I’m headed in to Knife Lake in a little over a week. I know it’s a popular lake. Both with people and the bears. Anyone have any experiences with bears on Knife this year? Have you heard any recent stories? Any particular campsites we should steer clear of? We’re looking to base camp somewhere on the west side. We keep a clean camp and will be hanging our food. But I’d like to go in knowing any particular areas that are problematic.

We just stayed a couple nights on Knife lake about three weeks ago. We camped at a site on the western end of Knife, south of Robbins Island. (Site 1253: 48.07336, -91.27145)

I kept our food in a 60l barrel hidden in the trees near the water. We didn't see any bears.

I asked Bob LaTourell about the bear situation this year and he said the only people he heard reporting problems on Knife was on the 'south arm'.

The site was OK, but didn't really have any good trees for setting up a tarp and if you like to hang your food, there were not many suitable trees. Regardless, it was still a great trip and the site has a nice landing area and place to set up your camp chairs near the water to enjoy the view.

Just got back from a trip on Knife and had a bear wander into camp at the site just west of the portage to Eddy Lake. He was a bold SOB, came back twice within 10 min and wasn’t the least bit scared of people. We also stayed on Robbins Island and the other large island east of Robbins, no troubles with bears but lots of mini bears that people had obviously been feeding.

We stayed on that site last year. Nice site. During our stay we had no bear issues there.

Not real recent, but I camped at site 1255 for a week this spring. I use a barrel, and had no bears. Even brought a trail cam to see if anything was in camp at night (rabbits only) or taking my fish guts in the woods (pine martins). I did talk to two guys at one of the two island sites just east of where I was, and they saw a bear swim across from Canada and walk into their site. They easily chased it out. I also checked the other site on that island a few days later, and found an abandoned, chewed up kitty litter container I assume people used for food storage. Every review of those sites mentions bears. I wouldn't necessarily avoid those sites, but I'd surely be extra careful with my food.

Thank you for the tips. We’ll ask our Outfitters as well, to see if they have stories.

JMedlin, if you left a note at that campsite about the bear, someone just posted in the trip report forum that they found it ;)

Knife Lake Bear on 9/11

awdriven: "JMedlin, if you left a note at that campsite about the bear, someone just posted in the trip report forum that they found it ;)


Knife Lake Bear on 9/11 "

That's great!

I have a group possibly going in to the Knife Lake area in a day or two, anyone have any bear issues lately?

VoyageurNorth: "I have a group possibly going in to the Knife Lake area in a day or two, anyone have any bear issues lately?"

Was just there for 5 nights without a sighting of one

I spoke to Bob on Moose Lake at Labor Day weekend before heading into Knife on the subject of pest bears at campsites. He hadn't heard of any for a couple of months. There certainly weren't any reports for the southern shore campsites or the south arm of Knife campsites that bears had pestered in the past.

My customers up there were just fine though they did keep extra care for their food.

Have someone in Lake One-Two right now but he is staying on the south side. He should be fine but if any bears in camp, I'll let you all know.

Our trip was quite soggy. But fortunately, no bears.