Heading into bald eagle the end of May and early June 2017. Looking for some nice big campsites for eight guys. Also some fishing reports. We have done pretty good on Gabbaro in recent years. And don't know much about bald eagle. Can't wait....

Probably a little early to be asking for a fishing report. You should post this again after the opener, maybe a week before you head into Bald Eagle.

I mostly browse the forums here, rarely contribute, but sometimes I just can't help laying down a few gems for all you peeps, so here goes ;)

My group of veterans base camped on Bald Eagle last year during that same time frame. Smaller walleyes were still hanging in the current areas between Gabro and BE, plenty of eaters for the frying pan. The bigger fish were on the main lake wind blown points. Its a shallow lake so it warms quick, meaning the fish will already be transitioning to main lake areas from the spawning areas at that time of year. We trolled shad raps along the main lake shorelines around the big points until we made contact with a school, then picked them apart with jigs and minnows. There are some really fantastic looking main lake weed beds we found our last night that held some nice pike and crappies adjacent to some of the points on west side. I'm talking big, healthy looking, tobacco leaf cabbage beds in about 6 - 10 ft, a rare find in the BWCA. Those would be worth giving some attention if you can locate them.

Also got some walleyes trolling the mouth of the Isabella up to the first set of rapids. Fish the current below the rapids all the way down to where it starts to settle, there is a deep cut about 20 ft deep next to shore in the eddies. You will find as many crappies as you want to catch there. Depth finder helps. 1/16 oz jig tipped with a minnow. Nice slabs mixed in too. Had a great day up there and didn't see another person.

As far as campsites, well, they were okay but nothing to write home about. It was a busy lake, most were taken, but I didn't scope em' all out. Bring some live bait and you'll have fun. Good luck.

Hi--I know this is an old post....

What sort of minnows do you use in the wilderness? I've occasionally brought night crawlers and tried leaches, but never minnows.

We try to get Rainbow Dace minnows as they are pretty hardy. Shiners if you can get them, alive or frozen/salted work also.

Go to the Lucky 7 in Ely. Nice minnows. Toss a couple rainbows in your bucket. They don’t care.

Those rainbows are pretty hardy and lively.if I remember right they are also gone by about mid june

So I've brought leaches in a plastic container and worms in a box....what do you portage in your minnow with to keep them alive----and wet?

I'll be in that area May 16-19, I can post my findings once I'm back. It'll be our groups very first BWCA trip, so we'll see how she goes. I've been torn on the bait subject myself. I Was considering leeches, preserved minnows, and crawlers; but I'm thinking I'll wait until the week before, then start calling baitshops in the area for the proper rundown.

Jurbs08: "I'll be in that area May 16-19, I can post my findings once I'm back. It'll be our groups very first BWCA trip, so we'll see how she goes. I've been torn on the bait subject myself. I Was considering leeches, preserved minnows, and crawlers; but I'm thinking I'll wait until the week before, then start calling baitshops in the area for the proper rundown."

Bring MINNOWS!

Medium to small leeches also work-- fish small, warm bays with mud bottoms - ideally with any inflowing water on the N side of the lake JUST adjacent to deeper water. A piece of crawler on a fuzze grub / hair jig is also $$. Been on 25+ spring trips in May, minnows are awesome ( but a pain for transport) , but NOT needed as my group has learned- even for trophies.

WhiteWolf: "Medium to small leeches also work-- fish small, warm bays with mud bottoms - ideally with any inflowing water on the N side of the lake JUST adjacent to deeper water. A piece of crawler on a fuzze grub / hair jig is also $$. Been on 25+ spring trips in May, minnows are awesome ( but a pain for transport) , but NOT needed as my group has learned- even for trophies.

I've always done best using minnows in May, so I'm definitely partial.
Agreed, transporting minnows can be a pain and aren't always needed. Heading to Bald Eagle is a short paddle and should be an easy short ride for the little guys :-)

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got an update?