I knew I was headed to Ely to some cabin that my father-in-law rented. Now I know it's on Moose Lake which means I might get a bwca day trip in. I rarely get to the Ely side so now I have to do some quick research on where the fish are while avoiding big lakes. Hopefully avoiding long paddles too lol.

Short story about this trip.

My father in law used to go to the bwca but has since retired from that. So now he gets a cabin every once in a while in the Ely area. When I was first dating his daughter he brought me to fourtown when there was still ice on the lakes and it snowed damn near the entire time. Sat in a tent and played cards since none of them fish...plus it was really cold.

Anyways his sister who lives far away has always wanted to go to the bwca and now that isn't looking great but I might be able to get her a portage or two in to semi get the idea. Looks like Wind is the easiest to do that. 160 and steep ugh!! Found Lake isn't far away either. Be nice to catch pike or walleye though. At least one for a bwca fish dinner for her :)

Looks like Found and Skull are Brookies. Jasper looks cool but technically isn't bwca. Which leaves Wind Lake I guess. I see some shallow weedy areas are near the portage as well as a couple sites that hopefully I could find one open and give an idea of what it would be like.

If you didn't want to travel to far I would suggest fishing below the falls at Prairie Portage. If you do make sure to stay on the US side. I have had the people from Canadian customs yell at me from shore for fishing over the border. I told then to arrest me.... I knew I was on the US side. Have fun and good luck.

Have a great time. Just know the fishing regs (limits).

Ha the fishing regs attack again. Though this would be a lake that is different so yeah I'll have to check that tomorrow. Weather today was not great so I stayed in the cabin but I did ready the poles. Thinking I'm heading to wind lake tomorrow.

Depending how far you want to go, you could also head to Wind Bay. We found it pretty protected from big winds, and if you're really ambitious head over to Indiana to be treated to one of the clearest lakes in all the land!

We base camped on Indiana this Fathers Day weekend and had a ball.

Good luck, and have fun.

x2jmorris: "Looks like Found and Skull are Brookies. Jasper looks cool but technically isn't bwca. Which leaves Wind Lake I guess. I see some shallow weedy areas are near the portage as well as a couple sites that hopefully I could find one open and give an idea of what it would be like. "

Skull is a very short portage. I took my dad there when he was 70. Couldn't catch a fish until I parked the canoe and bank fished with crawlers and slip bobbers. There were nice LM bass in Skull. We only landed 1 brookie about 3 lbs.

MN_Lindsey: "Depending how far you want to go, you could also head to Wind Bay. We found it pretty protected from big winds, and if you're really ambitious head over to Indiana to be treated to one of the clearest lakes in all the land!


We base camped on Indiana this Fathers Day weekend and had a ball."

Wind lake is looking like the winner. I have been to Indiana. That was a really cool lake. Only spent a couple hours there though. Had a campsite been open I might have went and got my gear. Just looking around from good lake.

If you are able to transport the canoe and drive just a bit the number lakes are only a couple of more miles down the Echo Trail from Moose.

Got back. We took a day trip to Wind Lake. It was my kids first portage (175 rods) (ages 1 and 4). They did great. Saw a lot of wildlife. Got two people into the bwca for their first time. Went to a campsite and spent a few hours. Only one canoe went by and they were not looking for a site. Then we headed back out and called it good. A lot of other great memories happened too so yeah it was a great trip.