Looking for some fishing insight. Something that can help turn the tide. In the last 4 trips (2 in Sept, 2 in June) my 4-man group has amassed 6 fish. That's right. In 4 trips we have caught 6 fish between the 4 of us.

I have done a ton of reading about how to fish walleye and smallmouth in the BWCA and still cannot catch them.

I grew up fishing a lot of largemouth in and around the Twin Cities, walleye are not my fortay, but I'm not an idiot either.

My tacklebox is fairly standard. 1/8-1/4oz jig heads in various colors, mister twisters in various colors, couple of shad raps, slip bobber rig, spinnerbaits, and a few rooster tails. I think my problem is how I'm fishing these lures and the presentation. Live bait is usually crawlers and leeches.

Here's my usual tactic for walleye assuming I have no spots marked on the lake or no recent knowledge/tips.

Look for a rocky outcrop or point or island or something that seems like it would hold some structure. Rig up a jig and start jigging from the shoreline out. Give up after an hour. Throw on a slip bobber and try it at various depths until something hits (usually doesn't). If that fails, which it typically has, I'll put on a shad rap and start trolling.

What am I doing wrong? Help me

In my experience the structure that you describe fishing can be good in July and August, but not June and September. On medium to large lakes I usually fish bays and shoreline stuff in June, and more mid lake stuff in July and August. By late August or early September the fish can be much deeper than you'd expect. This pattern does not apply to small, shallow lakes.

Not sure the exact time you are going on your next trip, that information might help people with their responses and how they respond to your request.

Buy some Strike King Zulus ( aka ZMAN ShadZ, ZMAN StreakZ, Strike King Z Too ) if you want to catch some smallmouth. Read my article Zulu Magic. ( Use email below for request )

If you want to learn more about fishing for the big 4 species, send me an email at - queticomike@yahoo.com - request the Grand Slam Lure article.

Walleyes - get a good contour map. Find the mid lake humps and reefs that hold walleye. If you have leeches, drift over the area with a simple plain red hook, a leech and split shot about 18 inches up the line. Drop it down, bring it up off the bottom by 6 to 12 inches and you should find some walleyes. If no leeches, try a fake leech or twister jig or a baby bass colored Zulu on a 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz jig head.

Also fish any moving water. Start out a ways in the lake and work your way towards the start of the current into the lake. Also look for moving water between islands or two land masses that have wind blowing between them creating a current.

Fish the wind blown shore lines. Troll them 20 to 30 feet off shore. A J9 gold floating jointed Rapala or gold Husky Jerk works for me.

Continue to fish points and surrounding flats.

Look for weed patches during certain last season periods.

Good luck on your next trip! I hope you do better!

What time of day are you trying the methods you describe? Midday walleyes have always been tough for me. I catch 90% of mine during the last two hours of daylight. Look for rocky areas (shorelines, bays, points, islands) adjacent to deep water. Especially if the wind has been blowing on that area all day. In June 6-7 ft has been a great depth for me in those scenarios. Set your slip bobber so the bait is approximately 1 foot off the bottom.

For smallies try some wacky rigged senko type lures or top water baits on shoreline boulders and around fallen timber. Time of day not as crucial for them.

As above.
I move if I don't get any action in 10-15 minutes. You should know pretty quickly if there is life on a structure.

Appreciate the tips guys. Saving all of this info to look back on when I'm up. I shouldn't have made this post and just read sirlips Walleye 101 post a few down. Oops.

I will be headed up this coming Tuesday for a 6/20-6/24 trip.

quote tarnkt: "What time of day are you trying the methods you describe? Midday walleyes have always been tough for me. I catch 90% of mine during the last two hours of daylight. Look for rocky areas (shorelines, bays, points, islands) adjacent to deep water. Especially if the wind has been blowing on that area all day. In June 6-7 ft has been a great depth for me in those scenarios. Set your slip bobber so the bait is approximately 1 foot off the bottom.


For smallies try some wacky rigged senko type lures or top water baits on shoreline boulders and around fallen timber. Time of day not as crucial for them."

+1 exactly how we get most of our walleyes in early June

quote anthonylane: "Appreciate the tips guys. Saving all of this info to look back on when I'm up. I shouldn't have made this post and just read sirlips Walleye 101 post a few down. Oops.


