I've organized my fishing gear and it is way, way, way too much. I could imagine using all of it, but over a 5 day trip it'd be near impossible to do so. I've packed duplicates of lures that have historically worked or tend to get snagged (e.g., jigs), but (in my mind) nothing ridiculous.

How the heck do I reduce the amount/weight of fishing gear I bring to the BWCA?

My fishing tackle load grew smaller from year to year. You'll learn over time, even without giving it much thought.

quote BobberRob: "How the heck do I reduce the amount/weight of fishing gear I bring to the BWCA?"

Don't. Unless it brings you from a double to a single portage why bother? I go to fish...so I bring a lot of tackle.

I'm with TeamTuna06. I bring lots of tackle. There have been time it took me a while to get the 3 Rights. Which is bait, color and presentation.

Too much tackle is fine as long as you use it. I can't tell you how many trips I have done where I have lugged lots of stuff and 1/2 of it never got wet.

Now I make a point to try everything I bring and the surprises are worth the extra effort.

I'm with you guys, get a bigger tackle box and take it along.

I am a downsizer, except maybe my one favored lure. I bring about 5 of them.

Y'all don't think about lures the same as I do. Lures are tools. For instance, when it comes to trolling cranks, I cover 4ft. to 25ft. Wide wobble and tight wobble. That is accomplished with a Floating Rap minnow, a 1/4oz(3/16) Hot-N-Tot(wide wobble, 6-14ft., 3/8oz. Hot-N-Tot(12-24-25ft.), and an SR9 Shad Rap(8-20ft.)tight wobble. In 4 lures, I cover virtually all trolling situations that can be managed in a canoe....and sometimes I troll with a jig.

Try this...put all the lures, in one pile, that you HAVE caught fish with, in the last 2 trips to the BW. Then, just take them.

I don't think about what I might possibly need or use, I think about the possible things a given lure could do...and I practice it at home before I go. Just like you, I want to be able to catch fish under virtually any and all situations, but I strive to do it with versatile lures.

If it's not a big deal bring them along. I can't tell you how many times I have seen fish caught on one lure. Then I look in my box and nothing close with me. I bring a lot of lures.

Sometimes I think I could take a few packs of Zulus, some worm hooks, barrel swivels and that's all I would need. But you never know, so I take a lot of other stuff I don't hardly use. If for some odd reason the Zulus don't work, I have to try other lures. Or maybe your fishing partner is catching a bunch on a different lure, I might have to switch. Basically I just make sure I have 3 or 4 different lures for each type of fish. After awhile it is easy to figure out what to take and what not to take.

quote bassnet: "Just like you, I want to be able to catch fish under virtually any and all situations, but I strive to do it with versatile lures."

Lots of good things there (I just selected a bit to save on space), and it is a very disciplined way to pack lures. But the "what if" game always sneaks in for me. What if they want a ghost color pattern instead of a fire perch/tiger/blue/craw/etc.? What if they want a minnow profile? A shad profile? What if they want a downsized lure? I bought the dang things with the hopes of using them.

Whatever you take out and leave home to downsize, will be the exact thing someone else will kill em on all week. I admit I always Have and always will take too much.

quote TeamTuna06: "

quote BobberRob: "How the heck do I reduce the amount/weight of fishing gear I bring to the BWCA?"

Don't. Unless it brings you from a double to a single portage why bother? I go to fish...so I bring a lot of tackle."

++++1

But if you absolutely feel you have to, make a top ten list, bring 2 or 3 of each lure and that should cover you. Let me warn you though, if your fishing partner starts catching fish after fish on that clown pattern shad rap and your getting skunked you will be pissed :-)

Haha...lively, and interesting discussion! Quetico Mike: if you add a few bullet sinkers, you can make a Carolina rig and work your beloved Zulus down to 20ft. Granted, not particularly weedless, but gravel-mud-weedy flats beg for that presentation.

The point is, I don't bring in a lure simply for one presentation...except a Spook!! Lures really should have a Swiss Army Knife use (bad English....).

I sure hope I can catch some fish this year......... :-)

You should not leave your loved ones behind. Bring your wife or partner with you.

And no I didn't misread the thread. They can help carry your extra lures.

quote Basspro69: Let me warn you though, if your fishing partner starts catching fish after fish on that clown pattern shad rap and you're getting skunked you will be pissed :-)"

Ha Ha. True, but if you have a "nice" fishing partner perhaps he or she would let you use one of the 3 or 4 extras they have on hand.

quote msray53: "

quote Basspro69: Let me warn you though, if your fishing partner starts catching fish after fish on that clown pattern shad rap and you're getting skunked you will be pissed :-)"

Ha Ha. True, but if you have a "nice" fishing partner perhaps he or she would let you use one of the 3 or 4 extras they have on hand. "

And by "use" I mean "buy"

Once bought a hot clown skitterpop off my buddy when we were out there because he was killing with it...I paid $10 for a $6 bait. Supply and demand....

quote TeamTuna06: "

quote msray53: "

quote Basspro69: Let me warn you though, if your fishing partner starts catching fish after fish on that clown pattern shad rap and your getting skunked you will be pissed :-)"

Ha Ha. True, but if you have a "nice" fishing partner perhaps he or she would let you use one of the 3 or 4 extras they have on hand. "

And by "use" I mean "buy"

Once bought a hot clown skitterpop off my buddy when we were out there because he was killing with it...I paid $10 for a $6 bait. Supply and demand...."

