BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
June 03 2026
Entry Point 12 - Little Vermilion Lake
Little Vermilion Lake (Crane Lake) entry point allows overnight paddle or motor (Unlimited max). This entry point is supported by La Croix Ranger Station near the city of Cook, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 45 miles. Enter from Crane Lake. Note: Not the entry point to use for Trout Lake (#1)
Number of Permits per Day: 6
Elevation: 1150 feet
Latitude: 48.2995
Longitude: -92.4268
Little Vermilion Lake - 12
Number of Permits per Day: 6
Elevation: 1150 feet
Latitude: 48.2995
Longitude: -92.4268
Little Vermilion Lake - 12
2026 Lynx Lake
by preacherdave
Trip Report
Entry Date:
May 25, 2026
Entry Point:
Little Indian Sioux River (north)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
2
Trip Introduction:
Spring trip with my son and a friend and his grandson. Eric and I traveled up from Illinois after church on Sunday and stayed the night in a hotel in Virginia. Plan was to meet Carl and his grandson the next day and enter at EP14
Day 1 of 6
Monday, May 25, 2026 Up bright and early to make it to Piragis by the time they open. Picked up our permits, got a pound of leeches from VNC and met Carl and his grandson to head to the entry point. Forgot what a pain the put in at the EP can be there. Carl needed to repack so Eric and I took off for Upper Pauness to set up camp and get ready to cook the steaks. We got the campsite just on the other side of the northern portage and set up camp. Lots of space for hammocks and tents. Pretty good site other than the living area and the fire grate are fairly well removed from each other. Carl arrived and we set about fixing steak and mashed potatoes while his grandson worked on getting their tents set up. After dinner Eric and I went out to test the fishing. Lake is shallow and weedy with murky water but we managed to catch 5 walleyes 7 bass and 2 pike. Good sign for what lay ahead. We were major entertained that evening by the hoard of beavers on the lake. They almost seemed to be messing with us. At one time we could count 6 of them swimming around our canoe. 
Major beaver work right behind our hammocks! 
Major beaver work right behind our hammocks!
Day 2 of 6
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Eric and I got up in the morning ate breakfast and headed out to fish for lunch. Portaged in to Lower Pauness and followed it down to the rapids where Upper dumps into Lower. A small pike and a couple small bass was all we could muster. Decided to portage back into Upper at the rapids and fished where it dumps in. Luck changed almost immediately and we quickly caught 5 walleyes to eat for lunch. All were caught slow rolling a small swimbait across the bottom. Back to camp for lunch! 
Lazed around in the afternoon and then back out fishing for a bit in the evening. Couple walleye and a couple small bass was all we could muster.
Lazed around in the afternoon and then back out fishing for a bit in the evening. Couple walleye and a couple small bass was all we could muster.
Day 3 of 6
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 Woke in the morning and Carl fixed us pancakes before we parted with them and meandered up to Lynx Lake for the remainder of our trip. Carl has pancake making down to a science! 
Left in the morning to paddle north. Beavers have still got the portage into Shell dammed up and we had to carry our gear 3/4 of the way there and then reload the canoe to float to the other side of the portage. Not sure the intermission wasn't a welcome rest from the 220 rod trek. 
Paddled into Shell and found almost no one on the Lake. Looked at the site on Con island but decided to push ahead to Lynx. Appreciate being able to paddle through from Little Shell to Lynx as we had done 10 years ago but were saddened to find our favorite site right across the portage already taken. We have camped there twice and it holds fond memories for us both. Thankfully the next site down the shore was open and we took it for the remainder of the week. We came to believe it is probably a better option anyway. Has a great sand/gravel landing and plenty of places to hang a hammock. 
We got camp set up, rested a bit and then had freeze dried meals for supper. After supper we went out to test the fishing for the week. Once again fishing proved to be good. Three or four walleye and several bass all fell prey to our offerings. Eric's Storm 360 paddle tail won the day.
Left in the morning to paddle north. Beavers have still got the portage into Shell dammed up and we had to carry our gear 3/4 of the way there and then reload the canoe to float to the other side of the portage. Not sure the intermission wasn't a welcome rest from the 220 rod trek. Paddled into Shell and found almost no one on the Lake. Looked at the site on Con island but decided to push ahead to Lynx. Appreciate being able to paddle through from Little Shell to Lynx as we had done 10 years ago but were saddened to find our favorite site right across the portage already taken. We have camped there twice and it holds fond memories for us both. Thankfully the next site down the shore was open and we took it for the remainder of the week. We came to believe it is probably a better option anyway. Has a great sand/gravel landing and plenty of places to hang a hammock. We got camp set up, rested a bit and then had freeze dried meals for supper. After supper we went out to test the fishing for the week. Once again fishing proved to be good. Three or four walleye and several bass all fell prey to our offerings. Eric's Storm 360 paddle tail won the day.
