Going up to Wood Lake area June 6. What type of traffic could a person expect and fishing. Anything a person should go check out.
Thanks

I assume this is the Wood Lake off the Fernberg Road, on the way to the Lake One landing. It is a longish portage with a couple of hills, but the trail is wide and good. This lake gets used by the locals who will come in for a half-day of fishing. The little marshy bay that you enter the lake on is not in the BW, so some people keep boats there. The lake has northern and walleye. 5 campsites, none of them great. Probably the smallest is the first one you pass, on the island. Fish the NE-SW channel for walleye, and at the east end of the channel, east of the low island.

I never stayed on Wood but caught several Northern and Smallmouth fishing the bay near the Portage to Hula lake as I passed through, on my way to and returning from Basswood Lake one spring. There is some good cover, submerged trees and some weed beds, easily seen in the water there.

Have camped on Wood Lake many times, and I would agree with Kevlar that there are not any 5 star campsites on the lake. If I had my choice I would go for the campsite on the south side in the center of the lake just before turning north and heading toward the Hula portage.

Excellent northern fishing and the walleye fishing can be pretty good too, as well as bass and some awesome bluegills if you can find them!

Went last year. Agree with the above posts no great 5 star sites many are heavily used. We stayed one night on the island site on your right as you enter the lake. Decent site with good tent pad up high. Head to Indiana lake for super clear water, seclusion, and good smallmouth fishing. The portage in and out of wood is long, so be prepared.

Thanks for the info

Had awesome walleye fishing on Wood three years ago. Lots of people going through though to other lakes. Good lake is secluded and nice.

quote minnesotashooter: "Had awesome walleye fishing on Wood three years ago. Lots of people going through though to other lakes. Good lake is secluded and nice. "

What time of year did you go? I'm looking at mid week after Labor Day. Do you think it will still be busy?
Thanks

We were there the first week of July. After Labor Day should help with the crowds. Can't say we really saw a lot of people but there were people traveling through.

quote minnesotashooter: "We were there the first week of July. After Labor Day should help with the crowds. Can't say we really saw a lot of people but there were people traveling through."

How was the fishing on Good?

We were on Good last year in mid-June. Fishing was excellent. Right in the narrows mid-lake I caught some huge bluegills and a very large crappie using leech on #8 hook with slip bobber. Others in our group caught several northerns in the 30" range, walleyes 18-22" and smallies of all sizes using a variety of artificials.
We had stayed on Wood the day before at the campsite in the NW part of the lake. Not the greatest site. Caught a nice northern and a 22" walleye along the island. Also a huge perch.

quote chesapeakes: "

quote minnesotashooter: "We were there the first week of July. After Labor Day should help with the crowds. Can't say we really saw a lot of people but there were people traveling through."

How was the fishing on Good?"

Lots of smallies and northerns on Good, and like entry above we caught some big bluegills in the narrows. I wish we could have found the walleyes on Good but we didn't. Good Lake is incredibly clear and the campsite by the narrows has an awesome view. If you want some lake maps for Wood and Good and the spots where we caught fish, let me know,I can email them pretty easily.

There are also some bucketmouths on the west side of Good, starting from the narrows. For us, smallies were on the east side, with nice pike where ever there were weeds. We caught walleye scattered through out, but did not target them.

The campsite on the hill by the narrows is the best, but worn with a thriving rodent community.

quote minnesotashooter: "

quote chesapeakes: "

quote minnesotashooter: "We were there the first week of July. After Labor Day should help with the crowds. Can't say we really saw a lot of people but there were people traveling through."

How was the fishing on Good?"

Lots of smallies and northerns on Good, and like entry above we caught some big bluegills in the narrows. I wish we could have found the walleyes on Good but we didn't. Good Lake is incredibly clear and the campsite by the narrows has an awesome view. If you want some lake maps for Wood and Good and the spots where we caught fish, let me know,I can email them pretty easily."

Minnesotashooter, that would be great if you could e-mail the maps. I was planning on base camping on Good and day tripping to Wood and Indiana. I'm a bass fisherman but my brother wants to catch some walleyes. Hope I can find some for him.
Thank for the help.

Good you also email those maps to me also. Hope my 9yr old can have some luck cathing fish up there. t-miller-1234@hotmail.com

quote pdidy: "Good you also email those maps to me also. Hope my 9yr old can have some luck cathing fish up there. t-miller-1234@hotmail.com"

Sent maps this morning

Thanks

quote chesapeakes: "

quote minnesotashooter: "Had awesome walleye fishing on Wood three years ago. Lots of people going through though to other lakes. Good lake is secluded and nice. "

What time of year did you go? I'm looking at mid week after Labor Day. Do you think it will still be busy?
Thanks"

Unless the fall colors are already out, you should be fine. Many people do the "one paid day off" Labor Day weekend 3/4 day trip and then the park empties a lot.

that being said, if the colors are really brilliant, the close areas always fill up more than other September times.

quote VoyageurNorth: "

quote chesapeakes: "

quote minnesotashooter: "Had awesome walleye fishing on Wood three years ago. Lots of people going through though to other lakes. Good lake is secluded and nice. "

What time of year did you go? I'm looking at mid week after Labor Day. Do you think it will still be busy?
Thanks"

Unless the fall colors are already out, you should be fine. Many people do the "one paid day off" Labor Day weekend 3/4 day trip and then the park empties a lot.


that being said, if the colors are really brilliant, the close areas always fill up more than other September times."

I normally go in on the Wed. following Labor Day.
Thanks for the info.

A little late to the party but was browsing the trip forum and thought I would chime in. Entered on Wood 3 times over the last couple of years.

