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Rockriver
senior member (60)senior membersenior member
  
09/14/2020 02:52AM  
Just figured a way to slip off for a week and make my third trip this fall. I caught my first walleyes on Stuart this past spring and now I may try for a lake trout if I can find any. I was curious as to lakers and PMAs. Do any have good laker fishing? Are PMA permits even available this year with COVID and all? Never got a PMA permit before either. I don’t have a date or entry permit yet but my schedule is open till mid October and I’m ready to go right now! Lol.

Also, how accurate is the MN DNR lake guide as far as what fish are in the lakes? Is it a good idea to chase trout from their lake information as to whether they’re present or not?

Thanks for any tips.
 
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09/14/2020 05:35AM  
Check the season closing date.
thegildedgopher
distinguished member(1659)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
09/14/2020 08:13AM  
bobbernumber3: "Check the season closing date."


I'll save you some time: LT is open statewide thru 9/30/2020, then closes for the spawn. Within the BW it opens back up for ice fishing on 1/1/21; outside the BW it opens for ice fishing on 1/16/21. Possession limit is 2.
PaddleAway
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09/14/2020 09:08PM  
To answer one of your questions I suspect there are no lake trout in PMAs. I certainly haven't been to all the lakes in PMAs, but in my experience (& online research) the bulk of the lake are too shallow to support fish or slightly deeper pike/walleye lakes. I don't recall seeing a PMA lake anywhere near deep enough to support lake trout. But don't let that stop you from going!
09/15/2020 07:41AM  
is Holt lake in a PMA location ?
there is no maintained portage or campsite , AND it does hold nice lake trout.
always wanted to hit Holt lake , but isn't going to happen ,
09/15/2020 02:38PM  
Holt Lake is not in a PMA, though Pitfall Lake PMA is to north of the lake. I know of one exception to PaddleAway's post, but in general I think it is correct that lake trout lakes are mostly outside of PMA's. You can, however, get a PMA permit this year; contact the FS office after you obtain regular BWCA permit; they can take the info and email you the free PMA permit to print and carry.
peteb
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09/15/2020 05:06PM  
Raven Lake. My group once 'applied' for a PMA permit at the ranger station outside Ely. I'm not sure the official protocol, but the ranger, whom I'm sure many of you are familiar with(Tom- nice fella), basically interviewed us, determined our BW experience level, then once satisfied we were worthy, granted us the permit. The process seemed rather un-official, but I've seen Tom up there the 20 years I've been going to BW/Q, so I trust his judgement. We did well on small but beautiful lakers on Raven. Good luck.

Pete
09/16/2020 12:27AM  
explorer has lake trout, haven't been there in at least 5 years though
airmorse
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09/16/2020 07:03AM  
While not in a PMA State Lake is rumored to have LT. Very very hard to get to.
09/16/2020 10:12AM  
+1, and is pretty easy to get to.
09/16/2020 04:19PM  
Raven is a nice little trip. My brother and I used to put in at Snowbank,lunch on Thomas and camp on Raven for 3 nights. Spend the 4th night on Thomas then an easy day out and back home. Never caught anything large but was a fun experience. I think it is the Mugwump PMA but has been a while.

You probably know but you need a special notation on your BWCAW permit. Sort of a permit for your permit :) Only one group is allowed to camp overnight in a PMA so they track who is going to be there each night. No extra cost for the permit notation but it is required and the Rangers do check people on Raven.

T
 
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