Like the title says, I’m hoping to head to Paulson Lake, I’m after lake trout, I don’t care the size, I’m also after a quiet, small lake. I have not found a lot online about Paulson Lake except for it’s small, and has a healthy population of small lake trout.. I’m planning to go there on the fishing opener. What advice or insights do you have? Lure recommendations at great too.

Thanks,
CanoeViking

Tuscaroraborealis (sp) has a trip report going through that area. It sounds pretty quite, but the kekekabic trail does go by one of the campsites if i recall correctly.

Paulson is a very nice small lake and yes, lots of small lakers. If you can, for easy fishing try to stay at the campground about the middle of the lake--it is where the lake necks down. The fish move through the neck and shore fishing is very easy--lots of rock to stand on and only two other sites on the lake, neither of which I visited. The site is small--one good tent site for a small tent and a top of rock site for a second. It is a burned over area, the site itself is unburned, but surrounded by down timber--you will not have to go far for wood. Do not expect to hike around the area. Not much for tarps or hammocks, you must ground camp. I would not want to be on the site if you are in a lightning storm or high winds--getting pegs in is tough. Place rocks on your tent stakes if you have any cause to worry.

I am not a great laker fisherman, but did well with small spoons, Little Cleos in 2/5 oz. size and silver Klondikes.

It is a lovely area, don't think you can go on to Bingshick for trout--it was barren of fish when I was there two years ago--stocking is piecemeal.

30Smoke: "Tuscaroraborealis (sp) has a trip report going through that area. It sounds pretty quite, but the kekekabic trail does go by one of the campsites if i recall correctly."

Thanks, I have read he post a few times, that is what got me interested in Paulson.

sunnybear09: "Paulson is a very nice small lake and yes, lots of small lakers. If you can, for easy fishing try to stay at the campground about the middle of the lake--it is where the lake necks down. The fish move through the neck and shore fishing is very easy--lots of rock to stand on and only two other sites on the lake, neither of which I visited. The site is small--one good tent site for a small tent and a top of rock site for a second. It is a burned over area, the site itself is unburned, but surrounded by down timber--you will not have to go far for wood. Do not expect to hike around the area. Not much for tarps or hammocks, you must ground camp. I would not want to be on the site if you are in a lightning storm or high winds--getting pegs in is tough. Place rocks on your tent stakes if you have any cause to worry.


I am not a great laker fisherman, but did well with small spoons, Little Cleos in 2/5 oz. size and silver Klondikes.


It is a lovely area, don't think you can go on to Bingshick for trout--it was barren of fish when I was there two years ago--stocking is piecemeal."

Thanks for the info. I will use it during my planning, especially the tent pad info and the necessary rocks :-)

Is there other fish there as well?

30Smoke: "Tuscaroraborealis (sp) has a trip report going through that area. It sounds pretty quite, but the kekekabic trail does go by one of the campsites if i recall correctly."

Perhaps my all time favorite trip. And Paulson Lake is a big reason why. Trip report

Return to Paulson

I only fished for lakers--I would think there would be pike too but not sure. Check the MN Lakefinder site.

TuscaroraBorealis: "

30Smoke: "Tuscaroraborealis (sp) has a trip report going through that area. It sounds pretty quite, but the kekekabic trail does go by one of the campsites if i recall correctly."

Perhaps my all time favorite trip. And Paulson Lake is a big reason why. Trip report


Return to Paulson "

Hey Tusc. I just read your trip report and was enthralled that you had your daughter out there at that age. My own daughter will be 3 in April and I was thinking I would have to wait several more years before taking her but you have given me some hope that maybe it wont be such a long wait. i'm even more excited now. I paddle with her older brother right now who is 26! LOL
Great report and she looks like a trooper!

Bushman: "

TuscaroraBorealis: "

30Smoke: "Tuscaroraborealis (sp) has a trip report going through that area. It sounds pretty quite, but the kekekabic trail does go by one of the campsites if i recall correctly."

Perhaps my all time favorite trip. And Paulson Lake is a big reason why. Trip report



Return to Paulson "

Hey Tusc. I just read your trip report and was enthralled that you had your daughter out there at that age. My own daughter will be 3 in April and I was thinking I would have to wait several more years before taking her but you have given me some hope that maybe it wont be such a long wait. i'm even more excited now. I paddle with her older brother right now who is 26! LOL
Great report and she looks like a trooper!"

start 'em young!

Paulson, formerly known as JAP lake, used to be a fantastic Rainbow trout lake. For whatever reason the rainbows grew big in there. When they made the decision to quit stocking non-native species, they turned the lake back to being managed for Lake Trout.

The Lake Trout population exploded and has been in this state ever since. The trout are smaller, but plentiful. In the past we used little spoons and inline spinners to catch them. During the evenings, you could catch as many as you wanted casting from camp, just cast it out, leave bail open and let it sink to the bottom and jig/reel it back in.

I haven't been back since the fire...knowing what it looked like before and then seeing current pics kind of breaks my heart a little. It'll recover and i'll go back again.

ps. The portage from Seagull ranks in the top 3 most difficult I've taken.

TuscaroraBorealis: "

30Smoke: "Tuscaroraborealis (sp) has a trip report going through that area. It sounds pretty quite, but the kekekabic trail does go by one of the campsites if i recall correctly."

Perhaps my all time favorite trip. And Paulson Lake is a big reason why. Trip report


Return to Paulson "

Tuscaroraborealis: Thanks for your Trip report. It is why I am interested in Paulson. I will be bring my 2 ½ year old with me and I am really excited about it.

I am hoping to get the island site, Im going a couple days before the opener, is it a high demand site?

Also, has anyone caught Rainbow Trout recently?

I dont believe Paulson gets a lot of visitors; simply because of the difficulty reaching it. Coming in from Sea Gull is the 'easy' way. That said, it's about the most difficult (by BWCA standards) maintained Portage I've done. But, it was/is my favorite Portage as well, as it has a little of everything.

We preferred the island site but, the other one isn't horrible. Neither are anything spectacular but they provide an adequate place to enjoy this awesome lake/region.

Rainbows are long gone in that lake. Spring is probably the busiest time for the lake, that said if you're heading in a couple days prior to fishing opener, my guess is you'd have your pick of the sites.

We were there one year for opener, snagged the non-island site as the island site was taken. There were probably an additional 3 or 4 parties that came across on opening saturday to just fish. I don't know if they were camped on seagull or truely just out for a day trip.

i did go into Jap 1997 on opener , and i didn't think the portage was that bad , all thou we camped on seagull and just took our fishing gear and a small pack LOL !
we did catch lakers off the first campsite by the portage and brought in some foil and ate good , BUT i was surprised how many other people were there after we arrived , many i guess just for the day ? 1 had a nice inflatable .
i swear i read an old paper report on Jap having good sized lakers , not sure how accurate that was , but it was an old report , many lakers but all 16"-17" (stocked Gillis stain lakers)(i believe) you wont go hungry .
i've seen TB's pics before and i've always said this, after the fire it gave the landscape a different kind of beauty , amazing to see how the land is actually laid out , pic from our trip , beaver dam about half way up ,