Our fishing group does an early season trip each year around Memorial Day. In 2021, we are thinking Crooked.

What basic info could people supply?

We typically base camp and try to move on some fish as we familiarize ourselves with areas. But we are not against a little movement. One of our group is a walleye nut so that's a must. Where to stay and fish on Crooked?

Thanks!

This trip to Crooked was in August but, perhaps it will give you some ideas.

Planning two trips in this area in late July and late August this year. One family and one guys trip. That was a crazy hard first day on your trip this summer Tuscarora! I was really surprised the group pushed that far especially considering low water and the added difficulty!

Ryan

Thanks!!!

Gaidin53: "Planning two trips in this area in late July and late August this year. One family and one guys trip. That was a crazy hard first day on your trip this summer Tuscarora! I was really surprised the group pushed that far especially considering low water and the added difficulty!

Ryan"

It was a looooong hard day! Although, through the challenge, indelible lifetime memories were created. :)

TuscaroraBorealis: "

Gaidin53: "Planning two trips in this area in late July and late August this year. One family and one guys trip. That was a crazy hard first day on your trip this summer Tuscarora! I was really surprised the group pushed that far especially considering low water and the added difficulty!


Ryan"

It was a looooong hard day! Although, through the challenge, indelible lifetime memories were created. :)"

I can't imagine going all the way with the water levels last summer. We went from Mudro to LBW Falls and I wanted to die. Maybe with normal water levels but not with them that low. You must be beasts to do it,

Went up to Friday Bay mid June this year with four other guys. We went in through Mudro, It was extremely low at the initial narrows of Mudro. We actually portaged a good distance of it. The rest was decent getting to Gun Lake were we stayed the first night. We made it to the Northern part of Friday Bay the next day and enjoyed 2 good full days of fishing. Caught Walleye, Bass and a 39 1/2" Northern. We then split our departure into a couple days and went down through Basswood falls, Horse River and Horse Lake. There is no great way to get up to Crooked, but if you go through EP 23, I'd recommend going up through Horse Lake and Basswood Falls. It's a much more scenic route than going up through Fourtown and Gun Lakes. There are a couple medium/difficult portages getting to Horse Lake, but I'd still recommend that route. Overall, there is less portage distance this way vs going up through Fourtown. As another added bonus, on your way up you actually have the water current pushing you once you get above basswood falls. You will also pass some pictographs on the way.

If you have 6-7 days planned for this trip, that is the route and game plan I'd recommend. Plus, it's a great area for fishing. We stayed on campsite 1873. Was a great site with good fishing around it!

Happy Paddling!
Darin

One more suggestion if you don't want to fight the low waters of Mudro, you may be interested in EP 16. Go up through Nina Moose and Agnus into Tiger Bay area of Lac La Croix. Very good fishing there as well and an endless number of 4-5 star campsites. It's about a 6-7 hour trek up there if you single portage. You wouldn't be disappointed in this area.

Darin

To keep things easier on day one for my family trip I’m planning to enter on Fall lake and do a tow up to the canoe zone on Jackfish bay of Basswood then only have a 2.5 mile paddle to the Upper Basswood Falls Portage. We’ll work our way up and through Basswood falls area to Crooked and hopefully all the way up to Curtain Falls. It definitely will increase the costs though since that tow is about $90 per person.

We had a big headwind getting into Knife Lake last year and with my wife and daughter being first trippers it was more than we should have done. Then we had full campsites and didn’t find an open campsite until Thunder Point. I’m just glad they loved the trip and that first day didn’t ruin it for them.

I have heard guys talk about the big current area and that being good for walleye. I’m not exactly certain where that is.

Ryan

Thanks everyone.

Darin, we've been to Gun but not all the way through to Crooked that way and we've done EP 16 many times and fished Boulder River, Agnes, etc. I suppose if we were to go that way, we could start at Stuart, to Iron and then over toward Crooked. I am glad to get the good intel because we've never been up that way. Like I may have said, one of us is a walleye nut and if they are not the agenda he's not as happy. I'ts the time of year we have to start planning such things

Stuart has good walleye in it if you're debating about starting there. But if getting to Crooked is your goal....yes as the crow flies it's closer than EP 16 but I'd vote EP 16 is easier than Stuart as far as portaging/paddling comparing those 2. Mudro is the most common way to get to Crooked but still either a long day to get there by one of two main routes or a 2 day trip to get there.

