Thinking about mid June - maybe going Gabbro - Bald Eagle base camp - range out to other lakes exploring. This is a walleye fishing trip for my dog and I. How is the fishing this time of year in general ( Walleyes ) and will I ahve lots of competition for campsites or is it not so busy here Mid June? Any help is welcomed.

Bob.

This popular area is usually always busy. That said; if you get to the Gabbros or Bald Eagle by lunch time you can usually find an empty campsite. Note that finding an empty campsite on week days is a little easier than on a week end.

Thanks for the shout. I am looking to get to Gabbro or Bald Eagle, leaving by first light so I reckon by noon I will be where I need to be. I will base camp and explore turtle and other lakes on day excursions. Trip will be about 10 - 15 days. Might explore the Kawishiwi river as well. I am ok with seeing other canoes, I just hate racing to get to a site and hope I can avoid that.

Fishing conditions will depend on the usual set of variables such as water temps, weather, water clarity, etc. The time around Father's Day is generally a good rule of thumb for early season walleye luck though.

For an entry that supposedly only allows 2 groups/day, I'm often surprised at the times we encounter more than that number going in. An early start always helps, but if we plan to stop short on Gabbro, we are often finding sites with folks who haven't quite packed up to leave yet and don't want to lurk while they are enjoying their last morning's brunch... :-) A Sunday entry has proven to be a good one for us for finding favorite spots open.

I've said this a few times, put your repellent on before you get to the trailhead. Maybe when you get out of bed that morning. That parking area is pretty rough. You'll be OK on the portage if you keep moving.

We went into Gabbro last late May for a 5 day trip. We triple portaged the first portage from the lot (my buddies idea, won't do that again) and were still in camp a few hours from entering. We stayed at the eastern narrows site which is a very nice and scenic site. We checked out all the sites along the north shore and they are all nice, and were empty when we were there. I would guess if you leave at first light you wouldn't have any trouble finding a site and if you did it would be because you were to early!! The portage in is long but not particularly difficult. Once you hit the water in Little Gabbro it is a very short paddle to Gabbro and numerous campsites to choose from. Gabbro struck us as a very pretty lake with classic BWCA rock formations and high cliffs. Although we did not fish a lot, I caught several big fish from shore around camp. I have read that it is one of the better fishing lakes in the BWCA and nothing I experienced changed my opinion.

With the long amount of time you have you could do lots of daytrips and move camp a few times to the lakes to the north, Bald Eagle, or down the Isabella River. I am envious of the time you have to explore this area.

I liked the area a lot and plan to return, hopefully with a trip partner that is more into fishing so we can focus on that a little more. We had a great time and enjoyed the area a lot, and we have been to most of the BWCA.

Mid June could be busier but with only two entries per day and several lakes/routes to explore, there should be plenty of campsites to accommodate your plans. We saw a few groups entering and exiting each day but seeing other folks for a couple minutes doesn't ruin the solitude for us. And we were in an area of the lake (narrows) in which every group had to pass by. There are several nice sites a little more off the beaten path. where you may not see anyone all day. Bugs wil probably be bad, be prepared for that. Have a great trip.

lindylair ,

Excellent info - I appreciate the response. I am really looking forward to my trip - I have not nailed down exactly where I am going yet, could be Entry #1 and head to Buck, entry #33 for Gabbro, Bald Eagle, or one other possibility. I am leaning towards #33 currently.

Thanks for the info.

Bob.

Exited through there last may.....that parking lot is skeeter city