New Trip Report posted by Doug

Trip Name: Lake One to Insula in August.

Entry Point: 30

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Great report! I bet the kayak was a lot of fun. So did you make your sons carry your gear?

Did your sons have a good time?

I really enjoyed the kayak. It was more difficult to portage. The portages were pretty quiet when were up there, so it wasn't a problem. I did my share of hauling gear, but the boys carried more than I did. They really had a good time. We hope to do it again real soon. I'm going to keep reading the trip reports to decide where to go next.

I have an Old Town Loon 14’6” kayak and it’s a bit heavy for portaging on the one shoulder so what I did was fold up the shammy cloth I keep in the boat and put it on top of my head then let the kayak rest on top of my head. Worked great. I loved the kayak. While everyone else was wind bound I was out in the waves whooping it up. I found it actually handled better in the wind and waves. Fishing was a little tougher from the kayak though.

How tough was that 105 rod portage ? Were you able to single portage everything ?

That portage isn't too hard. If you were a group of 4 willing to dubble pack, and you packed lightly it could be single portaged. However I'd try to dubble it. The problems are there are steep climbs at each end. Also since it's used a lot the trail is pure mud when it rains. However it's still a pretty easy portage.

There is a hill on both ends, but the path is wide. Overall, it's an easy portage. Just did it Sunday morning and Friday. Both landings are pretty good as well. If you are used to single portaging, do that. It's not too long to double portage.

Is there good walleye fishing on Lake Insula, or any nearby lakes ? Where would you recommend camping there ?

I'd camp on the northern end of the lake. The better fishing is there. The kawshawi river between there and the pictos is good waleye fishing.

Great lil report. Sounds like you guys had a great time.

My wife and I made the same journey some years ago. It was hot as heck when went, but we had lots of fun on a nice island campsite on Insula. We day tripped up to see some of the nice sand beach campsites on Alice. The more I think of it I wouldn't want to camp on a beach. too much sand.

Hope you make it back soon.

How much time should I expect the trip to take, from Lake One to Insula. Is 10 hours about right ?

If you dubble portage, and are a fast paddler it's do able in 6 or 7 hours. Search the site for info on the area.

One more question, for now. Are there any bass in Lake Insula ?

Yes there is bass i heard but ill tell you in 2 weeks cause im going to insula next saturday for a week

YES there are bass!! There are useually a few whare the kawishawi river enters the lake at the northern end of the lake.

Cya up there Pike, my group is hitting the water on Sunday

I leave lake one for north wilder lake on fathers day. I'm doing this, because while insula is a good lake, it has too much traffic.

this sunday the 10 and how long will you be up there. ill be leaving lake one around 2 next saturday the 16. i live down by milwaukee and we go halfway on friday. dont steal the good campsites:)

Great report Doug. Sounds like you had a good time. I was there in august 2006 also. We went the last week. It was notable because in 8 days it didn't rain once!

We got a late start so took 2 days to Insula from Lake One. Basecamped on williamson Island (which is a fantastic 5 star site)then took 2 days to go out to Snowbank through Ima.

Here's some pics from Insula.

Yes! There are bass in Insula. this was from shore of the campsite right off the rocks at sundown with a scented jig. We did really well from shore at sundown every night.




The rock ledges at the site are great for fishing/swimming or just sitting with your dinner.





About a mile away to the South(?) is a small island with great cliff jumping. About 30 feet high with an almost straight vertical drop into 20 plus feet of water. Fun!




We also caught some nice Northerns. This is my nephew Dave.


And I was lucky enough to get this fat 26 inch walleye on a 4" gitzit jig in the middle of a sunny day. I was in 15 feet with boulders on the bottom.