This year was our first year at the BWCA ---EP 16 to Lake Agnus - I think we want to go someplace different next yr - we want to base camp and fish ( like this year) - we were thinking EP 23 to Crooked Lake - if anyone has done this, please share your experience, the good and Bad - we are amateurs - we would try to go the last week in May or the first week in June

Their is nothing bad with going to Crooked Lake!!! especially for fishing!! and especially in the Spring.

The hardest thing is deciding where to go-- either the Horse River to the Falls area and Wednesday Bay / Table Rock area OR -- up through 4 town and Wagosh port into Friday Bay area. You really can't go wrong with either that time of year but if it's people you want to get away from the Friday area and esp Thursday bay area generally has less people than around the Falls, but the fishing might be a tad better from the Falls up to and even beyond Table Rock area -- but any pinches (neckdowns) will likely hold eyes that time of year...

You also may want to factor in the results of the recent fire--- Friday Bay and W seems like it was more impacted than areas further E. But I don't thnk anyone really knows yet outside of the USFS as far campsites toasted etc....

EP 23 is my fav for several reasons. Less people, great campsites, amazing fishing anytime that I have been there (5 trips). Crooked is a great lake for fishing but the waves/wind can get a bit crazy creating some interesting conditions to an inexperienced paddler…even experienced for that matter. I had a permit for the end of season this year but changed it to a different EP because of the fires. May want to give it a year or so. Horse river is a great route depending on the water levels and time of the year. If you are willing to push to get all the way up in one day it makes it worth it. Amazing area and honesly I'm sad we cant go to that area again this year.