I will be headed up this coming Tuesday for a 6/20-6/24 trip.
"

If your heading through Ely, stop in the shop from 6-10 am and we can give you the crash course in fishing.

Email quetico Mike for his articles...great advice there. I've increased the size of my average smallie tremendously by incorporating his Zulu rig.

That being said, If I were to recommend one setup that has proven fail proof for smallies with everyone I've fished with, it would be pumpkin colored tube jigs on 1/8 or 1/4 oz tube jig heads.

Position your canoe about 30 to 70 feet from shore/structure. Cast the tube so it lands near shore/structure. Here are the two important parts - 1) the first cast in a new area has more potential than any other cast so don't let it go to waste! 2) when the tube hits the water, set the bail on your reel and let the tube sink to the bottom WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING. once you feel the tube hit the bottom, reel in jigging the tube in 1 to 2 foot arches. Candidly, in my experience this method kills smallie between 1 and 3 pounds so I can't promise you'll set any state records but I can promise some fun action.

For the length of your trip, I would recommend 8 - 12 jig heads and 2 bags (6 or 8 tubes per bag). The coffee scented StrikeKing tubes are deadly.

For the non seasoned fishermen, 50% of fish will be caught on the first cast...can't emphasize that enough. Make it a good one.

Last bit of advice I've got is make sure your hands/bait are as free as possible of any "human odors". Would you eat your dinner if it smelled like soap or rubbing alcohol?

Some of my best Smallies, and Pike for that matter, have been caught on Mepps Spinners. I like a 3 or 4. The 1st cast frequently gets my biggest fish... Fan the casts by points or rocks or trees.

Good info above, thanks guys. I'll be going through Rockwoods via Grand Marais.

What Line are you using? Largemouth guys have a tendency to over tackle in canoe country. To heavy of line can effect lure action as well as live bait presentation.

A good investment would be the small book "lunkers love nightcrawlers" which seems tailor made for canoe country.

What lb would you recommend? 6, 8, 10?

quote Hooklinesink: "What lb would you recommend? 6, 8, 10?"

Well everything depends on what your approach or strategy is going to be. Lighter line will get more bites but will also result in more break offs if everything isn't right.

When considering light line the first thing I think about is the size of my hooks. Small thin diameter hooks will tie nicely to 6 lb line making 6lb the preferred choice for live bait presentations such as crawlers and leeches.

Today's modern walleye sized crank baits also usually sport black nickel ultra sharp hooks which can be set with line as light as 6lb test. But the problem is rather tying 6lb off to a split ring. The double wire thickness of the ring makes for bad physics and ends in bad knots and lost lures. Most guys will thus run their cranks on either 8 or more often 10 lb line to compensate. To bad as crank baits run on 6lb line are really able to strut their stuff. My suggestion, which I have mentioned many times before, is to ditch the split ring and go with a medium or large fas-snap. Very discreet and works wonderfully well with 6lb test.

If the fish are biting well then 8lb test is preferred as you can land fish quicker. 8 can be a good starting point but I don't hesitate to drop to 6 lb if I am not getting bit. I also like 8lb for lake trout fishing.

10lb is reserved for fishing fast or erratic baits which provoke reaction type strikes. Far to many southern bass anglers come to shield country and consider 10lb or even 12 lb line as "light line". That will likely spell their downfall coupled with pounding the bank exclusively and they usually leave early, their high expectations being abruptly and rudely dashed.

And then of course there are specialty options. I have been known to drop to 4lb line on a particularly tough day and 65 lb power pro is always with me to throw or troll large pike baits.

I have no issues catching fish with 10 # Trilene XL in the Quetico and Boundary Waters.

I'm certainly no expert, and I can't help much with walleyes. However,I've gone in June, July, and August of recent years, and caught smallmouth very consistently. I generally work shorelines and look for overhanging trees, rock piles, etc. QueticoMike has been awesome, and he provided me with information about Zulus, which have been very, very effective, but working lots of different lures along the shore (e.g., spinners) have been productive. Using this strategy, we have had times where we are catching smallies nearly every cast, and I don't think that we have ever been skunked when targeting them. Good luck!

quote QueticoMike: "I have no issues catching fish with 10 # Trilene XL in the Quetico and Boundary Waters."

