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Posted

Id Like to take my first winter camping trip this year and fish for lake trout. It would be a new experience for me. I have all the gear I think to be able to pull it off. Can someone recommend a trip route that would be beginer friendly ? maybe a destination that has a portage or two where I could walk in somewhere and camp and catch Lake trout ? Id like to stick around the gunflint area as Ive never been up there in the Winter. Thank you very much in advance.

Posted

When it comes to winter camping plans, especially for a first timer, don't bite off more than you can chew. Especially with this years snow and ice (slush) conditions.

Think big, plan small.

Posted

Great advice Duffman.- Thanks !

Posted

Ima lake.

Posted

I'd check out South, Duncan, or Daniels (if you're looking for BWCA solitude). Fishing has always been good to excellent for me, and relatively easy to access too. The last 3 years I've been up for BWCA opener and have had great luck, although this year was REALLY cold.

Posted

Oh, if you hit up South, camp on Topper, the South portage is a beast, especially when pulling gear. Also, Topper is great since it has brookies in it too.

Posted

Thank you Mork Very Much !

Posted

All them lakes are fished hard.

Posted

All them lakes are fished hard.

I will 2nd that.

Posted

True, those lakes are fished hard, but they still produce. And I would guess they are fished less than say, Gunflint, Loon, Bearskin, Ram, Sea Gull, etc... I was up there this past Monday and we were consistently pulling up nice sized trout (23"-26"). Last year, we caught close to 40 in two days for BWCA opener, the biggest being 28". Show me a lake trout lake that is within a mile of a (plowed) road on either the Ely or Gunflint side that isn't fished hard, and I will buy you dinner.

Posted

I did a winter camping trip on Seagull once. There is a little portage that is necessary because there is current through a small narrow( The water is usually open and well marked) We fished for a few days. There were plenty of lake trout but most were small. Good action though. I do a similar trip every year. I love it so much. Make sure to have a propane type cooker because your life will be exponentially simplified; just to boil water and cook without a fire. Don't pack a lot of tackle, they are simple fish. For the most part if they are biting, they will hit anything you throw down there. Also stay mobile. I only fish a hole for 30 min if I don't catch a fish or mark one. They hang out in groups so if you find one, you will find a couple. Best of luck to you. One last thing. Bring hand warmers to throw in your sleeping bag. They will keep you warm and weigh next to nothing. Any other questions, just ask

Posted

Bring hand warmers to throw in your sleeping bag. They will keep you warm and weigh next to nothing.

Bring extra's, because some of them could be duds.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Duff, you should post a few of your good old romantic past Laker trip pic's again. Or at least maybe some of your sled and how you pack that up, that may give him some ideas of what a load of gear packed well looks like! I think I'm done making pack in trips, but still love to see how other guys trips went! Brings a tear to my eye! smile

Posted

Grab a kleenex leech~~......

smile

full-552-41551-img_0160.jpg

full-552-41552-img_0161.jpg

Hard to believe that this will be the 7th year with the toboggan, time flies and I'm getting old. smile

My advise, get one of those orange quality sleds that you see in the second pic (it'll last for years and take some abuse), wrap your stuff in a tarp, keep your weight low to keep from tipping. Lake travel isn't too bad, but nothing will slow your progress faster on a portage than a sled that's always tipping.

I've always liked putting my stuff in the Action Packers, it's easy for me to manage my gear that way. I use the lids in my tent as a floor so I'm not putting knee holes in the snow underneath. Stuff stays dry, slush and standing water are no problem while traveling. I replaced one of the usual four small AP's in the pic above with a big one because I knew the travel conditions were ideal and no portages.

Because you always need more dang space. smile

Posted

Hey Duffman, where you fishing trout opener this year? I gotta work so no trout fishing for me. Good luck fishing.

Posted

Hey Graybuck! Sticking down here in the cities cause I have to take the folks down to Mayo early Monday. Might go and try my luck in the morning tomorrow with a couple hundred other folks on a 10 acre pond.

smile

Posted

Duffman - that is my idea of winter camping; don't travel light. You aren't traveling up to Coon Rapids tomorrow, are you? If so, I may see you there.

Posted

Nope, I'll be hitting the pond on the SW side of the metro. Good luck tomorrow!

Posted

Good luck to you, also. Although I'm sure you won't need as much luck as me. I have not caught a trout on Cenaiko in over a year. Wish I was going to Burntside.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Grab a kleenex leech~~......

smile

That-a-boy, all warm and fuzzy now. It's amazing how much craap you can pack out there. Like the later season trips when the snow on the ice starts to harden up a bit. wink

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