Even though I have only lived in MN since April 0f 2015 I have enjoyed two great trips into the Boundary Waters and the thanks go to the members of this community. My first trip I had my two daughters with me aged 9 and 14, first timers and on the advice of some members we put in on Moose and made our way up to Ensign with final fishing destination being Negligee for some Brook Trout.

Returned last spring with my then 10 year old daughter as we lost the 15 year old as this was not for her. We enjoyed another great trip, we go in the last week of May.

So, being that Brook Trout are my favorited to chase we are looking at a 3rd trip to the same area, or advice on where else we may go to find some Brookies.

We are looking at a 4 night 5 day trip.

So any advice, ideas, offering up of secret Brookie holes would be more than appreciated!!!

Bottom line is we love being up there and I am content just having my daughter share the passion with me! Catching fish is just a bonus!

Check out the reaction to a bug bite!

I'll bet this will be the only response you get on this post!!! LOL!! These people are pretty tight when it comes to Brook Trout!! Me included. E mail me, I'll share some info.

Got no help, but.....that bug bite pick is priceless!!! Need to show that to her prom date!!!!

The Little Isabella River was always pretty good not far from the town of Isabella off the Arrowhead road.

Funny story, when I lived there the locals used to keep their secret Brook Trout honey holes to themselves. They would only tell me what they caught, not the where.

I worked for the USFS and was pretty savy in the woods so I started to trail one guy, by just keeping up on his movements, (Not literally following him) mostly from information that he would willing, and unknowingly pass on to me in conversations.
One time he came back from fishing his honey hole and proceeded to tell me about his catch earlier that day while we were at the Knotted Pine Bar.
It was after right after a rain and I knew the general area that he found his quarry. So I took a double take of his tire tracks and tracked him to where he parked out in the sticks. Then it was a bush-wack into a small trout lake that did produce good fish as I later tested many times.

I told him that I had found his secret lake some time after, and he didn't seem to mind to bad.

Look here

I have no names or places for ya either...But do some research as Tuscarora said and find a lake that's hard to get to...With few campsites...At the right time of year...And you might catch fish..That's why they are my favorite fish to target..The most beautiful and an awesome fight...Good luck on your adventures with your daughter!

quote brantlars: "I have no names or places for ya either...But do some research as Tuscarora said and find a lake that's hard to get to...With few campsites...At the right time of year...And you might catch fish..That's why they are my favorite fish to target..The most beautiful and an awesome fight...Good luck on your adventures with your daughter! "

WOW, those are some brookies; they could feed on most of the brook trout I've caught!

Wow,
Those are some awesome Brookies,
Go the Knotted Pine Bar in Isabella, on the wall behind the bar is a Brookie mounted that is 3+ pounds. It was caught in the Little Isabella River by a friend of mine Ron Mallard.
He has since passed away.

I've tried a few of the brookie lakes in the BWCA. The portages are usually tough but you can be rewarded. After fishing a lake hard all afternoon, we took a break for lunch. My cousin caught this brookie from shore while I was cooking the Camp Chow. Now I make him cook lunch on brook trout lakes.

The Trouty McTroutface River

cook county is the place to be ;) stocked trout lakes by county

there are quite a few just do you homework, then if you find them it's always hit or miss if you'll catch anything, this one was caught in nelige several years ago

Here you go, Hors d'ouvres sized (LOL):

quote Kaparzo: "I've tried a few of the brookie lakes in the BWCA. The portages are usually tough but you can be rewarded. After fishing a lake hard all afternoon, we took a break for lunch. My cousin caught this brookie from shore while I was cooking the Camp Chow. Now I make him cook lunch on brook trout lakes.


"

Nice one!

quote mcsweem: "there are quite a few just do you homework, then if you find them it's always hit or miss if you'll catch anything, this one was caught in nelige several years ago "

Nice colors!

quote shock: "cook county is the place to be ;) stocked trout lakes by county "

Good source. I bookmarked that page. Another member on this site led me to a stocked brookie lake in the fall of 2015. It was a bit of a bushwack; there were no campsites on the lake; however, the spot was beautiful and secluded. It was perfect for brook trout hunting.

If you're not absolutely set on the BWCA, given that you live in MN, Canada isn't far and brook trout lakes are common in Canada. Not only are they common, but there are many you can drive to and you'll be the only one fishing it. I'm going to spend an evening and morning this coming June at a cluster of 30 or so lakes, nearly all with brook trout and some with splake, rainbow, and lakers too. Two of the lakes even have aurora trout, which look like male specks with red spawning bellies year round.

quote missmolly: "If you're not absolutely set on the BWCA, given that you live in MN, Canada isn't far and brook trout lakes are common in Canada. Not only are they common, but there are many you can drive to and you'll be the only one fishing it. I'm going to spend an evening and morning this coming June at a cluster of 30 or so lakes, nearly all with brook trout and some with splake, rainbow, and lakers too. Two of the lakes even have aurora trout, which look like male specks with red spawning bellies year round. "

I think in Maine you actually have naturally producing brook trout lakes. That is extremely rare in Minnesota.

They're out there, but you'll have to do some work to find them :) This was after 3 days of hunting them on a secluded little dead-end lake up the Gunflint.

