Hi All, I have a group of 6 going in mid-July to EP 19. We will be base camping on Stuart for a couple of days and I wanted to get input on the best "day-trip" option.

Little background, we are all 28-31 year old males in good condition. First trip for 2 of our group and 2nd trip for the 2 others. We would like to catch fish on the trip, but also love to see unique and wondrous places. If you know approximate travel times, that is a huge help. Choices are:

-Bushwhack and paddle to Sterling Lake
-Travel up the Dahlgren to Boulder Bay/LLC
-Travel to Iron for fishing, wont bust it to Rebecca Falls or anything like that

Thanks in advance!

for a day trip, I would go through dalgren over to boulder bay and LLC

Iron is great fishing, but its a pretty good day trip and back from Stuart. You will just end up shorting yourself on fishing time.

Sterling, same situation. its a little more work than just hopping over there.

If you want to do Sterling, I would say get the PMA permit and do a little spike camp for one night on that lake. Iron is for sure a doable day trip, but do you really want to have to leave just when the fishing is getting good, or do you want to be hard heads like our group was once and stay till dark and end up portaging back and paddling back at midnight.

BTW, Stuart is really freaking fishing in its own right.

I just did this a month ago. My take:

Stuart is super fun, but most of the walleye are in the same category--not huge but great fighters, beautiful and good eaters. We also caught large northern.

A day trip to Iron should not be ruled out! It is a haul but we did it and were rewarded with solitude and great fishing--including smallies which you will not find on Stuart (in my experience).

I love the D River and Boulder Bay but would be cautious of this trip if water levels are low. It can get pretty grassy on the way there. The portage itself is worth the trip--it is gorgeous.

My last thought--Stu was WAY more crowded than we imagined it would be. Word is out and people are enjoying this lake. We actually were scrambling for a site and did not expect that! I can say more if you want to e-mail me.

Good luck! This trip is a favorite of many and I'm one!

PJS

pastorjsackett: "I just did this a month ago. My take:


Stuart is super fun, but most of the walleye are in the same category--not huge but great fighters, beautiful and good eaters. We also caught large northern.


A day trip to Iron should not be ruled out! It is a haul but we did it and were rewarded with solitude and great fishing--including smallies which you will not find on Stuart (in my experience).


I love the D River and Boulder Bay but would be cautious of this trip if water levels are low. It can get pretty grassy on the way there. The portage itself is worth the trip--it is gorgeous.


My last thought--Stu was WAY more crowded than we imagined it would be. Word is out and people are enjoying this lake. We actually were scrambling for a site and did not expect that! I can say more if you want to e-mail me.


Good luck! This trip is a favorite of many and I'm one!


PJS"

We were there on June 9 & 10th and didn't see anyone else, I think there was a group on the NW campsite could see smoke from their campfire but nobody on the lake.

I have always liked the Dalhgren River. Something captivating about it.
On the other hand the trip up to Iron is also great. Peterson Bay is a great paddle and of course Curtain Falls is a much see, regardless of fishing.
When are you going?

That's interesting Mcsweem. We were there a week ahead of you and there was nary a place to rest our heads. Although the spot we took near the portage to Iron was homey enough for us!

GraniteCliffs: "I have always liked the Dalhgren River. Something captivating about it.
On the other hand the trip up to Iron is also great. Peterson Bay is a great paddle and of course Curtain Falls is a much see, regardless of fishing.
When are you going? "

July 18th