I went to Iron about 20 years ago and it was great. Ever since I have been doing the Crooked Loop. I want to take my sons up again this year. (11-13) They did great doing the Crooked Loop from Mudro. I understand the fishing in Iron is also excellent. I am wondering which is easier to get to though...I don't remember the details of the Iron Trip. I know the Crooked trip is intense but not more than we are willing to do. Thanks

If you are looking to go to Iron through Stuart EP 19 and back out again the same way vs a loop starting at Mudro, going up through Friday Bay, clockwise out through LBF and the Horse River, I'd say the Iron lake trip would be marginally easier, depending on what you think about portaging. The Iron Lake trip would be less paddling more portaging, (17 miles paddling, 7 miles portaging). The Mudro Loop would be about 32 miles paddling, 4+ miles portaging.

The route up through Stuart would have a more remote feeling due to quite a bit less traffic until you get to Iron.

We certainly like the remote feeling and would choose that over most other things as long as we had a destination with good fishing.

I'd do a trip from EP 16 Moose R. North up to Agnes, LLC, and then Iron. Then if you want to head back out the way you came, great. The better idea if you can do the vehicle moving, is keep heading east and finish your route thru Crooked where you're accustomed either down Friday Bay or Horse River. Then you get to fish both lakes! (and the western bays of Crooked that don't get as much traffic)

Mudro to horse river to lower basswood falls can be done in 4.5 hrs. Depending how far you want to go up crooked is all paddling. Of course that depends how much gear you bring.

That’s quite a bit faster than we did it double portaging. I think we were closer to 6.5 to the campsite north of the pictos north of lbf. We did spend some time admiring the falls though.

If you do EP 19, you’ll love it. I’ve done it twice now and the solitude is awesome. You’re all alone right away. Everyone dreads the opening 1.5 mile portage, but it’s easy, flat and downhill. If water levels are high enough, you can cut about 40 rods off of the distance at the high water put in. Stuart is beautiful and has good fishing (especially at the bottom of the falls) and the lakes heading toward Iron are cool too (Fox,Rush and Dark). The portage from Stuart to Fox is a brutal 320 rodder, hardest portage of the journey, but oh so worth it. I can’t wait to get back there.

As others have told you there are many ways to get to Iron lake. Iron is one of my favorite lakes and I go there often. It is a fish factory! I've done almost every way except the easiest way which is a tow across LLC to Bottle portage. This way is very expensive so that is why I never went that way.

As stated the next easiest route is EP16 and then layover in lake Agnes or Boulder Bay or Tiger Bay then on to Bottle Portage early the next day. You want to arrive in Iron Lake as early as possible because it is a busy lake with not that many campsites so take one early and enjoy yourself.

I recommend you hold off on going via Stuart River route until your sons a few years older. The 460 rod portage to start is not that hard but 460 rods is still 460 rods. Plus you have the 320 rod portage out of Stuart to Rush Lake which is rugged.

Another sweet way to get to Iron is out of Beartrap lake down the Beartrap River to Sunday Lake (Sundial PMA area) to the south end of Iron Lake on Peterson Bay. That way is very remote with portages that are not maintained put they are passable. This would be another route to save till the boys a bit older but now you have something to looks forward too.

Let me know if you need any fishing information on Iron Lake.

UP Boy

UP Boy, sounds like you know Iron pretty well! My wife and I made it up there last August and stayed on the Island site by Peterson bay. I only got one afternoon of fishing out in the canoe. Day two the wind was pumping so I just fished from shore. So since I feel got cheated I’m heading back up there via Stuart with my Friend in June. I’m going for at least three days on Iron. May or may not Day trip over to Sunday cause I hear the fishing doesn't suck there either. Could you recommend me a another good site other than the Island site. I’m thinking maybe closer to Curtain Falls. It’s a bit overwhelming when trying to plan where to fish on Iron because the Topo map makes it look as though there are endless spots that would hold walleye. My friend is not the biggest fisherman but wants to be , and it’s my goal to get him on some walleye this trip. Any help would be appreciated.

trailcheif-

email me.

Wables: "That’s quite a bit faster than we did it double portaging. I think we were closer to 6.5 to the campsite north of the pictos north of lbf. We did spend some time admiring the falls though. "

A few years ago we paddled out into Mudro and didn't see the sunrise until just before the next portage. We made it to Friday Bay via Horse river. I am going to estimate a 14-15 hour day. I will not do it again.

Richwon4: "

Wables: "That’s quite a bit faster than we did it double portaging. I think we were closer to 6.5 to the campsite north of the pictos north of lbf. We did spend some time admiring the falls though. "

A few years ago we paddled out into Mudro and didn't see the sunrise until just before the next portage. We made it to Friday Bay via Horse river. I am going to estimate a 14-15 hour day. I will not do it again. "

3 of us in a 18 foot Kevlar; 4 packs and minnow bucket, net, etc. Single portage; left Mudro at 9 and made it to Little current campsite at 3. We moved ok; but said we were not going to kill ourselves on the portages. Stopped once after Tin Can on the portage for a water / little crown royal break; ran 2 or 3 rapids on the Horse River; and stopped for some granola / sandwich at lower basswood falls. After that it was all paddling.

Took us 7 hours to get back to Mudro; you are against the current on the way out.