You portage into a lake you have never been to before and know nothing about it other than it holds lakers, walleyes, pike and smallmouth. There is creek flowing into the lake, there are calm bays with weedbeds, there are several mid-lake reefs and humps, there are numerous points, rocky shorelines, and a bunch of deadfalls, where do you start, what are you fishing for and what lure or live bait presentation are you using?

Are we assuming this is BWCA? Also, what time of year is it?

quote timhutson1: "Are we assuming this is BWCA? Also, what time of year is it?"

Since this is the BWCA messageboard I am going to say the lake is in the BWCA or Quetico. If you need a time of the year, let us say it is early spring :)

For early spring I would target:
the shallow weedy bays for pike
rocky shorelines and deadfalls for smallies
the points for walleyes
the edges of main lake points and reefs for lake trout.

Live bait/slip bobbers for walleyes
Topwater, raps, or jig/twister for smallies
X-raps or spinners for pike
Deep diving rapala or flutter spoons for trout

quote jakebait: "For early spring I would target:
the shallow weedy bays for pike
rocky shorelines and deadfalls for smallies
the points for walleyes
the edges of main lake points and reefs for lake trout.

Live bait/slip bobbers for walleyes
Topwater, raps, or jig/twister for smallies
X-raps or spinners for pike
Deep diving rapala or flutter spoons for trout"

So your answer would be you would head straight to the weedy bays and start fishing for pike with either a x-rap or spinner as soon as you pushed off shore from the portage?

I'm just trying to see where people would fish first and for what.

I would troll a black and gold Rapala style lure around the shoreline about 100 feet behind the canoe. Probably try to stick in about 10 feet of water and have the bait run at 6-7 feet. In early spring all the fish you mentioned are going to be relating to warmer water so I would imagine that it could be a great way to hit any or all of them with a single type of presentation.

This year a Big Pike from a solo canoe is my goal.

I would troll a comically large rapala type lure through the shallow bays and parallel to weed lines. (Sometimes I'll put a Gulp minnow on the last hook just to make it larger and stinky.) I'll paddle slowly to the creek.

For interesting deadfall I would cast a daredevil or a mouse topwater into the weeds.

BTW- I love this type of question.

I am hoping to land a personal best pike this year as well, although I certainly don't need to tie into a trophy to do that. I don't think I have landed one larger than 26 inches in open water.

In that case I would have a good trolling lure set up - probably a husky jerk and then work the shoreline leading toward one of the weeded bays. If the creek with moving water dumps into one of these bays that is where I would target first. (probably focused on the northern side of the lake where there is greater amount of sun exposure to warm the water). I then would spend time working the weed line or break into deeper water on this bay.

While trolling to the main fishing place, I would look for a few places that I want to try at dusk, focusing more on slip bobbers or jigging for walleyes.

I would start throwing shad raps or husky jerks along the shorelines and see what hits. If I am targeting something specifically I would probably target pike by trolling along weed lines at about 10 ft of depth. Might be trolling a crankbait of some sort.

quote BdubBadger: "I am hoping to land a personal best pike this year as well, although I certainly don't need to tie into a trophy to do that. I don't think I have landed one larger than 26 inches in open water.


In that case I would have a good trolling lure set up - probably a husky jerk and then work the shoreline leading toward one of the weeded bays. If the creek with moving water dumps into one of these bays that is where I would target first. (probably focused on the northern side of the lake where there is greater amount of sun exposure to warm the water). I then would spend time working the weed line or break into deeper water on this bay.


While trolling to the main fishing place, I would look for a few places that I want to try at dusk, focusing more on slip bobbers or jigging for walleyes."

Welcome to the message board Badger!

I would start fishing as soon as I left the portage in the first fishy looking area I came to. Probably would be casting a Rapala. I would target whatever fish hits my lure.

If the creek had decent flow and dumped into water over say 5' deep I would start there. A Huskie Jerk is my go-to search lure but I would try a jig and leech or power grub before I moved on.

quote Arlo Pankook: "If the creek had decent flow and dumped into water over say 5' deep I would start there. A Huskie Jerk is my go-to search lure but I would try a jig and leech or power grub before I moved on."

