Hello All,

I am taking a group of friends on their first trip. I pick Big Moose Lake, we will go some day trips but i don't think we will move lakes. Does anyone know anything about the lake? but site, fishing, anything cool to show or do with people?

There are no good options for day trips from Big Moose.Cummings Lake lies to the south, but it is a long portage and is pretty rugged. Duck lake is accessed from Big Moose, but it also a long portage. That being said, Big Moose is one of my favorite lakes in the B.W.C.A. It is a great fishing lake. Walleyes and Smallmouth Bass are found in many areas of this lake. It used to hold some huge Northern,but those days are long gone. There are some hiking trails leading to and from the Echo Trail. You can find these on maps of the area. The trip on the river is very scenic, and pretty easy. The portages are also very easy. I prefer the Campsite on the north end of the lake that is located on a point about in the middle of the north shore. Very scenic, with several tent pads available. The only draw back to this site is no real good canoe landing area. Wind can also be a factor with this site. If the weather calls for wind during the trip, pick another camping area.

I went to Big Moose last year around the first of June and smallie fishing was fantastic. Not sure which campsite we stayed at but it was on a point and very nice. We didn't do much exploring as the wind was brutal but caught lots of fish around the islands. We basically pulled the canoe to shore and walked the islands fishing. Nice lake and very quiet. A few beaver dams which adds to the fun, give yourself a couple of hours or better to go those three miles in.

We did a trip there last fall. Didn't do alot of fishing, but we did make it to Cummings lake & hiked the portage to Duck lake. (There's a nice sandy beach at the start of this portage) If you want? Check out my trip report for more information. Big Moose & a little girl ~ A river less paddled

Like the others indicated, the portages out of Big Moose are long (1.5 to 2 miles). That's a minus if you want to carry a canoe across (although on a day trip it's definitely doable), but it's a huge plus if you'd like a break from paddling and want to go for a hike. A few years ago we spent two nights on Cummings and hiked the portage to Big Moose round trip on the day between. It's a beautiful hike, a good chance to stretch your legs, and just see the great scenery away from the lake shore. I've also hiked into Big Moose from the Echo Trail a few times. I've never paddled it, but it's a very pretty lake from shore.

Big Moose is a good lake to fish. It is a fish bowl.There is a honey hole.You need a locator to find it. Give me a shout.

Hmmmm.....I thought I was the only person who new about that honey hole.

quote walllee: "Hmmmm.....I thought I was the only person who new about that honey hole."

There is only one. walllee. It's a fishbowl lake

quote blutofish1: "

quote walllee: "Hmmmm.....I thought I was the only person who new about that honey hole."

There is only one. walllee. It's a fishbowl lake"

Yes it is ,but that area is just unbelievable. I just hope the smallmouth do not ruin the walleye fishing. When I first started going in there the perch numbers were high. The last few years the perch were almost non existent. This dramatically effects the walleye forage base. The old timers used to fly into Big Moose years ago to catch trophy Northerns. I think I have only caught a handful of Northerns over the last several years. But then again, I do not target them. On the other hand, the same old timers blame the stocking of walleyes for the downfall of the Northern population..They are probably correct. I on the other hand are happy with the decision to make Big Moose a Walleye lake.

Big Moose walleye, circa 2002

I would love to know where this spot is. I'm heading to Big Moose for fishing and would appreciate any help you could give me on finding this spot.

Back I the 80s the DNR, in their infinite wisdom, decided to stock the lake with Walleyes. This destroyed the northern population and the small mouth population. Trophy pike and large bass used to inhabit the lake. Bays known as Big Beach, Little Beach and Caves Bay used to harbor trophy pike. Sure, you'll catch a lot of bass and Walleye, but nothing of any size. Still, it's a beautiful lake and a worthwhile trip.

quote ajkfishing: "I would love to know where this spot is. I'm heading to Big Moose for fishing and would appreciate any help you could give me on finding this spot."

Big Moose is really not that hard a lake to fish. If you check out a depth map of the lake, there are a few obvious starting points. Nice size and numbers for walleye and smallmouth. The pike ran small for us. There is a productive reef in the northeast bay, but it might be tough to find without a GPS.