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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: EP 22 to Basswood Falls vs EP37 to Malberg
 
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cyclones30
03/30/2025 07:10PM
  
That early in the year, find the current and you'll find the fish. Also, the north bank of back bays will warm the fastest to find some warmer water pike and such.


But find current, and you'll have some with either Horse/Basswood/Crooked area or the Polly/Malberg area. You will find the fish
 
ScottMacFish
03/26/2025 08:58AM
  
Z4K thanks for the note and info
 
Barca
03/26/2025 03:45PM
  
If you go with EP 37 I agree with the recommendation to get as far as Malberg at the least. Personally, I'd try to get up into Beaver/Adams/Boulder area. Better fishing imo, and less people. Typically those go hand in hand. Plus there will be multiple areas on the river with moving water to attract feeding walleye/Pike.


Also, not fishing related, but a side trip to Fishdance to see the pictographs is well worth it. Nice paddle anyway and it's not exactly something you see normally.


Regardless of where you go, cheers on getting your kid involved and tight lines!
 
Speckled
03/25/2025 03:51PM
  
Here fishy fishy!


If I were heading in on Kawishiwi Lake - I would skip camping on Polly or Koma and just push to Malberg.


If I were gong in on Mudro - I would skip basswood because of the traffic and push up the Horse River into Crooked.


Both lakes you should catch plenty of fish.



 
ScottMacFish
03/25/2025 02:22PM
  
Hello All,

Well I am looking at my annual trip with my 15-year-old son. It will be his 6th trip. We have gone in from the east, central and west. He complains we don't catch a lot of fish. It could be that I like to explore the BWCA and not hit the same lake and get to know it and where the fish are.

So we go in on the 21st of May 6 days 5 nights.

If we do the EP37 trip I think we would stay on Polly or Koma, and day trip from there. I have done the Malberg trip solo, my son has not been in the area.

If we do the EP22 trip in addition to hitting the Basswood Falls area, there are a couple of Brook Trout spots we would hit as I am a die hard Brook trout guy.

SO, I know you do not have a crystal ball. You do not know how well we fish, the question is, if it was you and you know both of these areas, or one of them well. which trip would you do. My son does not yet qualify the success of the trip for the trip itself , rather one how many fish he catches.

As always, any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Can't wait to get in there.
 
ScottMacFish
03/25/2025 04:03PM
  
Thanks for the note Speckled
 
Z4K
03/25/2025 06:08PM
  
You should have amazing fishing opportunities in both of those areas. No trout near EP37 however the area is well known for walleyes. Can't go wrong with leaches in moving water at dawn and dusk.


Jacob and Alruss are the obvious choices for stream trout out of EP22 but if you choose EP37 know that there are a bunch of great opportunities in the SNF just south of EP37. Hogback has a few campsites that you can catch Splake from, you'll see people shore fishing Echo for Rainbows when you drive by and then there are Brookies in Goldeneye and Steer, both of which are protected by a single portage, and those are just a few of the many trout lakes and streams in that area.