I just booked a quick weekend solo trip from May 30 - June 1 or 2. I'm planning on entering Homer and holing up on Pipe, with a possible day trip up to Vern if I get antsy. I was on Vern couple years ago and struck out fishing, but would love to find out where they're at on Pipe. Any advice?

There are some rather detailed fishing tips and exact spots, pictures, videos already detailed if you search the site for "Vern, Pipe, Homer" including walleye holes.

There aren't a whole lot of lakes where it's easier to catch bass and pike than West Pipe. 1st week of June you should have no problem catching all the bass you could ever want. I honestly can't think of a spot on that lake you could cast and not catch a bass on that lake that time of year. The type of lake that will make you want to crimp your barbs down if you're using trebles.

Is there a portage to West Pipe? I had planned on holing up on Pipe Lake, but didn't realize you could get to West Pipe.

Campsites are located on west pipe, quick portage over beaver dam from east pipe. Doesn't get any easier. First portage you can walk down rapids with a solo canoe. Even triple trips on the last two you should be to camp in 2 hours, maybe 3 if there is a stiff wind out of the west.

Stayed on Vern Lake last 4th of July at site 962, right across from the mouth of the Vern River. Caught smallies, eyes and pike right from camp. Exploring the Vern River was really fun and we did pretty well on eyes and smallies around the narrow spots too. Really pretty and not far from camp at all.

Took a daytrip through East Pipe and caught a pretty nice northern trolling. Had lunch on the island. Went over the portage to Pipe and checked it out, didn't look that appealing to us. But we couldn't see a lot of the lake.

Didn't get that far up the Vern River cuz we fished and dilly dallied so much. We definitely want to go back for the fishing and the scenery, and get further up the river. The whole area was nice and pretty quiet.







smallie from Vern Lake campsite








Vern River smallies








Fished around the narrows on the Vern River











Forgot a stringer of walleyes tied to this log







View of Pipe Lake from the end of the portage

Those pictures look familiar...
I read your trip report yesterday. We had stayed on Vern for a quick overnight a couple years ago, but didn't fish. Looking forward to being in that quiet little area again!

lindylair: "Stayed on Vern Lake last 4th of July at site 962, right across from the mouth of the Vern River. Caught smallies, eyes and pike right from camp. Exploring the Vern River was really fun and we did pretty well on eyes and smallies around the narrow spots too. Really pretty and not far from camp at all.


Took a daytrip through East Pipe and caught a pretty nice northern trolling. Had lunch on the island. Went over the portage to Pipe and checked it out, didn't look that appealing to us. But we couldn't see a lot of the lake.


Didn't get that far up the Vern River cuz we fished and dilly dallied so much. We definitely want to go back for the fishing and the scenery, and get further up the river. The whole area was nice and pretty quiet.


View of Pipe Lake from the end of the portage"

CoffeeInTheWoods: "Is there a portage to West Pipe? I had planned on holing up on Pipe Lake, but didn't realize you could get to West Pipe."

Don't get confused- many people call the lake directly to the west of East Pipe Lake "West Pipe". It is not West Pipe. Pipe is to the west of East Pipe. West Pipe is a little lake to the west of Pipe, and requires a short bushwack to reach. So three lakes in all, although most people only think of it as 2 lakes. '

Hope that makes sense.

So Pipe Lake is west of East Pipe Lake, but is not West Pipe Lake. West Pipe Lake is west of Pipe Lake (and East Pipe Lake). Pipe Lake proper is neither West Pipe Lake nor East Pipe Lake, though it is east of West Pipe Lake and west of East Pipe Lake.

Got it. That's what I was looking at on the map and I can understand the confusion.




Don't get confused- many people call the lake directly to the west of East Pipe Lake "West Pipe". It is not West Pipe. Pipe is to the west of East Pipe. West Pipe is a little lake to the west of Pipe, and requires a short bushwack to reach. So three lakes in all, although most people only think of it as 2 lakes. '


Hope that makes sense. "