Just to clear things up, yes the creek has a good flow into water that gradually slopes off to 12 feet deep about 40 yards out. Hopefully this data will help out the creek flow fisherman :)

I'd start with a jig or live bait rig and a minnow. If the wind was calm I would head to the moving water first for walleyes (my primary target. If its a little breezy I would hit the points with wind blowing into them. If the wind is really blowing I'll hide behind an island or throw a slip bobber out from camp and enjoy a beverage. Good question! Looking forward to hearing replies from others more knowledgeable than myself.

So your answer would be you would head straight to the weedy bays and start fishing for pike with either a x-rap or spinner as soon as you pushed off shore from the portage?

I'm just trying to see where people would fish first and for what."

I would start fishing as soon as I left the portage with whatever I had tied on already. Then, if it were morning-lake trout, mid day- pike/smallies, late day or evening- walleye.

quote HenryParsons: "I'd start with a jig or live bait rig and a minnow. If the wind was calm I would head to the moving water first for walleyes (my primary target. If its a little breezy I would hit the points with wind blowing into them. If the wind is really blowing I'll hide behind an island or throw a slip bobber out from camp and enjoy a beverage. Good question! Looking forward to hearing replies from others more knowledgeable than myself."

The bays are calm and sheltered, but the open water areas have a slight breeze with a 7 to 10 mph maximum breeze out of the south-west.
There are two small islands in the northern portion of the lake with 3 to 5 feet of water around the general perimeter, sloping off to 10 feet deep 25 yards out.

What is the barometer doing?

quote QueticoMike: "Welcome to the message board Badger!"

Thanks Mike! Just reading posts on here in anticipation to entering in one week.

If we also have a nice breeze I would spend a little time drifting between a couple of the islands - focusing on where I expect some current to be flowing. Probably a bottom bouncer and a leech. ( I dont seem to have great luck keeping minnows alive:p )

quote Arlo Pankook: "What is the barometer doing?"

The barometer is at 30.00 when you first arrive at the lake....LOL :)

Early spring I would start with the creek opening close to where it drops to deeper water with a jig and a minnow - smallies and walleye...

Then I would move to pinch points between shallow bays and deeper water - either a jig and a minnow or a lindy rig/minnow for walleye.

quote QueticoMike: "You portage into a lake you have never been to before and know nothing about it other than it holds lakers, walleyes, pike and smallmouth. There is creek flowing into the lake, there are calm bays with weedbeds, there are several mid-lake reefs and humps, there are numerous points, rocky shorelines, and a bunch of deadfalls, where do you start, what are you fishing for and what lure or live bait presentation are you using?"

Theres too many presentations and lures to mention them all, but for walleye, smallmouth and Pike 95% of my time would be concentrated in or near the shallow bays and the creek flowing in. For lake trout I would hit the points and rocky shorelines, at this time of year I wouldnt take even 5 minutes to fish main lake structure for walleye pike and smallmouth, unless the other shallow patterns werent working.

Depends on what structure is nearby the portage. If the stream was near by I'd hit it like Wb4syth. I'd hit the stream for sure soemtime though.

If it was on the other side of the lake I'd troll for lakers near deeper structure on the wind swept side of the lake with shiny cranks like a silver/black rap or a yo-zuri. Without knowing the depths completely (I assume no map) I'd hit the main basin edges. If it was a small lake I'd use smaller cranks but on a small lake I might not even target the lakers then unless I wanted an easy dinner. If it is a big lake, one with lots of deep water I wouldn't use a crank less than 4" because at that time of year you have a shot at a trophy.



T

Interesting question....good learning experience for me because "down south" we don't have significant ice time.
First of all: temp. gauge. I would head to moving water, because it is warmest, especially mud/muck bottom areas. Not best spawning habitat, but food(minnows, insects) are there.
Out of the wind. Windswept areas get mixed with lake...so warm slower.
Fish "slow" lures. Cold water fish are not particularly aggressive, want a slow moving lure...however uptake of lure/bait can be fast, fight good.
Pat attention to what is in a fishe's stomach. Some areas of a lake produce an abundance minnows, some crawdads...so fish "key" on them. Not exactly "match the hatch", but sorta.
Jig/grub, jig/chunk, BIG thumper spiinerbait, suspending minnow(KILLER!!), carolina rig/lizard.
Be quiet...shallow water means spooky fish...low light...quiet lure entry.
Great time to be on the water...the wild waking up...birds migrating north...the trees waking up...you may be the only one on the water

