Fishing: Probably Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye because Trease Lake is directly connected to North Hegman Lake
Maps: Fisher F-9; McKenzie #11
Lake Depth: Unknown
Fire History:
Lake Size: Unknown
Campsites: 0
Wildlife Seen on Visit: Lots of Waterfowl
Last Visited: July 11, 2023; Previous Visit(s): April 29, 2016
Lake Elevation: 1462 feet
Water Clarity: N/A
ROUTES/PORTAGES FROM TREASE LAKE:
To North Hegman Lake: Paddle In
To Angleworm Lake Portage/Trail: Walk the 428 rod portage (After reaching Angleworm Lake Trail, you must still follow that to get to Angleworm Lake)
Trease Lake
Kawishiwi Ranger District
Trease Lake collects the water from surrounding marshlands and runoff from the many cliffs that surround the lake. This water feeds south through the channel into North Hegman Lake. Trease Lake is more like a northern extension of North Hegman Lake.
The entrance to Trease Lake is just north of the cliffs containing the North Hegman Lake pictographs via a wide channel. This channel is navigable in pretty much any water level conditions.
Since Trease Lake is sort of an extension of North Hegman Lake, it is probably reasonable to assume it has the same fish species present.
In the channel between North Hegman Lake and Trease Lake, there are many pitcher plants growing along the boggy shoreline. These are carnivorous plants native to Minnesota.
Like the two Hegman Lake's to the south, Trease Lake also has many high and pretty cliffs ringing its edges.
Besides coming to Trease Lake to take in the scenery and maybe try your fishing luck, another reason is to portage. A long and rugged portage extends from the north shore of Trease Lake for 428 rods up to the Angleworm Lake Portage/Angleworm Lake Trail. The portage is a couple rods or so to the right of an open area of forest along the shoreline. Easy to mistake this open spot for the beginning of the portage. Walk the portage, which heads generally north until you arrive at the intersection with the Angleworm Lake Trail. This is a four way intersection. See the Angleworm Lake Trail page for details of how to figure out which direction to go from this point to make it the rest of the way to Angleworm Lake or to head back to BWCA Entry Point 20.
Hardtack Lake is somewhat accessible with some bushwhacking from the southwest bay of Trease Lake, by following a small creek for perhaps 50 rods. The lake is named for a hard biscuit made of flour, water and perhaps some salt. Dried meats and fruits were also sometimes added. It is non-perishable and was used for sustenance by trappers and voyageurs. It was originally made by the British Navy starting back in the 15th or 16th century.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 1 – Western Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 130. 133.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 132.
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PADDLING FROM NORTH HEGMAN LAKE TO THE ANGLEWORM LAKE PORTAGE
Paddling out of North Hegman Lake and north into Trease Lake through the channel that connects the two lakes (April 29, 2016).
Pitcher plants (the tall stalks topped by a flower) grow abundantly along the edges of the channel between North Hegman Lake and Trease Lake during the summertime (July 11, 2023).
Paddling from North Hegman Lake to the Angleworm Lake portage at the north end of Trease Lake. Follow the eastern shoreline (July 11, 2023).
Older video footage of Trease Lake. From the channel between North Hegman Lake and Trease Lake, veer to the left and stay along the west shoreline of Trease Lake as you paddle toward the north. This route ends on the north shore of Trease Lake at the portage that leads to the Angleworm Trail. Once you reach the Angleworm Trail, you can follow that the remaining distance to Angleworm Lake (April 29, 2016).
This rock outcropping is visible along the west shore of Trease Lake about midway (April 29, 2016). Portage to the Angleworm Trail -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM ANGLEWORM TRAIL PORTAGE TO NORTH HEGMAN LAKE
The view towards the southeast when you are standing on the Trease Lake to Angleworm Lake Trail portage (April 29, 2016).
Looking south from the portage to the Angleworm Lake Trail. The channel to North Hegman Lake is just to the right of center on other side of lake (April 29, 2016).
Traveling along the western shoreline of Trease Lake, paddling from the Angleworm Lake portage to the channel leading into North Hegman Lake. Briefly visit the point on the lake nearest to Hardtack Lake. A small creek flows in here, but it is difficult to see because of the heavy mid-summer vegetation (July 11, 2023).
After setting out from the Trease Lake portage landing, head toward the east and then down the eastern shoreline to the south, until reaching the channel leading back to North Hegman Lake (April 29, 2016).
Last vestiges of winter clinging to the shadowed eastern shoreline of Trease Lake (April 29, 2016).
Looking back toward the northeast as you make for the channel leading south to North Hegman Lake (April 29, 2016).
A view down the channel into North Hegman Lake. The North Hegman Lake cliff containing the pictographs is just around the corner to the right as you enter North Hegman Lake (April 29, 2016). Paddle into North Hegman Lake -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
