Sorry to go off-topic, but considering my first trip to Voyeageurs National Park this spring. All things equal, which is the better bet for fishing (walleye and pike) for a first-timer? Can anyone recommend a particular area or campsite? I tend to get bored at camp, so major bonus points for a site where I can toss a slip bobber out at night.

I fished Namakan this summer, never been to Kab. You are going to love it up there. Folks like the Canadian side best for fishing, of course. You'll do fine.

Did you camp on Nam, or stay on the Ash River or one of the Kab resorts? Any intel on good/bad campsites if you camped?

I had a Kab trip planned 4-5 years back, had a site reserved and everything. Watched the forecast and cancelled as it was non-stop thunderstorms for my entire week with 20+ mph sustained winds. Then I had to sell my boat and downsize and I never got to go. Now that I've got a boat again it's back on my list. I just wish there were trout in those lakes ;)

Fishing pressure on Kab this past summer was insane, because nobody could go to Canada. Namakan, the farther away you went, had the better bite. Probably going to be the same situation this summer.

GunflintTrailAngler: "Fishing pressure on Kab this past summer was insane, because nobody could go to Canada. Namakan, the farther away you went, had the better bite. Probably going to be the same situation this summer."

Yes that makes sense. I doubt the border will open but time will tell I guess. Some pretty fun looking bays and islands on the Canadian side of Nam for sure.

How about Rainy? Worth the $40 portage fee? We wouldn't want to go TOO far in, but if there are solid fishing grounds within a reasonable steam from the portage I'd consider it.

Interesting side story regarding the border - a neighbor recently told me he was on Rainy last summer. When he asked the resort owner if he could still fish in Canada, he was told absolutely yes, just don't go ashore. He was also able to purchase a Canadian fishing license, although I'm not sure where he did so.

So there he was, quite a few miles over the border, having the time of his life, when the Canadian authorities showed up. The advice he received from the resort was dead wrong. Do NOT cross that imaginary line.

JD

Deeper on Namakan and harder to find but once you do the bite is better than KAB on the avg. General rule. CAN side is totally different on NAM. And yeah- if conditions warrant- Rainy is well worth it.