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Kids first trip, fishing, Gunflint?

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Date/Time: 04/30/2024 11:27AM

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Kids first trip, fishing, Gunflint?

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
Captn Tony	02/02/2019 06:57AM Big sag to Red Rock to Seagull is a short trip with easy portages and if you want to shorten the trip get a tow to American Point.
inspector13	02/01/2019 12:52PM That is a big no-no. Campsite availability is the main reason for limited entry permits in the first place. If those two EPs were in my sights, I would pick 47 due to more available choices.
walleyevision	02/01/2019 12:33PM Can you split campsites on one permit?
walllee	02/01/2019 11:42AM Things may have changed, but there were 3 campsites on Crocodile the last time I was there.
walleyevision	02/01/2019 10:42AM Well, crocodile may be out. Our group has grown to 4 adults and 5 kids and it appears crocodile only has one site that could potentially host a group that big. Too big of a risk to get in there and not find a suitable site. Now we're thinking either EP 62 or 47. Caribou/Horseshoe may be a bit busier, but at least the site seem bigger and more numerous. I just hope the fishing will be as good as reported on crocodile.
nofish	01/29/2019 01:24PM My wife and I are thinking of taking our 5 year old (will be 6 by the time we go) on her first official BWCA trip this year. We've done day trips up until now. I was already thinking of EP 47 to Caribou or lakes beyond but Crocodile seems like another good option. This turned out to be a timely post for me as well.
cowdoc	01/28/2019 07:16PM Stay at Rockwood. Paddle across Poplar to 47 Lizz entry. Go to Caribou.....nice campsites, good fishing. Easy day trip to Horseshoe for moose and more fishing. Neat day trip on a stream to Meeds for more good fishing. Easy portages, smaller water. Toughest part is crossing Poplar if it's windy.
johndku	01/28/2019 05:51PM Lots of good suggestions above. Be sure to take leeches and not just rely on artificials. Leeches will give you consistent actions for most species. Also be sure to fish early in the morning and just before dusk,,,,need to keep the action hot and heavy to keep those young kids excited! Have fun.
walleyevision	01/28/2019 05:11PM Wow, great resource, thanks!
ducks	01/28/2019 04:27PM This is the sign that's at the East Bearskin boat landing.
ducks	01/28/2019 04:22PM I went to Croc from East Bearskin on my trip with big duckling and we did a daytrip to Croc as a family through the Vegetable lakes and Croc River for an adventure a year later. Going there from East Bearskin is much faster and easier.
walleyevision	01/28/2019 03:01PM Thanks for clarifying!
lindylair	01/28/2019 01:56PM My understanding is that you cannot camp on Crocodile with an E. Bearskin permit, only a #66 permit. To your point, you could enter from the Crocodile River too but that is reportedly a route not fit for man nor beast. I am not sure why it is set up that way, just know that it has been debated much on this forum and i think it may even be posted at the East Bearskin entry point...Ducks?
inspector13	01/28/2019 01:21PM walleyevision: "This seems odd...do you know the reasoning why you have to get a permit at one EP, yet enter at another? " Not "have to" but would most likely want to, since the "true" Crocodile Lake EP starts off FR 313 through barely maintained portages between South Bean, Parsnip Lake, and the Crocodile River.
walleyevision	01/28/2019 12:56PM lindylair: If interested, know that you must get a permit for entry #66 Crocodile River, even though you enter at East Bearskin. You must also camp all nights on Crocodile. Plus you can stay the night before aright at East Bearskin campground and wake up at your entry point!! Crocodile Lake trip report Clearwater to Caribou trip report " This seems odd...do you know the reasoning why you have to get a permit at one EP, yet enter at another?
tcoeguy	01/28/2019 12:33PM I really like Caribou for a short trip. Did it the past two years. Great fishing on the lake and fun day trips. You can head to Johnson Falls, which are really fun. You can also hike up the bluffs on Clearwater Lake for spectacular views.
walleyevision	01/28/2019 09:01AM Thanks to everyone for the great info!