I start by pitching small jigs with minnows around the points for walleyes, starting shallow and working deep.. I'd check to see if there was deeper water adjacent to that creek as well, and if there was I'd fish the current edges, again for walleyes. If I struck out, I'd pull cranks along the rocky shorelines starting at about 6 feet and working out to about 12. If nothing happened, I'd try the mid-lake structure with a jig and minnow, again for walleyes. Next comes the wood, then the weed edges.
Unless it is a stocked lake then it is weeds first.

Early spring? I'd start shallow and work deeper and see what happens...

quote lazypaw: "This year a Big Pike from a solo canoe is my goal.

I would troll a comically large rapala type lure through the shallow bays and parallel to weed lines. (Sometimes I'll put a Gulp minnow on the last hook just to make it larger and stinky.) I'll paddle slowly to the creek.

For interesting deadfall I would cast a daredevil or a mouse topwater into the weeds."

I've been toying with the idea of a "comically large" lure, just how big of a lure are you talking about?

Silver Spoon. Start at the mouth of the creek and work my way around the shoreline in about 12' of water, then go after the points and humps.

I would toss out one of my favorite lures and troll around a bit, sampling the different areas you have noted to see what's biting. Once I knew what was after my junk, I'd target that fish :)

I would probably start at the moving water, working the direct flow along with the edge of the flow, slow retrieving with soft plastics. First with a jerk bait and then a tube bait. Then I would just work the shorelines casting and spend a little extra time at the points and deadfalls.

I just thought it would be interesting to see how everyone attacks a new lake up there. Thanks for your input!

quote Rich Mahogony: "

quote lazypaw: "This year a Big Pike from a solo canoe is my goal.


I would troll a comically large rapala type lure through the shallow bays and parallel to weed lines. (Sometimes I'll put a Gulp minnow on the last hook just to make it larger and stinky.) I'll paddle slowly to the creek.


For interesting deadfall I would cast a daredevil or a mouse topwater into the weeds."

I've been toying with the idea of a "comically large" lure, just how big of a lure are you talking about?"

I'll be dragging a 7" Vampire Rapala on Sunday Morning!

I like to see what is hanging around the campsite first. After setting up camp, I would slip bobber a leech right from shore. I would be a foot off the bottom and my buddies would be 1/2 way up the water column ( so I catch the fish and he doesn't. LOL). If the shore line is fishy, some top water bass and pike is hard to resist.

One concept we will be trying on our trip next week is to find a site on the north shore of the lake since the bays and shore will have warmer water and the weeds get more sun for growth. Also, if a southwest wind is blowing like it should, we will have wind blown shores on our side. Hopefully, the baitfish will be pushed right to our area, bringing in the eyes and bronzebacks to us.

Trolling is something we do the next day as we cruise the lake. Worm/leech harness with a bottom bouncer is our go to with a big old rapala husky jerk or smithwick rouge, on deck.

I'd rig one rod with a medium diving hardbait, say a Rapala Taildancer. The other rod would be rigged for bottom bouncing, like a 1/4 ounce jig head dressed with a 3" gulp alive twister tail. I'd hit the shallows around the shore lines working my way to the bays and moving water. If I strike out, I'll try the main lake reefs and humps. I'd also mix it up with spoons, spinners and different hardbaits, or go TGO rigged with a gulp alive leech.

My go to bait choices should be good for anything that's biting. Once I've covered my bases, whatever success I have will allow me to develop a pattern for a specific species.

Early spring? I wouldn't even consider fishing for smallies or pike - not because it is tough, but because the fishing for lakers and walleyes should be very good this time of year.
I would start trolling for lakers along the points and reefs first. Maybe check out entrances to bays for lakers too. Then when I head for walleyes I would go back to the flowing water and start there. Jig and plastics would be my first choice, followed by casting a crankbait.

Creek flow with jig head (Pink or Chartreuse) and 2"-3" white twister tail. Cast and retrieve adjusting depth and speed.

Todd