Good walleye can be found anywhere from the Basswood falls areas to Curtain Falls and Iron and LLC so don't just focus on "Crooked" on the map. That whole string is good to great. Big Current specifically is sort of between Wed and Thurs bays...it's labeled on some maps. If you look @ Thursday Bay and find the US Border in the NE corner where it makes sort of a 90 degree turn around an island looking thing....that's it. There's a campsite or two on the US side there. But there's also current in the narrow spots just to the SE in Wednesday Bay, current by the Picto's closer to LBF, and obviously lots of current and fish at the falls.

Nice. Is Big Current a fishing lake of note? I'll check it out right now.

pastorjsackett: "Nice. Is Big Current a fishing lake of note? I'll check it out right now.


"

Essentially, it is the narrow channel (in the NE corner) that empties into Thursday bay.

Check out the Cool spots in canoe country forum. Some more detailed information provided about other areas of interest.

We made the haul from mudro to the falls a few years ago. We double portaged with an early start and had a late lunch in camp.

That time of year I would concentrate on moving water. Lower basswood falls and wheelbarrow falls were productive for us in late June. Never been in that early but the horse river has always produced some fat smallies.

I think this is the trip for us. We've been to lots of spots over the past 12 years, with Stuart, Agnes, LLC, Knife just to name a few. But we've never been to Crooked and we're looking for the next adventure.

Thanks all! Time to get dreaming about the next season, make plans for reservations and re-finish that canoe we just bought!

PJS

Pastor:
LOL:-) In regards to one person not happy if not the agenda - every groups got one:-)

One more note on heading to upper Crooked Lake area if you decide to go there. The distance to the Bays of Crooked by way of Horse and Basswood falls is a little further than by way of Fourtown/gun, but the travel time is probably the same. As I mentioned before, you have less portage distance. Also, if you can get to basswood falls the first day, ( 4.5 - 7 hour trek depending how you portage) the rest of the trip is smooth sailing as it is all canoeing. It is roughly 10.5 miles to Friday Bay from the falls and there are plenty of good base camp spots along the way with plenty of good fishing. The hardest part of this trip would be the first portage coming out of mudro, It's not super long, just a little more difficult than the average portage. Our trip this last spring was with 5 guys, and we all agreed that the stretch from Friday bay all the way down to horse was one of our most enjoyable routes we had taken thus far in the BWCA and that Friday Bay was one of our favorite basecamp destinations.

Anyway, have fun planning! Always nice to have the planning phase to help break up the cold winter months.

Darin

pastorjsackett: "Nice. Is Big Current a fishing lake of note? I'll check it out right now.


"

It took me some digging and asking around to find out, and I have an affinity for pastors (assuming from your name), so I'll save you some time. The arrow here points at the area known as Big Current. If you find pinch points, depth, structure and current on Crooked, they will hold there all summer. The current flows from East to West through that channel. Note that the northern side of the channel is Canada, so be sure to only catch US fish...you need to ask them to make sure...if they speak some French and are very polite, you need to let them go.

Thanks for all the info! My daughter and I went together on a used Northstar a couple months ago so we're going to spend time this winter getting it refinished. We love headng up but, have never done Crooked. We did go to Gun one year so we know the opening moves through Mudro.....

Which bay is which? Friday, etc? I'm looking on the map....

Scott, I believe the pinch point is just above Thursday Bay, correct?

I already posted this in the fishing forum, but here is my fishing/trip report for Crooked lake the week after memorial weekend this year. Had a great time and caught a TON of quality fish. Enjoy!

Crooked Lake Fishing Report, May 2020

This is perfect....right on the time frame we will be there. Thanks!

pastorjsackett: "Thanks for all the info! My daughter and I went together on a used Northstar a couple months ago so we're going to spend time this winter getting it refinished. We love headng up but, have never done Crooked. We did go to Gun one year so we know the opening moves through Mudro.....


Which bay is which? Friday, etc? I'm looking on the map...."

Starting on the far Western side of Crooked, the big bays to the south start with Sunday and work towards Wednesday which is the far Eastern one that works its way down towards Table Rock and LBF. When you purchase the better maps they'll be outlined. If you switch to "satellite view" on the maps on this site, it'll show Saturday Bay. Here's a new pic:

PointMe2Polaris: "Scott, I believe the pinch point is just above Thursday Bay, correct?"

Yes, see new pic above.

Now I am more excited than ever. Thanks.

Love the info in this thread. My wife and I were looking to get to Crooked last summer but stopped at Horse Lake instead. A BRUTAL north wind killed our progress and we were wiped out. We are hoping to get up there next summer. Never been.

