The name of this lake is taken from the Ojibwe word of "Pingoshag", which means "sand fly". Some older topographic maps of this area refer to this lake as "Bingoshick" Lake.
Bingshick Lake doesn't see a lot of visitors. The portages through this area receive minimal maintenance and beavers have caused flooding of some of these paths. Those passing through here often come for the brook trout fishing. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources stocks the lake on a regular basis with this species.
Besides the brook trout fishing, another reason to come this way is if you can't find the portage from Fay Lake to Flying Lake (hint - its not there even though it is shown on maps) and you don't know about the unmarked portage from the east end of Fay Lake into the Chub River (from which you can portage to Flying Lake). The other way to get from Fay Lake to Flying Lake is to portage from Fay Lake to Glee Lake, then Glee Lake to Bingshick Lake, then Bingshick Lake to the Chub River and then portage a final time into Flying Lake. Whatever way you decide to go, it won't be a picnic, but you will likely have the place to yourself. Of the two routes, the one through Bingshick Lake is substantially longer and also more difficult.
Lastly, you could come to Bingshick Lake because you want to head up to Honker Lake and check it out. Honker Lake is a dead end lake with no fish in it (except white suckers). You will almost certainly have Honker Lake to yourself.
The Kekekabic Trail runs along the entire north shoreline of Bingshick Lake. It crosses the short portage between Honker Lake and Bingshick Lake. Note that the two campsites on Bingshick Lake are also accessible to hikers of the Kekekabic Trail. Since the Kek sees light traffic, there is a good chance these campsites will be available.
The water in Bingshick Lake flows south from near the middle of the lake at the Chub River portage. In fact, the portage was the outflow creek (as of 2020), which makes things more interesting. A creek coming from Mine Lake to the east feeds Bingshick Lake. This creek flows into the very eastern end of Bingshick Lake.
Nearly the entire forest around Bingshick Lake was burnt by the 2006 Cavity Lake Fire.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 2 – Eastern Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 154, 156.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 334.
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PADDLING FROM THE GLEE LAKE PORTAGE TO THE CHUB RIVER PORTAGE
Peeking through the forest from the portage landing to glimpse Bingshick Lake. You follow the small channel visible to the right out into the main lake from the portage landing. Navigating this short channel will likely require you to liftover some deadfall and a few rocks.
(Unfortunately camera settings accidentally got switched to the TimeWarp setting, so this video is a series of several hundred photos taken in rapid succession. Just pause the video if you want to see a still frame.) From the Glee Lake portage, paddle eastward along the southern shore of Bingshick Lake to the Chub River portage.
View of Bingshick Lake from the Chub River portage. Here your view is to the north/northwest. Portage to the Chub River -or- Explore Another Route **********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
Route Connections for Bingshick Lake
From Bingshick Lake you can portage into the Chub River, Glee Lake or Honker Lake. The portage to Glee Lake is a stinker. The portage to the Chub River is short, steeply downhill and IN (depending on water levels) a small creek.
