Hi. We are planning a mid June trip to Insula. I have heard mixed reports on the quality of bass fishing in that lake. Any opinions from people who have fished there. I like walleyes, but theres nothing like a surface strike from a hungry smallie and I might change plans if that type of fishing isnt available on Insula. Thanks for the info.

It's available but not as abundant as other lakes. You'll have to know how and where to fish them. One place to try is where the Kawishiwi drains into Insula.

As long as you are going to Insula, fish for smallies in the numbered lakes. You may find that you won't need to go that far for fantastic smallmouth fishing. Here's a sample of what you may find.

We stayed on Insula a few years ago and didn't catch a single smallmouth the entire time. We caught them on every cast below the rapids at the portages, though.

I don't usually intentially fish for smallies but I have caught quite few on Insula. In June I'd look for running water or shallow bays. About 3/4 up the way on Insula there is a big island with 2 camps on the northern side of it. In between the 2 camps is a bay that holds smallies. The river in between Insula and Alice and all along the numbered chain holds some smallies.

Insula is not known for smallies though--although their numbers are increasing it is still more of a walleye lake.

T

The fishing is better on the northern half. We caught smallmouth on topwater (heddon torpedos) in mid/late june 3 years ago. We were on the campsite north of williamson island, a 4.75 star, and caught smallies and walleye on that north shoreline working our way west. After the first peninsula it was somewhat shallow, but perfect smallie structure.I caught a 18" smallie and 19" in this area. Also caught quite a few walleye in this area trolling at night with shad raps.