Heading for Ester Lake to set up camp 2nd week in June 2016. Looking for fishing info/advice on lakes around and including Ester. Most interested in walleye, but any advice welcomed. Going with grandsons and their fathers. Final trip.

What I have heard on this site is that Ester itself is a tricky lake to fish. You really have to know where to go in order to do well here. Second week of June would be a good time to go as far as fishing is concerned. Ester does have lake trout and I've seen at least one picture on this site of a real monster someone caught there.

Hanson reportedly has good fishing, better than Ester. Portage to Ashdick for large mouth bass, a rarity in the BWCA. Portage back to Ottertrack for what I would guess would be your best bet to catch something. Fish around the rock piles for walleye. Apparently right by the Ester portage there is also a spot where the walleye can be found. As a general rule you can catch northern pike by trolling Rapalas just off the shorelines, get your canoe up to a good speed and the Rapala action will get their attention.

I'm traveling back to the area myself in August, also with my grandpa. You will have a great time. Climb the bluff on the northwest side of the lake for some great lake views. There is a sand beach near the portage to Ottertrack for some good swimming and also one on your left hand side as you head toward the channel to Hanson.

Ester is my Grandpa's favorite lake, he says on a sunny day it's the most beautiful one there is, beautiful blue-green water, cliffs, beautiful trees.

Are you going through Seagull Outfitters? If so, Deb can probably help you with more particular fishing spots on Ester.

I'm the worst fisherman on this website, can't help much there, but Hanson/Ester is an incredibly beautiful area. Actually that whole wad of lakes from there back toward Knife are all pretty nice.

ever caught anything but smallies on Ester, but have caught some dandies. PM me and I'll tell you some hot spots. Good northerns on the little string of lakes Fish, Faith, Gift, etc.

I agree with the string of Faith, Fish,and Gift. Very easy to access and some nice bass and Northern Pike.

quote fmyurek: "Heading for Ester Lake to set up camp 2nd week in June 2016. Looking for fishing info/advice on lakes around and including Ester. Most interested in walleye, but any advice welcomed. Going with grandsons and their fathers. Final trip."

Making a loop on your trip. Sag to Eter-to Sea Gull of what?

Ottertrack and Knife are excellent walleye lakes; you won't find any in Ester, it's a smallmouth and lake trout lake. Lakers there can be a challenge to catch, but there are some big ones. The easiest place to catch a meal of lakers is up the hill to the west on Rabbit Lake. I agree with the comment on exploring the PMA lakes to the east of Hanson - great day trip option.

Here's my trip report from the area in 2012.

quote bwbrian: "Ottertrack and Knife are excellent walleye lakes; you won't find any in Ester, it's a smallmouth and lake trout lake. Lakers there can be a challenge to catch, but there are some big ones. The easiest place to catch a meal of lakers is up the hill to the west on Rabbit Lake. I agree with the comment on exploring the PMA lakes to the east of Hanson - great day trip option.


Here's my trip report from the area in 2012.


"

That is one incredible lake trout. Wow.

quote SaganagaJoe:

That is one incredible lake trout. Wow. "

More incredible was that it was my wife's first time ever fishing for lake trout - and she only had an 8 lb test leader. It was an incredible fight with multiple runs to the bottom of the 80 foot depths.

I'm also going to this area too but it will be in August for a 6 day trip. Crowds are more of an issue at this time. While I plan to fish, the reason I selected this area is because I like the aesthetics (the cliffs and clear deep water). As everyone has mentioned, this group of lakes; Ester, Hanson, Rabbit and Cherry are lake trout and small mouth lakes. If you have your heart set on Walleye. The Walleye lakes surround this area forming a C shaped perimeter consisting of Otter Track, Little Knife, Knife and the south arm of Knife. Really any of these lakes are fine. I also think Gijikiki, Amoeber or Topaz could offer quality fishing with a better chance for some solitude. My main concern for my trip will be a lack of available campsites on these lakes because this area will be at it's capacity. Simply put this area is nice, everyone knows it and compared with other areas in the B dub the campsite density is low. Look at Otter Track for example, notice the miles and miles between camps.

For my trip I would like to base camp and day trip around the area. My plan is to get onto Ester/Hanson as quickly as possible on day one using a tow and moving fairly quickly (no fishing). We will be a party of 2 or possibly 4 so moving fast will be easier. If we can establish a Base camp in the Ester/Hanson area on day one that would be great but I'm not counting on this. I'm prepared to push on into the south arm of knife to establish a 1st camp and then locate a nice base camp on the second day. I think the key is to not be married to one or two lakes but to be as flexible as possible in order to get a good site. So my plan is to search the larger C shaped region I described. We will to be prepared to fish for whatever game fish those waters hold.

Hit up the PMA for sure, its a great day trip with plenty of Pike and also we found SMB in the first lake inside the PMA (LinK I think). No Walleye have been found on Ester or Hanson by us and we have been there multiple times. Rabbit for Lakers,yes. We also found a very healthy population of Largemouths and it wasnt on Ashdick, although I caught them there also.....

Thanks for the input. Yes, I am working with Deb.

What does PMA stand for?

No. Planning to make day trips out of Ester.

Thanks. What would you recommend we use for lures?

Primitive management area I believe... Camping by permit only but you can day trip there... Remote areas

Hey I'd love to know the hot spots on Ester lake. Thanks, Joe