For a 4-day, 3-night spring laker trip, which route option do you think would have the best fishing? I'm no laker expert, so looking for the easiest fishing, not lunker hunting, but that would be be a bonus.

#1: Ram lake entry, mainly fish Little Trout and Misquah - less travel so more time for fishing and relaxing

#2: South lake entry, fish South primarily, maybe add Rose/Duncan/Moss in the mix. Logistics a little more complicated than Ram, but still pretty easy travel.

#3: Big Sag entry, head down to Ester/Hansen/Giji/Cherry or maybe Amoeber or SAK. I am guessing this is the best fishing, but will require a lot more travelling and moving around. Might severely cut down on fishing time. Is it reasonable to go this route on a 4-day/3-night trip, or should I save this for another time when I have more time? We would probably do the tow if that makes a difference.

SAK is your best option for lake trout but travel time is about 8 hours in , for a 4 day trip South maybe better.

We're doing a SAK basecamp in two weeks, I'll try to remember to let you know how it goes.

shock: "SAK is your best option for lake trout but travel time is about 8 hours in , for a 4 day trip South maybe better."

Is that 8 hours with a tow across Sag? (Seagull is out, no permits on the days I want).

Wolfee: "

shock: "SAK is your best option for lake trout but travel time is about 8 hours in , for a 4 day trip South maybe better."

Is that 8 hours with a tow across Sag? (Seagull is out, no permits on the days I want)."

You can also sorta cheat. Get a Sag permit (there are almost always some open). Then, paddle back down the Seagull river to Seagull. Seagull has good laker fishing.

You can get a ride from Seagull Outfitters to the Sag boat launch. Then, your car will be waiting at Seagull Outfitters when you are done.

Mad_Angler: "

Wolfee: "

shock: "SAK is your best option for lake trout but travel time is about 8 hours in , for a 4 day trip South maybe better."

Is that 8 hours with a tow across Sag? (Seagull is out, no permits on the days I want)."

You can also sorta cheat. Get a Sag permit (there are almost always some open). Then, paddle back down the Seagull river to Seagull. Seagull has good laker fishing.


You can get a ride from Seagull Outfitters to the Sag boat launch. Then, your car will be waiting at Seagull Outfitters when you are done."

But... I'm not sure that my suggestion is legal. But I know this is legal... Get a Sg permit and a tow to Red Rock. Then, you can fish Alpine (a few lakes and 1 portage) or Seagull (good laker fishing and 2 portages).

And your car (and a shower) would be waiting for you at Seagull Outfitters.

Planning a tow. I've never done it before, but with neutral wind (lol) I'm betting on 8 hours (gots to fish along the way). With a tail wind cut an hour or so, with a (strong) head wind there's always the chance we don't make it in a day.

Big water, gotta love it.

We've done 3 mile on Seagull to the far end of Ogish in 6 with little wind and fishing the whole way.

That same trip, the paddle from alpine to three mile on the way home took over 4 hours, and I thought we might die. Big water + big wind + cold water is scary.

If we can at least make it to Ottertrack/Ester on day one I'd be happy.

I'd suggest also giving Ottertrack a try (after a tow to American point). It's rumored to hold some big fish and the SAK is within striking distance for more lakers if time permits.

Wolfee: "

shock: "SAK is your best option for lake trout but travel time is about 8 hours in , for a 4 day trip South maybe better."

Is that 8 hours with a tow across Sag? (Seagull is out, no permits on the days I want)."

not sure of the exact time going through Sag with a tow , i've done the moose to knife route once and because we always fish by eddy falls we take the seagull route like 15 times and it's always about 8 hours maybe 8 1/2 hours and shorter coming out because were lighter. straight paddle with no tows but just looking at a map i'm pretty sure you'll be looking at about 8 hours especially if it's your 1st time through any given route you take. and one can never count on the wind being at your back , many lakes you'll have a tail wind then around a bend the wind will feel like it's in your face as the wind does have a tendency to change through certain lakes ogish is a prime example of that because of the hour glass shape of the lake when you hit the narrows the wind will change..
and many will add the sooner your on the water the better for calmer winds (not a rule but generally calmer in the morning) with a tow i'm not sure if there ready to go at sunrise sharp ?

