Halfway across Ensign, we were accosted by a stiff wind and hail, which was taking a toll on our already windburned faces and fingers. We were headed back to Thunder Point to pick up a friend who had to book a separate permit last minute. Northern pike is also one of the biggest and most aggressive freshwater fish youll find in the Boundary Waters. If the wind is strong enough that youll probably drift across your spot, one paddler should back-paddle while the other fishes. May and June tend to be the best fishing months, but late summer and fall can be awesome, too. How to pick the right canoe outfitter for a canoe trip, High Adventure Canoe Trips for Boy Scout Troops, Youth Group Canoe Trip Important Information, About the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Minnesota and Quetico, Boundary Waters Walleye Fishing at Its Best, St. I did not want to hang such a large fish from its jaw, so I did not get an accurate weight, but we were able to tag team an accurate length measurement, putting the fish just above the 30 mark. He must have been protecting his prized mating ground, because he refused to be chased off by us. We were exhausted from a long day and bummed we left such great fishing onAmoeber, but no one was complaining about either. How is the weather in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness? After selecting an entry point and a route, study all information on the lakes or lake you will visit and pack tackle accordingly. Looking back at the footage, the fish was likely over 26 inches and weighed close to 6 lbs. On most days, when the wind is not blowing hard, however, the more classic walleye patterns prevail. The Pen Net has a "floor" that keeps fish from flopping out. While there are hundreds of different types of fish in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, most people focus on five different species. Gear Rental & Outfitters . Focus your time at the bottom of waterfalls or around rapids because many of them will have deep holes below them filled with larger fish. QueticoMike. Minnesota's claim to fame stems from its reputation as walleye country. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota has solidified itself as a premier freshwater fishing destination. Great fun for kids. These three months account for over 75 percent of the travelers that enter the Boundary Waters each year. Crappie, largemouth bass, perch, catfish, and more are abundant in the BWCA. Though the lakes which make up the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park offer varied structure, walleye really turn on in windy conditions that draw active walleyes into the shallows to feed. And, of course, the view of the Eastern half of the lake and those fabled bluffs was picturesque. Additions to Our Canoe Outfitting Packages, The Chicago Tribune The Trip North: Doing it the right way. In spring, a favorite spot of ours is to fish above and below gentle rapids. Last Visit: 03/01/2023 12:20AM Sort by . The light, plastic Lindy Ever-Last Stringer is a perfect choice for keeping fish fresh until dinner. Author. In true Eric fashion, he handed us each a hefty bag of home-made beef jerky, whipped out his fancy flask of scotch and we headed up the path to capture some photos and videos of the summit. Fishing Forum Bait? September is a beautiful time to visit the Boundary Waters. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Last Visit: 02/28/2023 12:47PM . Boundary Waters Walleye Fishing at Its Best Walleye ( (sometimes incorrectly known as walleyed pike they are in the perch family, not the pike family) are one of the finest game fish in North America. For that reason, its important to have an open mind when doing any Boundary Waters fishing. Text. Checklist & Trip Planning. They simply get hard to find during late July and early August when the lakes are at their warmest temperature levels. At one point after making a long run, the fish turned around and came straight back at the boat. Even onan8 medium-duty trolling rod, this medium-sized fish felt powerful. I am convinced that she didnt even know she was hooked, until I caught my first glimpse of the glowing silver belly 10 below my solo canoe. We paddled with more urgency on our way to the narrows, knowing that there was a possibility they were packing up to move to the better site. We had just finished the 160 rod portage (about half a mile) from Kawasachong when we were told by another party that all the campsites were taken on Lake Polly. We arrived onAmoeberand to our surprise, the island campsite had been vacated sometime after Gardner and I had left that morning. *****BASS KHANG RODS*****Check it out his stuff, he makes amazing Custom ice rods, traditional rods, and other tackle! While most of the best Boundary Waters fishing spots are from a boat, there are plenty of shore fishing opportunities. Make sure to have your social security number handy, as youll need that to get your license. Shad-shaped cranks like the Lindy Shadling mimic the body shape of ciscoes, a main forage for many BWCAW gamefish, so make sure some of your cranks feature blue backs. If you go the Boundary Waters outside of those five months, you still need a permit but they are free of charge and in unlimited supply. Theyre also one of the tastiest freshwater fish that you can catch in North America. Additionally, youll likely encounter northern pike, walleye, and many other fish species. Spring tactics and baits still take them, but are usually fished deeper, so heavier jigs, rigs, and deep diving lures are called for. The fight lasted an incredible 5 minutes before the fish tired and I was able to land it, get a quick picture and measurement and get it back into the water. In terms of sheer size, lake trout grow to an average length of between 20 and 30 inches long and can weigh up to 15 or even 20 pounds. If youre planning a big Boundary Waters fishing expedition, youve come to the right place. Worms, nightcrawlers, leeches, crickets, grasshoppers, and other large, juicy insects make the best options. The last time this happened to me, I was travelling with my 6- and 8-year-old sons and my 67-year-old father-in-law. August is by far the most popular time to venture into the Boundary Waters. And the smallmouth stay active all summer long and are your best bet if you're looking for some action during those hot summer days. Here is our BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA (BWCA) trip in northern Minnesota. I couldnt wait for day two. 48. As a result, the first two weeks of August tend to be the busiest in the Boundary Waters. Many fish are caught at night by trolling crankbaits along weedlines, rocky points, and over reefs. Bring 1/32- to 3/8-ounce jigs, but focus on the 1/16- to - versions. . Tailor the below list to the type of fishing you plan to do. Try 2 feet deep along the weed beds in the heat of summer when the sun is falling down to touch the tips of the treeline. Luckily, Gardner was now on the board, catching another absolute beast of a Smallmouth, also trolling a giant spoon at least 30 deep. April through May are the best times to fish for pike, but you can go even earlier if the snow and ice melt. The action wasnt as hot, be we caught two more for dinner that night and enjoyed another beautiful evening at our great island campsite. 