Just a quick thank you to those that offered valuable input to assist with my trip preparation. Just got back last night from our trip into Iron Lake via the Zup's Fishing Resort jet boat service. I researched many trip routes and locations throughout the BWCA and there is only one way to describe our journey. Awesome!

1. The fishing in Iron Lake is awesome. The inlets and outlets of both falls produce consistent fish all day long. Had opportunities at two potential trophies....but sadly will bleed over the fact we only saw one and did not land either.

2. Zup's Fishing Resort. Friendly, professional, reasonably priced, handled everything for us, provided accurate fishing recommendations. I would recommend their services for ALL trips entering in that area!

3. Jet boat ride. Unreal. Well worth the additional money.

4. Work on the Monday after 4 days in the BWCA. Horrible!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P446-5UvE64

we were up there June 19th to the 26th here's a link to a video

Ah the memories. Need to go back already. Thanks for the video of Curtain Falls. We fished the outflow of Curtain a ton...but never made it up to the actual falls.

However, if anyone is fishing the base of Curtain Falls and happens to snag a brand new Shimano rod and reel, please enjoy it more than the 2 days I got to! Oh...and hopefully at the same time you snag the aligator my brother was trying to bring in when the sudden shift of weight in the canoe caused my reel to be a sacrific to Curtain Falls!

And...in case you are curious...the northern spit the 13" smallmouth out just as we were trying to net him. Not sure that little guy was going to make it!

It's just a smallmouth....Tons more where that one came from.

Trust me...not concerned for the smallmouth. We were catching 2-4 pounders at will...without even specifically fishing for them.

I will be heading up that way in about a month
Any advice for a newbie

Islands
Structure
reefs
Weeds edges

Targeting
Large Pike
Smallies
Walleyes(for lunch and dinner)

I would like to catch a Lake Trout just to say I caught one
Is Iron known for lakers and what type of bait is gonna put one in the boat?

Thanks in advance

No Lakers in Iron.

Minnesota DNR Link

Plenty of fishing though for most other species though. Fish below the rapids and falls.

I was there last month, great fishing walleyes and crappie for dinner, plenty of big smallies and pike here's a map and a smallie I caught in Peterson bay

Was up on iron two Mays ago...water levels were record high...fishing was slow

Curtain falls

Hey thanks for the map it think that may come in real handy

What kind of map is that and where could I get one for Basswood lake

I made this map I scanned a close up of a voyageur map and put all the notes I made on it when I got home, It helps remind me of what was going on where if I get back again

Mcsweem, you are a resourceful old fart!!!! Homemade maps, pontoons, kitty litter bucket.

You won't need your map of the fishing spots next time you go up there....just look for the other canoes sitting on your fishing holes. Yes, I'm ticked off right now! I love and hate the internet, but I'm more and more leaning towards hate! Do you know how many hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are viewing threads like this, people just out there internet scouting for fishing hot spots. It is happening to the best lakes in Nebraska, internet forums are destroying it, by yahoos and newspapers publishing and posting every fishing picture they can about it. Several of the lakes I use to go to would have maybe two dozen boats on them all summer long now on a weekend there will be 50 boat trailers in the parking lot. End of rant.

Thanks for the info. And this is not Nebraska so no worries on a place getting overfished. Geez

People get too excited about SPOTS.

What Mcsweem posted were some spots on Iron that produced fish for him. Looking at the map is it really surprising that fish were caught in these spots? To me they are obvious and their are even more spots he did not mention. So if some clown goes up there and only fishes the spots pointed out---they may miss a lot of fish. Also he fished a specific time of year and under specific conditions---a difference in weather a different time of year those spots will hold significantly less fish. Also what is awesome fishing for me may be poor fishing to you----ya never know.

So I don't think it is any big deal posting spots and trying to help others out. Nothing wrong with sharing.

As a side note many people on these sites have contacted me with specific spots---although I appreciate the info and gives you a starting point---Yet I am always surprised how much better I do when I fish on my own and let the conditions and time of year point me in the fish catching direction instead of following others.

