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Bigjoet
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This is my favorite trip and I do it twice a year. We enter at Crane and travel down through loon river over the portage and camp on loon lake. Fishing is great come early June, and we do it with the 75 horse, there is no motor restrictions on this route
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lindylair
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Hi
I have never stayed here but have always thought it looked interesting...BWCA like conditions, remote campsites and motorboats. I think its a pretty good walleye lake too.
Birch Lake remote backcountry sites
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Richwon4
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I am familiar with Crane and somewhat familiar with the south end of Sand Point. All that experience is 25 years old and limited.
1. Has the fishing gotten better or worse in that time?
2. What lakes ome recommended for camping?
3. What lakes come recommended for fishing?
Thanks a lot.
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Richwon4
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If I decided to come up to the BWCA with a boat, where would I begin? The motor would be a 40HP. We like camping, preferably at sites like in the BWCA, and like fishing for walleye and northerns. Smallies - take them or leave them. Enjoy large perch and/or crappies. I have only ever canoed up there.
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walllee
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I am guessing it would take 6 to 8 hours if you went at a nice leisurely pace. The water level on the Loon River could be a factor, as could your wait time at Sand Point customs.
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walllee
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Voyageurs National Park. Not the BWCA, but as close as you are going to get with a 40 hp motor.
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bobbernumber3
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You could check out Northern Lights Lake. There are resorts and outfitters there worth investigating.
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nctry
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Go in crane lake and up the little vermilion river... once on lac la Croix stay on the canadian side. Probably get some camping permits and fishing license online. Camping on crown land cost about the same as canoeing in quetico...
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The Great Outdoors
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The motor size limit in the BWCA is 25 h.p. max, and I believe 15 h.p. max on a lake or two on the east side.
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nctry
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Like walllee suggests, also out of crane up through standpoint to namakan. Can be a lot of boats. Kegatogama has the better boat camping I understand. I think that might be a reservation dot gov thing.
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HowardSprague
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The 40hp would be the issue if you want a BW-type site within the BWCA. There's a 25hp limit.
HOWEVER,.. it appears there are a few campsites on Snowbank Lake which are not within the BWCA boundary. And on that part of the lake - the non-BW side - I think you can use your 40. Maybe ask Snowbank Lodge & Outfitters (formerly Smitty's) about that.
Otherwise, there are campgrounds such as at Silver Rapids on White Iron Lake. Not the same type of camping, but maybe an option.
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blutofish1
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I think Big Lake off the Echo trail allows motors of 40 HP . I've done well fishing there in the fall and in May
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walllee
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There are some nice boat in campsites on Vermilion, Burntside, and a few others that would work also. Don’t necessarily have the BWCA feel, simply because of boat traffic and more people. It can be fun, and pretty good fishing can be had.
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Richwon4
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My paddle experience on LLC always leaves me wanting to boat it at some point. Other than price I know it has all other things we desire.
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nctry
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Go in crane lake and up the little vermilion river... once on lac la Croix stay on the canadian side. Probably get some camping permits and fishing license online. Camping on crown land cost about the same as canoeing in quetico...
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Richwon4
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How long does it take to boat to LLC from Crane? I am nothing like an outfitter that can make good time if you know what I mean.
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