Canada has always been know as a premier fishery and if you’re willing to go the extra mile it can seem to be all yours! For me and our group of Minnesotans it’s a trip we look forward to all year, but it’s also a test of equipment, clothing, and will.
Who else likes going above and beyond to find the hidden honey holes?
Next Sunday I’m going for it and doing a 5 day camping trip into the BWCA for some Lakers solo. With all that new snow they are getting right now my plans change in my head hourly it seems. Off the beaten path is definitely my goal for the trip… Good luck on your trip.
Canada has always been know as a premier fishery and if you’re willing to go the extra mile it can seem to be all yours! For me and our group of Minnesotans it’s a trip we look forward to all year, but it’s also a test of equipment, clothing, and will.
Who else likes going above and beyond to find the hidden honey holes?
How far in do you go, Jim? My biggest adventure in search of lake trout was going to Lake Nipigon in March. We hoped to catch some warm weather. We got an extended stretch of 30 below zero and we ended up dubbing the experience the “Trail of Tears.” Nipigon is so vast and cruel yet I’d love to give it another shot at catching one of those 40 pound fish the lake is famous for.
We base our trip out of Sioux Narrows. From there we can run about a 15 mile area and have more spots than you can fish in a life time! I haven’t mentioned the walleye and perch fishing (which last year was the best I’ve ever had in my life) Leaving Wednesday, hoping the weather cooperates. Rooms still avaliable at crystal harbor resort!
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I started out finding those hidden honey holes in an old Stinson Ski plane. I realized in the long run; its easier to snowmobile in. I was ‘hooked’ laker fishing about 15 miles west of Nestor Falls on a lake I don’t know if I could find again. There’s just no more fun than having a big trout chase your jig 100′ up and down and back up the vex again. Only to rip that med/hvy out of your hands when it decides to bite.
No joke about the test of equipment, clothing and will! My last 2 trips have been just that. I’m hoping to redeem myself after last years 5 day stretch of -40 and a wind that wouldn’t quit. So cold I broke the sled on my X2 which made the rest of the trip a real ‘drag’. Going to Nester in just under 2 weeks!
Every february I take a trip into the BWCA for a few days of winter camping and laker fishing. Have gone to Seagull lake and duncan/bearskin lakes. Both off of the Gunflint trail. Its a very “fun” trip that I look forward to each year. Not the typical fun most people think of, definitely a test of your gear and your sanity.
Next Sunday I’m going for it and doing a 5 day camping trip into the BWCA for some Lakers solo. With all that new snow they are getting right now my plans change in my head hourly it seems. Off the beaten path is definitely my goal for the trip… Good luck on your trip.
Just realized I haven’t been to the BWCA in years now. That sounds fun! Man, have I gotta lot of stuff to get done before I die…better get started!
Until you’ve experienced lakers through the ice it’s hard to explain, simply my favorite trip of the year!
Those trips sound awesome. I like how each one of you described the “Fun” –
Definitely on the list of things to do. I rarely shy away from an opportunity to sleep outside when it is to catch a big fish!
Its a very “fun” trip that I look forward to each year. Not the typical fun most people think of, definitely a test of your gear and your sanity.
Good stuff, we were just talking about this on Sunday. While on the way home from fishing the NW ON laker opener we drove through the wheel house parade coming off of Upper Red. Just thinking of how different our weekend fishing trip was compared to theirs and how everyone has their own idea of “fun”.
Next Sunday I’m going for it and doing a 5 day camping trip into the BWCA for some Lakers solo. With all that new snow they are getting right now my plans change in my head hourly it seems. Off the beaten path is definitely my goal for the trip… Good luck on your trip.
Hats off to you if the weather works out. Let’s see…. January. A lot more night than day. Good potential for sub-zero weather. Maybe some condesation dripping off the bivy sack back into your face (been there, done that).
