Heading in to the BWCA via big Brule Lake with my son in May. We'll probably go through Winchell and make a loop and we will be hoping to find some lakers.

Anyone have any experiences to share about this area of the BW?
Thanks.

Brule and Winchell can be brutal and dangerous because of wind. Be sure to wear your PFD's at all times. That early in the year the ice will have just came off the lakes, Brule is often one of the last, so stay close to the shore in case of an unexpected emergency arises (capsize). You are going to need to get out of the water fast. I'm not trying to scare you, just being real. Brule has a lot of campsites and islands. You can travel a great distance without portaging. It has some decent fishing. Never caught a Laker myself. Have a great trip.

how many days?

Loop Winchell, Omega, Kiskadina, Muskeg, Long Island then south to Cherokee and back through the Temperance Lakes to Brule. A very scenic and wonderful route. I'd say 5 days minimum if you want any time to fish. It would be more fun to take 6-7 days. You will cross the Laurentian Divide twice, so there are some serious hills on some of the portages.

Both start and end get on Brule as early in the morning as you can to avoid being windbound.

Good suggestions. Yes, we always wear our life jackets.
We have about 5 days, so that loop you mentioned is one I had in mind.
Hopefully we'll get good weather. I know it could be really cold.

Tripped to Brule over a period of fifty years, both camping and cabin accommodations. It can be cold that time of year, but not like it was back in the late 50's and 60's. I have seen it snow in June and 90 degrees on Memorial Day. I don't know about travelling through the Lake, but there is almost always a bay or island out of the wind, if you are looking for a place to fish. Of course, fishing on Brule isn't like it used to be, but Northbay in the Spring, and around the islands at the landing. I have posted quite a bit of fishing info on the Messageboard, under my BWCA user name, bruleman.

P.S. Forgot to mention that Brule does not have Lakers, unless they have stocked them in recent years. Never caught one in all the years. Do recall that there were pictures of native Lake Trout caught in Brule, posted on the bulletin board at the Brule Island Camp.

Yes, lake trout were native to Brule Lake. But just like a lot of area lakes, they disappeared with the introduction of walleye and smallmouth bass. It’s probably been at least 50 years since they’re have been any lakers in there. Would be nice to see a restoration effort take place.

Interesting ! I didn't know Lakers were native to Brule. I was not planning to target Lakers in Brule, more like the lakes Winchell and Long Island. But, good to know. How about the cone lakes? Thanks.

Back in the fifties and sixties, May would be early for fishing the Cones, but with climate change, I don't know. North Bay, on the map, we called it Echo Bay, was ideal for walleye fishing in early June. There are several feeder steams that are good spawning beds. Cone Bay was better in mid-June. I have never fished Middle and North Cone, but have heard they are walleye lakes. South Cone is a very small lake and good for walleyes in early June.

In recent years we have had success fishing Lakers in Seagull Lake, with a Gunflint guide. Sag is very good for Lakers, but the Walleye fishing has declined. I would recommend a guide for fishing these lakes for the first time. You can get guided fishing on Brule, also. I realize that there are some very qualified fishermen that can do just as well with out professional help.

Some of the scariest paddling I've done was on Brule. Stuck close to shore and paddled damn hard. Wind can real get whipping. Be prepared.

I was fishing for walleyes at my campsite on Winchell once with a worm and bobber with no success. After some time my bobber went down and I caught a little laker. I later discovered there are no walleyes in Winchell!
Tom

tumblehome: "I was fishing for walleyes at my campsite on Winchell once with a worm and bobber with no success. After some time my bobber went down and I caught a little laker. I later discovered there are no walleyes in Winchell!
Tom"

Huh? I had a walleye hang out by me at the portage from Winchell to Gaskin.

straighthairedcurly: "

tumblehome: "I was fishing for walleyes at my campsite on Winchell once with a worm and bobber with no success. After some time my bobber went down and I caught a little laker. I later discovered there are no walleyes in Winchell!
Tom"

Huh? I had a walleye hang out by me at the portage from Winchell to Gaskin. "

It was lost and was trying to get back to Gaskin.

Simple trout map from MN DNR shows plenty of lakers in the area, especially to the north and west of Brule.

The 1983 DNR fish survey of Brule lake interestingly states that "ALL STOCK- INGS OF LAKE TROUT DURING THE 1970'S APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED." They also captured two burbot in 1983 but have not captured any in the years since. Cisco, however, remain abundant.

I recall camping on Brule in the 60's and seeing one other person the entire week. He was a commercial fisherman, netting herring. Got some nice sized walleyes in his nets.