BWCA Quick 3-4 day mid-May fishing options Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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flynn
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01/29/2019 02:08PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm itchin to get fishin. I will be doing a route through Crooked during the first week of June, but I want to go somewhere for a quick 3-4 day trip focused on fishing, a few weeks before, not only to fish but to test my gear and make sure it's ready for an 8 day trip. I don't want to travel too far as I want to spend most of the entry and exit days fishing if possible.

I was thinking of heading to Moose, grabbing a tow to Ensign as early as possible, hoofing it to Vera, setting up camp and grabbing a quick bite, then hitting the nearby PMA for a species I have not yet caught, for the first 2 days. If I stay for 4 days it will probably be because the fishing is good, but if it's middle of the road, I will either hit up Trident for a half day, or head to the northwest section of Ensign to try and snag some fat smallies, maybe a walleye for lunch/dinner. Also considering going down to Ashigan for smallies instead, but it's a little out of the way for the exit day. I would schedule my tow back for 4pm probably so I can fish as much as possible on the last day.

The other option I was thinking of was entering at Clearwater (EP62) and hoofing it to Pine Lake. There are 2 nearby lakes have something in common with the aforementioned PMA lake near Ensign, and with two of them so close together, I figure I might have some decent chances at my first catch. However, the travel from Clearwater to Pine and back is significantly longer than the time from Splash to Vera and back, which is my main reason for hesitation. Both seem like a great time, regardless. I will say I'm comfortable with the expectations for the Moose entry, but I've never been up on the Gunflint side.

I would like to go with an outfitter that's right on a lake, or super close, so I can get on the water as soon as possible. I don't have a boat so I will need to rent one. Are there any other good options for smallies and wallies that aren't too far from an entry point, that fit this criteria, that I should be looking at?
 
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01/29/2019 05:43PM  
If you were to go in at Clearwater you don't have to go all the way to Pine, Caribou Lake is a very good fishing lake with some nice campsites. And Little Caribou has a 5 star site and reportedly good fishing too. You would have the lake to yourself if you got this popular campsite.

Other thoughts...

Poplar to Meeds Lake, very good smallie lake and decent walleye too. Can take the long portage from Poplar or go down through Lizz, Caribou and down the little creek into Meeds. Time wise, not sure, that may take a little longer but its easier.

Rockwood Lodge is a popular outfitter on the north shore of Poplar Lake that could get you set up.

Slim Lake out of Ely, one super easy portage into Slim and 3 campsites to choose from. A coworker was there this fall and said it was smallie heaven, also has eyes and pike. Outfitters nearby.

Homer Lake entry off the Sawbill Trail. Nearest outfitters would be Sawbill Lodge itself or Sawtooth Outfitters on Hwy 61 in Tofte, right before you make the turn. They will throw the canoe on the car for you and you're off. Was there this summer and camped on Vern lake, right across from the mouth of the Vern River. Caught lots of fish right from camp including eyes and some very nice smallies. You can go up the Vern River easily quite a ways and the fishing was awesome for both smallies and eyes. You can pull over on the Vern River in several spots and cast from shore and have good luck too. Easy portages from Homer to Vern.







My buddy and a Vern River smallie







A smallie I caught right from camp







Typical Vern River scene...there are several narrows and we caught fish around everyone of them
nooneuno
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01/29/2019 07:15PM  
I have fished Ensign in Mid may and have been skunked, I have also fished Ensign in Mid May and had the best walleye fishing ever in the Bdub to the point where I quit fishing just to concentrate on baiting and removing walleyes from my wife's pole...
 
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