Heading up to pick up a canoe at the end of May, not wanting to deal with going into the BW or Quetico. Thinking of hitting a couple smaller lakes that have no motor access and only portage in for some good peaceful fishing and try out the new kevlar for a few days.

I know Gillespie has ice fished a few, but if anyone wants to share some thoughts privately, if you want to keep them secret, you can email.

Thanks much.
poppaj4

I think that Gillespie was fishing Grassy Lake. There is a nice short route there from Fenske Lake through Little Sletten, Sletten, Tee and into Grassy Lake. Easy Portages, quite and nice scenery. JIM P.

You're driving up from Illinois at the end of may but you don't want to bother to enter the Bdub or Quetico, you don't need the location of smaller lakes, you need the location of a good psychiatrist..........

nooneuno: "You're driving up from Illinois at the end of may but you don't want to bother to enter the Bdub or Quetico, you don't need the location of smaller lakes, you need the location of a good psychiatrist.........."

+ 2, esp if still looking for a no-motor lake

thanks ella

ellahallely: "I think that Gillespie was fishing Grassy Lake. There is a nice short route there from Fenske Lake through Little Sletten, Sletten, Tee and into Grassy Lake. Easy Portages, quite and nice scenery. JIM P."

I like that route as well, but I would enter at Low Lake and take the Range River to Grassy. If I stayed on Grassy, I'd take a day trip down the Range River to Range Lake and maybe beyond.

Range lake has some good fishing.

One of many...you could certainly do what you want but entry to the BWCA is very simple. At that time of year you could walk in to the Ely ranger station and pick up a permit for one of likely several available entries, pay a small fee and be on your way. Or book it in advance and watch the new video online, not sure exactly how that works. But if you don't want to do that...I recently discovered an interesting looking area that might be what you are looking for. Off the Echo Trail, a ways out of Ely is the Astrid Lake Hiking Trail, in close proximity to Lake Jeanette campground. There is a network of hiking trails on several lakes that can make a route of sorts if you want. But what interested me is an 80 rod portage off highway 200 to Astrid lake itself where there are two campsites, reportedly both good and one with a sand beach. Or head west over a slightly longer portage to Maude Lake, also with two campsites. I researched it and it seems the fishing can be pretty decent too. Also looks like there may be some canoeing available up the Hunting Shack River for an interesting daytrip.

I have not been there but have seen photos and read reports...I plan on checking it out myself this summer. If you are willing to take one portage and set up a basecamp for a couple days with decent fishing and some exploration options nearby, this could work for you.

Anyone who has any experience with this area, feel free to chime in if I am off base...or if I am not.

Here's a link, there is more info available if you search for it.

Astrid Lake area


Here's a You Tube Video that shows the portage in, the campsite and the lake:

Astrid Lake entry

Looks great, thanks