Boundary Waters Fishing

[BigRed323]

Has anybody been up to the Boundary Waters up in Minnesota?

A few buddies and I are heading up that way in August to do some fishing and wondering if anyone's got any tips/advice.

Thanks

[RR 314]

Haven't been in years but we slammed the walleyes and northerns in the BW. Go to the bait shop in Grand Marais, MN and buy some world famous "Beaver Flicks". That is what they are called. :-) Red and White Daredevle slammed 'em. Get online and see what else to buy. A buddy lives up there and told me wolves and winters have taken a toll on the moose--too bad. Used to see one almost every day in the canoe. Never hooked into a musky but they certainly are up there.

[BigRed323]

Is there a way to buy the lures online or do you have to go the store? We won't be heading that far up the coast of Lake Superior. We'll be farther up North.

I'm hoping we get on some fish out there. Never really done much freshwater fishing

[BigRed323]

Looked up the bait shop online and seems they have closed

[boomer453]

cabelas or bass pro will have everything. red/white or yellow/red daredevils, rapala stickbaits and big inline spinners for pike.

1/4 ounce jig heads with grubtails can be hard to beat for walleye and small mouth in white or chartreuse.

inline spinners (blue fox or Mepps) are always good to have

[RR 314]

I found this with a quick google search. They don't even mention the red/whites but we used them a lot and did great. Bring what you can and ask the locals when you gather what is hot.

The Tackle Box

It is IMPORTANT to note that whatever you bring you must portage - so don't bring a lot of tackle. Ideally all your gear (minus the filet knife and pliers) should fit into a small Plano or similar tackle box. The list below is comprised of general items that have proven useful over the years. Many of the items do have suggested colors. These are only suggestions, "hot" colors change constantly so don't be afraid to experiment. you also will want to tailor this list towards the type of fishing you plan to do, and don't forget to throw in a couple of your own secret lures. We also highly recommend using live bait. Nightcrawlers and ribbon leeches are the easiest to use and keep alive. We do have a small tackle shop stocked with all the items listed below in the all "hot" colors.

Buy Your Tackle with Us and SAVE!
We have all the tackle listed below in our shop
and we beat Bass Pro Shops prices!

Here's What to Bring:

Spinning Rod and Reel:
Medium action rod with 6-10lb. test line, depending on your skill level and desired species of fish.

Hooks:
Live bait type with short shank in sizes 6-4
Worm hooks in 2/0 for use with plastic baits

Jigs:
Gumball Jig - 1/4 to 3/8 ounce sizes. (Northland Gumball works well)
Tube Jig – 1/8 to1/4 ounce sizes (Gitzit)

Plastics:
Leeches – 3 or 5 inch (ex. Gulp)
Twister Tails - 3 inch in White, Black and Chartruese (ex. Mr Twister)
Sencos or Dingers – 5 inch in Pumpkin, Smoke Pearl, Watermelon (ex. Yamamoto Senco or Yum Dinger)
Flukes – 5 inch in White Pearl & Glimmer Blue (ex. Zoom Salty Super Flukes)
Tubes – 3 inch (ex. Gitzit)

Plugs/Lures:
Shad Raps – #7 or #8 (ex Rapala Shad Raps)
Original Floater - #11 & #13 (Rapala Original Floater)
Husky Jerk - #10 (Rapala Huskey Jerk)

Bobbers:
Slip bobbers work great with live bait.

Stringer:
One or two cord stringers work well and are compact.

Needle Nose Pliers:
For releasing fish.

Filet Knife:
Self Explanatory

Don't forget...
BWCA Permit ▫ Food/Menu ▫ Overnight Accommodations ▫ Transportation ▫
Reservation & Deposit ▫ What to Pack

[Shough]

Do you know where you will be putting in yet? I have made 5 boundary waters trips and All were awesome. I have used all the baits listed above with good success but also caught my fair share of Northerns on spinner baits and top water baits such as a spook. We went through Ely and put in on Little Indian Suix. Take a good camera and plenty of batteries. And pack light. Lighter than you would think.

[BigRed323]

Do you know where you will be putting in yet? I have made 5 boundary waters trips and All were awesome. I have used all the baits listed above with good success but also caught my fair share of Northerns on spinner baits and top water baits such as a spook. We went through Ely and put in on Little Indian Suix. Take a good camera and plenty of batteries. And pack light. Lighter than you would think.

We are going through Sawbill Outfitters. We're putting in at Sawbill Lake and gonna lake hop to get a ways back. We are only going for 5 days though.

What did you take to camp in? I'm thinking of going with a hammock, think a tent will take too much space in my pack.

[BosqueTech]

Did it with boy scouts years ago! Fun. Skeeters!

[RR 314]

We are going through Sawbill Outfitters. We're putting in at Sawbill Lake and gonna lake hop to get a ways back. We are only going for 5 days though.

What did you take to camp in? I'm thinking of going with a hammock, think a tent will take too much space in my pack.

Man--skeeters are the state bird. Bring a tent!

[BigRed323]

Awesome thanks for the ideas on lures and baits to start looking into.

[HunterDan2006]

I've been twice and caught good numbers of pike, walleye and smallmouth. My most favorite fish is smallmouth! They fight great!!! Caught many in the 3 to 6 lb range. My favorite lure for them was a Baby Brush Hog fished Texas rig. There were a lot of lakes with trees laying down along the shore and some great rock piles. The Texas rig could drop down in there effectively. Be sure to take a bug suit or at least a head net.

[Shough]

I will second the tent. Now we either used a small 2 man a frame tent of the one man bivy. We did cook fish a lot but ramen noodles are great lunches and lightweight. Pay extra for a light weight canoe. Almost every lake in the BW has a somewhat improved campsite with a fire pit and grate.

[BigRed323]

I've been twice and caught good numbers of pike, walleye and smallmouth. My most favorite fish is smallmouth! They fight great!!! Caught many in the 3 to 6 lb range. My favorite lure for them was a Baby Brush Hog fished Texas rig. There were a lot of lakes with trees laying down along the shore and some great rock piles. The Texas rig could drop down in there effectively. Be sure to take a bug suit or at least a head net.

What time of the year did you go? One of our buddies has gone twice at the end of July and he said mosquitos were not really a problem, that's why im thinking a hammock with a mosquito net around will work fine.

I would love to get into a big ol pike

[BigRed323]

I will second the tent. Now we either used a small 2 man a frame tent of the one man bivy. We did cook fish a lot but ramen noodles are great lunches and lightweight. Pay extra for a light weight canoe. Almost every lake in the BW has a somewhat improved campsite with a fire pit and grate.

Think we booked the fiberglass canoes.

What did you do for water? I've been looking around at filters and such.

I'm debating on going full wild man and not taking any food and just eating what we catch, but I might wimp out on that idea when the time gets closer.