Planning a trip early June for a week. How far from cabins on Moose to Jackfish bay?? And how much time to get there in a 25hp boat including the prairie portage? Fuel??

Fishing mostly for smallies, is this a "must do" day trip? Or time better spent closer to home base??

You will have to portage from Back Bay on Basswood to Jack Fish and or Pipestone Bays. I have done it but with a 14 ft. boat and a 15 H.P. motor. It will be a lot tougher on the portage with a bigger boat. I was also base camping on Basswood at the time. I would give myself at least 1 1/2 hours or more depending on how busy Prairie portage is. I would recommend talking to an outfitter for more advice. I would take a least two tanks of fuel. You may want to take Fall lake to Newton to Pipestone Bay to stay away from the portage in Backbay.

Just fish Basswood. Don't need to go to Jackfish to catch smallmouth bass

blutofish1: " Just fish Basswood. Don't need to go to Jackfish to catch smallmouth bass"

Bluto is spot on. 12 year LaTourell's veteran with multiple canoe trips prior. There is great smallie fishing even in the Moose Chain. If the PP is not busy, it takes an hour from cabins to Back Bay portage. Day use motor permits out of EP 25 are precious, don't waste one doing this. I would also recommend the Fall route, or better yet do Jackfish and Pipestone on a camping trip. Those bays have much less pressure on walleye, but are not worth the trouble for SMB. Have fun and good luck!