Boundary waters in Minn. Info

[GeoFisher]

Not only juvenile......I cannot duplicate the type and quality fishing I get in the Boundary Waters ANYWHERE around here. Sure, I can catch some decent smallies at Dale and KY lake, but Nothing like 50 - 100 fish DAYS every day...AND By the way, I had a day on Saganagons lake (Quetico), a few years ago where we caught 38 smallies over 3lbs, and 7 were over 4lbs. Do that around here. To top that, I have a couple of buddies that AVERAGED 200 fish a day last year, and caught OVER 400 smallies in 1 DAY.

As far as costs.......I usually outfit myself, so we can keep the cost REALLY down. It usually costs about $500.00 for a Canadian trip, and about $300.00 for a US trip. This includes all licenses, food, gas, canoe rentals, etc.....

Later,

Geo

[thebassman30]

Well Geo....I recall it being an average of 250 per day....but it's all nuts. I also recall inviting several folks on this board who couldn't get their crap together. We had a trip of a lifetime.

As for the 7 lbers. I spoke with Mary and Harry Landreth? who guide Jerry McGinnis, Bob Knight, Rick Clunn and the list of celebs goes on. They have only caught like 29 fish over 7 lbs in over 40+ years of guiding. These are the folks that are guiding in Quetico almost exclusively and they wack them. The curious part about these 29 is that they caught them all in the fall when they are feeding up on Ciscos. They told me that they can never catch them that big in the Spring because they don't have time to fill out in the front and tail area. Plus they are getting busy with their short spawning season.

So with that being said, your day of catching 3 over 7 needs to be examined very closely. Did you weight them with multiple digital scales? Not a spring loaded analog scale or anything else. Also, I've talked to multiple fishermen over the years and never heard a story like this. For most old timers that have gone up for years, fishing live bait and everything, the largest fish they've ever caught was just over 7. Add to that, the fish is probably nearly 35+ years old and died after being caught.

I want to be clear the I'm not questioning your integrity. I respect anyone who's willing to paddle and portage their way to the best smallmouth fishing on the planet....hands down especially to Crooked. I will email you directly to discuss this amazing day with you.

[biggw]

Hey fishrgurl lets be nice. lol

[Big_Rig]

I have made several trips to BWCA and Quetico on the Canadian side. I have had the best luck with Shad Raps thrown in swift water. I suggest throwing across the current in areas below a beaver dam or in the stream or falls connecting lakes. I like to fish just below a small falls or rapid and throw across the swift water and reel in. You will often get a strike as the lure enters the eddy surrounding the swift water. I think the smallies lie in wait of bait washed out of the lake above.

I assume you are going with someone familiar with wilderness travel. There are no trail signs, this is true wilderness you are on you own and it pretty much looks the same in all directions, water, rocks and trees. Be assured you will come home a changed person. I loved it.

Good Luck,
:-)

[cmac]

Hey, we went into the boundary waters in early June for 8 days. It is tough and you are at the mercy of the weather, but we had an awesome time. Remember to take a good set of rain gear and dont over pack.

For Catching small mouth:

We had the best luck on white grubs on jig heads. Several fish on inline spinners (hard to keep the northerns away). Best areas to fish are any where that you can find current. And you can find current on the bigger waters if you look for it. There are several areas on the basswood river, crooked lake, and general surrounding areas where you can find the best small mouth of your life.

We had three people in a canoe on one particular day, we caught uppwards of four hundred smallmouth in about 7 hours of fishing. We had 3 fish over seven pounds. I have photos if you would like to see them. Just email me at [email protected]. The fish on that day were mostly caught on white grubs around broken and chunk rock below an area of white water. The current was strong enough that we had to anchor. Look for gradually tapering areas in the current and eddies with the broken rock and you will find smallies.

Jerk baits (husky jerks) also produced well but once again you will lose some lures to the northerns.

White seemed to be by far the best color. Remember to fish above and below any current. And dont think that any current is too strong. We caught several fish in the 4-5 lb range in current that would drift a 1/2 ounce jig head through white water. As soon as the lure fell behind a current break, wham.

Good luck and Good fishing.

[GeoFisher]

Were these weighed, or "estimated". I only ask because in the 12 years I've been going, and with over 10,000 smallies caught and released up there (Just my group and others I've gone with), we've never caught a 7lb fish......To catch 3 in one trip is better than ANYONE I've tripped with.

Heck, I've only heard of anyone in our group catching 1 over 6, and the 5lb smallies, well, those you can count on 2 hands.....

Just checking.

Thanks,

Geo

[cmac]

Yeah, we weighed them on a digital scale (Normark). We then tested the scale with our outfitters to make sure it was correct. It was dead on. This was by far the best day of the trip.

[GeoFisher]

You are DEFINITELY freakin the man..........I know the Basswood and Crooked area, but have not fished there yet......I've done most of my trips on the East end.....Maybe it is time to checkout Crooked and that area.

I'd love to see some of those pics......sounds like a Great trip.

Later,

Geo

[basstar]

Ted,

All of the suggestions so far are terrific for fishing, and all will work well, but truthfully, you DO NOT need much tackle.

I would not mind at all going with nothing but some (actually several) lead head jigs and Mr. Twister tails, along with some split shot and hooks for nightcrawlers and leaches.

Any tackle beyond that is just for your own pleasure but also your extra effort to carry in and out.

It is a wonderful area and no doubt you will have a trip with memories that will last a lifetime.

[fredcombs]

Ted,
First of all have a wonderful trip. I have been fishing the boundary waters for over 20 years. Do yoiu know what lakes you will be going on, i have been on a number of them and i can give some more specifics if you would wish. September is a pretty good time, here is basicly what i take.

Walleye:
1/4 jig heads in plain white and chartruese
Berkely power grubs
Crawler and leech harnesses
Slip bobbers
(we use primarily leeches but have used crawlers, might consider some minnows this time of year)

Smallmouth
We never get too fancy here(personal preference but it works for us)
Bobber and leech, we slay them on this no matter what time of year
Tiny torpedos for evening topwater
Mepps spinners
Berkley power grubs

Northern
Sucker minnows
Bucktails

Hope this helps, what outfitter are you guys using? Feel free to email if you have any more questions [email protected]

[GeoFisher]

Be careful with leaches in Canada.........

Actually, you're NOT allowed to take them in from Minnesota. It is illegal, and a HUGE fine to boot.

Also, next year, there is a ban on barbed hooks and lead in Quetico.

Please check the regs, because they LOVE giving us Yankees a tough time.

Later,

Geo

[fredcombs]

just wanted to say great website by the way, makes me wish i was heading up the fernberg road right now