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Wood Lake vs. Wind Lake

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moose664788

10/20/2011 09:50PM

Possibly looking at taking a 3 night, 4 day trip to one of these two lakes. Any preference on the two? Which can provide better campsites, fishing, solitude, etc?

Two ideas came to mind: I was thinking if I went in at Wood, maybe head up to Indiana to find a little more solitude rather then stay on Wood?

Or would wind be the better choice to enter at Moose, and portage over to Wind lake to find better fishing, solitude etc. Will I hear motor noise from moose on this lake?

I understand I will still be around others, just looking for help.

Thanks.

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CrookedPaddler1

10/21/2011 09:27AM

I think you will be happy with either lake! I do believe that Wind has some nicer campsites, but wood probably has slightly better fishing. I have camped on wood many times, summer and winter and always catch nice northerns and a few really nice walleyes. A trip to Indiana is worth it, great small mouth fishing and a few really big northerns. As far as solitude, I think that you don't have to go any further than wood lake. It has been my experience that most people that put in at wood, travel through and up to basswood. Many times, in the peak of the summer I have pretty much had the lake to myself.

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PaddleAway

10/22/2011 10:16PM

Depends on what you're looking for. I haven't been through Wood, but here's a little info on Wind.

We spent a couple nights with the kids doing an 'easy' trip on Wind this summer. Very nice lake, decent fishing for pike & bass. We stayed on the southern end of the 'two-campsite' island & it was very nice, as was the one just east of it, though we could sometimes here the other campers. The second campsite on the island looked awful from the water, the lone island campsite looked very nice. The bay held weeds & plenty of pike. Only problem with three nights on Wind is limited movement opportunites, but if you want to fish one lake hard, this wouldn't be a bad choice.

We located the old portage into Washte & it's tough to find but still in good shape. Portage to Basswood didn't sound fun. There were plenty of people moving around, in, & through Wind while we were there in late July, but the lake is big enough it didn't feel crowded. We couldn't hear motors from Moose but I'll wager you could if the wind was right/wrong.

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Kevlar

10/23/2011 09:30AM

I agree with Crooked Paddle. An extra thought about Wood...you don't have to chance fighting the wind on Moose to get to the portage to Wind Lke. You start right from the parking lot on the Wood portage, and it is an easier portage than the Wind one.

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CORIOLIS

10/25/2011 12:26PM

Been to Wood several times. WE base camp. The 180 rod portage is respectable but not overly tedious. Stayed at the first campsite in on the west in 2009 and this past August; nice site. Fishing is decent and should keep you entertained/fed (my buddy got a 4 lb smallie and I a 5lb walleye this year).Loons, eagles, ospreys this year even though it's not the prettiest lake. Did hear some motor noise this year I suppose from Basswood or the bays and sometimes traffic from 169 at the entry point. We are generally laid back and just fish the western side of the lake, but there are lots of places on the lake to scare up fish. If you're really industrious, you can always day trip to Hula, Good, Indiana, or the bays. Lots of options.

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