Hi all! Heading out of EP 62 - Clearwater early July. Hoping to keep my 2 kids engaged with good bass fishing. Which lake out of 62 (Clearwater, West Pike, Mountain, Caribou) would you vote for as the best smallie action?

Thanks in advance!

Caribou is a great lake to fish and camp on, but Deer is a fun lake as well. Deer isn't that big but has lots of smallies and pike. My son had a 12 inch bass that he had on the line T-boned by a 34 inch Norton and he got them both to the boat. Kept the bass for dinner and let the Norton go.

Pack Rat: "Caribou is a great lake to fish and camp on, but Deer is a fun lake as well. Deer isn't that big but has lots of smallies and pike. My son had a 12 inch bass that he had on the line T-boned by a 34 inch Norton and he got them both to the boat. Kept the bass for dinner and let the Norton go."

Smart. That bass was already scaled.

Thanks for the tip! Deer does look fun to check out.

My son (12) and I went out of EP 62 two years ago in mid-July. Had great smallmouth success on Mountain lake fishing south shoreline from Clearwater portage to border marker on west end of Mountain. Mepps/Rooster tail spinners produced a lot of action, at least that day! Just be mindful of the wind and good luck!!

Thank you! Want to get up on the Border Route trail there between Clearwater and Mountain so may have to check out that south shore.

May not be sharing new information, but a small tornado went through an area west of the Clearwater - Mountain portage in October 2021. There were significant blowdowns making the BRT west of that portage impassable. While the BRT has been cleared and is fine now, the folks clearing the damage did so with hand saws/tools only. No chainsaws! Impressive work!

My kids had a blast on Clearwater using jigs in the bays along the north shore. Tons of smallies although they were small and the occasional nice sized perch. You can see so far down you can hold the jig right above the rocks and see the fish come out and hit them.

ILuvLakers: "Hi all! Heading out of EP 62 - Clearwater early July.

How was your trip?

Oh it was great! We were able to get the far-east site on Clearwater in the bay, awesome site. Great weather throughout, very bearable mosquitos. Boys caught lots of small bass with leeches and bobber from the rocks. Day-tripped to Caribou and caught bigger bass and some walleye. Even caught a lake trout trolling deep on a day trip to west pike, on my birthday!! First-ever summer laker and it was so fun and delicious and the best birthday dinner ever.

Oh it was great! We were able to get the far-east site on Clearwater in the bay, awesome site. Great weather throughout, very bearable mosquitos. Boys caught lots of small bass with leeches and bobber from the rocks. Day-tripped to Caribou and caught bigger bass and some walleye. Even caught a lake trout trolling deep on a day trip to west pike, on my birthday!! First-ever summer laker and it was so fun and delicious and the best birthday dinner ever.

Thanks again to everyone who commented on this thread, input much appreciated!

Awesome!! Glad you got the kiddos in some action!! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the summer laker!