I have scoured these forums for fishing intel regarding these lakes, and haven't found recent information. The information available was a bit outdated, and would love some updated reports. This will be my 12th trip up to the BWCA, and have typically launched out of #47 instead of #48.

Will likely use slip bobbers, red #4 hooks, and leeches/worms. Will also fish with jigs tipped with 3" Gulp! minnows.

I know that some of these lakes do not hold walleye, and will pass through them.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

I know Caribou and Horseshoe are reputable for some walleye fishing, I've also had a decent evening walleye bite on Allen, 2 years ago. I hope to get back to the area to hit Meeds at some point, and I'll be interested in seeing what people have to say about Pillsbery, as i caught some pike there but didn't try for walleye.

Number 4 hook sounds pretty big to me, as I mostly fish red #8 circles and also some 6's, but maybe you've found that to work well for you.

I hope the Swallow to Pillsbery portage entry is easier to find than going from pills to swallow, as I couldn't find anything I was convinced was the right path. Have heard others mention this too. Evidently, from pills the entry is east further in the bay and not at the narrows as depicted on most maps.

Have a great trip.

Bumstead,

I see what you are saying on my W.A. Fisher Map. The portage looks to be where you stated in the pinch-point of Pillsbery. I'll be sure to look farther east for the portage when we get to that area. I will update this forum to keep others informed regarding the location of the actual portage between Swallow & Pillsbery when I return in late May.

I'll bring some #6 & #8 hooks to be safe. I have had decent luck with #4 hooks, but it may be smart to rig up something slightly smaller.

Do you have any intel on the two campsites on Pillsbery? I would assume the east site is better and farther away from the portage?

Thanks for the help!

Meads.

SweetBerryWine: "Do you have any intel on the two campsites on Pillsbery? I would assume the east site is better and farther away from the portage?"

Although Google Maps also has that portage marked wrong, you can see the portage trail on the satellite photo. It starts in the bay to the east of the narrows about 500ft from where it is marked on the maps. We didn’t check out the campsites on Pillsbury, but the one that looks to be near the portage, but in reality is not, is so overgrown that it too was difficult to spot.

I will also be heading to this area second week of June. I plan on base camping on Horseshoe and exploring Vista, Caribou, Gaskin and Winchell.

I would love to try to get to swamp for a day, but its going to be a short trip and I'm not sure I'll have time.

Anybody have any success on Winchell for lakers in recent years?

I've also heard there is some nice walleyes in Gaskin, looking forward to seeing for myself!

-Wily

I have fished Winchell twice now, and all of my success has come from the west end of Winchell. There are sandy shores on the west banks, and you can see Northerns slowly meandering from 20 yds out. I have also caught Lakers on the west end of the lake in 30' of water. I used Cleo Spoons for the Lakers and had great luck.

Basecamped with a couple new guys on Gaskin early June last year. Caught all the 15-17" walleyes we could eat along with the rookie boating a beautiful 29"er. Leeches and slip bobbers.

bmaines: "Basecamped with a couple new guys on Gaskin early June last year. Caught all the 15-17" walleyes we could eat along with the rookie boating a beautiful 29"er. Leeches and slip bobbers. "

Now your talkin! Any specific spots/locations you'd care to disclose in a private message?

-Wily

Gaskin, Caribou, Meeds are all good fishing lakes. I would spend most of my time on those 3......and I have ......
There was a previous thread on this area not long ago.....I'll look for the link

It was actually in Trip Planning...... Meeds, Horseshoe, Gaskin thread

bmaines,

Do you have any campsite recommendations?

East end of Meeds in 20-25’ water near points was really productive for us last fall. We were there the last weekend of September into early October. We were jigging with pink and orange/yellow jigs with leeches.

Scratch that...it was the WEST end of Meeds

SBW,

East site on Pills is a reasonable site (we had 2 Four-man tents), and you'll likely see few passers-by while there. Fairly steep climb up to main camp area but a decent place to chill out and fish down by the water or nap on the rock. If I would be there again I would definitely throw slip bobber and leech out / fish the lake a little more thoroughly. We only casted lures and pulled in some northern.

Hoping to hear a little more intel about walleye / smallmouth success on Pillsbery though. Archives has at least a couple comments about the lake. I'd like to get back in the area within the next couple years.

I was in this area Late June 2015 and August 2015. In June we did a loop from Poplar in through Omega and Winchell then back around.

The first night we stayed on Horseshoe. We caught a several Smallies and Pike in the afternoon in a couple hours of fishing but relatively slow (crank baits and jigs). That was on the Southern arm of the lake. In the evening we caught around a dozen walleye in the middle of the shoe with jigs and leeches.

The second day was a little bit of a wash. We should have fished more as we traveled to learn the lakes more. We should have tried some casting on Henson or checked out the campsites. We ended up on Omega. It was a really beautiful lake and we stayed at a really nice 5 star campsite. However, we only caught a couple small pike and a couple little small mouth.

We traveled through Winchell on the loop back. It is a nice lake but we did not fish at all. Our Camp for the 3rd and 4th night was on the North shore of Gaskin. I really like Gaskin overall but the fishing was a little streaky. We caught some nice Smallmouth on crankbaits, jigs and slip bobbers. We also found some walleye in the evenings around points and drop offs. Mostly with jigs and leeches and slip bobbers.

In August we spent time on mostly Meeds and Caribou fishing. We did excellent for Smallmouth on swimbaits and cranks. Walleyes in the evening trolling rapalas.

WM,

I would highly recommend getting down to Vista. The south campsite is wonderful, and if i remember correctly, we had great fishing around the islands. Best of luck on your trip!

Thanks cowdoc, the trip report was wonderful to read. I am beyond ready for this weather to subside, and to get up to God's country.

My advice is lake specific. It’s hard to know where to begin...

We camped on the east end. There's a nice elevated site on the west end of an island. It was fairly open, but the light winds through camp kept the mosquitos to a minimum. We had 2 tents on nice flat pads, but you could easily fit a couple more if you so desired. There's a site tucked around the corner in front of an island on the far west end that looked to be perfect for shoulder season camping. I stopped to use the facilities while out fishing, and found it to be occupied by close to a billion mosquitos.

WilyMinnow: "

bmaines: "Basecamped with a couple new guys on Gaskin early June last year. Caught all the 15-17" walleyes we could eat along with the rookie boating a beautiful 29"er. Leeches and slip bobbers. "

Now your talkin! Any specific spots/locations you'd care to disclose in a private message?


-Wily"

I really don't have any secret spots. Just look at a lake map and find the fishy looking spots. I will say, if you find a 15' hole between a big island and a little tiny island, and bounce a jig and leech around the sides of it, you should be eating walleye sandwiches for lunch.

Swamp used to be great for for walleye, but in recent years, those numbers have dwindled and the lake is full of small pike. Easy lake to fish since it's rather shallow and the structure is limited. The portage in does not see much travel given the appearance, but worth a try if you're not having much luck on the other lakes you are targeting.

Good luck!