If you could only catch ONE of these on your next trip, which ONE would it be and why?

30 inch walleye
21 inch smallmouth
40 inch pike
36 inch lake trout

Or a the bonus non Grand Slam fish

20 inch brook trout
20 inch largemouth bass
15 inch crappie
15 inch perch

I would have to go with the 34 inch lake trout, I have never caught one that big before.

I have been fortunate and have caught all of the above. The lake Trout is my #1 pick.
Also to me is it a fat butterball ball and well conditioned or skinny.
My best smallmouth was just under 23 inches and was in nice shape but was not fat like some smallmouth and a fat 19 inches would of weighted more.

The lake trout makes me fill good like I am in more of a wild area that I am lucky to be there.

I think the 40 inch northern pike would be the most common.

None of the above. 16" or better crappie for me.

Laker

I have to say the 40" pike. Now that would be a fight.

quote mr.barley: "None of the above. 16" or better crappie for me."

That is extremely rare in my neck of the woods

I'll give a slight edge to the laker over a walleye. In my mind trophy fish in the BWCA are just that much more special because of the hard work you have to put in to get them. The lake trout just has that mystique to it that is symbolic of wild places like the BWCA.

quote DeanL: "I'll gI've a slight edge to the laker over a walleye. In my mind trophy fish in the BWCA are just that much more special because of the hard work you have to put in to get them. The lake trout just has that mystique to it that is symbolic of wild places like the BWCA."

A lake trout in the 34 inch range could be like 30-40 years old.

quote Pinetree: "

quote DeanL: "I'll gI've a slight edge to the laker over a walleye. In my mind trophy fish in the BWCA are just that much more special because of the hard work you have to put in to get them. The lake trout just has that mystique to it that is symbolic of wild places like the BWCA."

A lake trout in the 34 inch range could be like 30-40 years old."

The 53 pounder my dad caught up on Athabaska was estimated to be at least 80 to 100 years old according to the DNR.

I'd have to say the 30" wAlleye.
To date my biggest is a 7 3/4 lb. Mississippi river wAlleye. I want that 10 lbr.

I'd have to say the 30" wAlleye.
To date my biggest is a 7 3/4 lb. Mississippi river wAlleye. I want that 10 lbr.

quote walllee: "

quote Pinetree: "

quote DeanL: "I'll gI've a slight edge to the laker over a walleye. In my mind trophy fish in the BWCA are just that much more special because of the hard work you have to put in to get them. The lake trout just has that mystique to it that is symbolic of wild places like the BWCA."

A lake trout in the 34 inch range could be like 30-40 years old."

The 53 pounder my dad caught up on Athabaska was estimated to be at least 80 to 100 years old according to the DNR. "

Isn't that something else. The cold water and slower metabolism helps them live that long up there. Do you have any idea their main food item up there? Whitefish?

i love to eat lake trout, so i wouldn't want to catch one that big. i'll take the smallmouth bass, they jump and run and splash around.

Lake trout. Imaging your first glimpse of that surfacing, like a submarine!

quote Mocha: "i love to eat lake trout, so i wouldn't want to catch one that big. i'll take the smallmouth bass, they jump and run and splash around."

You don't have to eat the big laker, you can always release it back into the wild after your battle:) I hope if anyone catches any fish of the sizes I posted, they are released to reproduce and maybe thrill another angler.

Put me down for a laker.
~JOE~

quote Pinetree: "

quote walllee: "

quote Pinetree: "

quote DeanL: "I'll gI've a slight edge to the laker over a walleye. In my mind trophy fish in the BWCA are just that much more special because of the hard work you have to put in to get them. The lake trout just has that mystique to it that is symbolic of wild places like the BWCA."

A lake trout in the 34 inch range could be like 30-40 years old."

The 53 pounder my dad caught up on Athabaska was estimated to be at least 80 to 100 years old according to the DNR. "

Isn't that something else. The cold water and slower metabolism helps them live that long up there. Do you have any idea their main food item up there? Whitefish?"

