Going in at moose first week in September up towards knife. What type of Life bait wood be most beneficial 4 walleyes and smallmouth bass? I know it's a little late for Leeches with questionable availability maybe an issue. We have had good success with TGO methods in the past and would like to utilize that presentation on this trip. Any advice would be appreciated.

I never hear much talk about crawlers on the board. They are certainly quite deadly if presented properly and particularly so on big fish. If you take crawlers then the must read little book is of course "Lunkers love nightcrawlers" which expounds in some detail the hows and whys of nailing the big girls. One of the most influential books on fishing I have ever read and helped shape my clear water fishing methods. Drop a super crawler (crawlers which have been force fed water resulting in huge, hard and lively bait.......picture a crawler on Viagra.........but then again maybe not ;-)........where were we, oh yea........Drop a super crawler down on top a 31" walleye with light line and a little hook and its game on.

If you were going in late september I would advocate for minnows.

You can get "Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers" direct from Amazon or with free shipping from MT Enterprises.

Lunkers love nightcrawlers

Night crawlers will be the easiest to transport and keep alive.

I'm going out on Fall Lake the second week of September- taking a good amount of crawlers with me. I'm planning on doing some lindy rigging/bottom bouncers, as well as tipping twistertails with a crawler. I may also take some leeches with us, but I've never actually tried to keep them in the BWCA. And with Minnows....how do you keep those alive for days? I have one of those trolling type minnow buckets, but once you stop moving (back at camp), even if it's in the water, it still doesn't replenish the water supply.

I like crawlers and like keeping them in a "bait canteen" type crawler box. Made of 'particle board' or 'sawdust board' that can be dampened, kept in shade, and they keep well with evaporative cooling. Beats a styrofoam box by a mile imo.
The book posted above has some good tips on keeping fat, firm, lively crawlers.
Crawlers are usually bought from a refrigerator these days. I like making up the box/bedding pre-trip; add crawlers and refrigerate at bunkhouse . Then just before leaving add a few ice cubes or a mini ice pack on top. Let them acclimate and condition. They will be just like you freshly plucked them out of the yard at night. I hate a limp skinny worm out of a styrofoam cup on a warm day. Just as soon do without.

Wow nothing like getting advice from the pros. Thanks a lot for all the help.

mastertangler: perhaps you are not allowed to divulge on the board, but what is MT Enterprises? Thanks! cmpsec@gmail.com

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