Planning a 2024 mid-June with my 14 YO son. He is a pro fisherman and wants to catch fish 24/7. Looking for recommendations for trips or lakes to check out. Fine with base camp if site is a gem, but fine moving every day. Will be out for seven days or so.

I have had three back surgeries so no big portages. Long flat portage is fine, but I'm not climbing a mountain. I have tons of long 5+ day backpacking experiences all over the US so no issue there.

Lake trout would be a plus if its in the lake. Thinking Ely area as we have been to Sea Gull Outfitters last spring. He was just on Gunflint lake two weeks ago, but still open to that.

I love planning so already have everything nailed down except the entry point. Well, as much as I can at this point.

Check out Lac La Croix via EP 14 or 16.

Knife lake has it all for fishing and is easy to get there.

YaMarVa: "Check out Lac La Croix via EP 14 or 16."

Or you can get a round trip tow from Crane Lake to Lac La Croix from Andersons or Zups. They can take you all the way to Bottle Portage - eastern side of LLC. It would give extra fishing time - no need to spend a day paddling there and a day paddling back. Eastern LLC (Boulder Bay, Fish Stake Narrows, Lady Boot, etc - see image below), Iron, and even Crooked are all great fishing.

Mudro to Horse or Boot/Fairy is a good route for fishing. More for walleye and small mouth. IMHO lake trout are harder to catch as you have to deeper as you get into Mid-June and then deeper yet as you get into summer.

If you are thinking Moose to Knife, then check out this thread and map.

Link to thread

Thomas has lakers and eyes and slimers-- DNR says no SMB, but wouldn't be shocked if they are in there now- so potential Grand Slam chance) - Fairly easy to get to from Snowbank.
Usually not as busy as Knife- and if so- head up into Fraser ( Grand Slam potential) and Sagus.

Insula/Alice area is also very good. One moderate port of 100 rods into Insula from Hudson and it's just short lift overs to Alice.

We did Moose lake EP to South Arm Knife lake with a tow. I caught a grand slam pretty easily including my personal best SMB twice in one day. Scenery is great and fishing is great. A lot of people say it’s crowded but we went mid august and barely saw anyone. Bass hit every cast on white jigs and leeches casting out and bouncing on bottom on windswept shoreline. Pike and Lakers trolling deep diving raps. Caught dozens of bass and pike on whopper ploppers too. But overall leeches on white or green jigs was most productive. A lot of people say to fish Eddy Falls but we had no luck there.

I would highly recommend getting a tow to bottle portage if your budget allows. You could stay on LLC or take one easy portage to Iron Lake. I’ve preferred this the last couple years as I’ve gotten older. We used Anderson’s who are wonderful. I’ve used Zips before too, but it’s a bit easier with Anderson’s. LLC offers a chance at a grand slam and being a large lake you have the added chance of much larger fish. If you decide you can day trip to Crooked as well.