Last year I went to Fourtown/Horse for 4 days in mid July. Fishing was bad, but was expected to be so at that time of the year. This year I am looking to go much further in, either to Beartrap/Thunder or Basswood Falls. However I did have a few questions.

1) How is the fishing around Basswood Falls?

2) I have read other posts from 5 years ago that talk about a place called something like SawSisters Saloon, and it's parking lot? When we went last summer we just parked in the big lot right at the entry point. Is this a newer development? Should I park there again. Any help with that will be gladly taken.

The Chainsaw Sisters Saloon closed a few years ago and became the property of the USFS and the parking lot that is there now. Regrettably, I never got there before it closed.

Chainsaw sister's saloon is no longer there. i do believe their parking lot use to be that lot you parked in. where did you fish in fourtown and what where you fishing for?

quote BWCAnewbie: "Last year I went to Fourtown/Horse for 4 days in mid July. Fishing was bad, but was expected to be so at that time of the year. This year I am looking to go much further in, either to Beartrap/Thunder or Basswood Falls. However I did have a few questions.

1) How is the fishing around Basswood Falls?

2) I have read other posts from 5 years ago that talk about a place called something like SawSisters Saloon, and it's parking lot? When we went last summer we just parked in the big lot right at the entry point. Is this a newer development? Should I park there again. Any help with that will be gladly taken."

if you went in 22 or 23 last year you parked in the old chainsaw sisters parking lot.

A few years ago, our group of 4 went in Mudro, up to Crooked, and over to Lower Basswood falls, then back out at Mudro. We caught plenty of fish, no trophies to speak of, but another group we spoke to base camped on Crooked every year to catch BIG (so they said) Northern Pike. There is a very nice camp site at lower basswood falls, if you want to listen to the water, and the fishing near the falls was good. The portage from Sandpit to Mudro (I think) has a pretty steep up hill that I remember quite well.

Chainsaw Sisters was a cool place to have a Leinenkugel after a nice stay in the BW. I wish I could have gotten my dollar off the ceiling before they demo'd the place...

Thanks for the Info about Chainsaw Sisters. Trying not to get too crazy, we basecamped at site 1107 which was an amazing site compared to the others we stopped at. We fished around the middle island, and north of it up near Moosecamp River, and tried trolling up and down the east side of the lake as well. Caught some small walleye that we cooked up, and a few northerns.

The fishing on Fairy and Gun is good as is the fishing on Moosecamp. I have made the trip to the falls but fished farther up on Wed. Bay.

My father caught a 20lbs+ pike just past the falls. I stayed in a nice campsite farther down which I marked on the map. The falls do tend to be fished pretty hard but the fish love the oxygenated water.

Push up into the bays of crooked, you will be glad you did, planning on spending time on fourtonw this year as well as crooked.

Hi "Newbie"
That's one of my favorite trips in BW. I've done the following loop twice and highly recommend it. I'd suggest 5-6 days, to give yourself enough time to do some fishin.' Mudro Lake entry point to Horse Lake (camp at one of the sites just before Horse River starts at the east side of the lake). The one closest to the river entrance has a nice sand beach. If you go due west from there, there's a little "garage" where you can park your canoe and go ashore to fish. Then take the Horse River, stop and check out Basswood Falls, the pictographs (don't forget to leave an "offering" of tobacco for the Maymaygwishi - mischevious spirits who inhabit the cracks in the cliffs), and then stop and check out the Table Rock site (very historical and actually a really nice campsite, and tons of bluberries when in season). Then try to get the campsite on the west side of Friday Bay of Crooked Lake (and fish the two islands directly east from there - also good for swimming). Then go back through a less travelled route through Fairy and Gun to Fourtown (good fishing) and back to Mudro. There's a lot to see, the fishing's good, and not too difficult. Took my two nephews this past summer (with my son and me) and they loved it.

Thanks Bill, seems like a lot to do and see. I will run it by my canoemate

do you need to enter the lottery to have a shot at the Mudro EP in may?

Before the fishing opener probably not necessary.

After the opener it would be a good idea, especially if you plan to enter Wednesday-Saturday.

You don't have to get in the lottery, but don't wait too long, especially if you want to permit that allows you to camp on Horse Lake (EP23).

This is one of my favorite entry points. My cousins and I push up into the bays on Crooked. Its worth every stroke. We have been doing this for over 10 years. When we first started we were as redneck as it comes. We have replaced the large bass tackle boxes and big green Coleman stoves for light weight gear so as to cover more ground. Our best fish, 40" northern, 28" walleye, and 21" smallmouth. Fish the little creeks that dump into the bays. Look for current and hang on. The secret weapon for small mouth... Heddon torpedo. Best of luck.

Don't skip the portage around lower Basswood. The difference between rapids and falls....

quote Banksiana: "Don't skip the portage around lower Basswood. The difference between rapids and falls.... "

stupid is as stupid does

quote Banksiana: "Don't skip the portage around lower Basswood. The difference between rapids and falls.... "

speechless

BWCA N - If at all possible, I'd advise you to try to get into the January lottery for a Mudro permit.

Like someone else said, if you want to camp on Horse, definitely the lottery. And that doesn't guarantee you that you will get it, just gives you a much better chance.

If you do put in for the lottery, also a few things to make sure you do;

1. Put #23 as your first choice, but #22 as your second choice. (#22 is "no camping on Horse"). Better to get a second choice than have to wait for all the rest of the permits to get done & then get a note from the center that your permit for #23 wasn't open, because #22 might not be open by that time either.

2. Make sure you have at least 2 names on the permit and 3 or 4 is better. I've had customers only put 1 name (the leader) and then something happens & the leader can't come and then with no other names on the permit, the permit is not usable.

3. If at all possible, also put an alternate entry date. This also gives you another try at the area in the lottery. The lottery goes sort of like this; tries for first entry choice & first date choice - then second entry choice and first date choice - then second entry choice and first date - then second entry choice and second date. This gives you four possibilities, if those are choices that work for your group.

4. You don't need to know exactly how many people will be going to make the permit application. The number of people on the permit can be changed up to the last minute of picking it up (no more than 9). The permit does have a minimum of 2 people for the reservation, but even that can be only 1 person when you pick it up & you get a refund on your credit card.

If you can't get into the first lottery, still figure out the possible choices so when you do reserve the permit, you have alternatives to go by just in case.

(sorry for all the many details, there is a lot of 'stuff' for permits.)

Thanks VN,

Already did that about 3 weeks ago, and did everything you said to do. The website where you enter the lottery is pretty good at making those points. I'm not looking for #23 permit, but have it as alternate 3/4 on two different dates. Should be Ok as we are looking at entering on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks for the info though!

quote Banksiana: "Don't skip the portage around lower Basswood. The difference between rapids and falls.... "

Unbelievable. In no way shape or form would I want to canoe over LBF. kayak maybe, but a canoe in the wilderness?

quote apugarcia: "

quote Banksiana: "Don't skip the portage around lower Basswood. The difference between rapids and falls.... "

Unbelievable. In no way shape or form would I want to canoe over LBF. kayak maybe, but a canoe in the wilderness?"

Well, some people are stupid I guess. Sounded like the chaperone(s) (momma?) didn't seem to have a problem with it ....

It always looks good until canoe flips and you are floundering over the rapids. Crazy.