A couple of questions about moving water on Crooked Lake we encountered when crossing from west to east last June.

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Question 1
Leaving Thursday Bay going east, we followed the border around the north end of a big island (peninsula?). We had to ascend a tongue near Lat: 48.204216°, Long: -91.738431°. It was manageable but unexpected. Unpleasant due to the position of some big rocks near the top.

My maps, the map on this site, and Google Earth show possibly a small channel around the south end of this island west of campsite 1853 near Lat: 48.196838°, Long: -91.737878°.

Anyone been here and know if a channel exists on the south side of this island? Any moving water there?
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Question 2
We also encountered moving water traveling upstream after Thursday Bay going south toward Wednesday Bay. On the west side of two islands at Lat: 48.198205°, Long: -91.718980° and Lat: 48.188898°, Long: -91.716014° there were no tongues but a lot of whirlpools and boils. Steering and stability were fine but we were nervous about it.

Anyone taken the route on the east side of these islands? Any moving water there? Seems like there probably would be in the narrows at Lat: 48.188860°, Long: -91.711815°.
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Thanks for any insights.

I believe you are referring to the area called Big Current.

As you mention, the current there is something to be aware of (and keep alert) but, I am not aware of the current ever being completely unmanageable.

For me, i wouldnt want to avoid it, as it's a beautiful spot that can be an excellent fishing spot at certain times of the year.

For Question 1, the fast water on the north side of the island is Big Current, if I remember correctly. The water is kind of fast there, but it's pretty easy to get over it with normal flows. My 13 yo daughter and I stayed at the campsite on that island for a couple days last spring - went back and forth over it several times fishing.

There is a gap on the south end of the island called small current. It's shallower and rockier. We didn't try to go up it, but we went down a few times.

For question 2, we didn't go to the east side of those islands, but I do remember the flows quite quick at the southern narrows of the 2 coordinates you mentioned. We were going east to west, so it wasn't an issue for us. Looking at the satellite maps, it appears the east side is even narrower and I see what could be ripples. I'd think the east side would be worse for moving upstream.

Almost flipped the canoe going through little current from East to West on a late May trip. Sucked us right in to the rocks that were under the water but not easily seen.

We went through "little current" in August after a big rain. It was no problem and hardly any current at all. there was a large boulder at the entry on the West (north) side that tripped me up. you have to swing away from shore to go around it.

Two years ago Big/Little Current were so fast in late May that a) Big was not fishable and b) Little was not navigable. At least not for us. Under normal circumstances they are manageable but that year, due to high waters from spring rain and snow melt the area was WAY different than other years.

I'm obsessed with this lake.

We went through Little Current in 2021 and the pool located on the west side of the island was full of suckers. There was a couple on the bank try to catch them

BonzSF: "We went through "little current" in August after a big rain. It was no problem and hardly any current at all. there was a large boulder at the entry on the West (north) side that tripped me up. you have to swing away from shore to go around it. "

When we went through in June 2023, most of the rocks in your pictures were under water. We definitely had to dodge rocks the first time we passed through.

It's funny - the water level on Crooked was high, but I recall the water levels being really low at the portages between Fourtown and Mudro, requiring some extra walking.

When we went through in June 2023, most of the rocks in your pictures were under water. We definitely had to dodge rocks the first time we passed through.


It's funny - the water level on Crooked was high, but I recall the water levels being really low at the portages between Fourtown and Mudro, requiring some extra walking. "

This was Aug of '22. It was low water just about everywhere