Ciscos and whitefish if I remember correctly.

Have to with the walleye.

But the SMB would probably be more fun.

Would love to have that 30 inch walleye.

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mocha: "i love to eat lake trout, so i wouldn't want to catch one that big. i'll take the smallmouth bass, they jump and run and splash around."

You don't have to eat the big laker, you can always release it back into the wild after your battle:) I hope if anyone catches any fish of the sizes I posted, they are released to reproduce and maybe thrill another angler."

i don't like the stress on the trout and since smallmouth bass are taking over the world i figured i could "off" one of them! :)

the 30" because walleye.

Easy...The 34" laker... It's the only one I've not yet landed. None that big landed on any of my trips. I've got many of the NP & SMB; only 1 30" W, but a lot of 28"+s. Lots of 29"- 32" trout, but none bigger... My son had a 34"+ to the top, but no chance to get the net under it... Hopefully this year that changes.

Definitely the Laker.

landed the small mouth and laker still looking for trophy eye and pike. Hoping this May will produce. but if only one it would have to be another laker.

the laker

Smallie, no question.

Lake Trout for sure since brook Trout wasn't one of the choices :-)

This year would have to choose Walleye based on my entry point....Pike and/or Smallie would also be readily accepted though!

quote Basspro69: "Lake Trout for sure since brook Trout wasn't one of the choices :-)"

+1 took the words right out of my mouth

30" walleye. I hooked a 36" plus musky on East Pike lake one time and lost it at the boat. Landing one of those would be right up there.

I've caught all except the Laker. Laker for sure!

quote Mocha: "

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mocha: "i love to eat lake trout, so i wouldn't want to catch one that big. i'll take the smallmouth bass, they jump and run and splash around."

You don't have to eat the big laker, you can always release it back into the wild after your battle:) I hope if anyone catches any fish of the sizes I posted, they are released to reproduce and maybe thrill another angler."

i don't like the stress on the trout and since smallmouth bass are taking over the world i figured i could "off" one of them! :)"

Point taken, I can totally understand that......

quote Basspro69: "Lake Trout for sure since brook Trout wasn't one of the choices :-)"

So what would be considered the trophy length for a brook trout up there? 20 inches do it?

Walleye for me... with trout as a close #2. Then pike and lastly smallmouth. Seems like I catch a few trophy smallmouth every trip w/o even trying when I'm fishing for walleye.

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Basspro69: "Lake Trout for sure since brook Trout wasn't one of the choices :-)"

So what would be considered the trophy length for a brook trout up there? 20 inches do it?"

I think it's safe to say that that 20+ is trophy quality for a brookie up there.

quote DeanL: "

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Basspro69: "Lake Trout for sure since brook Trout wasn't one of the choices :-)"

So what would be considered the trophy length for a brook trout up there? 20 inches do it?"

I think it's safe to say that that 20+ is trophy quality for a brookie up there. "

I will add 20 inch brookie to the list up above for you and BassPro :)
I also added largemouth, crappie and perch.

SMB for me. Of the choices offered, they can be caught with the least effort (OK, arguable with the northern) and I fish to relax. You don't have to worry about nasty sharp teeth when landing one and pound for pound the fight they put up is the most entertaining.

I've never caught a 21" but did get a 20" one time and have caught a number of 18"-20" smallies and they've all been a blast.

been lucky to have caught most of the above as listed trophy. That must mean I have been around a long long time.

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mocha: "i love to eat lake trout, so i wouldn't want to catch one that big. i'll take the smallmouth bass, they jump and run and splash around."

You don't have to eat the big laker, you can always release it back into the wild after your battle:) I hope if anyone catches any fish of the sizes I posted, they are released to reproduce and maybe thrill another angler."