Day 4 of 6
Thursday, May 28, 2026 Taking our time in the morning we enjoyed breakfast and coffee and then set out to catch our lunch. In short order we nabbed a half dozen walleye, culled several and brought two back for dinner. 
Afternoon trip to Agawato lake for some large mouth fishing. We had gone in there 10 yrs earlier and had cleaned up on the bass using white grubs. Boy did we get a surprise! The dam has blown out and the lake looks like a disaster area. What a disappointment. Naps in the afternoon followed by dinner and then out to test our luck with the leeches. Live bait did prove to work as well, however I'm not sure they were worth lugging around. Several walleye caught as well as a coupe small pike. In for the evening and off to bed tired but happy. 
Afternoon trip to Agawato lake for some large mouth fishing. We had gone in there 10 yrs earlier and had cleaned up on the bass using white grubs. Boy did we get a surprise! The dam has blown out and the lake looks like a disaster area. What a disappointment. Naps in the afternoon followed by dinner and then out to test our luck with the leeches. Live bait did prove to work as well, however I'm not sure they were worth lugging around. Several walleye caught as well as a coupe small pike. In for the evening and off to bed tired but happy.
Day 5 of 6
Friday, May 29, 2026 Today Eric tries his hand at making pancakes. They were delicious but there was a little learning curve. Seems like he thinks his pan is too thin and heats too quickly. 
Today we head to Heritage for a day trip. One of my favorite lakes in the boundary waters. As soon as we put in at the end of the portage Eric catches a nice walleye on his first cast. He quickly proceeds to catch a smallie and a northern then has something huge take his swimbait an leave him empty. He has to tie on the third swimbait of the trip. When Eric has something working he is loathe to tie on anything else! We try our hand with top water as we progress north along the lake but with limited success. We catch a couple but it seems that most are short striking and we are missing. Back to the paddle tails we go . We get to the north campsite and stop for lunch before heading back. Last time we were here we caught several fish right from camp and this year is no different. Third cast is a solid walleye followed by and smallie and then a 30" pike. 
After a short break we head back to Lynx having enjoyed a great day. After supper we go to Little Shell for one last try at fishing. There is a massive bug hatch gong on and the fishing is a little difficult. We decide to head in and I make one last cast. Glad I did. Biggest walleye of the trip! 
Today we head to Heritage for a day trip. One of my favorite lakes in the boundary waters. As soon as we put in at the end of the portage Eric catches a nice walleye on his first cast. He quickly proceeds to catch a smallie and a northern then has something huge take his swimbait an leave him empty. He has to tie on the third swimbait of the trip. When Eric has something working he is loathe to tie on anything else! We try our hand with top water as we progress north along the lake but with limited success. We catch a couple but it seems that most are short striking and we are missing. Back to the paddle tails we go . We get to the north campsite and stop for lunch before heading back. Last time we were here we caught several fish right from camp and this year is no different. Third cast is a solid walleye followed by and smallie and then a 30" pike. After a short break we head back to Lynx having enjoyed a great day. After supper we go to Little Shell for one last try at fishing. There is a massive bug hatch gong on and the fishing is a little difficult. We decide to head in and I make one last cast. Glad I did. Biggest walleye of the trip!
Day 6 of 6
Saturday, May 30, 2026 Up early to head out and get home. We fix coffee, eat some granola and then push off. For this 64 yr old with two back surgeries in my past it was a long five hour trek out. I think I'm amazed that we made it out as smoothly as we did. This trip was an awesome trip. Perfect weather (80's), no bugs to speak of, no rain, no big wind. I greatly enjoy paddling with my boys and wish my other son and son-in-law had been able to join us. There has been a thread on the site lately about getting up there in years and about what might be our last trip. I hope this is not my last but if it proves to be I have been left with fond memories that will sustain me and truly after 19 trips I am a satisfied and happy man. I am so grateful for a wondrous Savior who blesses me, died to save my soul, and gives me gifts like he did this trip. I am undeserving and He is an awesome Giver of blessings 
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