If I come up to Ely a couple days early is there a good place I can camp and fish near entry point 16?

Yep, there’s a spot right off Echo right by EP 16 that can take some tents. It might even be on the maps section. You’ll be able to see it on Google Maps as well. Portage river area I think.

Jeanette Lake. Has a camp ground with reservable campsites for a fee (recreation.gov). About 12 miles west of EP 16.

link to info on Jeanette


Big Lake. Has 3 or 4 camp sites that you need to paddle to on the lake. No camp fees. First come, first served. About 7 miles east of EP 16. Parking at public access boat launch.

link to info on Big Lake

USFS Big Lake pdf

I second lake Jeanette. The first time we stayed there some guy with a cpap had his generator running all night and kept us awake. Try to get into site 11 or 12, they are off the main loop and much quieter. The only reservable site this year that I could snag was #6, smack dab in the middle of the loop.
There are also "remote" sites that are on the other side of the lake but a canoe would be required and they are all non-reservable so it's a toss up on whether they would be open.