Mikes a fine fisherman but I must take issue with such a simplistic approach. I don't see any single lb test as the be-all end-all for Canoe country fishing. 10 lb might work just fine and dandy for certain scenarios.......certain type of presentations for specific sizes and types of fish in a specific color of water.

But I have little doubt that 6lb line in a clear lake (as opposed to a dark or stained lake) will usually outfish 10lb line especially if it is a finesse or live bait presentation. Medium and small crank baits also perform like magic with lighter line.

Maybe I'm wrong but maybe I'm right ;-)

quote mastertangler: "

quote QueticoMike: "I have no issues catching fish with 10 # Trilene XL in the Quetico and Boundary Waters."

Mikes a fine fisherman but I must take issue with such a simplistic approach. I don't see any single lb test as the be-all end-all for Canoe country fishing. 10 lb might work just fine and dandy for certain scenarios.......certain type of presentations for specific sizes and types of fish in a specific color of water.


But I have little doubt that 6lb line in a clear lake (as opposed to a dark or stained lake) will usually outfish 10lb line especially if it is a finesse or live bait presentation. Medium and small crank baits also perform like magic with lighter line.


Maybe I'm wrong but maybe I'm right ;-)
"

I literally catch a ton of fish each year with clear 10 pound Trilene XL. I don't seem to catch less fish now compared to when I used to use 8 pound all of the time. Actually I think I catch more now without having any line breakage. My results speak for them self. To each their own, I'm not changing my line size.

Yikes, do I detect a slightly defensive tone monsueir Mike? Just talking fishing pal, not saying your wrong. Sure those big dumb green bass and eater size walleyes will eat that rope for line so why change? (Now I'm yanking yer chain > I crack myself up :-)

Surely you would concede that live bait would usually do better with lighter tackle? Don't be stubborn, just say y-e-s........see that wasn't so hard!

quote Hooklinesink: "What lb would you recommend? 6, 8, 10?"

I like 8 pound for most situations unless im dealing with line shy walleyes or trout, then I use 4 pound .

I don't mind playing both sides and like intellectually honest conversations. On the other side of the coin there will be times where thicker line will outfish lighter stuff........yup it's true imo.

The thicker line will help slow the fall of lures a little like bigger, bulkier jigs and tubes and may actually help your bites. Lots of pros gravitate towards this concept on the Bass tour.

Heavier line is not your enemy.........until it is. I usually fish the heaviest line they will bite often starting at 15lb fluorocarbon leaders and start dropping until I get bit.

For all the inexperienced fishermen out there reading through fishing threads trying to figure out how to "perfectly" outfit yourselves (I was you not long ago), simple advice is usually the best advice. Fishing is like anything...it gets complicated REAL QUICK if you allow it to. I currently run fire line to a floro leader on one b'dub rod, but my other two b'dub rods just have 8# Berkeley XL. There is not a species in the b'dub that I haven't caught on 8# mono. The bigger mistake is using old fishing line. Avoid that and you'll land fish.

quote doubledow but my other two b'dub rods just have 8# Berkeley XL. There is not a species in the b'dub that I haven't caught on 8# mono. The bigger mistake is using old fishing line. Avoid that and you'll land fish."

Great advice !

New line and good knots are the best fishing insurance. You are only as good as your line and your knots.

Great advice from everyone. Whatever you do, make sure you're not cooking your main meal of the day in the hour or two before sundown, no matter how hungry you are. Take snacks out in the canoe and spend this time fishing! Off the edge of a wind blown point or island, small hook + splitshot + leech = chance for eyes, smallies, and pike. Or slip bobber if you prefer, but I just love feeling the bite at the end of the line. Cast, let it sink, then crank as slow as you can allow yourself while occasionally lifting the rod tip. I've only been back from my trip 1 week and am already wishing I was back up there.

If it makes you feel any better Anthony, I've been going with groups of 5 or 6 for the past 4 years and we've probably managed 14-16 fish amongst the group in that span (3-night trips). We've never hit any sort of honey hole or reliable place/method of catching fish, never had a campsite that produced much from shore, etc. Just sporadic catches now and then.