05/16/22. * Border lakes between Canada/Minnesota might have some different dates. To our left is the second-largest cedar(s) I have ever seen in the BWCA, second only to the giant1,000 year oldleviathan that nestles on the southern shore of Basswood Lake, just a few miles West of Prairie portage. If you dont feel comfortable fishing the Boundary Waters on your own, there are plenty of guided fishing tours to choose from. Fishing the Boundary Waters The vast system of Boundary Waters / Quetico lakes cover approximately 1,500 square miles. Gear Rental & Outfitters . The cost is $9.50. The Boundary Waters is a federally preserved wilderness resource of over 1 million acres and 150 miles of the border between Canada and Minnesota in the United States. The first must have is a net that breaks down for efficient storage, like the Beckman Pen Net. Carrying minnows is unrealistic, but leeches and night crawlers are wilderness friendly and great for tipping jigs for all species, which brings up another universal fish catcher: The infallible crawler harness or basic spinner rig. I was having trouble catching fish on my spoons that morning, but was marking plenty of fish on the bottom on my sonar. It started out bright hot yellow, slowly turning to a cool orange and finishing with a rich scarlet that magically mirrored itself on the calm lake surface. You should alter your fishing between the shallow, rocky waters and the deeper portions of the rivers and lakes. Two to three ounces of lead weight, 150-180 feet of line and Reef Runners and Little Cleos wereproducingthat first night onAmoeber. The Boundary Waters consists of over 1 million acres of land and over 150 miles of aquatic coastline along the Canadian border. When Should I Visit Ely, Minnesota and the BWCA? Now I am not saying the narrows campsite on Cherry isnt nice, I was just disappointed because it was pretty much hyped as the best campsite in the Boundary Waters. As there are walleye in this lake, I wasnt certainwhatI had on the end of my line until I had 30 of line remaining and the fish took an immediate, aggressive dive straight for the bottom. Are you kidding me? In reviewing the dates of record catches, it has become apparent that more big fish are caught on the quarter phase of the moon. Disappointed, but not deterred, we headed to the campsite on the south shore, and happily found it unoccupied. Our first fish came moments after the sun rose, an impressive 25 incher caught by Eric on the same exact pink/clear/chartreuse walleye runner he had caught two fish on the night before. When targeting smallmouth bass, you can use either live bait or fake bait, including spinners, jigs, jerkbait, crankbaits, or topwater lures. For the most part, the lakes in the BWCA are darker than Quetico Park. Since these fish are pretty particular about staying in cold, deep water, the 40 foot depths of White Iron Lake just do not support a home for "lakers". While patience is crucial, you should also be versatile and willing to change your plans when the time comes. Just make sure to take a map and compass, so you dont get lost! In some deep cold lakes live lake trout. The best time to target these fish is in May, June, August, and September when the waters are between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. But youll enjoy the solitude of being in the Boundary Waters in early Spring. Take equipment and lures designed to handle behemoths and bring home no regrets from the wilderness canoe trip of a lifetime. If a storm is kicking up and you are not fishing, you are likely missing out on the best fishing you will experience the entire trip. Hot day-time temperature push fish deeper. After getting settled we couldnt wait to get out and chase some more Lake Trout, even though our hopes werent as high as they were forAmoeberand Hanson as this was a relatively small body of water. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota has solidified itself as a premier freshwater fishing destination. But first, we had to experience this fabled enchanted forest portage in all of its glory. Several sites (like CanoeCountry.com) offer detailed packing instructions for all times of year. You can test your skills, savor a shore lunch while enjoying top notch equipment, safe canoeing equipment and our excellent planning and trip routing services. We fished from sunup to sundown (with the exception of a few pee breaks and a long lunch back at camp to devour the elk chops my brother had gifted me from his fall trip to New Mexico) and only caught one fish. After another 5-minute fight, complete with many exciting runs and peeling drag, I had the fish secured with the Boga grip and ready for pictures, a quick measurement and successful release. Some anglers bring components to match blade sizes and colors to conditions (blades, clevises, and swivels), but who wants to spend precious minutes on a wilderness trip tying spinner rigs? North Country Canoe Outfitters: Outfitting Canoe Trips into the Minnesota Boundary Waters and Canada's Quetico Wilderness since 1984. First-time explorers should do some research. It doesnt! Each of these five months will give you a unique experience of the Boundary Waters. Packing the must haves first, then tackle with universal appeal, is key to a successful trip. For everything else, the 22-inch hoop is perfect. Pipestone Bay and Jackson Bay are the two best areas on the 14-mile lake, but theres no such thing as a bad fishing area. In general, use darker lures in darker water, and lighter lures in water that is more tap-water clear. North Country Canoe Outfitters: Outfitting Canoe Trips into the Minnesota Boundary Waters and Canada's Quetico Wilderness since 1984. As it turns out, they were not very elusive that day on Hanson. On our first pass, Eric quickly hooked into a Lake Trout in the solo canoe. Hungry walleye dispersing from spawning areas seldom refuse a jig, especially when it is tipped with a minnow or a worm. To apply, contact: To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. 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