In Need of Some BWCA Advice

I will be making my maiden voyage to the boundary waters with a group from my college in mid-August. We are going up there not to fish specifically, but we are allowed to bring fishing stuff if we want. I don’t know which part we are heading into, and how deep and where exactly we go is all kind of spontaneously decided. I am wondering what you guys would recommend I bring with for tackle. I don’t care what bites as long as it is not just panfish. Any advice is appreciated.

It all depends what you are looking to catch, but if you are looking for some fast action id bring some red and white daredevils and cast them over weed beds. Maybe some bigger mepps spinners. You may have a hard time keeping the 18 to 24 inch snotrockets of your line! I am pretty inexperienced walleye fishing but pitching/drifting 3/16 ounce BfishNtackle
h20 presicion jigs and a moxie in 10 to 20 fow around cabbage and rock piles produced well this year for me. Troll flicker shads around points and drop offs also produced. Best of luck. Im sure you will enjoy your first trip in.it is a truly amazing place.

I also think BFishN jigs and plastics would be a good start.
Any leadhead jigs 1/8-1/4 oz with plastic twister tails or ring worms will work.
Start shallow and work deeper until you find action. The SM Bass will be pretty active even mid-day.
We’ve also had great luck on the bass with 1/8 oz yellow and black maribou crappie jigs trolled slowly behind the canoe along shorelines in 8-12 feet of water.
If you want to get a little more into it leeches work great in BWCA lakes on bass and walleye. We’ve caught a lot of fish using slip bobbers and leeches right off our campsites in the evenings.

We experienced a tough bite this year but always bring leeches in the us. Low maintenance and they will increase the number of bites. I’m guessing that’s not an option for ya so I’d pack as many rapalas, jig/twisters(black) and tiny torpedoes as you can fit into ONE plastic tray. Bring both rattaling and non-rattling rapalas. Your bound to fish some of the clearest water you’ve ever fished so natural colors and simple presentations will increase your chances.
Remember everything you pack will go on your back. And speaking of back everything should be carried on your back. If your carrying anything by hand it can feel like you just elongated the portage 2-fold.

Assuming you are going on a canoe trip where you are moving camp daily live bait is a problem. Another problem is boat control, especially on windy days. For these reasons I have relied on Rapala’s, the original and the Shad Raps. I bring a clamp on rod holder and troll the Rapalas.

If it were earlier in the year, I would tell you to leave the artificial bait at home and bring leaeches, split shots, hooks and slip bobbers. The problem with August (as mentioned) will be live bait selection (maybe no leeches) and keeping anything else (crawlers, minnows) alive. If you can get leeches, do so and bring the gear I mentioned for live bait rigging. Smallies, Northerns and Walleyes will tear em’ up.

With that said, you will want some artificial bait and lures. What you wont have room for is a large tackle box. Bring a couple #5 or #7 Rapala Shad Raps, maybe some floating Raps for casting shorelines or rock piles on calm days, a few jig heads and some plastic bodies. Daredevils and Mepps Spinners will always get you some gators.

Have fun, should be an experience wou will never forget!

you will most probably NOT be able to deal with live bait up there. BUT, you may be able to fit a minnow trap into your gear and if you can, it will be invaluable. Just some bread crumbs and off you go. My minnow trap used to double as a fish fry basket also…

Even if you can’t fit in live bait, stick in some gulp crawlers and leeches. they do work also, bu tnot as well as real meat.

I’d also make space for some 5 of Diamonds and Storm Perch soft bodies as they will furnish dinner very quickly.

AND don’t forget some wire leaders. It’s ugly losing your favorite artificial on the second day of the trip.

Enjoy. It’s a wonderful trip.