Hey all!

I requested trip advice last fall and got so much great advice from this group!

Unfortunately, I didn't have my ducks in a row on permit day and missed out on my first choices. After calling an outfitter and going over available permits on the days we had open, we ended up getting a permit for EP84 Snake River for early July.

This will be two adults, two teens and two pre-teens. Two nights on a basecamp and probably exiting the same way we came in (unless we stash a car at EP33 Little Gabbro). Also the 1st trip for us all.

Some of the party is really interested in walleye fishing.

I'm looking for advice on best campsites, fishing spots, day-trips, etc.

Thanks!

Don’t abandon hope on your first choice. Permits frequently become available mid-season. You can track them and get alerts here:

2026 Permit Availability and Alerts

If you have seen this already? Ironing out the wrinkles in my soul

TuscaroraBorealis: "If you have seen this already? Ironing out the wrinkles in my soul "

I sure did! Very well written. Thank you for sharing.

Our group is going in through little gabro to get to Gabro and Bald Eagle lakes for a base camp this year, so I have been doing much research for the upcoming trip. Based on the feedback I received in a post about fishing this area in the fishing forum, it sounds like the fishing is as good on these lakes as just about any. There were a couple comments noting that the best fishing is in the narrowing between Gabro and Bald Eagle.

As far as the sites go, I have a very specific set of attributes I look for in a site (West facing site, good fishing from shore, good landing, etc...). I researched pretty much all camp site comments on this web site and another and found that there are plenty of good sites on both Bald Eagle and Gabro that fit our criteria. Gabro seems to have a little more selection when it comes to good sites, but the majority of Bald Eagles seemed to be pretty good as well. I don't think you'll have a hard time finding a good site on either lake. While your Entry Point is not the most desirable entry (based on comments I read) I think you may have hit the jackpot when it comes to the area you are in, that is for first timers in the BWCA.

One more fishing note, where Snake Creek forks towards Bald Eagle, I have read that the fishing is good in the narrows leading up to the south end of the lake.

Good luck and have a great trip!
Darin

The mighty Snake River is my fav EP. It’s a fun trip, gets tight in spots but always enough to get thru. Start early before the west winds on BE kick up. The rest of the info provided is legit. Some really nice campsites on Gabbro for a larger group, I’d rank the fishing ok. Might want to do a day trip to Gull Lake, had better luck there walleye fishing. Turtle Lake for big northern pike. Have fun!

This area is a great place to see moose. Especially in the area where the Snake River meets Bald Eagle. I’ve had better walleye fishing on BE than Gabbro. I’ve also had great walleye fishing on Pietro. Turtle is a great northern lake as well. Don’t over look going up the Isabella River for walleye and pike.

I have never fished Pietro was a pass thru lake both times on a loop being burned etc. I have heard it’s a great smallie lake but never walleye. Gull Lake has been good to me. Turtle isn’t a real treat for the eyes by BW standards but I have caught my biggest pike ever on that lake. Troll a Rapala across the wind blown shoreline and hang on!

egknuti: "This area is a great place to see moose. Especially in the area where the Snake River meets Bald Eagle. "

Strange, I go through that area twice a year and have been for more than 20 years. I’ve never seen a moose there.
Lots of Trumpeter swans in late fall though!
Tom

tumblehome: "

egknuti: "This area is a great place to see moose. Especially in the area where the Snake River meets Bald Eagle. "

Strange, I go through that area twice a year and have been for more than 20 years. I’ve never seen a moose there.
Lots of Trumpeter swans in late fall though!
Tom"

A number of years ago I spent several days on Bald Eagle. Each morning a bull moose would feed in the adjacent bay of my campsite. I also watched a cow with two calves walk/swim across the the south end of the lake.

As far as the sites go, I have a very specific set of attributes I look for in a site (West facing site, good fishing from shore, good landing, etc...).
Darin"

Silly question, why west facing site? East side of the lake with the sunset over the water?

egknuti: "

tumblehome: "

egknuti: "This area is a great place to see moose. Especially in the area where the Snake River meets Bald Eagle. "

Strange, I go through that area twice a year and have been for more than 20 years. I’ve never seen a moose there.
Lots of Trumpeter swans in late fall though!
Tom"

A number of years ago I spent several days on Bald Eagle. Each morning a bull moose would feed in the adjacent bay of my campsite. I also watched a cow with two calves walk/swim across the the south end of the lake. "

I once watched a big 10 point buck swim from the east side of Bald Eagle to the west side just before ice up. It was hard to watch as it took him probably 20 minutes. But he made it.

