I have always gone up over Memorial Day. Well I am heading up over labor day this year.

I like Big Pike and Smallies. Any thoughts or changes I should expect?

Lazypaw- I usually trip on or after Labor Day. Not a Smallie fisherman, but pike are my thing.

I mostly troll crank baits that have green colors plus orange bellies like perch patterns or fire tiger. I like shad raps, rapallas, etc that run 5-8 ft deep. Prefer internal rattles. Flash and noise work best for pike. Can also throw large spinner baits with big blades. Bright colors like red, white, yellow and chartreuse. Silver or gold blades are fine.

Fall fishing is different than Spring. The water is cooling, so fish are feeding up for winter. They are usually very aggressive, but not prowling the shallows like Spring. But sometimes the cold fronts shut them off. Normally work around the weeds. Sometimes troll beside the weed lines, sometimes casting into the weeds (buzz baits or weedless lures), sometimes trolling just above the weeds in deeper water. Look in and around weed beds. The fish are there guaranteed. The weeds hold the warmth so they do not stray far. If you cannot find fish - go deeper into the weeds.

Also like blue tinted lures with same loud rattles and orange bellies. Will catch walleye as well as pike. Most of my big fish come around noon on clear days. Can catch them on rainy days too, but don't stay at camp when it is hot and sunny.

Good fishing,

Old Hoosier

PS - love your Springer pup photo. I have two Springers!!!!!

I, too, am going up the week of Labor Day. My wife and I took our first BWCAW trip last Labor Day (Granite River Route)and became immediately hooked on the beauty of the BWCAW--we didn't fish. We returned to Iowa, bought a used Souris River Quetico 17 from Craigslist, bought packs and all gear. We did the Mudro Lake loop at the end of May this year, and I just returned from a July trip with my grandson--I caught one perch because I didn't fish much and didn't do any of my homework. I'm more of a paddling enthusiast than an angler. However, I realize I've been missing out on some great fishing. I fished a lot with my grandpa growing up, trolling Buck Perry spoonplugs and caught some lunker northerns/walleye. That was 26 years ago.

I have studied this forum for a few hours and especially like the posts of Old Hoosier, Basspro69, and others. I read Furtman's book about fishing the BWCAW, but will always need advice. I'm doing my homework this time.

On Labor day week this year, my wife and I are paddling the chain of lakes between Little Indian Sioux and Nina Moose rivers. Lakes include U & L Pauness, Shell, Little Shell, Lynx, Ruby, Hustler, Oyster, and Lake Agnes. I'll be mostly after northerns and walleye, as only a couple lakes offer smallies. Northerns mostly impressed me as a kid, so I'd like to concentrate on them.

Questions:

1) Any specific fall fishing advice regarding the particular route we're traveling?

2) I love the lure advice from you Old Hoosier on a separate post (especially the pics)! One big question: how do you land those lunkers without a net? We always used nets when I was a kid, but I don't want to portage with a net if I don't have to.

Thanks, and sorry for the long preface to the questions.

I find theses to work great on those toothy pike.
Fish Grip

I am also a post Labor Day tripper. Don't forget the spoons, specifically 5 of diamonds in 3" and 4". Last year I rarely used anything else and absolutely slayed the pike.

I am expecting more weeds than I see in May .... Is that right? I am planning on fishing weedlines where ever I find them, especially if they are near deep water. Does this sound right?

Also plan on hunting outlets to bays and inlets and transitions from moving water to still. Any other thoughts or "Don't do that" advice?

I have the spoons and spinners and rapalas but and more concerned with where and when.

I have never caught a really big pike, I have caught millions (mabey not millions)of little and medium pike but never the big one. That is my goal this trip, cross that big pike off my list.

How about leeches? I'm planning on downsizing my tackle quite a bit (due to bringing my wife) but want to have some leeches in reserve for tougher times/shore fishing. #8 hooks and split shot?

Sounds like you have a plan. Go with it and cast your ass off. Good luck and have a great time. 20 pounder would be sweet. Never got one myself but I have 2 18's under my belt.

quote troutdude: "I find theses to work great on those toothy pike.
Fish Grip


I am also a post Labor Day tripper. Don't forget the spoons, specifically 5 of diamonds in 3" and 4". Last year I rarely used anything else and absolutely slayed the pike."

Thanks for the tip on the gripper. I'll be ordering one of those. Couldn't find it or a Sentry rod holder in any of the stores here. I want to be prepared. I saw your post while at Scheels and bought a 2nd set of 5 of diamonds spoons. Also got the buzz baits and shad raps as Old Hoosier recommends. Bought my wife an Ugly Stick and Shimano Sahara reel, so we ought to be good to go at this point. I have an old Mitchell 330 that I've had forever and a Garcia Power Tip rod.

quote lazypaw: "I am expecting more weeds than I see in May .... Is that right? I am planning on fishing weedlines where ever I find them, especially if they are near deep water. Does this sound right?