Actually only spent one night on Wood, but fishing was solid. Couple of Wallys and Smallies at dusk including a nice 25 in. Wally and an 18 in. pig of a Smallie. I actually thought the site we stayed at was pretty nice. One of the two on the southeast shorline if I remember correcty. Had 4 tent pads, two great flat landing areas and was very wide open and spacious.

If at all possible I wold highly suggest making up to Indiana. As others mentioned crystal clear water. Only two sites on the lake and we had it to ourselves for three nights. Fishing was great, mostly Smallies and a few Largemouth as well. Threw black and pumpkinseed jigtubes. Highlight was a 40 in. Pike (on a jigtube and 6 lb test!)

quote HWY 61: "A little late to the party but was browsing the trip forum and thought I would chime in. Entered on Wood 3 times over the last couple of years.


Actually only spent one night on Wood, but fishing was solid. Couple of Wallys and Smallies at dusk including a nice 25 in. Wally and an 18 in. pig of a Smallie. I actually thought the site we stayed at was pretty nice. One of the two on the southeast shorline if I remember correcty. Had 4 tent pads, two great flat landing areas and was very wide open and spacious.


If at all possible I wold highly suggest making up to Indiana. As others mentioned crystal clear water. Only two sites on the lake and we had it to ourselves for three nights. Fishing was great, mostly Smallies and a few Largemouth as well. Threw black and pumpkinseed jigtubes. Highlight was a 40 in. Pike (on a jigtube and 6 lb test!)


"

HWY 61. Which campsite did you stay on at Indiana? How nice was the site?
Thanks!

I stayed on first site as you enter Indiana last year. Awesome site under tree cover nice pine bedding. Other site I heard was better but was occupied so I could not inspect. However, I highly reccomend the site I stayed at.

Can you shoot off an email of those to chperry59@gmail.com I would apreciate any help to wood indiana and good lakes.

Can you shoot off an email of those to chperry59@gmail.com I would apreciate any help to wood indiana and good lakes.

quote yogi59weedr: "Can you shoot off an email of those to chperry59@gmail.com I would apreciate any help to wood indiana and good lakes."

Email sent with lake maps

Thank you I love minn bookstore maps

Minnesotashooter if you don't mind I would love a copy of those maps as well. (sulley329@gmail.com) I have a group of 4 of us heading into Wood Lake on June 8th. Thinking of setting up a basecamp and going out for day trips. Any help finding fish would be appreciated.

MinnesotaShooter, could you be so kind as to sending me the maps as well (gjlindahl@gmail.com). My son and I are going there and I need all the help I can get :)

I need to start charging for these!! Just kidding, I am happy to email them to both of you. Will probably send them tomorrow morning when I am on my laptop

quote HolyCowCanoe: "MinnesotaShooter, could you be so kind as to sending me the maps as well (gjlindahl@gmail.com). My son and I are going there and I need all the help I can get :)"

Sulley and HolyCowCanoe, did you guys get the maps.

Kevin

quote minnesotashooter: "

quote HolyCowCanoe: "MinnesotaShooter, could you be so kind as to sending me the maps as well (gjlindahl@gmail.com). My son and I are going there and I need all the help I can get :)"

Sulley and HolyCowCanoe, did you guys get the maps.


Kevin"

I did. Thanks Kevin! Any help to put fish dinner on the menu is always appreciated!!

quote minnesotashooter: "

quote HolyCowCanoe: "MinnesotaShooter, could you be so kind as to sending me the maps as well (gjlindahl@gmail.com). My son and I are going there and I need all the help I can get :)"

Sulley and HolyCowCanoe, did you guys get the maps.


Kevin"

I know this thread is super old but any chance I could get those maps as well? I plan on taking a group of first timers up in early June this year and want to get them on some fish so everyone has a good experience. aaronbwca@gmail.com

quote CrookedPaddler1: "Have camped on Wood Lake many times, and I would agree with Kevlar that there are not any 5 star campsites on the lake. If I had my choice I would go for the campsite on the south side in the center of the lake just before turning north and heading toward the Hula portage.


Excellent northern fishing and the walleye fishing can be pretty good too, as well as bass and some awesome bluegills if you can find them!"

I've stayed at that site as well upon the invitation of a fellow board member. Not a bad site at all. I recall that he caught walleye at a cliff wall to the eastern shoreline of that upper part of Wood. I did better in the lower half of the lake in a shallow bay (western shoreline, first portage). We were using different rigs (lindy rig versus a black/gold rap) and we both did well.

quote aaronbwca: "

quote minnesotashooter: "

quote HolyCowCanoe: "MinnesotaShooter, could you be so kind as to sending me the maps as well (gjlindahl@gmail.com). My son and I are going there and I need all the help I can get :)"

Sulley and HolyCowCanoe, did you guys get the maps.



Kevin"

I know this thread is super old but any chance I could get those maps as well? I plan on taking a group of first timers up in early June this year and want to get them on some fish so everyone has a good experience. aaronbwca@gmail.com"

Great! Wood is an awesome lake as is good and Indiana. A couple of things if bringing first timers.

1. The portage is really LONG into wood. Make sure they're ready with appropriate shoes and such.

2. The ne part of wood by the hula portage is an absolute minefield of rocks- -And not just rocks but sharp jagged pieces just below the water line. Be careful especially with newbies. I suppose this depends on the water levels though- we were there last year on June 3rd. Just make sure everyone paddles slow and is aware.

We camped on good for 3 nights. Had the lake to ourselves all nights, and had maybe 3 parties move through the entire time.

Have fun!

Can anybody tell me if there is a parking lot at entry point 26 or do i need to park at a local outfitter?

Yup, Wood Lake entry has a parking lot!