Loon Lake - Help for a newbie

[PFUNK]

My girlfriend and I decided on a whim we were going to try to get away and relax for a weekend, and we decided on June 12th-14th. We booked a cabin at loon lake lodge on the gunflint trail and are both completely new to the area. We had read great reviews about loon lake lodge and are excited to get away and relax. We are planning to rent a canoe or boat from the lodge and do some fishing if the weather cooperates. From what I can tell, there is decent fishing for trout, pike, and smallies but the walleye bite isnt the greatest. If anyone has fished loon before around mid June and would like to share some tips it would be much appreciated. Don't care what we catch, just want to see her have some fun pulling fish in. I know its a deep lake so I imagine finding trout could get tough, but I can bring the vexilar along if that is going to help. Also, if there are any good hikes or must see places I would love to hear about them. Thanks for your help!

[JBMasterAngler]

Loon Lake is a nice scenic lake. Can be tough to fish though. There are some really big pike in there! I would troll tight to the shoreline (depths drop straight down from shore) with spoons or rapalas, The bass (smallies and rock bass) are pretty small for the most part. And it can be hit and miss. Somedays you'll catch them almost every cast, other days they are completely gone. Lake Trout are mostly on the small side too. That time of year you can catch them casting spoons and counting down before you retrieve, or just troll down the middle of the lake. In my experience, the last 2/3 (eastern half) of the lake is where they hangout. I've always done best with darker colors (gold, maroon, purple) The resort is located in a good spot.

If you want to do a little hiking, the magnetic rock is a few miles farther up the gunflint trail. It's about a 3 mile round trip. Pretty cool. It's a chimney shaped rock right out in the open. There are some good views of the past forest fires as well. Several miles further up is the chik-wauk museum. I've never been there, but based on their website it looks like a cool place to visit. I would also recommend stopping at the gunflint trail center on the way up and having a "goober burger"  Good stuff!

Edited May 20, 2015 by JBMasterAngler

[monstermoose78]

JB nailed the fishing of Loon Lake.  Remember lots of the little streams have brook trout in them. 

For places to visit I would make sure to hit the Cascade River on the way up to see the Falls. My favorite part of the whole drive a long the north shore is from Grand Marais to the Border. The turn to High Falls is just Ryden's Store it is worth the drive to see High Falls. Another place that is worth checking out is Naniboujou Lodge next to the Brule River that, seeing that this on highway 61 I would try to stop when you head to up to High Falls. Also on the Brule RIver is Devil's Kettle which is interesting to see. If you hate stairs this is not going to be something you want to do. I recommend taking a drive towards evening and look for moose on some of the dirt roads. The people at the resort will steer you in right direction where you might see a moose. I would also drive to the end of the Gunflint  Trail seeing it offers a good chance to see a moose. These are the places I bring people that have never been up there. 

I agree with stopping at Trail Center if you like grilled cheese sandwiches theirs with the Permesan Crusted 3 cheese is amazing and the chocolate & peanut butter milkshake is what I get. 

I hope you have a wonderful trip and good luck fishing!!

[PFUNK]

Thank you guys so much. Really appreciate the recommendations and the fishing tips. With only 2.5 days there our schedule should be packed with things to do and see. Really looking forward to it.

[JBMasterAngler]

You'll make a return trip. I guarantee it!

[speednut]

Also agree with JB. Gold spoons on the eastern 2/3 for trout. A lot of people jig with a chunk of cisco but I'm into trolling. Tom usually has some frozen ciscos there or you can run down to Ugly Baby Bait. Tom can tell you where to start. There's a 30"min on the northerns so they do get big. We've caught them up to 42". The nice thing about Loon is that it's never crowded. Gunflint has a reputation for bigger trout so there's more activity there.  Catch one of their dinners at the lodge. There's a different entrée every night and you have to let them know ahead, but the food is great. Maybe we'll see you there. We'll be in on the afternoon of the 13th. Good Luck!