BWCA Entry Point, Route, and Trip Report Blog
July 26 2024
Entry Point 12 - Little Vermilion Lake
Number of Permits per Day: 6
Elevation: 1150 feet
Latitude: 48.2995
Longitude: -92.4268
Little Vermilion Lake - 12
Turtle Point
Entry Date:
June 05, 2023
Entry Point:
Missing Link Lake
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
2
Fishing on Snipe with day trip to Cross Bay
Beautiful - but hot - day. Decided to fish for walleyes on Cross Bay. Pretty easy paddle and portage at east end of lake. Lots of momma and baby moose prints on the portage and thru the little creek that leads you to the big lake. Passed a loon nest on an island on Snipe. We would pass it many more times - always seeing it occupied. We later learned, parents take turns sitting to allow their mate feeding time.
Headed toward the Rib Lake portage - there is a hole just below the river from Rib. Fished it hard - had some nibbles - but could never land one. We speculated Snipe held bass - due to the many huge rocks submerged alongside many of the bays. Caught plenty of northerns - but released them all.
Another evening of turtle egg laying behavior - so we named our site, Turtle Point.
Gorgeous sunsets!
Fishing on Snipe with day trip to Cross Bay
Beautiful - but hot - day. Decided to fish for walleyes on Cross Bay. Pretty easy paddle and portage at east end of lake. Lots of momma and baby moose prints on the portage and thru the little creek that leads you to the big lake. Passed a loon nest on an island on Snipe. We would pass it many more times - always seeing it occupied. We later learned, parents take turns sitting to allow their mate feeding time.
Headed toward the Rib Lake portage - there is a hole just below the river from Rib. Fished it hard - had some nibbles - but could never land one. We speculated Snipe held bass - due to the many huge rocks submerged alongside many of the bays. Caught plenty of northerns - but released them all.
Fishing Snipe
Decided to fish Snipe hard. First cast off our site produced a good sized smallmouth. Caught plenty of northerns. I finally caught a bass while paddling home. Fish dinner tonight.
Planned tomorrow's day trip to Copper Lake.
Day trip to Copper
Map said one 100 rod portage, but we accidentally hopped back in the water in a marshy swampy creek. Followed it toward Copper. Beaver dam made sure there was no access. We weren't the 1st to take this route, so we followed a makeshift trail alongside the dam, and put in above. Fished it pretty hard - caught some northerns.
We decided to find the part of the portage we missed - and it was really just a water covered trail alongside the marshy swampy area. Connected with the known trail - and put back in Snipe to head home.
Day Trip to Cross Bay
Decided to hit the walleye hole in Cross Bay again. Threw jigs and deep divers all over the place. Again, a couple of nibbles, but none landed. We camped on Cross Bay last year and caught walleyes there - so we know they are there....but no dice for us this trip. EP 50 is certainly a busy entry point. Most people we saw were either coming or going to Long Lake. Hoping to spy moose between Cross Bay and Snipe - but all we got were tracks and scat.
Baked a couple of BWCA campfire pizzas back at home. Very dry - so we kept our fire small and short. No fire ban when we went in - but you could tell is was just a matter of time. More turtles....we later learned Mom's job is done after laying eggs. 65-70 day incubation - putting the hatch sometime in early to mid August. Less than 1 percent of eggs survive to breeding age. There was no shortage of turtles on our trip - so the egg laying behavior we observed was necessary for the future.
Rainy and cool. Fishing on Snipe
Started off with intermittent showers until mid morning. Clouds most of the day made for a chilly one. Even required another layer of clothing - such a contrast from earlier in the week. Found some hot cider packets in the drink bag - made quick work of those.
Fished the west side of Snipe - and continued to catch northern. We saved another pizza meal for this evening, so catch and release again.
A mix of sun and clouds returned late afternoon and made for a pleasant final night.
Pack up and return to Tuscarora
We spend the day before our trip packing our Duluth packs meticulously. Agreed that anything not used on this trip would be left behind in the future. Used everything - so we must be doing something right. Packed everything up, loaded the canoe, then paddled toward Missing Link portage. Portages were drier despite the Saturday AM showers. Again, not as difficult as anticipated. Good thing my pack mule partner can carry heavy loads - because he does most of the work. I think he brings me along to cook and clean.
This was our 24th consecutive year of a BWCA trip. This one may have been our best - as we reflect often on the many previous trips. Next year - 1) add more home made dehydrated meals, 2) upgrade our tackle box, 3) bring a clock. Next year, our 25th, will have some special additions.
