I am sure that they have the maps of Trout at Vermilion Fuel and Food.
Cliff

tkettle,
No one was using the hinsdale island sites this past weekend and I bet you could easily get a site this weekend also.

Somehow snow and rain and 40 degrees cuts down on the demand...

:-)

We do have the maps for trout lake at the store.

Anyone have any updates on the ice condition in Trout?

Hi tkettel: I am in Colorado (snow in the forecast for tonite!), so I can't tell you anything about the Trout Lake ice. But assuming you are still headed up to Trout this week-end, would you mind sending a walleye report after your trip either on this blog or to my email, hamboneco@msn.com? I am heading up there on early Friday a.m. the 23rd. It is a big lake and I'd appreciate any advice on locations which you found productive. Are you thinking about taking a canoe paddle into Little Trout? Most of our fellow bloggers speak highly of its walleye fishery.

Good luck and hope to hear from you!

DNR ice out status says "partial cover". Checked the satilite imagery today but couldnt get a good look due to clouds. Maybe tommorrow. Maybe im wrong but i would guess well be able to get in there by this weekend?

Hamb, look for a report monday if I have one to give I have been tossing around the idea of bringing a canoe but being the first time up there and given the very cold water I might not take the chance. Staying in my super comfy, wide and stable Yammy powered Lunker seems like a good choice to me. We are going with a group though and they may do just that. I am going to concerntrate on working the areas I have indentified as shallow with structure near the north end of the lake. I think the biggest challenge is going to be figuring out if the eyes have moved in shallow. I plan to troll raps and lindys to figure that out and then throw jigs and bobbers at them. Of course this is assuming the ice is out!

I just now called the Trout Lake portage and got Jim's answering machine. The message says that the portage is not open due to ice on Trout Lake. I know Jim pretty well and there is a possibility that he just hasn't changed his meassage but I certainly would have a contingency plan in the event that you can't reach him before you plan on going in.

I called Mocassin Point and they claim the portage is up and running. So guess we find out when we get there. Let me ask the opinion of those who fish Trout on a regular basis. Would it be worth the time and effort to rent a canoe so we can go into Little Trout after walleye? Or does Trout produce good eye fishing this time of year? I have heard a few opinions over the last couple of weeks, but help me decide!

Just got a phone call that Trout is not going to be open for camping over the weekend! I believe that the DNR is saying there is no accessible campsites. Plan B for me!

Tkettel, where did you get that info? What would the DNR have to say about the campsites in Trout. Do you mean the USFS. They would be the governing body. I heard today that there is still quite a large ice sheet floating around but people have gone in. I also heard that a crew did make it into little trout, but they have not returned. I dont know if that is by choice or that they are iced in?

The crew I am going with called someone who issues the permits and were told they would not be issued. Sorry I can't be more specific as I am just last minute invited tag along this year. I usually am the guy obtaining the permits to enter the BWCA so I know how the system works, I wasn't thinking when I said the DNR. I will try and get more info. There was a post today saying the portage would be closed and I called Moccasin Point on that one. They thought he was still running this weekend. But maybe people can day trip in but not overnight? Regardless we are headed for Vermillion tomorrow and plan to stay there.

we are going ahead with plans as well, i guess well call the cook ranger station tomorrow morning and get the skinny.

Aland, we made reservations with Hoodoo campground. Sounds like they have several spots open and Pikes Bay will be open for fishing on Saturday.