Isabella area (silver island, Wilson, etc.)

[Stoney23]

Has anyone been up to silver island or any other lakes up that way, icefishing? Is the road to silver island plowed out?

[caseymcq]

I can only speculate but there is some salvage logging that will be going on up there soon so the road may be plowed. I was in Isabella today and while there seems to be more snow up there than we have along the shore there still doesn't seem to be much for this time of year.

[MnIceman]

Co.7 was plowed to Hogback and the road from Isabella was plowed to Hogback. 701 north from Hogback was plowed,but I do not know how far. Watch out for logging trucks. My cousin is logging west of Hogback. Too many people up that way last weekend.

[finn-land]

it's plowed to silver island from the finland side. fourmile grade is plowed to the whitefish road(timber/frear loop). the road to wilson is not plowed. as said before not alot of snow up here. about 8" around wilson, little less around silver island. can pretty much drive a truck anywhere.

[Snuffy]

Has anyone been fishing up at hog back ? And with any success ?

Thanks

[upnorth]

We were up there Sat. Got a few keepers, mostly splake and a pile of 7 - 9 inchers. I couldn't believe all the people there tho.

[Stoney23]

I went to silver island last weekend. Only two walleye, but we did a lot of moving around being my first time through the ice! Had some buddies trout fishing at echo last weekend, they counted 47 ice houses, that's too much! The fishing was fair but too much pressure for those small trout lakes!

[cobbwubs]

I'm wondering the same thing. Wife and I are headed up for a few days and were hoping to spend a day on Silver Island, Toohey, or do a day trip into Isabella BWCAW. I'm guessing Toohey is out based on previous reports and this new snow. This will be our first winter trip ice fishing (usually just xc ski)to the area, and only have a Front WD car. Any other suggestions of easier access for a day of CPR and Picture Fishing? No specifics expected (of course), just looking for a place to pop some holes, throw a few back, and visit, with a chance to catch a few fish for the album.

[reinhard1]

dont know exactly where your staying at, but in the area of this thread i would suggest also Crooked Lake for example. one of my favorite lakes for walleys and smallmouth. if you walk out from the boat landing go to the point south of the landing or to your right. have a tip up with a fathead or shiner in the 10 foot depth and go out to 12 or 14 with a portable if you have one and fish with bobbers or jig with a small spoon and minnow head. i'm just thinking of lakes that i would think the roads are plowed near well used roads.

Harriet Lake. strait out from the landing to your left at the end of the peninsula there a shallow reef goes across the lake to the other point. fish near the drops on either side. those are the two lakes i would think have plowed roads. check localy with the place your staying or maby someone else knows for sure here on the threads. good luck.

[Stoney23]

I talked to a guy who caught 39 crappies straight out from boat launch three weeks ago in a couple hours on silver island. It's an easy walk out to the reef from the landing! And it was beautiful up there, no one else was on the lake, had a fire, relaxed, and caught a few! Silver island, dumbbell, and nine mile are all close to road access for fishing walleye and crappies!

[cobbwubs]

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies!

[caseymcq]

The road out of Isabella is plowed all the way to the Isabella Lake entry point parking lot. If you take the road be careful, there is logging in the Isabella Lake area right now.

[Snuffy]

Thanks for the info. Just came back from red nearly 50 eyes in 2-days.

[cobbwubs]

Thanks Again everyone for the info. My wife and I spent a memorable afternoon on Silver Island last Saturday. While the fishing was slow (3 Jumbos in the first 10 minutes, then nothing) we had a great time on a beautiful lake! The drive up County 1/8, and HWY 7 was worth it alone. On the drive, we had to stop while a moose stared us down before deciding there were more important things to do, and a red fox near the access road to Silver Island gave us just enough of a look to appreciate it's color against the bright white snow. The roads all appeared to be in good shape all the way up to lake. After visiting with one of the Rangers in Grand Marais, we now understand how rare that Moose sighting was. We are already looking forward to next year's trip.

[Deerstalker]

Anyone been fishing for jumbos on Toohey lately?