Can someone comment on Lac la Croix by boat

[graf703]

I've read about accessing lac la croix by boat through Loon Lake. I don't have a spring/early season adventure planned yet and would like to know more.

I have a 19' boat full windshield boat with downriggers. It is actually very light for its size (Hull weight is only 1200 lbs). I've fished lake trout early season in the boundary waters and was able to catch fish in the top of the water column.

1) Is this trip doable with a large boat? I have a small 14 ft aluminum that can go anywhere if that is a better fit, packing gets tight though.

2)How much gas do most people need to complete the trip? It looks like quite a haul.

3) is the fishing on the west (boatable) side good? I know there are particular areas with better concentrations of fish.

4)Any other recommendations/advice?

[Dock Boy]

Give Anderson Outfitters,Zups or Cambells Cabins a call they will be able to help you out. Anderson's is on Crane the other two are on Lacroix

[NBR]

The last time I was up in the summer there were 3 or 4 boats heading up to Zup's from Crane. The guys I talked to were in a new Skeeter. So they weren't very concerned with rocks. As said b y dock boy I'd call Zup's.

I'd think low water would be a concern.

[mark23]

You might want to contact Zups canoe outfitters on LaCroix and see what an Indian fishing guide would cost. My cousin used one last summer to do a site seeing trip to the east end and said it was well worth it for all the rocks the guy avoided that my cousin wouldn't have know were there. Now on getting down the river to the portages here's what to look out for. Leaving south sandpoint going through little vermillion narrows there's a rock in the middle of the channel before you see the cabins on the left, somebody always puts a white jug on it but if not stay to left or right of middle. Then you pass the cabins and enter little vermillion lake everythings o.k here. Then after going through the pinch at south end of lake it gets weedy and 4 ft deep, keep boat up on plane and go down the middle towards river mouth, there's a path through the weeds from all the baots so it's easy to see where to go. The river is o.k until towards the end there's a pipe sticking out of the water with red paint on it, rock, stay to left.When you get to rapids 56 idle down and trim up and stay as close to the u.s side as you can. Idle down this channel and when you get to the end and can see the portage stay to the far right, there's a rock in the middle. Go over portage and go through loon lake to second portage and your at LaCroix. Zups is the medium island to the west of sandbar island look on goole earth and you can get an idea on some of this stuff. I don't fish so I can't help you out with that. Look on youtube for dave beckman cranelake fishing guide, he has a vidoe of going down the river and through the rapids56, up on plane, and you can see how he stays to right on these areas.

[badfisherman]

I have a 19 ft walk thru. Made the trip to Loon just for the hell of it a couple years ago. I would suggest following a canoe taxi if possible. Those guys make the trip all the time and know how to do it. The water was low when we went. I had to put the spare prop on the way back busted it up pretty good on the way back down the rapids. It's pretty sketchy. The portage can handle pretty good size boats and is pretty neat to see. Also I believe you can buy gas on Lac La Croix on the Canadian side but check first.

Its not to far 18 miles or so from Sand Point Lake

I believe there is no motors allowed in Lac La Croix except the first bay unless you are in Canadian Waters

[Hillbiehle]

I did it in a similar boat as yours packed with a week's worth of gear and a total of 4 people. You can make it with one tank of gas. There are a few large rocks in the river that will surely take off your lower unit. I just took my time without any problems. If the water is up (not too much) you should be ok. Common sense will get you through the rapids by adjusting throttle and trim. I would assume that if the water is too low, Zups may trailer you over. It appears that they have a "non-compete" with the guy that runs the portage track so I don't believe Zups will be helpful if the river is passable. They make trips daily so they can might provide you the current conditions.

[graf703]

Thanks for all the info! Hopefully I can get the rest of the group on board!