Only permit we could get was Moose. We have arranged tow to Birch. From there we are looking to basecamp for a couple days and fish, then move to another basecamp for the remainder of our trip. Thoughts? Suggestions? What is likelihood of some sites being available on a Sunday afternoon? This area was not in our top 4 options. but oh well, those options were all gone by 9:45. Thanks!

Moose Lake is a fantastic entry point. How long is your trip? If you have 7-8 days, depending on how hard you want to push on day 1, you have a lot of options.

I'd recommend pushing to the South Arm of Knife, basecamping there, and then moving back west on Knife for an easier day out to your tow. There are a lot of day trip options in the SAK area (Cherry, Eddy Falls, Enchanted Forest portage to Hanson) and on the west Knife side you have Thunder Point and Isle of Pine. Great fishing all around the lake, depending on the time of year of course.

You could also go south to Kekekabic, then loop down through Fraser/Thomas, Ima, and out through Ensign/Splash. There is more travel involved than simply 2 base camps if you go this route, but it is a sweet area and you'll be fairly alone from Kek to Fraser. Fishing options are great in that entire region.

Knife Lake is a beauty! Deff make it over to Eddy Falls. I'd suggest making the push to SAK on the first day than move back closer to the pickup point for your next basecamp.

OMGitsKa: "Knife Lake is a beauty! Deff make it over to Eddy Falls. I'd suggest making the push to SAK on the first day than move back closer to the pickup point for your next basecamp. "

Last May we did this trip, a group of 6. Tow to Birch/Sucker portage. Spent two nights on SAK, two nights on Ameober, and the final night on Carp. Day tripped to Eddy, Cherry, etc. Caught Bass, Northern, Walleye, Lake Trout, and even a Silver Redhorse. Picked up at the same spot where we got dropped.

Didn't see many canoes once on SAK. That said, on entry and exit the sites on the western side of Knife were all full.

Two summers ago we got a tow to the Birch portage to head to Knife.

The very first campsite - like seven minutes into the day - was open.

Every single one after that was taken until we got to SAK. All the ones on Birch, the one on Carp, all four in the SW bay of Knife & the rest of them on Knife...first open was site 1454.

If you are saying you want to find a campsite on Birch, or for that matter anywhere before you get to SAK, after 2pm any day in the summer, I'd tell you that's a 50/50 proposition at best.

If you can be looking to set up camp at noon? Should be no problem.

Moose saw no permit reductions, so I see no reason for it to be different this year.

How about Vera? Pretty lake, pretty portage getting there. Nothing wrong with Ensign, either. Granted, not far off the path, but Vera is a pretty lake, aquamarine colored water, wolf poop….

The main route from where the boat will drop you to Knife is pretty busy every day. Lots of people heading in and out. Some people will stay on Birch but most will eventually move to or from Knife it seems. So if you want to see less people, get to Knife and head to either arm and find your site. Or get to one of the smaller lakes just off Knife as mentioned already. Plenty of options. Even Ottertrack or any of those too. Lots of fish to be had. And lots of trip reports and people asking the same thing.

My last trip there we got the first tow out in the morning and we were at Thunder Point (lookout spot that splits the two arms of Knife) by noon. But we travel fairly efficiently. Not in a rush but we don't dilly dally or fish while traveling.