Also plan on hunting outlets to bays and inlets and transitions from moving water to still. Any other thoughts or "Don't do that" advice?


I have the spoons and spinners and rapalas but and more concerned with where and when.


I have never caught a really big pike, I have caught millions (mabey not millions)of little and medium pike but never the big one. That is my goal this trip, cross that big pike off my list.
"

Sounds like a great plan, pretty much the same strategy I use.

quote Old Hoosier: "Lazypaw- I usually trip on or after Labor Day. Not a Smallie fisherman, but pike are my thing.


I mostly troll crank baits that have green colors plus orange bellies like perch patterns or fire tiger. I like shad raps, rapallas, etc that run 5-8 ft deep. Prefer internal rattles. Flash and noise work best for pike. Can also throw large spinner baits with big blades. Bright colors like red, white, yellow and chartreuse. Silver or gold blades are fine.


Fall fishing is different than Spring. The water is cooling, so fish are feeding up for winter. They are usually very aggressive, but not prowling the shallows like Spring. But sometimes the cold fronts shut them off. Normally work around the weeds. Sometimes troll beside the weed lines, sometimes casting into the weeds (buzz baits or weedless lures), sometimes trolling just above the weeds in deeper water. Look in and around weed beds. The fish are there guaranteed. The weeds hold the warmth so they do not stray far. If you cannot find fish - go deeper into the weeds.


Also like blue tinted lures with same loud rattles and orange bellies. Will catch walleye as well as pike. Most of my big fish come around noon on clear days. Can catch them on rainy days too, but don't stay at camp when it is hot and sunny.


Good fishing,


Old Hoosier


PS - love your Springer pup photo. I have two Springers!!!!!"

Nothing to add other than great post, it says it all .

quote lazypaw: "I am expecting more weeds than I see in May .... Is that right? I am planning on fishing weedlines where ever I find them, especially if they are near deep water. Does this sound right?


Also plan on hunting outlets to bays and inlets and transitions from moving water to still. Any other thoughts or "Don't do that" advice?


I have the spoons and spinners and rapalas but and more concerned with where and when.


I have never caught a really big pike, I have caught millions (mabey not millions)of little and medium pike but never the big one. That is my goal this trip, cross that big pike off my list.
"

Sounds like a fantastic plan. Weedlines with access to deeper water work well especially if you have other structure (rocks, an extending point, etc.) to go along with the weeds.

My next trip I want to focus a little more on the big pike, so interested in stories when you get back, Have fun!

good advice so far...the only thing i would add is a hookout and a quality wire cutter able to cut a hook one-handed in a pinch. on northerns up to 30inches...just grab the hook shank with the hookout boatside and let the fish shake and it will release itself...also, i would pinch the barbs down on all your lures...safer...big angry fish and treble hooks can spell trouble quickly...BE CAREFUL...dont be afraid to cut hooks on big fish or fish that are hooked deeply...lastly, if you dont know how to remove an impaled hook from a person by pressing down to release the barb and a quick hard yank with a shoelace/cord (and its how an ER doc would do it)...google that...it works...oh yeah, its not in the pic..but get a mouth spreader...ask if you dont know what that is..and dont forget to take it out of a fish's mouth before releasing it...i think weve all lost a spreader that way...good luck

oops...photo: hookout, cutter & spreaders

Thanks guys. I will report back.

I also agree with some of the info posted here. The fall is definitely different than the spring, but in some ways very similar. If you've ever been up early early spring, and caught them pre spawn, then you know some very similar areas they will migrate with "feeding" in mind.

In mid may, and early fall.....when they are on leadin banks following the bait, they tend to congregate in areas with quick access to deep water. Reefs, points, and drop off's close the really shallow water are the ticket. In these areas, I LOVE to throw a soft plastic swimbait. Flukes on a triangle jighead, work wonders. I like to use a really heavy head 3/8 or 1/2 oz, because I'm working shallow to deep, walking the swimbait down the slope, so to speak. Once you find the general depth, you will catch them, on every lead in bank you find.

I've only started fishing this way in the fall the last few years, but I'm suspecting it will be consistent.

I did that last year and the year before over labor day. I also use a very similar method down here in KY on TVA lakes.....

A good thing with the swimbait is you can cover a crap ton of water. I mean it is nothing to fish miles of bank this way.

I hope it work out.

Later,

Geo

I would just add for the newbies that Quetico is barbless and artificial only. I now fish barbless even here in MN, love it, caught a 18" smallie two days ago, so it can be done with no barbs.

quote georgelesley: "I would just add for the newbies that Quetico is barbless and artificial only. I now fish barbless even here in MN, love it, caught a 18" smallie two days ago, so it can be done with no barbs."

Are barbless lures as easy as just crimping the barbs?

Yes.