C'mon Mike, you know good and well that fish that large are very old, and most likely female!
With your logic, a 70 year old, 250 pound woman would be considered prime breeding stock, as would a male of that same age.
How'd ya think that'd work????? :)

quote QueticoMike: "If you could only catch ONE of these on your next trip, which ONE would it be and why?
I would have to go with the 34 inch lake trout, I have never caught one that big before."

I have to start by saying that I'm not a trophy guy whatsoever, it just doesn't matter to me. I was going to say Lake Trout, but I wouldn't keep or eat a trophy fish, and I actually feel kind of bad when I catch one for the stress it puts on them, particularly trout. I've caught a Brook Trout that was over 20", and that's my favorite fish above all. So, after all that I was going to say the 30" walleye because I think that's the one I have the least chance of catching, but my final answer is the smallie because I never worry about stressing a smallie - there are plenty of them around. :)

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mocha: "i love to eat lake trout, so i wouldn't want to catch one that big. i'll take the smallmouth bass, they jump and run and splash around."

You don't have to eat the big laker, you can always release it back into the wild after your battle:) I hope if anyone catches any fish of the sizes I posted, they are released to reproduce and maybe thrill another angler."

C'mon Mike, you know good and well that fish that large are very old, and most likely female!
With your logic, a 70 year old, 250 pound woman would be considered prime breeding stock, as would a male of that same age.
How'd ya think that'd work????? :)
"

I don't know about 70 years old. But because they are cold blooded I think they could have very viable eggs still as long as it is healthy. I have no idea from up there where ice may not go out to July.

It was once thought the old walleye's eggs would not be viable,but studies done on the walleye in the Whitefish chain north of Brainerd where walleye eggs are taken for the hatchery. Walleyes aged to be 23-25 years old and many in the 16-18 age range(all these are very old in the walleye world) and this is a very big sample. The eggs were as viable and healthy as a young mature female walleye. The hatch rate was the same for all eggs.
Yes many lakes the walleyes are cropped off before that big and many waters can't grow big fish.
Yes I think once they start deteriated(sp) and losing weight etc. you will see them become infertile. I and most of you seen those long lanky old males. The same happens to them.
I think from lake trout way up north because of super cold water and lower metabolism they live longer. The big word is if they can stay healthy. I have not seen a 70 year old women looking like a 20 year old very often-males either.

What I have seen from Quetico studies a 9 year old lake trout is about 20 inches and a 29 inch trout around 17-20 years old. Some lakes because of food restraint trout may not get past 20 inches at 15 years plus. It varies so much and once in many lakes they will max out.

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Basspro69: "Lake Trout for sure since brook Trout wasn't one of the choices :-)"

So what would be considered the trophy length for a brook trout up there? 20 inches do it?"

For sure a brookie 20 or larger is a trophy, and depending on the lake a 18 or 19 incher would qualify also.

Good info, Pinetree. Thanks!

I also choose lake trout.
I don't consider a 34" trout a trophy. Imo 40" is a trophy. A few lakes up in the parks that give out 30" to 38" trout often.

quote Mnpat: "I also choose lake trout.
I don't consider a 34" trout a trophy. Imo 40" is a trophy. A few lakes up in the parks that give out 30" to 38" trout often. "

I have not seen many pictures of 40 inch Lake Trout being caught in the Boundary Waters. Please post some of your pictures, I would love to see them. Thanks for sharing!

I will change the LT size to 36 inches for you on the OP :)

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mnpat: "I also choose lake trout.
I don't consider a 34" trout a trophy. Imo 40" is a trophy. A few lakes up in the parks that give out 30" to 38" trout often. "

I have not seen many pictures of 40 inch Lake Trout being caught in the Boundary Waters. Please post some of your pictures, I would love to see them. Thanks for sharing!

I will change the LT size to 36 inches for you on the OP :)"

Each and everyone has there own idea and trophy size,that is great. A trophy actually is in the eye of the beholder.

