Looking for advice on a late May trip. Wanting to base camp mostly with lots of relaxing and fishing. Maybe moving once over four days. We want small water, too.

Thinking about Baker Lake or Homer Lake entry. Or possibly East Bearskin. Mainly want to target walleye while fishing. Which one of these three entry points would you choose? Or others I should consider?

Hey CampingJon,

Choose all three! Probably not possible, I understand, but certainly would be great to compare with a trip to each!

Have you checked out the trip reports on the entry points? I've read about each of the areas and hope to go to either Homer or East Bearskin for the first time this coming season. The trip reports have been an excellent resource for me to get insights.

I've been to Baker on a trip that ended up being cut short, but not Homer or East Bearskin...yet. Baker has good fishing, small water, and short portages unless you go to South Temperance. I think it is a really cool area and I will certainly be back.

If I were to suggest another entry point it would be Wood Lake. Little bit bigger lake but easy enough to find bays and islands that make it feel smaller. Probably not enough walleye to meet your expectations but we always catch a few and do well on bass and pike in Wood Lake. Wood Lake is my favorite place for relaxation and reflection.

Enjoy the planning process!

I too, would slightly favor a Baker Lake entry for your desired list of goals.But, Homer is an excellent plan B.

If you haven't seen them already???

Homer trip report

Baker trip report

Both were in late May!

You have picked out 3 good options. I especially like the Homer and Baker options. Unlike TB, I would lean slightly towards Homer... but not by much.

Here are my trip reports from those 2 areas:

Homer entry

Baker entry

Both are smaller water, offer daytrip options and good fishing. I have had more luck fishing in the Homer area but then I have also fished more there. Can't go wrong with either IMO.

Other entries you might want to consider:

Entry 47 - Lizz Lake - Base camp on Gaskin, Henson, or Ogema. Move to Horseshoe easy day out.

Entry 37 - Kawishiwi Lake - Base camp on Malberg, move to Polly, easy day out

Entry 49 - Skipper Lake - Base camp on Rush or Banadad

There is a reason no one ever built a dedicated fishing lodge on East Bearskin, AFAIK:

"Surveys in 2016 and 2020 added to growing evidence that lake trout stocking in this lake failed to establish a reproducing population, and failed to produce a population cabable of providing much, if any, fishing opportunity. Although we saw some survival of earlier lake trout stockings, few fish have survived from more recent stocking. The combined lake trout catch in deep and shallow gill net sets in 2020 was 0.08 fish/set, well below the goal in the 2014 LMP. The catch consisted of a single large lake trout. Based on aging, its fin-clip, and a review of stocking records, that fish had been part of the original 1993 reintroductory stocking, and was therefore 29 years old when captured. The 2016 survey also captured just one large, old lake trout; neither survey provided any evidence of reproduction. As a result, we will be recommending that the current LMP be revised in 2022, and that lake trout stocking in this lake cease.

"Since walleye stocking resumed in 2005 the long range catch goal for walleye established at that time has never been met. The combined walleye gill net catch in deep and shallow sets (2.08 fish/set) was similar to other catches seen since 1988, and was again short of the goal. Walleye collected in 2020 (in all gears combined) ranged in length from 7.7 to 21.2 inches, with most in the 12-16-inch length range. Six year classes (ages 1-9) contributed to the catch. Year classes in which some walleye stocking was done (2018, 2017, and 2013) accounted for 64% of the catch; however, it is likely that some fish from those years had been produced naturally. Purely natural year classes were apparently produced in 2019, 2015, and 2011. Growth of young walleye had been better than average; age-2 fish reached a mean length of 9.7 inches at last annulus formation, compared to an area mean of 8.7 inches for Class 3 lakes (data through 2019). Although walleye could not be considered abundant in this lake, they do provide good fishing at times for anglers targeting the species.

"East Bearskin Lake has a reputation for providing good smallmouth bass fishing, with some larger fish available. Too few smallmouth bass were sampled in 2020 to determine whether their size distribution met the PSD goal in the 2014 LMP. The smallmouth bass gill net catch was similar to catches seen in that gear since 1979, in terms of numbers and size of fish taken. A few largemouth bass were also found in East Bearskin Lake in 2020, the first time that species has been sampled in the lake since 1988. From their lengths, it appeared that two recent year classes may have contributed to the 2020 largemouth bass catch."

East Bearskin Fisheries Survey

I’ve used Baker and Homer each twice and like them both, but give the nod to Baker. Baker will be one of the first couple EPs that I use with my 5 year old son.

Went to Baker once in June with my oldest daughter and May another year with my younger daughter. Saw lots of moose with my oldest and did well for walleye on Jack but it was very busy. On the May trip we didn’t see any moose, but only saw a couple of other groups and caught some walleye on Kelly and Jack.

Both of my trips to Homer were in May. First time was solo and there was only one other car in the parking lot and I didn’t see anyone else during the trip. This was the weekend before Memorial Day. The following year I went there Memorial Day weekend and it was packed. Parking lot was full and sites on both Vern and Pipe were full so we backtracked and took the one site on Homer that is inside the bwca border. I didn’t catch any walleye either time entering at Homer.

In the “any other EP category” I would say Lizz is my favorite overall. EP. I’ve seen moose on multiple trips in the area and caught walleye on Caribou, Horseshoe, Gaskin, and Pillsbury.

Thank you all for the advice/ recommendations. I am leaning toward Baker. Does anyone know the chances of the Baker lake campground being full the night before? I know they only have 5 sites but I was hoping to camp there the night before put in for a quick jump in the morning. Just didn’t want to bank on that if it’s likely to be full.