I also saw a rabbit commit suicide in early spring while there was still considerable ice on the lake.It was another heartbreaking experience.

The rabbit was being chased by something near my camp, it jumped in the water and swam to a very large sheet of ice. It ran for a long time across the ice and then jumped back in the lake far from shore. Soon after a bald eagle saw the rabbit and flew to a tree near the shore to look out for the rabbit. It never surfaced. After about a half hour, the eagle flew away. It was traumatizing to witness death this way.

Some other time I’ll tell the story about two dead moose I saw in a river after the spring ice break up.
Tom

I'm thinking now on my first solo trip I base camped on BE and there was a moose early one morning splashing around near my camp. I didn't see it, was still in the tent, but it was making moosey noises in the lily pads.

On another solo camped on West Pike Lake I heard a crashing at the far side of the lake and a moose entered the water and started to swim across the lake making a beeline directly at my campsite. This is a relatively narrow lake, I was having morning coffee. The moose kept coming and got close enough I could hear it's breathing like a steam locomotive, puffing away and swimming hard, literally headed right at my site. I'd say it got about 100 yards away, then I made a movement to grab a camera and the moose saw it and immediately did a 180 and swam all the way back across the lake and left at the same place it entered, crashing it's way back into the forest.. I kinda felt bad about that, not sure what I would have done if wanted to join me for breakfast tho.

No doubt about it. Moose let you know well in advance of their arrival. Noisiest creatures in the woods except a human. Or at least a human portaging an aluminum canoe.

I was in Quetico last summer on an island. Heard quite a ruckus coming from down the shore and saw a momma moose with her baby moose walk in the water and then make a long leisurely swim from the island to shore.

The baby moose stayed close by momma the whole way and I can only imagine the wonder and excitement baby was having realizing it could swim. Fun to watch.
Tom

tumblehome: "No doubt about it. Moose let you know well in advance of their arrival. Noisiest creatures in the woods except a human. Or at least a human portaging an aluminum canoe.
"

Have seen moose on Gabbro twice. The last time we pulled up on a small island to fish from shore and let the kids explore. As soon as we stepped on shore it sounded like the forest was coming down, branches breaking and brush crashing followed by a bull moose stepping out to greet us and let us know it was his island. We promptly got back in the canoe and watched from the water.

Nice Crappies also on BE.

Crappies good call - you can catch from shore. Good size.

bbanks: "

As far as the sites go, I have a very specific set of attributes I look for in a site (West facing site, good fishing from shore, good landing, etc...).
Darin"

Silly question, why west facing site? East side of the lake with the sunset over the water?


"

Yes, I prefer a west facing site so I can view the sunset casting it's colors in the sky and onto the water as well. Has made for some really nice visual memories over the years; as well as a few good photographs. It should be noted that if you are on a point site of an island or peninsula that faces north or south, you can often catch the sunsets as well.

egknuti: "

tumblehome: "

egknuti: "This area is a great place to see moose. Especially in the area where the Snake River meets Bald Eagle. "

Strange, I go through that area twice a year and have been for more than 20 years. I’ve never seen a moose there.
Lots of Trumpeter swans in late fall though!
Tom"

A number of years ago I spent several days on Bald Eagle. Each morning a bull moose would feed in the adjacent bay of my campsite. I also watched a cow with two calves walk/swim across the the south end of the lake. "

I've never seen a moose there. Have heard them only. You're words are encouraging, maybe this will be the year.

PointMe2Polaris: "

egknuti: "

tumblehome: "

egknuti: "This area is a great place to see moose. Especially in the area where the Snake River meets Bald Eagle. "

Strange, I go through that area twice a year and have been for more than 20 years. I’ve never seen a moose there.
Lots of Trumpeter swans in late fall though!
Tom"

A number of years ago I spent several days on Bald Eagle. Each morning a bull moose would feed in the adjacent bay of my campsite. I also watched a cow with two calves walk/swim across the the south end of the lake. "

I've never seen a moose there. Have heard them only. Your words are encouraging, maybe this will be the year."

I did see a dead moose floating on Gabbro in the spring. A bull on Turtle and also a cow with twins. This is a great area to see moose, but it’s all in the timing. Get out early morning and between 3-5 in the afternoon. Late evening around dusk is also a good time.