Canthook Lake
Probably one of the most difficult lakes to reach in the Primitive Management Areas. There is little information about the lake. It is possible this lake gets it's name from a Judge Canthook who presided over a court in the Ely area in the 1920's. Name probably has nothing to do with the inability to hook fish. The area to the south of the lake was impacted by the Independence Day Windstorm in 1999. The north side of the lake appears to have a lot of rocky shoreline and maybe some cliffs. Because of the elevated north shoreline, it makes me think that the best appraoch is from the northeast end of Triumph Lake instead of directly from Bootleg Lake. Either way, it is going to be a difficult bushwhack out to this remote lake.
There is another lake in the Canadian Crown Lands just 5 miles north of North Lake and South Lake (which are along the Gunflint Trail) named Canthook Lake. That lake is much larger.
This area was most recently burned in 1910 by the Sioux River, Bootleg, Big Moose and Cummings Lake complex. In 1894 it may have been impacted as the Chad, Cummings, Lac La Croix, Crooked Lakes complex raged near this area. Also, around 1755 the area was burned during the Big Moose, Oyster, Lac La Croix complex fires.
Approach to Canthook Lake
You can either attempt this bushwhack from Bootleg Lake or from the northeast end of Triumph Lake.
Bushwhack to Canthook Lake
Appears that the low area between the northeast end of Triumph Lake and Canthook Lake offers a reasonable route. Conceivable to bushwhack directly in from Bootleg Lake too.
Exploring Canthook Lake
There is little information on this lake.
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