So I'm reading these tips and licking my chops to get back up there....thanks everyone who is contributing.

quote treehorn: "If it makes you feel any better Anthony, I've been going with groups of 5 or 6 for the past 4 years and we've probably managed 14-16 fish amongst the group in that span (3-night trips). We've never hit any sort of honey hole or reliable place/method of catching fish, never had a campsite that produced much from shore, etc. Just sporadic catches now and then.


So I'm reading these tips and licking my chops to get back up there....thanks everyone who is contributing."

Send me an email - queticomike@yahoo.com - and request my Grand Slam Lure article it might help.

quote QueticoMike: "I have no issues catching fish with 10 # Trilene XL in the Quetico and Boundary Waters."

I think 8 lb PowerPro with 10 lb Fluorocarbon leader works best for me... Casts a mile, is really sensitive, and will catch almost anything. I'm not really thinking about catching Muskies!

quote Bumstead: "Great advice from everyone. Whatever you do, make sure you're not cooking your main meal of the day in the hour or two before sundown, no matter how hungry you are. Take snacks out in the canoe and spend this time fishing! Off the edge of a wind blown point or island, small hook + splitshot + leech = chance for eyes, smallies, and pike. Or slip bobber if you prefer, but I just love feeling the bite at the end of the line. Cast, let it sink, then crank as slow as you can allow yourself while occasionally lifting the rod tip. I've only been back from my trip 1 week and am already wishing I was back up there."

good advise on the sundown comment , we're always cooking supper with the headlamps on ;)

quote shock: "

quote Bumstead: "Great advice from everyone. Whatever you do, make sure you're not cooking your main meal of the day in the hour or two before sundown, no matter how hungry you are. Take snacks out in the canoe and spend this time fishing! Off the edge of a wind blown point or island, small hook + splitshot + leech = chance for eyes, smallies, and pike. Or slip bobber if you prefer, but I just love feeling the bite at the end of the line. Cast, let it sink, then crank as slow as you can allow yourself while occasionally lifting the rod tip. I've only been back from my trip 1 week and am already wishing I was back up there."

good advise on the sundown comment , we're always cooking supper with the headlamps on ;)"

I like to eat early before the bugs are out (or worse than the rest of the day ) and get it out of the way and concentrate on fishing the rest of the evening. Then when we come in for the evening it is just matter of starting a fire and pouring myself a tasty drink.

quote QueticoMike: "

quote shock: "

quote Bumstead: "Great advice from everyone. Whatever you do, make sure you're not cooking your main meal of the day in the hour or two before sundown, no matter how hungry you are. Take snacks out in the canoe and spend this time fishing! Off the edge of a wind blown point or island, small hook + splitshot + leech = chance for eyes, smallies, and pike. Or slip bobber if you prefer, but I just love feeling the bite at the end of the line. Cast, let it sink, then crank as slow as you can allow yourself while occasionally lifting the rod tip. I've only been back from my trip 1 week and am already wishing I was back up there."

good advise on the sundown comment , we're always cooking supper with the headlamps on ;)"

I like to eat early before the bugs are out (or worse than the rest of the day ) and get it out of the way and concentrate on fishing the rest of the evening. Then when we come in for the evening it is just matter of starting a fire and pouring myself a tasty drink."

+1

quote QueticoMike: "

quote shock: "

quote Bumstead: "Great advice from everyone. Whatever you do, make sure you're not cooking your main meal of the day in the hour or two before sundown, no matter how hungry you are. Take snacks out in the canoe and spend this time fishing! Off the edge of a wind blown point or island, small hook + splitshot + leech = chance for eyes, smallies, and pike. Or slip bobber if you prefer, but I just love feeling the bite at the end of the line. Cast, let it sink, then crank as slow as you can allow yourself while occasionally lifting the rod tip. I've only been back from my trip 1 week and am already wishing I was back up there."

good advise on the sundown comment , we're always cooking supper with the headlamps on ;)"

I like to eat early before the bugs are out (or worse than the rest of the day ) and get it out of the way and concentrate on fishing the rest of the evening. Then when we come in for the evening it is just matter of starting a fire and pouring myself a tasty drink."

Well said, QMike. Mid-day for the 'cooked' meal of the day. After sundown for relaxation!