I have fished Neglege for two days. I caught a 6" Brookie and my buddy Pikehunter caught a 20". Very tasty but we worked hard to get that meal.

quote Savage Voyageur: "I have fished Neglege for two days. I caught a 6" Brookie and my buddy Pikehunter caught a 20". Very tasty but we worked hard to get that meal. "

The recent brook trout strain which is called the Wild Strain which originated from streams in southeast Minnesota has not done very well in lakes. Many DNR stations want a change in strains and it seems like it may be happening.
Also brook trout in the main hatchery in the southeast got a disease so they pretty much killed all the brook trout and starting over.
There may be a gap in stocking brook trout in some lakes.

Now that the word is out on Neglige....

Fished it for four days total over two different trips, only caught three fish between three of us. This one was the best of the lot.

Hey thanks for the note back and I understand people keeping their fishing holes to themselves but I got Negligee from this site and it was great advice, we love the trips, caught some fish but may be looking for a new route

I can not see where I can e-mail you, my e-mail is scottm@anglerandhunter.com

I was told of another lake that holds some brookies and may remember the name of the lake I think the trip in was a little tougher but my daughter may be ready for it now

I do appreciate any information you are willing to share!

Think I found one of your lakes, saw your comment about the campsite, still doing the research, thanks for your reply

Thanks for the note back, hit the DNR site cross referenced with the BWAC, and am searching out a new route, hopefully I can find one less travelled as that is the goal - may the lines straighten for you in 2017!

There is a decent population in Gogebic Lake. We portaged over from West Pike when my buddy and I were there a few years ago. He caught a small one, but I had no luck. Tough portage getting there, but beautiful lake. There are 2 campsites there also. One of the campers had a nice one he was cooking and said he had caught a good number in 3 days. Can get there from EP 62 Clearwater lake. Clearwater Lake is big water, but if your 10 yr old is up to it, might be worth a go. Can take a day trip to Johnson falls on Pine Lake.

Can't share specifics, but in general, the Gunflint trail side of the BWCA has been where I've caught trout- Ely side lakes are more pike/walleye, in my experience.

Look for lakes with deep holes, long portages, and no campsites... pics are from last Friday

This was after a 60 rod slog, uphill, rocky, with trees across it, trail so narrow, my canoe was scraping trees the whole way... worth the effort...

I bet I know where you were jbuschie. Though I don't really know how to fish for them I did try and failed but I believe the two I am thinking of probably have ok ones in them.

Oh, and I should add, both of these were promptly released, after the pic. I just can't bring myself to eat these beauties... I have eaten plenty of Brook trout from streams along the North Shore, but these native, naturally reproducing trout are too special to me, to not put them back..

LindenTree3: "The Little Isabella River was always pretty good not far from the town of Isabella off the Arrowhead road.


Funny story, when I lived there the locals used to keep their secret Brook Trout honey holes to themselves. They would only tell me what they caught, not the where.


I worked for the USFS and was pretty savy in the woods so I started to trail one guy, by just keeping up on his movements, (Not literally following him) mostly from information that he would willing, and unknowingly pass on to me in conversations.
One time he came back from fishing his honey hole and proceeded to tell me about his catch earlier that day while we were at the Knotted Pine Bar.
It was after right after a rain and I knew the general area that he found his quarry. So I took a double take of his tire tracks and tracked him to where he parked out in the sticks. Then it was a bush-wack into a small trout lake that did produce good fish as I later tested many times.

I will second linedns little lssy recommendations. I grew up in isabella and fished that river alot. Theres quite a few easier access points in the area some are harder but worth it. Alot of nice pools whether natural or beaver made. I also used to have good luck in the winter on redskin, this was 20 years ago but hey, worth a shot. Sam cook once did an Sunday outdoor section article on a "secret trout lake north of finlad". and there was a picture of me and my buddy sitting on our sleds fishing the narows he short from the other side of the lake. My great grand mother (dorthy bildeaux) and I caught alot of trout out of divide aswell.


I told him that I had found his secret lake some time after, and he didn't seem to mind to bad."

I've done well a few times on Missing Link, and it should be easy to get too with a kid. Tuscarora is nearby and decent for lakers. The portage is a bit long, but I'm sure your daughter would be fine.

Scott -
Welcome to MN! One of the reasons that folks won't share their secret locations is because finding your own secret spot is a large part of the joy. Some things I've found helpful along the way: the lake list and the tips provided in a book by Furtman: Boundary Waters Fishing Guide, the MN DNR lakes listing (if you need a trout stamp to fish the lake, that's a good indication), and timing. As others have said, find a dead-end lake with no campsites. Also look outside the BWCA. My go-to spot is not in the BWCA but is in the Superior National Forest - carry-in only, very understated little place. Piece of heaven for me.

Advice that should be filtered carefully is that which you receive from others on the portages. Case-in-point: my son and I were crossing the Sitka portage a few weeks back. Came across a party of four. The disparities in their unsolicited and individually-offered fishing tales were pretty remarkable, with each being unaware of what the other was saying.

Shabuswia Lake where it drains into the Shabuswia Rv, a tributary south of the Albany Rv in NW Ontario. The river mouth was crawling with them late May 5-6 yrs ago. Ask RayTallent he was in nirvana.