A 40 inch lake trout in the BWCA is almost non-existent, yeh a few our around but extremely rare. I had some old slides of like 75 years ago Clearwater lake up the Gunflint had a few come out of there. Fishing pressure has changed and that lake just has too much pressure now. Even DNR netting surveys show very few.
There is a few lakes that have the right forage food base and only a moderate lake trout population and good water quality. There out there but that size is rarer than a 35 inch walleye or a 48 inch northern pike. I have seen both.
Like I said far north Canada or even along Isle Royale area. Quetico has a few more potentials than the BWCA.
Its tough to get perfect conditions for lake trout.

The Laker. They are always so fun and put up a solid fight. Check out this Laker featured in Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters newsletter!

Gotta go with a 40 inch pike. I have measured two at 39 inches and had one flip out of my grip last fall that I think was bigger. Laker would be a close 2nd.

quote brux: "The Laker. They are always so fun and put up a solid fight. Check out this Laker featured in Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters newsletter!"

I seen that-she was a thing of beauty and still is swimming.

quote brux: "The Laker. They are always so fun and put up a solid fight. Check out this Laker featured in Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters newsletter!"

Thanks for sharing!

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mnpat: "I also choose lake trout.
I don't consider a 34" trout a trophy. Imo 40" is a trophy. A few lakes up in the parks that give out 30" to 38" trout often. "

I have not seen many pictures of 40 inch Lake Trout being caught in the Boundary Waters. Please post some of your pictures, I would love to see them. Thanks for sharing!

I will change the LT size to 36 inches for you on the OP :)"

I have never caught a big lake trout over 40". Someday I will catch my trophy.

Have to go Walleye because that is what I have spent the most time chasing. Always great success, but never a trophy.

quote Mnpat: "

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mnpat: "I also choose lake trout.
I don't consider a 34" trout a trophy. Imo 40" is a trophy. A few lakes up in the parks that give out 30" to 38" trout often. "

I have not seen many pictures of 40 inch Lake Trout being caught in the Boundary Waters. Please post some of your pictures, I would love to see them. Thanks for sharing!


I will change the LT size to 36 inches for you on the OP :)"

I have never caught a big lake trout over 40". Someday I will catch my trophy.
"

I think the seeking or hunting for them is most of the thrill to me. Checking out numerous new lakes in Quetico or the BWCA.

quote Mnpat: "

quote QueticoMike: "

quote Mnpat: "I also choose lake trout.
I don't consider a 34" trout a trophy. Imo 40" is a trophy. A few lakes up in the parks that give out 30" to 38" trout often. "

I have not seen many pictures of 40 inch Lake Trout being caught in the Boundary Waters. Please post some of your pictures, I would love to see them. Thanks for sharing!


I will change the LT size to 36 inches for you on the OP :)"

I have never caught a big lake trout over 40". Someday I will catch my trophy.
"

Good ones!

I'd take da walleye, yust because I don't know what I would do if I actually had a pike dat big on my line.

One of these .Or the perch.

Why? I'd better not say! :) oth

Only fish photo in my gallery. I had to get my son to scan it and post it. 35mm. I'm so dumb on a keyboard. I seldom take pics but my buddy snapped this one and gave it to me one Christmas.

Good thread. As said, including Quetico, I think the bass at spawn can be caught more easily thank the others' mentioned. I've bbever gone above 19 but 21 seems like a doable fish in the Q. I catch 34inch lakers in heavirrr gear around chicago. But a 36 inch laker up there out of a canoe is a pig. Wallet at 30 up there elusive. I could see stumbling into a 40 inch pike. I've had a 38 like that.
So up in the q/bw, I'd say:
1) laker
2) walleye
3)pike
4) smallie

Butch

I'd have to say the Laker. I have a 30" walleye and a 20.5" smallie. I also have a 39" northern from a canoe in the BWCA. That was a wild ride. Had to beach the canoe to land it. I have never caught a laker, but i'm hoping to change that this summer on Trout Lake.

Stu from the Boundary Waters Journal put a pic of his 40" Laker caught in Quetico. It's a cover shot but I don't know the issue.