I am in the early planning for my 2019 BWCA trip.
I will be traveling with a friend and staying for about 5 or 6 days.
Each year, I try to find a new location to go. We typically set up a base camp, and then go out fishing and exploring each day. We do not base camp hop.

Duncan Lake looks very, very appealing to me, and I hope to get some info.
So here are some questions

#1: How is the fishing in Duncan and the surrounding lakes?

#2: How difficult is it to get to Duncan from where we park the truck? How long will it take? Are the portages tough? (I prefer not to spend a whole day getting in to base camp and a whole day getting out).

#3: I thought I read somewhere, that there is a nice waterfall on one of the lakes near Duncan. Anyone know about that?

#4: Is Duncan likely to be crowded?

And of course any other insights anyone has.
THANKS!

Duncan is basically an entry point lake. It can be very busy. Because access is so easy many people take days trips to rose falls.

Duncan is a lake trout lake for the most part. It will be busy. Only 1 portage to make to get to Duncan from the West Bearskin Landing. It has a hill but not bad. The falls are at the outflow that goes north to Rose Lake. Often smallies and trout in Rose. The portage to Rose is steep enough that there are close to 100 stair risers. The portage From Duncan to Partridge is longish with a steady climb to get there. Lake trout you will try to find in Partridge. Fishing success varies by time of year and weather patterns.

Thanks for the info.
It does not sound like it is for me.
I will look elsewhere!

Duncan is a gorgeous lake but too near the fairly busy entry. Quite a bit of day use here for obvious reasons. Nearby mountain lake is fairly easily accessible but well worth the effort.

rayljr1: "...Duncan Lake looks very, very appealing to me... It does not sound like it is for me...."

What are you looking for? What turned you off on Duncan?

bobbernumber3: "

rayljr1: "...Duncan Lake looks very, very appealing to me... It does not sound like it is for me...."

What are you looking for? What turned you off on Duncan?"

I’m guessing the business of it. But that is what you get for that criteria. The portage into Rose is the infamous stairway portage. The falls are very accessible and even rose lake has some decent sites. My mind is blank, but the one by Bule... Homer? Is a short paddle and fishing opportunities.

Duncan Lake is wonderful except for a shortage of good basecamp sites. 3 of the 7 are good for this and one is somewhat marginal for a best rating. The others are small and or lacking good size trees due to the blow down of 1999. We have risked the traffic and made out well just by luck. If all the sites are taken, the portage to Partridge is fairly tough with no camp rated by me at above a 1 or an impossible 0 should be the rating. The difficulty of leaving Duncan to Rose does not guarantee a decent camp there after the portage. With base campers in place and folks hoping for a site for their last night, the timing is tricky and depends on a good streak of luck.

"I’m guessing the business of it. But that is what you get for that criteria. The portage into Rose is the infamous stairway portage. The falls are very accessible and even rose lake has some decent sites. My mind is blank, but the one by Bule... Homer? Is a short paddle and fishing opportunities."

I posted earlier today about the Homer entry...look under swiftone's question about "2019 Trip Decisions" if you have any interest

Duncan can be a quiet, close to the vehicle as you can get. Lot's of day trippers but it quiets down at night. There is a decent population of smallmouth an awesome hiking trails. We have stayed there twice and have had great weeks.