I would suggest the North Country Trail in North Central Minnesota.
The section I'm talking about goes through the Chippewa National Forest,
Paul Bunyan State Forest and Itasca State Park. It continues on to
the White Earth State Forest and Tamarac Wildlife Refuge.
There are a couple sections that are exactly what you are
looking for. There is a section west of Longville, Minnesota where
the trail goes by 14 little lakes in a 12 miles stretch of trail.
These lakes would be really good for the fishing aspect of your trip.
Plus there are several backpacking campsites along that stretch of trail
including a brand new one on Moccasin Lake. The campsite on Long Lake/Gut Lake
is a favorite of fishermen. The Campsite on Hazel Lake is a favorite
of Trout Fishermen, but that campsite has a two track forest road going to it,
so sometimes it has car campers.
The Other place that would be good for fishing is in the Paul Bunyan State Forest
to Itasca State Park. Starting at the Gulch Lakes Campground in the PBST and heading
west there are several lakes that the trail goes by. There are campsites along the way
too. Plus when you get to Itasca, there are several great lakes and campsites along
the NCT in the Park. But those campsites are fee campsites except for the NCT campsite
on the far west end of the park.
The Trail is very well taken care of by the NCT Chapters up there. There should be
no bushwacking involved here. Plus it is very flat compared to the Superior Hiking Trail.
So if you have some beginning backpackers this is a great place to go.
The best thing to do is to get "The Guide to the North Country Trail in Minnesota." Full
Disclosure, I am the Map Illustrator for the book, but I received no money for it.
It is available at the North Country Trail Website here
northcountrytrail.org/product-category/books-media/I also have the best collection of photographs on the internet of the North Country Trail in Minnesota
Check out my website here:
sites.google.com/site/nctinmnhikes/Some of the sections I mentioned are here
Chippewa National Forest: Woodtick Trail (Third Crossing) to Woodtick Trail (First Crossing)
picasaweb.google.com/101143455805109163037/10GooseLakeToWoodtickImpoundmentSpider Lake Road to Itasca State Park South Entrance
picasaweb.google.com/101143455805109163037/SpiderLakeRoadToItascaStateParkHubbard County 4 to Spider Lake Road
picasaweb.google.com/101143455805109163037/HubbardCountyHwy4ToSpiderLakeRoadHubbard County Hwy 91 to Hubbard County Hwy 4
picasaweb.google.com/101143455805109163037/HubbardCountyHwy91ToHubbardCounty4Hope this helps
