Never caught a lake trout. Going up to Iron Lake / Curtain Falls area in a few weeks. This will be my tenth visit into the BWCA. Are there any lakes in that area that might produce a lake trout for me?

I've never been in that area but just in case you don't get a response for that area I did a little research at work.. I'd do more but it is kind of busy right now so I cannot.

Oyster Lake has lake trout and isn't terribly far away. Oyster

I searched the lake finder netting on the lakes in the general area and that is the only one that they seemed to be successful in netting lake trout.

Yeah looking at it you are about 8 miles from there. Not sure what style trips you do but you might be able to make that work. Good news though is that if there is one lake there then there should be others right? :)

x2jmorris: "I've never been in that area but just in case you don't get a response for that area I did a little research at work.. I'd do more but it is kind of busy right now so I cannot.


Oyster Lake has lake trout and isn't terribly far away. Oyster


I searched the lake finder netting on the lakes in the general area and that is the only one that they seemed to be successful in netting lake trout."

Problem with the lakefinder surveys is that they are so dated. The last one for Oyster was 1996, 22 years ago. Probably still accurate in terms of species present but not necessarily census volumes. Seems that with budget constraints the DNR doesn't do these surveys very often anymore and mostly now only for the more accessible and popular lakes. I don't think they do much surveying of interior bdub lakes anymore, or at least they are very infrequent, like 20+ year gaps between surveys.

I agree HawgHunter however I am usually only looking for the species but even with trout it can net zero in a lake. I have also noticed that they seem very infrequent compared to what they used to do though.

Lac la croix has lake trout. That would be your closest option.

Argo fits the bill but you need the Quetico day pass to fish it. Not impossible for a day trip though.

HawgHunter: "

x2jmorris: "I've never been in that area but just in case you don't get a response for that area I did a little research at work.. I'd do more but it is kind of busy right now so I cannot.



Oyster Lake has lake trout and isn't terribly far away. Oyster



I searched the lake finder netting on the lakes in the general area and that is the only one that they seemed to be successful in netting lake trout."

Problem with the lakefinder surveys is that they are so dated. The last one for Oyster was 1996, 22 years ago. Probably still accurate in terms of species present but not necessarily census volumes. Seems that with budget constraints the DNR doesn't do these surveys very often anymore and mostly now only for the more accessible and popular lakes. I don't think they do much surveying of interior bdub lakes anymore, or at least they are very infrequent, like 20+ year gaps between surveys."

they do some but the Mn DNR never has done a real lot in the true interior of the BW . and the one's they have done can be very vague ,,,, weather conditions (can they even get on the lake and for how long) time of the year for certain species , those nets are heavy ,
i've read many reports and even have paper reports upstairs before the internet even existed , 1 example of a lake i went to , (targeting LT and within 7 days of ice out) DNR report netted 6 LT in 2 reports in 40+years but we caught 40+ lakers in 4 days ? group of 4.
DNR lake finder is a great tool , but it is a tool ,
lakes that are stocked they will do surveys more often. but inside the BWCA it is what it is , have faith + confidence + application + time of year ;)

Much depends on time of year netting took place and depth set. Water temps play a big role in catch/net. Deep water set vs shallow water sets for lake trout.
In recent years DNR fisheries has done much less netting on BWCA lakes.
Maybe its not all bad. Sometimes where to go from lake finder has put too much fishing pressure on some small lakes.

With warm water temps still lake trout fishing is going to be very very slow almost everywhere. Until water gets below 60 degrees and more it will be tough. Remember also this time of year if it is 65 degrees on the surface it is 65 degrees probably 30 feet down because of fall turnover is equalizing the warmup from summer now the cool down and upwelling.

Thanks for all the help.