, Eddy, Hanson, etc. Several have Northern. Some have SMB.

On a border lake (Basswood and Knife) you need to be careful where you are located and fishing relative to the US-Canada border. You can't fish in Ontario (ON) without an ON fishing license and you can't be in Quetico without a permit. Yes, you can paddle on the Canadian side of a border lake and not get out of the canoe on land (except for the portages), however, the fact that you'd be in Quetico complicates matters. And of the three agencies (border control, ON DNR, Quetico Park Ranger), you'd most likely encounter the Quetico Park Ranger. If you don't have a Q permit - it may ruin your day. If you are fishing on the Canada side of the lake without an ON fishing license it will be a big problem, if caught.

I will usually carry an RABC permit, Seasonal Vehicle Day Use Permit, and an ON Fishing license when I'm on the BWCA border lakes (LLC, Iron, Crooked, Basswood, Birch, and Knife) so I can explore where I want, lake and land, during the day as I see fit.

plander: "Ensign is crowded. South Arm Knife can be crowded but less so than Ensign, at least that's been my experience. Basswood has motorboats, and can get crowded.


There are several smaller lakes to explore between the North Arm Knife and South Arm Knife. Ameober, Topaz, Eddy, Hanson, etc. Several have Northern. Some have SMB.


On a border lake (Basswood and Knife) you need to be careful where you are located and fishing relative to the US-Canada border. You can't fish in Ontario (ON) without an ON fishing license and you can't be in Quetico without a permit. Yes, you can paddle on the Canadian side of a border lake and not get out of the canoe on land (except for the portages), however, the fact that you'd be in Quetico complicates matters. And of the three agencies (border control, ON DNR, Quetico Park Ranger), you'd most likely encounter the Quetico Park Ranger. If you don't have a Q permit - it may ruin your day. If you are fishing on the Canada side of the lake without an ON fishing license it will be a big problem, if caught.


I will usually carry an RABC permit, Seasonal Vehicle Day Use Permit, and an ON Fishing license when I'm on the BWCA border lakes (LLC, Iron, Crooked, Basswood, Birch, and Knife) so I can explore where I want, lake and land, during the day as I see fit.
"

Keep in mind you can only use barbless hooks in Quetico, and no live bait, so switching back and forth between BWCA and Q is less convenient if you don't commit to pinching barbs on lots of your tackle.

technically_rugged: "

plander: "Ensign is crowded. South Arm Knife can be crowded but less so than Ensign, at least that's been my experience. Basswood has motorboats, and can get crowded.



There are several smaller lakes to explore between the North Arm Knife and South Arm Knife. Ameober, Topaz, Eddy, Hanson, etc. Several have Northern. Some have SMB.



On a border lake (Basswood and Knife) you need to be careful where you are located and fishing relative to the US-Canada border. You can't fish in Ontario (ON) without an ON fishing license and you can't be in Quetico without a permit. Yes, you can paddle on the Canadian side of a border lake and not get out of the canoe on land (except for the portages), however, the fact that you'd be in Quetico complicates matters. And of the three agencies (border control, ON DNR, Quetico Park Ranger), you'd most likely encounter the Quetico Park Ranger. If you don't have a Q permit - it may ruin your day. If you are fishing on the Canada side of the lake without an ON fishing license it will be a big problem, if caught.



I will usually carry an RABC permit, Seasonal Vehicle Day Use Permit, and an ON Fishing license when I'm on the BWCA border lakes (LLC, Iron, Crooked, Basswood, Birch, and Knife) so I can explore where I want, lake and land, during the day as I see fit.
"

Keep in mind you can only use barbless hooks in Quetico, and no live bait, so switching back and forth between BWCA and Q is less convenient if you don't commit to pinching barbs on lots of your tackle."

Regarding the barbless hooks, its only what is on your line in the water that matters - not the lures in your tackle box. As for live bait, you can't bring it into Canada from the US so you can't even have it in the canoe with you.

If you decide to go to Basswood, but don't want to encounter motorboats, consider going into the non-motorized zone of Basswood near Upper Basswood Falls. The portion of Basswood north of Washington Island in the east and north of the narrows at the north end of Jackfish Bay is the non-motorized zone. Should be shown or called out as non-motorized on your maps.

I’ve done both and for smallmouth &walleye it would be Basswood by far. My son &I had the most amazing smallmouth fishing there with over 100 caught in one day.This was in the first week in June a few years ago. Also caught walleye over 7 lbs. same trip.

I've been on both many times. Basswood has better fishing and Knife is more scenic. Both can be crowded and rough although basswood is more open so it gets rough faster. If you want to fish for lake trout you will want to fish Knife.

Basswood is clearly the better fishing lake if you are after smallies and walleye. Basswood is also a BIG lake and can get feisty for canoers very fast. If you are not experienced in big waves it can be dangerous or maroon you in camp. If you do go into Basswood, Wind is the way to go as you miss Bailey Bay, which is almost always windy. The down side of going through Wind is you can't stop at PP Canada Customs where you can pick up RABCs and Canadian fishing licenses. The other thing about Basswood is you need to know where the reefs are. An outfitter can help with that. Although it adds to the weight (and the Wind Lake portages are long and up and down hill) some folks take portable locators into Basswood. The Wind route is also interesting because, depending on the weather and time of year, you can catch something there. There is also a route out of Wind through Indiana, although it can get be a challenge depending on conditions.

You could check out Hoist Bay if you're after pike. There are a few campsites in the area, and if the water is high you will have easy access to Good lake for some better campsites. We stayed on Good lake for 3 days and did the loop Good-Indiana-Wind Bay- out to the main body and south into Hoist bay in about 8 hours, fishing the whole way. We wished we'd spent more time fishing Hoist, lots of cabbage. Big bass in Good and Indiana.

I went in Moose over to Wind my first trip in, nearly 30 years ago, I still remember that portage from Moose to Wind. It wasn't fun. I didn't catch any smallies in Wind, just largemouth. Also, I have caught mostly Largemouth in the area of Basswood near Wind, Hoist bay if I recall. I never got into many smallies outside of Jackfish Bay. I used to go into Jackfish to chase smallies and pike every year.