I will be in Kawnipi in middle June on my second solo. Going through the Falls Chain. I am thinking of staying in the Kawa Bay area.

Anyone have any must hit spots to fish in that area? Looking for walleye and smallmouth. I've base camped 5 or 6 times on Saganagons and if you want some "must hit" spots on that area I can help you there.

Thanks, love this site, I just think the more info a person can have about the area they are going the better the trip can be.

It's been a long time since 1992 but I had real good luck for big smalllies and northern in the finger bays of Kawnipi.

Kawnipi has walleye everywhere. In Mid June the smallies will be in shallower waters. Good rule of thumb is target areas where this is flow. Preferably with incoming rivers like the Cache river. Often times its in bays or channels like heading up to the Wawiag where you will find a flow mid lake.

Hex

The lake is also rumored to hold LT. It will greatly depend on water temps at that time of year so fish could be in any part of the water column. Figure on fishing the pinches and narrows between landmasses and start off the shore about 20 yds or so and keep progressively going deeper (spoons may help here but I prefer the taildancers)until you hit paydirt. A fishfinder would be a big help here to locate underwater ridges and identify structure.

One awesome trip and excellent moose country.
Even I caught walleye there. I think lake trout are far and few between but lake trout water all around.

Your entry point will be?

Thanks,

Entry is Gunflint Trail, tow to hook island, Saganagons, Falls Chain.

Hey HighnDry, did go to Kawnipi in 2014? I was supposed to go that year and I had spoke to you about it then. We were going to be there at the same time. It was my first solo and I took too much stuff.

After being wind bound near the ranger station in Cache for like 6 hours then doing Silver Falls portage at about dark I was spent. I had to triple portage so I just base camped on the other side of Deadmans portage.

I have cut a lot of weight from the packs this year.

Yes, Kawnipi is a fishing heaven, but don't rush too fast through the Falls Chain and skip all the good spots along the way. I'd toss a few lines below each falls and see what happens.

Most people focus on Kawa and McKenzie Bays, but all of Kawnipi is great. Just a big flowage lake with several creeks and rivers flowing it. Hard to not find good spots.