No comment on your first options. But with a tow in the morning and as long as not high winds...you could be on Ottertrack easily at lunch or better from Sag. Ester/Hanson if you want more options....Rabbit. I wouldn't go to Cherry for lakers from my experience. (but a very cool lake)

Yeah. Get a tow across Sag and basecamp in the Ester/Hanson area. As mentioned, this should be easily accomplished - barring nasty weater. From there, Ester & Hanson themselves can offer decent laker fishing. You would also have some great, relatively easy travel day trip options. Of course SAK would be primary, Ottertrack is close and,Rabbit & Sema are good numbers lakes if you want/need to get away from the 'busyness' of SAK.

I see you mentioned Gijikiki. I was in this area last May and actually camped there. It was, perhaps, the most scenic lake of the whole trip. (which IS saying something) However, while i did have luck on other lakes, the laker fishing on Gijikiki was very slow. Maybe it was just me??? But, I just wanted to give you my recent experience there because even doing a daytrip in is gonna require a fair amount of sweat equity. As there is no easy way to get there aside from an air drop.

Be sure to take time to thoroughly check out 'The Enchanted Forest' portage between Hanson & SAK.

Thanks for all the input so far! I had sort of written off trying for SAK due to too much travelling and not enough fishing, but with the tow, maybe it's reasonable.

I'm thinking something like this might work well?
Day 1: tow across Sag, paddle to Ester and setup camp by early afternoon and fish Ester. Or if travelling fast, keep moving to SAK.
Day 2: If not already there, move to SAK.
Day 3: Move back to Ester or Rabbit for an easier paddle out on day 4.
Day 4: Head out to catch tow in afternoon.

Is the eastern side of SAK decent for lakers?
A search seems to indicate that Ester and Hanson are difficult lakes to fish. If we were to fish these two, is one better than the other?

Thanks again!

is the east side of SAK decent for lakers , you ask ,
lake trout for supper first evening from camp , campsite 2038 ;)

I did much the same trip but in August a few years ago. Definitely recommend Rabbit for lakers, we had to go deep but you'll have better luck in spring. We also found some decent sized pike on Ester. We stayed at campsite 2008 and really enjoyed it.

shock: "is the east side of SAK decent for lakers , you ask ,
lake trout for supper first evening from camp , campsite 2038 ;)"

Any reason you actually kept all those fish?

arctic: "

shock: "is the east side of SAK decent for lakers , you ask ,
lake trout for supper first evening from camp , campsite 2038 ;)"

Any reason you actually kept all those fish?"

i was wasting away to nothing and very hungry ;)

Actually Artic , the 1st pic was from 1991 6-person group and many wanted to take fish home , now days if i can bring home 1 or 2 meals or no meals i'm good with that , 2nd pic 2011 4-person group and that really isnt a lot of fish . TGO was happy to see all those dead smallies ;)

Kalvan: "I did much the same trip but in August a few years ago. Definitely recommend Rabbit for lakers, we had to go deep but you'll have better luck in spring. We also found some decent sized pike on Ester. We stayed at campsite 2008 and really enjoyed it."

numbers in Rabbit but size small

Due to timing, we ended up doing South->Rose->Duncan loop. Fished North and South, and just a little bit on Rose before getting chased off by the storm and front that moved in last Saturday night. Our best laker fishing was on South. Not non-stop action, but we caught fish. Talked to a couple different parties that had success on Rose and Duncan but that wasn't us. We also trolled through Moss and got one hit.

We took out on Birch lake instead of Duncan/Bearskin so we could get a little extra fishing. We found there are actually two portages between Moss and Birch. All the paper and online maps I've seen show a trail starting from the northern portion of the western terminus of Moss lake. But this portage entrance is very hidden from the water - we completely missed it. More obvious is a trail about 100 ft. south of mapped trail. Looks like snowmobilers have cut this wide trail to get from Birch to Moss. It's a nice wide and flat portage, but a short section of it traverses a marsh. When we got to the marsh it confused the hell out of us because the trail basically disappears. But If you head southwest down the marsh (don't fall in - my partner went up to his crotch!) you will eventually see the trail again head up into the woods towards Birch.

Thanks again for the tips and advice. I think we'll plan a Sag->SAK trip for next time!