LOL Love it :-)

quote msray53: "

quote Basspro69: Let me warn you though, if your fishing partner starts catching fish after fish on that clown pattern shad rap and your getting skunked you will be pissed :-)"

Ha Ha. True, but if you have a "nice" fishing partner perhaps he or she would let you use one of the 3 or 4 extras they have on hand. "

The first time I ever took Zulus to Quetico I only had one pack of 4 lures with me and I gave one of them to one of the guys with me. I'm a "nice" guy. :-)

quote QueticoMike: "I sure hope I can catch some fish this year......... :-)"

That is a good one!

quote bassnet: "Haha...lively, and interesting discussion! Quetico Mike: if you add a few bullet sinkers, you can make a Carolina rig and work your beloved Zulus down to 20ft. Granted, not particularly weedless, but gravel-mud-weedy flats beg for that presentation.

The point is, I don't bring in a lure simply for one presentation...except a Spook!! Lures really should have a Swiss Army Knife use (bad English....).

"

My fishing partner uses a light jig head when he fishes the Zulu or ShadZ and does well with that presentation. At one point last year I was running low on worm hooks and wanted to save them for the end of the trip so I used a Zulu or ShadZ with a round ball 1/8 oz jig. I swam and bounced the lure deeper than usual and did well, but not as good as my typical set up with the swivel and the just below the surface presentation. I will make sure I have no shortage of worm hooks this year. I would throw it on top water without a swivel if my line wouldn't get so twisty. This lure can be deadly on top, but I hate all the line twist. I am actually going to take skirts off of spinner baits this year and string a Zulu or ShadZ on it and see what happens.

excellent idea...like a giant beetle spin!

Back when the Sluggo came out('89?), we were hot on a lake that was having a "couple of year" run of having a great Spook bite. So, one of the techniques we soon learned was working the Sluggo as a topwater thru the thick weeds. Careful rigging kept us away from line twist, even with no swivel. We settled on a now-defunct variety of Sluggo knock-off called a Nacho. While ir may mean getting away from your Zulu, there are brands that don't twist as much...jus' gotta try 'em.

I've got a near-lifetime supply of the Nachos, and would be willing to mail you some if you would like. my email is jules55_@hotmail.com if you want to send me your address. I have 2 colors: one for light conditions, one for dark conditions.

quote QueticoMike: "I am actually going to take skirts off of spinner baits this year and string a Zulu or ShadZ on it and see what happens. "

The Blue Fox Vibrax size 4 comes with a replacement single hook. I always take the treble off and throw some sort of plastic on there. I've run 2" to 4" grubs, lizards, craws, etc. Maybe the zulu would work with this presentation?? Hmmmmmmmm....

quote bassnet: "excellent idea...like a giant beetle spin!


Back when the Sluggo came out('89?), we were hot on a lake that was having a "couple of year" run of having a great Spook bite. So, one of the techniques we soon learned was working the Sluggo as a topwater thru the thick weeds. Careful rigging kept us away from line twist, even with no swivel. We settled on a now-defunct variety of Sluggo knock-off called a Nacho. While ir may mean getting away from your Zulu, there are brands that don't twist as much...jus' gotta try 'em.


I've got a near-lifetime supply of the Nachos, and would be willing to mail you some if you would like. my email is jules55_@hotmail.com if you want to send me your address. I have 2 colors: one for light conditions, one for dark conditions."

Address sent via email. Is there anything I need to know about rigging or presentation?

No, just regular ol' sluggo-type rigging. It is a little wider than a Zulu, and has a hook pocket on top. Rig with a 5/0 Owner Wide Gap plus or Offset shank. Me personally, I am a big fan of Gamakatsu and Daiichi.

quote mastertangler: "Too much tackle is fine as long as you use it. I can't tell you how many trips I have done where I have lugged lots of stuff and 1/2 of it never got wet.

Now I make a point to try everything I bring and the surprises are worth the extra effort. "

Agreed. I used to go fully loaded and never used 3/4 of what I brought. My tackle box now weighs less than 1.5 lbs and I can catch a meal on any given day. If your're looking to set records, bring that 10 lb tackle suitcase. :-)