I will be going to ensign out of moose on the 8th of August. Bringing my wife on her first trip and could use some help finding some walleye. It will be her first trip and would like to get her on some fish so that she might go back with me again.

Are there some good spots there or should I push through to hatchet I'm familiar with that lake but don't want to push her too much on her first trip either. Any help would be great.

Stick with the plain hook or light jigs tipped with a leech, minnow, or part of a crawler and stay away from the crank baits, if you want to catch fish. :)

Take her to the grocery store.

quote The Great Outdoors: "Stick with the plain hook or light jigs tipped with a leech, minnow, or part of a crawler and stay away from the crank baits, if you want to catch fish. :)"

+1

Been on and through Ensign a lot. 3 popular spots are the reef on the West side just out from the Splash "portage." You can usually see the tip of the reef, depending on water levels. The narrows. And the reef on the East side near the portage to Ashigan. Jig and a leech or slip bobbers work great. I've found success off of points and in 10-18' of water. Bring a lighted slip bobber and throw out from camp. A day trip into Ashigan will get you into some decent smallies if you get too frustrated with walleye. Splash is a fun little lake too, hooked into a 39" northern throwing a jointed rapala on the East shore with several more on the northern shore, no pun intended.

"Help me put my wife on fish"

Step one, catch fish.
Step two, place fish on chair.
Step three....

Sometimes no response is better than a response that is only funny in the eyes of the giver. Dbj339 probably expected more. I go along with TGO light jig with minnow or leach, probably best to try early or last couple hours before dark. The lighted slip bobber from camp after dark can be fun when your sitting on the rocks watching the stars. Good luck

Tough room, huh?

As far as fishing with wives goes, I have some experience. Here is what I have learned: smallmouth provide tons of fun and are good to eat in the BWCA. My go-to wife set-up is a wacky-rigged senko under a slip-bobber. No slimy leeches, no specialized skills needed, it's easy, fun, and productive provided there are bass around. If you are after walleyes, then slip bobber and and a leech, preferably from camp. Number 1a for us is to troll big size 14 husky jerks along shore and near weed edges. Have the bow person keep both hands on the pole and sweep it forward from time to time while the stern person paddles. Very productive for us for all species, but especially northern, which is fun.

On bigger lakes like Ensign. As soon as you get to it, long line cranks as you travel and look for a camp site. Never fails to pick up fish. Might help ya locate or pattern them wiht the TGO method later.

If she doesn't feel comfortable paddlign and trolling then maybe you can do it for scouting purposes. Just watch the contours as you troll around so you don't snag too often. Also if you have a big head wind might not be good either as everytime you catch a fish you will get pushed back---I don't mind the extra paddling but my wife is a different story :)

quote sirlips: ""Help me put my wife on fish"


Step one, catch fish.
Step two, place fish on chair.
Step three....



"

I was going to go this direction too, sirlips, but you beat me to it!

"Take my wife...Please!" (wow, it IS a tough room!)

As much as this pains me.....If she has little experience fishing, the TGO method would probably be a "go-to" option. On the western side of the lake is an oblong island with numerous campsites. To the N and NE of that is another large island with several campsites. To the N and NW of that is a large bay. It ranges from 7-11ft., and has a lot of weeds. Clumps, small openings, areas too thick to fish, open alley-ways, it is full of ambush points for all 3 species. Drifting a leech or crawler a foot or so above the bottom through the openings will always draw a strike. Needless to say, low-light conditions will be the best.

Long line trolling requires a bit more fishing savvy, but is a good way to "see the lake". Simply tie on 2 cranks, one that goes 5-7ft. deep, another that goes 14-16ft...back paddler probably ought to have the deeper one. And just go paddle "over 'yonder". Ask your outfitter which shorelines to troll, they will know.

seeing a float go under the water level, is fun at any age. night crawlers is another option, you could also fish(whole crawler) from camp with a slip sinker-hook. and inflate the crawler alittle bit. can be fun and productive when your doing camp chores or just chill'n :)

Bookem Dano

Thanks for the responses! Even the sarcastic ones lol. Tgo is the method I prefer. Or just jigging. Thanks for the info on the reefs that's where I will try. She has no problem with leaches as she helps me with leaching when I need some help. We fish together a lot but this is the first time I was able to convince her to go to the bwca. That type of camping really isn't her thing, but thought if I should her how good the fishing can be she might be up for it more often. I just wasn't how sure the fishing would be on the easy access lakes as I usually go further of course.

A battery operated fan and a very comfortable sleeping mat will go a long ways towards making her want to come back .