Fish on! Trout not on fire but if it was too easy it wouldn’t be as rewarding! Everyone in our group catching some. New waters to explore tomorrow… -4 and wind again.
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<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eyesonly wrote:</div>
Next Sunday I’m going for it and doing a 5 day camping trip into the BWCA for some Lakers solo. With all that new snow they are getting right now my plans change in my head hourly it seems. Off the beaten path is definitely my goal for the trip… Good luck on your trip.Hats off to you if the weather works out. Let’s see…. January. A lot more night than day. Good potential for sub-zero weather. Maybe some condesation dripping off the bivy sack back into your face (been there, done that).
ive never used a bivy before just because of what you describe with the possible condensation. Have you always used one and what are your thoughts of leaving it at home and just rigging up a good tarp system ?
ive never used a bivy before just because of what you describe with the possible condensation. Have you always used one and what are your thoughts of leaving it at home and just rigging up a good tarp system ?
I’ve used both tents (without bivy) and a bivy. The pluses are: it adds to the temperature rating of your sleeping bag (maybe 5 extra degrees). I also like it because you can slip your ground pad(s) inside and you have extra protection from snow. I’ve used the bivy with an overhead tarp and/or winter shelter. I’ve also plopped right on top of the snow with no overhead at all. The downfall is the condensation created from breathing. If it’s not too cold you dont have to zip the bivy fully closed which will prevent the condensation issue (good with an overhead tarp). I’ve only been out once in bitter cold (-20 to -25 deg). It wasn’t miserable to sleep but definitely uncomfortable. I had everything cinched up which produced the condensation, chills, etc.
If I did a winter solo now I would use the bivy with a small overhead tarp if for no other reason than I have it. I like the ground protection it provides from brushing up against or kicking snow in your sleep setup.
Thanks a lot Tegg. I might have to go get a bivy sack before I leave now. You brought up the point about keeping your sleeping pads underneath you and in place while your are sleeping. I never thought about that. Makes a lot of sense.
A couple years ago my cousin and I took the sleds up from Crane Lake in through Lac La Croix on the Canadian side, ditched the sleds and snowshoed straight south into the BWCA for lake trout. Really a great trip; I think we caught 5, nothing big, but a great adventure.
As we were shoe-ing in we decided that if one of us died the other would keep going and fish and not say anything because of the immense paperwork probably required in an international death. 
Fish on! Trout not on fire but if it was too easy it wouldn’t be as rewarding! Everyone in our group catching some. New waters to explore tomorrow… -4 and wind again.
@jimchyba
How did the rest of your trip go?
We had a good opener in NW ON this year… Decent weather, great travel conditions on the lake, and good fishing. No monsters but a lot of quality 26″-31″ fish.
Until you’ve experienced lakers through the ice it’s hard to explain, simply my favorite trip of the year!
Couldn’t agree more Jim! 7 of us are headed to Ely this Friday for our annual ice fishing man-cation. It is undoubtedly the pinnacle of my ice season each year due to the remoteness and the challenge of chasing lakers on walleye gear.
Wow those are some dandies! We had fish from 25-30″ but but couldn’t get the giant. The lake (ice and snow) was really nice nice this year for us too.
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Any other reports around the Bwca for lakers this weekend ? I had an amazing trip and caught a bunch of nice Lakers on my camping trip and just returned. You guys were right. This is now my favorite species to chase through the ice
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Very cool! Glad you got to feel the power of the laker! Not sure if I can make it back up this year but I wish I had this weather!!!
Had a great opener last weekend. Over two days, we caught 7, lost 6 and had more chasers than we could count. Definitely the most prolific trout trip of my career. On top of all of it, we caught a huge Eel Pout.
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Had a great opener last weekend. Over two days, we caught 7, lost 6 and had more chasers than we could count. Definitely the most prolific trout trip of my career. On top of all of it, we caught a huge Eel Pout.
Awesome fish and congrats on the good trip. Love the pout surprise!
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