Double post. Had already said this earlier in chain

As much as I'd love you to support your local outfitter (I work for one up here), I don't think that would be worth the money. The paddle to the pinch point at jackfish is an easy 8 miles with two of the easiest portages you will find in the bwca. Also, only one company does that tow (Packsack, I believe), so it might be tough to get it booked unless you do it ASAP.

Also, that means you would have to do the brutal 1 mile portage around LBF in both directions AND paddle against the current on the basswood river on the way back. If you are going in the spring, the Horse River should be just fine. This year was an anomaly with the super low water in the spring, that likely wont be the case again next season. Even if it is, I don't think it is as bad as everyone on here was describing, as long as you go light with your gear and can single or 1.5x portage.

If you go in at Mudro, it is three relatively easy portages out of Mudro, Sandpit and Tin Can Mike, then three easy portages (and a beautiful paddle) on the Horse River.

Yes, it is more portages going through Mudro and you will have to reserve your permit immediately after they go on sale in January because it is a popular permit, but I feel it is a much easier paddle and portage. I have done both routes and I wouldn't do the route you suggested again.

Or, a third option would be to contact an outfitter and go in at Fall lake and come out at Mudro. Drop off a vehicle at Mudro and get dropped off at Fall Lake so you can do a big "U" Shaped Route.

I think we are going Mudro all the way just to get in the classic trip. Our group is pretty sturdy and experienced now. And with my son, my nephew to two other guys in their 20's we can hand off all the heavy stuff to them and just bring the paddles and lifejackets!

This thread has not disappointed! Thanks!

Good Luck and have a great trip to you and your crew!! Loved this same trip last spring. We're heading up to Tiger Bay this coming spring, but after being part of this thread it's almost got me wishing I was going back to Friday Bay:-) Lot's of great memories from the 2020 trip.

BTW - We'll send a peace sign in your direction as we're heading through St. Cloud on our way to Ely next year.

Take care - God Bless!

My family trip is end of July beginning of August so I’d assume less water flow than spring. I don’t think I’d plan going back that way in the spring against current. I already have the tow booked and you are right it’s only Packsack that does that tow. This trip is 8 days so we can take our time and working out and back and adjust as needed based on conditions. My bigger concern with Mudro was water levels being low on The Horse river in August making that the harder option. I’ve never been in this area though so it’s all new just trying to learn and be safe!

I’m doing a guys trip Mudro entry end of August and heading up the Horse river intothe LoweR Basswood Falls and Crooked Lake area. Shorter trip and if water is low or other issues we’ll camp on Horse, Fourtown, and other smaller lakes in that area.

Ryan

Topic looks pretty well covered, but my group went this year the weekend of Memorial Day for a 6 night loop. We went up the Horse, single portaging and made it to Wednesday Bay in about 6 hours. We camped on Weds bay for 3 nights and had a lot of success fishing that area. Then spent 2 nights up in Friday bay - a little less success in that area but it was a high bar to try and reach. Camped our final night on Boot and went out that direction. Incredible trip.

Here is a video my buddy made of the trip. Most spots that looked like decent walleye spots on the map basically all seemed to hold some fish.

Crooked Video

It's DOWN the Horse to Basswood River. UP the Horse to Horse Lake. Current in Horse is not really an issue with the exception of very high water levels can make ascending the swifts the last mile before Horse Lake difficult.

The Horse is navigable in low water levels with a bit of rock dancing around what would be swifts in wetter years. In very low water levels the stretch from the Basswood River to the first portage on the Horse can be a viscous mucky slog. Rock strikes can be a problem in these conditions as the boulders in the river are draped with stealth-seaweed coats and are almost impossible to see. In very low water conditions the pronunciation of Horse is oft distorted into Whores.

ericinely:


If you go in at Mudro, it is three relatively easy portages out of Mudro, Sandpit and Tin Can Mike, then three easy portages (and a beautiful paddle) on the Horse River.

Mudro to Sandpit can be tough with the hill, but yeah otherwise it's not bad at all really.

We got to experience "heart attack hill" right after a big rain and that was brutal.

Other points of interest on Crooked Lake that might not have been talked about.

I think Table Rock was covered.

Truck of some type location. Just be aware this is in Canada island right on the border.


Plane crash from 1940 or a 1940 plane? Still something neat to know about and stop if you are close.

Another Crooked Lake trip report.

Spartan1

Trip report