ducks	01/28/2019 06:42AM Great info and trip reports on Crocodile and Caribou from lindylair. I did Crocodile with big duckling at age 11 and Clearwater to Caribou with her at age 13. If I was going to repeat one of them it would be Crocodile. Much quieter with fewer people around and eater size walleye are easy to catch. The only people we saw were the ones leaving the campsite we took and we were there the last weekend of July which is in the middle of the 2 busiest weeks in the BWCA. If you are taking 2 canoes so you'll have the 6 yo and 9 yo in the bow of a canoe I would definitely go with Crocodile. The combination of Clearwater and Caribou is much worse than East Bearskin and Crocodile if you get windy conditions. Clearwater Lodge would be perfect for canoes and bunkhouse if you go to Caribou from Clearwater. Bearskin Outfitters on East Bearskin has canoes but not bunkhouses. You could rent a camper cabin in the East Bearskin campground for about the same price as 4 people in a bunkhouse. Rockwood Outfitters on Poplar Lake is my favorite because Mike and Carl are awesome and each bunkhouse has it's own private bath. One of my favorite areas for a trip with kids is entering Lizz off of Poplar Lake. You can push off right from the beach at Rockwood and you have a lot of options for small lakes with decent fishing and easy/short portages to get to them. The Caribou Lake next to Lizz is a good fishing lake and Horseshoe is a great place for seeing moose. Big ducking and I did this when she was 5.
lindylair	01/27/2019 01:53PM For a 3 day trip without a difficult entry or portages, and fishing action i think Crocodile would be a great option. There are numerous outfitters nearby and most will mount the canoe on your vehicle for you. No smallies there but some of the easiest walleye fishing to be had as well as some pike and good sized perch. Very scenic lake, typically quiet because it is basically a dead end lake. Good chance of seeing wildlife, feels very remote for how close it is to your entry. Put in at East Bearskin campground boat landing and canoe about 35 minutes to the portage south to Crocodile. Moderate length and some elevation gain but...it's your only portage! You can be in camp within a few hours of leaving your car. There are 4 campsites on the lake and two are pretty decent while the other two would work but aren't the greatest. But depending on when you go, you could be the only ones on the lake too. If interested, know that you must get a permit for entry #66 Crocodile River, even though you enter at East Bearskin. You must also camp all nights on Crocodile. Plus you can stay the night before aright at East Bearskin campground and wake up at your entry point!! Caribou off of Clearwater is nice too...the portage is about twice as long and caribou is quite a bit bigger but the fishing can be good. Probably a lot busier too. Bonus to this would be a daytrip to Johnson Falls which is an easy trip and a great spot. Can't go wrong either way, Croc is easier and quieter and if you like the idea of catching lots of walleyes could be a better choice. If you want smallies and a cool daytrip, Caribou would be good. Crocodile Lake trip report Clearwater to Caribou trip report
kyleyewongster	01/24/2019 03:44PM Clearwater Lodge on Clearwater Lake (EP 62) rents canoes and has bunkhouses. You can start your trip paddling off from the their dock and take 1 portage to Caribou Lake.
nkolman	01/24/2019 01:04PM AmarilloJim: "I think both have outfitters at the EP's." Yes - the outfitter at Sawbill is awesome.
AmarilloJim	01/24/2019 01:02PM I think both have outfitters at the EP's.
nkolman	01/24/2019 12:57PM Look at going into Sawbill (EP 38), head west through Alton and make camp on Beth. The portages are quite easy and the kid-sized smallies are amazing on Beth. You likely won't get anything worth size for eating, but my kids were pulling in something 5-6 out of 10 casts. Look for them on the south shore. If you want something a bit bigger, head to Duncan (EP 60) and fish the northeast bay for smallies. Throw a shallow crankbait (I like blue) at sunrise and watch 'em hit. Duncan is also known as a great lake trout lake, although I've never been able to get one (haven't tried real hard either). Have a great trip!
walleyevision	01/24/2019 12:14PM So my BIL are kicking around the idea of taking our boys (9,6) on their first trips this spring. They both love fishing, so that is a big priority. We obviously can't do a ton of tough portages either. We are probably going to do a 3-day trip. We've only ever done the Ely side and are open to trying the Gunflint side. A couple of options I've looked at are basecamping on Crocodile or going to Caribou. The later lake makes me a bit nervous if the wind picks up with inexperienced paddlers. If we do the Gunflint side, any recommendations on outfitters for canoe rentals? Do any have bunk houses? Are there any places along the Gunflint to camp if the answer is no? I'd appreciate any thoughts or insight on our tentative plans so far. Thanks!