Kab Labor Day Weekend

So we are heading up to Kab for the first time. Plan is to stay on it instead of running to Namakin but not ruling anything out. Just curious what to expect with the walleye bite that time of year. We usually prefer to vertical jig, lindy rig some live bait or do some slip bobbers. Any help is appreciated I have fished south of Kenora on LOTW in mid August before will it be similar. Again thanks guys for any tips.

I know you said you weren’t running to Namakan, but I camped there solo the 9-13th.
Had very good walleye fishing, and so so smallie fishing. Most all my eyes were caught lindy rigging leeches in 17-25′ which is shallower than I usually find them this time of year (25-32 being the norm and I’ve fished the same week in August for the last 20 years). Wind blown rocks/islands. Biggest was 25 and I didnt have any issues with catching eaters from 15-17.75″ (the slot is 18-26″). Half of my fish were “overs”.
Smallies ran small for me, I usually get my bigger ones mixed in with the eyes in deeper water in August but my biggest ones came off a bobber at camp. Nothing over 18′ this trip.
FWIW I would imagine that Kab would fish the same. Water temps were low 70’s.
Good luck and enjoy, its a beautiful time of year up there!

Thanks xplorer I’m keeping an open mind to making the run, just hoping to keep it closer to the cabin if possible. I have never been to any lakes in the area so any info is really appreciated.

Kab will offer all the fishing you need. You will be better off focusing on the area you are instead of making real long runs. With that said fish the wind, fish the fishy stuff, you will be able to find fish in many different locations.

John,
Sent you a PM with some info. To be sure you don’t need to make the run especially on a short trip like yours. Theres more structure to fish on Kab than you could cover in a lifetime. I’m just partial to the reef structure on Nam and East Rainy is all.

Thanks guys. I figured I just need to fish it like I have in Canada, don’t overthink it

Always know where you are on Kab. There are some rocks that bite there if you hit them.

Where about are you staying?

I’d be trolling with Buffalo Trace if I were you. Just sayin.

Dutchboy wrote:

Always know where you are on Kab. There are some rocks that bite there if you hit them.

Where about are you staying?

Voyagers Sunrise Resort, I tried to get in the river like you suggested but they did not have what I wanted, so at least this resort has a protected harbor. Thanks for the heads up on the rocks I am used to keeping my head on a swivel from where we fished Canada, same deal up there.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

I’d be trolling with Buffalo Trace if I were you. Just sayin

Some Trace will be used for sure! I really don’t like trolling but maybe.

Anybody been up recently to the area that could share a good bait shop option. I will be calling around this week also to ask about leeches and shiners.

So just fyi for anyone else heading up that way I called several shops and no one has leeches, I went and picked up medium from Vados today on lunch. Thanks again for the help everyone and thanks for the couple spots to try xplorer much appreciated!

How’d this trip turn out ?

I planned on writing up a report but with the way the weekend ended up kinda didn’t want to. Whatever here we go. Got up there and talked to the resort guys a bit and set out for the first run, we ran down to lost bay and fished around there. First spot we jigged with leeches only caught a 30″ pike. Moved around a bit and while dragging crawlers we caught a number of little sauger. We tried all the spots you guys gave me along with a ton more. We really struggled. We found out the only guys doing well were dragging lead. I had my lead core set up with my buddy did not, in hind sight we should have got him rigged with a bottom bouncer and me with the core. However we chose to stick to what we were doing and I brought home one 15″ sauger, that’s it. Very cool lake and would go back. The last afternoon we made a couple mile run fished and were going to run further, well the outboard had different ideas. Barely limped it back to the dock and sent a message to Sheldon to see if he had a moment to help. Not even a minute went by and my phone was ringing. With his expertise and my buddy being a wrench we figured out somehow the plugs were filthy (not that old mind you) got them cleaned up with a BBQ grill brush and some sandpaper, and we had it running again and finished our trip out. The one that are lucky enough to know him already know he is one of the kindest hearted people I have ever met.

Side story, with my boat getting damaged earlier in the year, I did not know if mine would be ready for this trip. Was talking to Sheldon a lot about the issue with my boat over the summer and he kindly offered to borrow his to use, after me saying no a bunch he finally talked me into it and he dropped it off at my place before the GTG. Mine ended up being ready in time to go. I just had to tell you guys about him doing that for me, we have become close over the years through texts and conversations. But the first time I met the man was as he was dropping his boat off in my driveway. Just selfless, kind and all the other nice things I could say about him. He may or may not read this as he still lurks in the darkness and keeps an eye on us, kind of like our version of Batman, well an older more portly Batman anyway. If you read this Sheldon I really do love you bud!

Sheldon FTW! Bummer the fishing wasnt better for you however.

Those lakes look like Canadian lakes but they are not-they are very infertile and this is a tough time of year anywhere. The Canadian lakes just don’t get the same pressure. (yes, I know there are exceptions to what I just posted) Better luck next time.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying they’re infertile lakes. Those lakes are full of life. They’re nothing like our metro lakes but they’re definitely not infertile.

Sorry your trip didn’t go as you’d hoped. You’re not the only one to struggle on that system. Ive been fishing it my whole life and still have tough days. The fish are here, there, everywhere and nowhere all at the same time. There’s so much water and habitat that it can take a good amount of time to figure things out. More time than a short vacation allows.
Give it another chance sometime, it’s worth it.

Sheldon is the best! With every interaction ive had with him you can just sense his kindness and generosity. Every time i mention IDO to my wife she always asks me how Sheldon is doing. He makes that kind of impression.

Sorry about the fishing. I struggled getting into them earlier this year which was my first time up at KAB/Namakan. Impossible to have a bad time up there though – just a beautiful place to be

Thanks guys, it is a beautiful place no doubt. Kept reminding myself of that as we were driving around. It’s a big cookie to crack and probably took on more than I should have for a short amount of time.

Like to also give a shout out to Dutchboy and Xplorer for the private messages and locations to try. You guys really are awesome people and appreciate all the help I get on here.

Xplorer and Grubson are the guys for fishing info. I can tell you how to run around the lake. If you decide to hit it again give me some notice, I’ll try and get there the same time and we’ll run around some and see what we bump into. As I mentioned before, don’t get down on yourself, a lot of really, really good sticks have gone to Kab. and gotten spanked.

Will take you up on that thank you sir!

I’ve been lucky to have grubson as my personal guide on that lake when I go to his cabin. But from what he showed me, I can assure you that lake is well worth going back.