Anyone been up into this little lake? It's located off the Perent River between Perent and Isabella. Looks like the easiest way to get there would be from the East end of Isabella. Kinda off the beaten path so I imagine it gets little or no real use. Also has a 252 rod portage with no campsites or trip options.

The reason I ask is that the DNR survey from 1962 indicates that there are lots of Walleyes, Perch and Northerns in there. It's a really shallow lake, only about 7' max depth with most of it around 5'. I'm intrigued at the possibility of finding a little fishing gem...

I would give it a whirl, it has all the criteria of an A1 fishing lake. In a 1989 ( I think it was 89') BWJ article about good walleye lakes I beleive Ferne is listed. I will look it up and type in the noted info.

Spring 1989 BWJ write up on Ferne, " Very shallow,but relatively fertile, tons of fish, some dandies, no campsites-camp on nearby perent river, 153 acres, max depth 8 ft."

it was given a rating of "B" as far as accessibility goes which on this scale would be-- A fair number of portages but not too difficult.

I am considering a trip to Isabella just so I can go there. Looks like that's the best way to go since you have about 20 portages if you come from Perent.

Would I need a PMA permit to go there? If I get a PMA permit can I camp on the lakeshore since there would be no "official" sites? I don't think I want to go all the way back to the nearest site on the Perent River if I don't have to...

You would need a pma permit to camp on Ferne. (Fungus Lake PMA #12 - Section 2). As I recall, Powwow creek was navagable up to where you would split off to the east. It get's a little non-navagable north of there.

Hex

Contact Bill Hanson at Sawbill. I'm pretty sure he has been in there a couple of times. He hooked me up on some lakes that I would have thought that no one had ever been in into and I think I remember a conversation I had with him in regards to Ferne lake.

Any word on whether the creek to Tomahawk and Ferne is navigable or if I would have to find the 252 rod portage? Is the portage even there?

My map shows a 330 rod portage into Ferne, as well as two old campsites, one next to the Ferne Creek on the eastern side of the lake & another on the small point on the north shore.

Sheer speculation, but if there was once a portage, I'd guess the creek isn't navigable unless the water is extremely high. From our experience searching for old portages, if it was once there, it's still there, & will be the best path...if you can find it!

Adding this to the list of future target lakes. Intruiging.

Thanks for the info. I have been referencing the maps section of this site for my info and it shows no sites and a different portage length. The distance you gave is over a mile, hmmmmm... Anyway, I'm hoping that the high water from all the snow this winter will still be around in early June so we can try to get closer than a mile+. I wonder if the sites still have the old fire grates and wooded latrines. Anyway, I'm getting close to making the call on this one and getting the permits booked...

By the way, Fishnfreak, I emailed Sawbill but have not heard back yet. I will let you know what they say. Thanks for the contact lead!

There is a fisheries biologist out of Isabella I beleive, that I have called on many times to get info on lakes like Ferne. This guy has been around for a long time and is ocean of local lake knowledge. If you can get him on the phone then you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Ill call the ranger station to see if I can get him on the line...

Hey Fishnfreak,

Bill Hanson emailed me and claims that he doesn't know anyone who has been to Ferne. He says that some firefighters told him that it is pretty shallow and doesn't look like it would hold much in the way of good fishing. As for the portage, he said that the CCC built something in the 30's but it was not used and is probably not findable anymore.

I intend to get the PMA endorsement and explore it in June...

Couln't get a hold of anyone in Isabella but I'm playing phone tag with the Wilderness Specialist in Tofte. Hopefully he will be able to shed some light.

Just refreshing this to the top to see if anyone else might be able to shed some light on this mystery lake. I got the Fungus Lake PMA endorsement and I plan on checking it out for a day or two in early June.