T

Hey Mcsweem I see you guys went to Rebecca--did Zups get the Quetico day passes for you or did you have to stop by the Ranger station? Just curious what the costs were to enter Quetico with a day permit?

T

Yeh, McSweem! What did you do? hmmmmmmmm?

totally agree with Tim--- if you call yourself a fisherman and don't see those spots on a map,,, well-- good luck. Iron is loaded with other spots all over the lake-- this map will only make all the other spots get less pressure.

Evenflow, I can understand your frustration on giving out spots, but remember there's no public boat landing on Iron or anywhere even close... it takes minumum 5-6 hours of paddling to get there. That ends any possibility of overfishing right there.

After fishing for 4 days (about 8-10 hours a day) this map, while a good starting point, is not going to ruin the fishing on Iron Lake. For several reasons:

1. Most are using Iron as a means to getting deeper into other lakes. While we were there, I think I saw at most 1-2 other groups fishing on the lake through all 4 days!

2. Like previous posts stated, these marked areas are pretty obvious. i.e. "the walleye hump" It shows on every depth map there is. Caveat. GOOD LUCK actually fishing it in a canoe. 4 straight days we were not able to get close to it. Even a slight breeze makes that spot difficult to fish. Might be the reason it is good fishing.

3. Of all the spots marked on the map, we only fished ONE of them. The falls below Curtain and I am not sure that is a really well kept secret!

Where to fish:

1. We camped on the Eastern campsite on Three Island. Terrible tent locations but view and cooking area are awesome! If the "nice hump" was a good walleye location I am going to be pissed because we never fished it. However, it did serve as an awesome place to watch the giant eagles pick up large fish remains.

2. Above Rebecca falls. All kinds of structure. Had a large fish on about 10 feet away from the "left" falls that broke my line as my brother was frantically paddling (not moving us) away from the falls. SCARY!!! But I was not going to give up that fight!

3. Below Rebecca falls. We carried our canoes over more for the adventure. Plan on losing tackle if you do it (and line!). The outflow is very powerful and made for very challenging fishing with the large boulders. Also, I was not a huge fan because this is on the Canadian side and artificial bait (used Gulp minnows). Just never going to get used to that. However, we had two stringers full of walleye (I think even one sauger) in the 2-3 pound range in 4-5 hours of fishing. Ate well that night!!!

4. Never fished Peterson Bay. However, Zup's Outfitters described it as "Aligator Alley."

5. You will not have to search for either Smallmouth or Northern on this lake. Fish for walleye and you will catch a ton of small pike and large smallies. I imagine (did not try it) there are some very large pike if you search for right area.

6. Lake Trout. I cannot see it on your map. But there is a lake just NW of McAree that we were told is a very good trout lake. I think it was named like Noble or something. We were not interested.....

7. As for the rest of the spots we fished for walleye....those will remain with us until the next time we head up to Iron.

A little different spin on this thread...what did the vegetation look like on this lake? Any good lucking "duck" bays or points for fall hunting? Any rice present?

Iron is easy to get to if you take the tow from Zups. We saw a boat deliver a group right to Bottle portage the day after we went 12 miles to get there. Fortunately, a lot of people seem to see it as a way to access Quetico faster.

Sobi, Iron is not going to be a good duck hunt but Nina Moose is.

Say and believe what you will, but you have been warned. Apply it to a new trendy bar or place to eat once word gets out things usually start to go downhill. Pretty soon your standing in line for two hours to get in, you stand in line at the bar for 45 minutes to get a drink, prices start to rise and pretty soon you give up going there and so do other people and next thing you know there is a for sale sign on the front door. This scenario plays out all of the time. Don't be so quick or naive to believe that it won't/can't happen in the boundary waters.

fishinfreak,
if you would mind emailing me a little detail of the ninamoose duck comment we can let these guys get back to their my spot/our spot discussion. share the earth boys. it's not yours, it's not mine.

scott.sobiech@primevest.net

Is it ok to use bottle portage without a q pass?

Stoych,

Yes.

Evenflow: "Say and believe what you will, but you have been warned. Don't be so quick or naive to believe that it won't/can't happen in the boundary waters."

