Angling for Privacy

Drop a line from islands you can call your own

BY ERIN GIFFORD

ooking for a shing

Lgetaway that can please the entire water-loving family? Whether you prefer tents and sleeping bags or climate-controlled cabins with toilets and electricity, there’s an isolated island adventure for you.

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, MINN.

At Voyageurs National Park, every campsite is accessible by water, and all sites require a camping permit. Some islands have just one campsite, while other larger islands have multiple options.

Many of the most sought-after island campsites are on Kabetogama Lake, one of four major chain-of-lakes at Voyageurs. Echo and Moxie islands each have just one campsite, while Sphunge Island has two sites — one east, one west.

The islands are not far from the kayak launch area, but may still require an hour or two of paddling, depending on the weather and other variables. Every campsite has food storage lockers, picnic tables, a re ring and an outhouse.

“The most important thing to know is the kind of landing. Not all islands have sand landings, but that’s what you want,” says longtime paddler Barry Brahier, from Roseville, Minn., who has camped on the islands at Voyageurs more than a dozen times.

Voyageurs is renowned for having some of the best walleye shing in the country and some of the best smallmouth bass >

Fishermen take to the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H., on the opening day of landlocked salmon season.

Kayakers paddle near one of the islands available for rent on Lake George, which offers some of the best bass fishing in New York.

shing in the state.

When they’re not biting, paddle to islands that allow for exploration, like Cutover Island, also on Kabetogama Lake. Near the lake you’ll nd the 2-mile Locator Lake Trail. Keep your eyes open for beavers, bald eagles, loons, red squirrels, swans and other native wildlife.

LAKE GEORGE ISLANDS, N.Y.

In New York’s Adirondacks region, Lake George is one of the state’s best bass shing spots. It’s stocked with landlocked salmon annually and is also a good place to catch lake and brook trout.

It’s also home to several clusters of state-owned islands that can be reserved for paddle-in day-use activities or overnight camping. The Lake George Islands can be reached by canoe, kayak, motorized boats and sailboats.

Book your campsite at ReserveAmerica.com or take a chance on one of the rst-come, rst-serve options, which can only be reserved in person at the ranger station. All islands have at least one toilet, a re ring and a picnic table.

The Glen Island Group is a favorite with more than two dozen islands, including single-site islands such as Perch and Little Gourd. Hermit Island is a top pick given its proximity to Glen Island, which is home to a ranger station and a general store for live bait, rewood, groceries, ice cream and other supplies.

POSEY ISLAND MARINE STATE PARK, WASH.

The San Juan Islands are a draw for anglers seeking halibut, rock sh, salmon and other saltwater species and have long been revered by outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to a multitude of camping, hiking and paddling opportunities. Paddle-in campsites can be found on islands, peninsulas and state parks along the Cascadia Marine Trail in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

For a remote paddle-andcamp experience, look to small marine parks like Posey Island Marine State Park. With just two campsites, it’s possible to have the entire 1-acre state park to yourself. Walk the perimeter to study time-worn yew trees and brightly colored wild owers.

During the day, kayak north to Spieden Island to see — from a distance — sika deer, horned mou on sheep and other safari animals grazing on the >

Renters of The Cabin on Coney Island can relax on the porch after a morning chasing bass or catfish in West Virginia’s New River.

savannalike grasses. The private island was a game park for a short time in the 1960s. Stepping foot on the island is prohibited, but wildlife can be seen from the water.

In the afternoon, savor the sweeping views from the Posey Island shoreline. There is no electricity or potable water source, but there is a composting toilet on the island. Sites can be reserved online through Washington State Parks.

THE CABIN ON CONEY ISLAND, W.VA.

Coney Island may be part of the name, but this retreat is not even close to Brooklyn. It’s actually inside the New River Gorge National Park, recently redesignated as a preserve in the national park system. Here, you’ll nd The Cabin on Coney Island, a climate-controlled shanty that can sleep up to 10 people between two bedrooms and a loft with three twin-size trundle beds.

Coney Island is located at the con uence of the New and Greenbrier rivers in Hinton. The New, in particular, offers excellent opportunities to catch bass (smallmouth, largemouth, striped and rock), bluegill, carp and channel and athead cat sh.

The cabin features amenities like ush toilets, a full kitchen, electricity and air conditioning. It’s a quick paddle, too; it’s the length of a football eld from the boat launch to the island. An in-town out tter can also taxi you over to the island.

Beyond a well-appointed cabin, you’ll nd 7 acres of hiking trails and a small sandy beach. Breakfast basics like fresh fruit, cereal, oatmeal, coffee and tea are provided, but you’ll have to pack in the rest of your provisions. The cabin is also stocked with cleaning supplies, paper products and rewood.

“Guests who come to the island for a vacation want to stay on the island,” says Holli Lathroum, marketing manager for MountainPlex Properties, which operates the cabin. “They want to kayak around the island, go shing, listen to the river and not do a lot of anything, just relax.”

LITTLE WHORTLEBURY ISLAND, N.H.

Little Whortlebury Island is one of only a handful of private islands for rent on Lake Winnipesaukee. There is no cabin or abode of any kind on the 4-acre island, so plan to bring your own tents and sleeping bags. This does not mean the island is free of amenities. In fact, the island is stocked with cooking utensils and tableware. There is also a large dining table, a stone barbecue pit, food prep tables, tent platforms and a composting toilet.

Bring your own boat or rent one from Melvin Village Marina for the short hop to Little Whortlebury Island. Spend your days shing for bass, perch, trout and landlocked salmon or tuning in to the haunting calls of the majestic loons. Make time to paddle or motor out to Liliuokalani’s Ice Cream Shop for a scoop or two.

Staying on Little Whortlebury truly allows you to get back to basics, like blueberries. “One of the great things about the island is that there are tons of wild blueberries to feast on, especially in August,” says Sabra GandhiSellers, daughter-in-law of the island’s owner, noted American architect David Sellers. l