I was on Ferne many years ago coming into it going East along the Isabella river. If I remember right, you may encounter some beaver dam pullovers along your trip and the river is very windy, meaning alot of twists and turns. Ferne did cough up a few walleyes for me the night we camped there back in the 80's. Caught them by just trolling along a Mepps Aglia spinner, size 2 I think. I don't remember them being of any size to brag about, but they were big enough for a meal. I think this area is used very little so you should plan on doing some bushwacking. Best of luck with your trip and hope it rewards your efforts, Dave

jamotrade..........I was also wondering about this lake. In the Daniel Pauly BWCA guidebook (2005), he says he couldn't find the portage to Ferne. An old Robert Beymer Superior National Forest guide book states there a campsite there with a 250+/- rod portage. The old Beymer book (1989) also states that Ferne Lake area has the highest concentration of moose in MN. My McKenzie map purchased last year shows no portage or campsite. Appears like a bushwack to me?

Thanks GrampaMike and Dave,

I expect to have to put in some serious work to get into Ferne. I have seen portages listed at 252 and 330 rods so either way it's going to be long regardless. However, I imagine that the remnants of the portage is still going to be the easiest route into the lake. We have an endorsement for June 9th - 11th so we will probably scout it on the 8th for the day with just canoes and tackle. If it's a gem we will camp on the nights of the endorsement and spend more time fishing. If not, we will have another story about a cool bushwhacking trip. The newer maps will not show the campsites since they are not maintained as "official" USFS sites anymore but the older maps show 2 sites. One on the small point in the north shore and the other by the inflow of Ferne Creek.

Dave, your post sounds like you paddled all the way into Ferne. Is this correct? In June, with the high water, this might be a great option if it's doable. From the map it does not look very windy on Powwow Creek or the first part of Ferne Creek until after the portage...

I camped on Ferne during August of 1984. I was part of an Outward Bound group of teenage youth who spent 21 days out in the bush. WHAT AN ADVENTURE!!!! None of the other youth in our group brought fishing tackle along on the trip, but I did. Like I said, this was quite some time ago but I remember we portaged into Ferne from Isabella region mainly sticking close to and in the streams that lead from Isabella up to Ferne, then went north from there into the
POW-WOW hiking trail and camped for a night along the trail somewhere. It was along the hiking trail that we saw some moose. Then the next day, we portaged towards the NE into a small lake named Maniwaki. Maniwaki is a very small lake where we stopped to take a dip in the water and wash off. After my bath, I fished from shore with a regular Daredevil and caught a small muskie, maybe 3 pounds or so. Later I learned that Maniwaki has a small remnant population of muskie in it, but that was long time ago. What I do remember of Ferne is that it was a small quiet lake that can be easily fished in several hours. I think I spent 2 hours fishing it just trolling along a Mepps behind a canoe. It's definately a remote area and I would be very surprised if you even see anyone else. Just to be sure, it might not hurt to bring along a GPS if someone in your group is handy with one and have Fernes coordinates programmed into the unit. Good luck and be sure to post how your trip went. Dave

Thanks, Dave! I'll probably just bring the canoe and try to find the old CCC portage first. If we have no luck I'll try paddling and dragging into the lake. I appreciate your help. I'll let you know how it goes!

Been to Ferne a few times in the 1990's, it is about a good 1 mile portage. The area gets moderate use. Trail is easy walking, depends on downfalls etc., I do not know if trail is cleared like the past due to being primitive area designation. That is interesting about the Muskie caught, on Maniwaki lake, fished about 12 years ago and only caught perch. Those were the shoepack strain of Muskie from Voyageurs park area stocked in the 60's or 70's. I do not know if any reproduced. Most of the trails that existed are grown over and easy to lose of and on.

Hi Pinetree,

I have a couple of questions for you. Can you shoot me an email? jamotrade@yahoo.com.

Thanks,

Josh

I used to fish this lake before the Pagami Creek Fire. The portage was pretty rough but, I always caught nice walleyes. Someone left a bottle of whiskey on one of the islands and I'd take a swig before I left each time. Has anyone tried venturing into this lake since the fire?

egknuti: "I used to fish this lake before the Pagami Creek Fire. The portage was pretty rough but, I always caught nice walleyes. Someone left a bottle of whiskey on one of the islands and I'd take a swig before I left each time. Has anyone tried venturing into this lake since the fire? "

Look in the PMA forum. I recall some fairly recent and detailed discussions there which were enough to dissuade me.