Well, 9 years have passed. I'm just going to assume that Iron has been completely fished out by now. Thanks McSweem. ;)

Evenflow: "Say and believe what you will, but you have been warned. Apply it to a new trendy bar or place to eat once word gets out things usually start to go downhill. Pretty soon your standing in line for two hours to get in, you stand in line at the bar for 45 minutes to get a drink, prices start to rise and pretty soon you give up going there and so do other people and next thing you know there is a for sale sign on the front door. This scenario plays out all of the time. Don't be so quick or naive to believe that it won't/can't happen in the boundary waters."

I agree. As my dad aged, I would fly him into lodges, where the fishing couldn't compare to the lakes down logging roads, which couldn't compare to the lakes beyond those logging road lakes. I've read accounts of catching 13" bass after 13" bass in the BWWCA. If I catch a 13" bass on Crown Land, I'm taking a photo of it because I won't see another for the rest of the week. Steady pressure reduces the size of fish, but it can increase their numbers if they become stunted.

halvorsonchristopher: "

Evenflow: "Say and believe what you will, but you have been warned. Don't be so quick or naive to believe that it won't/can't happen in the boundary waters."

Well, 9 years have passed. I'm just going to assume that Iron has been completely fished out by now. Thanks McSweem. ;)"

I sure hope its not fished out! Im putting serious consideration in tripping up to iron and along the beartrap river for fishing opener. My only hesitation is the lack of lake trout fishing. I hear McAree is good for lake trout but im unsure about subjecting myself to the additional bureaucracies and costs of a quetico adventure for just a night or two.

Evenflow: "You won't need your map of the fishing spots next time you go up there....just look for the other canoes sitting on your fishing holes. Yes, I'm ticked off right now! I love and hate the internet, but I'm more and more leaning towards hate! Do you know how many hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are viewing threads like this, people just out there internet scouting for fishing hot spots. It is happening to the best lakes in Nebraska, internet forums are destroying it, by yahoos and newspapers publishing and posting every fishing picture they can about it. Several of the lakes I use to go to would have maybe two dozen boats on them all summer long now on a weekend there will be 50 boat trailers in the parking lot. End of rant."

this is super true

for fun i fished a small lake by my house a few days in a row to see whats what... and found a little action. the next day multiple ppl out there, one ice castle less then 10 feet from where i was parked the longest.
people dont understand the experience one gains by figuring it out on their own, sadly. oh well. more lakes without maps for me to own then. yoink! lol

Evenflow: "You won't need your map of the fishing spots next time you go up there....just look for the other canoes sitting on your fishing holes. Yes, I'm ticked off right now! I love and hate the internet, but I'm more and more leaning towards hate! Do you know how many hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are viewing threads like this, people just out there internet scouting for fishing hot spots. It is happening to the best lakes in Nebraska, internet forums are destroying it, by yahoos and newspapers publishing and posting every fishing picture they can about it. Several of the lakes I use to go to would have maybe two dozen boats on them all summer long now on a weekend there will be 50 boat trailers in the parking lot. End of rant."

+ Whatever. Yes I see the date. IMO this is absolutely true and the only thing somewhat protecting backcountry lakes is the physical effort and primitive camping required to be there. Thank goodness the general public likes easy and comfortable recreation. That is also why we get far away from entry point lakes ASAP. My rant over.

Agreed. Wilderness by definition weeds out the trolls.

Interesting take on the internet, however. My take is different. I have been doing BWCA/Quetico yearly for 34 years. WAY fewer people heading into the wilderness today in comparison with prior years. Not sure how all the outfitters feel, but some, as well as some guides have shared that there is a definite fall-off with millenials. I find that it's getting harder to engage the next generation in the tough but rewarding wilderness experience.

halvorsonchristopher: "

Evenflow: "Say and believe what you will, but you have been warned. Don't be so quick or naive to believe that it won't/can't happen in the boundary waters."

Well, 9 years have passed. I'm just going to assume that Iron has been completely fished out bynow. Thanks McSweem. ;)"

Funny, I heard they had to shut this area of Quetico and BWCAW down from all the pressure over the last 9 years :)