BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
July 18 2025
Entry Point 38 - Sawbill Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 11
Elevation: 1802 feet
Latitude: 47.8699
Longitude: -90.8858
Sawbill Lake - 38
Brant-Gilis-Tusc Loop Family guys trip
Entry Date:
June 23, 2023
Entry Point:
Brant Lake
Exit Point:
Missing Link Lake (51)
Number of Days:
3
Group Size:
7
Got up around 6, CJ and myself headed out across the foggy lake. Sun looked mysterious as we headed across the lake trolling. CJ caught a small walleye before we even got to the island. Made our way back to the inlet and changed our tactics. CJ caught a smallie and I caught one seconds later. Then came CJ's biggest smallie of the trip and at the time he was fulfilled. Could see the kids were up, so made our way back to camp and made breakfast burritos. Decided we kinda had an idea what we were doing, so we took all the kids and Chuck out fishing after breakfast. [paragraph break]Could start to see that Joe was getting home sick, and I thought I had better get him on some fish and quick. We changed his rig up and I guided the canoe to set him up on some rocks. Wasn't a couple of minutes and he had a nice smallie on his line, until the line snapped because the drag was set too tight. Fixed the drag and rigged him back up. Within a small window of time Joe had caught a walleye and his first northern. Joe was on cloud nine, and it couldn't have come at a better time. Chuck simultaneously had a smallie on his line, which was lost at the boat (another drag issue). Austie had is pole bent over and then line snap (another drag issue). Came back to camp for hot dogs, brats, and Mac an Cheese. My buddy Joe did the dishes for me.[paragraph break]After lunch CJ, Jaron, Jake, and myself took the canoes over to Burnt Lake. CJ/Jaron made it into the bay before Jake and me, but by the time we were there, they were both reeling in northerns. CJ's was a little over 24 inches, but Jaron's was huge. He got it up to the boat and yes the drag was set too tight. The northern rolled and snapped the line, he was gone. Estimate the northern was close to 40 inches with about a 10 inch diameter head. Too bad no picture to go with it. Trolled al little more with no luck and then a storm rolled in. Headed back ot camp.[paragraph break] Note on the portage (90 rods) between Smoke and Burnt, this was the first time Jake has helped carrying the canoe. It was tough on him but he made it both times. Came back to camp, cleaned the northern and had a fish fry, with hamburgers, green beerns, and mashed taters. Did happen to go to fish remains and catch a huge crow and turkey vulture munching on the carcasses. Tried fire again but had to use stove to finish dinner. 
