Heading up to Basswood on May 15th with a group of 5 for 4 days. I have been to Basswood one time and stayed up on the North West side to get out of motor zone. We didn't fish when we were up there, but this time we are wanting to focus on fishing. I am wondering if the fishing is any good up on that part of the lake as I would like to be out of the motor zone again. However, I am wondering if it would be best to just deal with a little traffic and have better fishing by staying in Pipestone. Any advice is appreciated.

All of Basswood holds great fish populations. NP, SMB, Walleye are abundant where you are thinking about. Lakers will be shallow but you need to be close to deep water areas. LMB are quite numerous in shallow weedy bays and pockets as well. Lots of posts describing early season fishing dos and don'ts. For better info though, check out Tom Boley and Jon Thelan on YT. Pretty to easy to call up early season techniques, even if you won't have the electronics they use.

Thank you for the insight. Have you ever been on Basswood during opener/is there more motor traffic to be expected then say in the middle of summer?

froggatherer: "Thank you for the insight. Have you ever been on Basswood during opener/is there more motor traffic to be expected then say in the middle of summer?"

I was on Basswood on opener weekend a couple of years ago. Lots of motor traffic and very few open campsites in the motorized zone.

Significant motor traffic on Basswood on Prairie Portage to Washington Island route. Declines a little going through Hoist to Back Bay. Light motor traffic if you are coming from Fall Lake. If you are coming from EP 25 (Moose), get a tow to Washington Island!

illini79ps: "Significant motor traffic on Basswood on Prairie Portage to Washington Island route. Declines a little going through Hoist to Back Bay. Light motor traffic if you are coming from Fall Lake. If you are coming from EP 25 (Moose), get a tow to Washington Island!"

I will be coming from Fall Lake, and likely check to see how busy/site availability is in Pipestone and if it's crammed I will keep heading North. Maybe check out to see how busy Jackfish is too. I appreciate the response.

froggatherer: "

illini79ps: "Significant motor traffic on Basswood on Prairie Portage to Washington Island route. Declines a little going through Hoist to Back Bay. Light motor traffic if you are coming from Fall Lake. If you are coming from EP 25 (Moose), get a tow to Washington Island!"

I will be coming from Fall Lake, and likely check to see how busy/site availability is in Pipestone and if it's crammed I will keep heading North. Maybe check out to see how busy Jackfish is too. I appreciate the response. "

Pipestone was full to the brim with motorboats and no open sites when I was there on opener weekend a couple of years ago.