Mine by far is the lake Trout for along with being a symbol of wilderness areas and pristine lakes it is a fish that is made for trolling.
Number two would be Smallmouth in early June on top water lures. What a ball.

Walleye, I can fish lake trout anytime at home and don’t think they are as good eating.

Smallies on top water and walleyes on slip bobbers.

I can't decide between sturgeon, red horse suckers, or white fish, so I'll go with smallmouth bass :)

Smallmouth for the tussle and walleye because they are pure deliciousness. Number three would be brookies for their beauty.

For years it was Walleye , but the last few years Lakers seem to be my target of choice.

QueticoMike: "I can't decide between sturgeon, red horse suckers, or white fish, so I'll go with smallmouth bass :)"

Actually whitefish are a much under fished species which fight like heck and taste fairly good.

Brook trout

TuscaroraBorealis: "Brook trout "

Hard to beat especially in the fall the big males and multi-colors. Still some good lakes but there getting fewer all the time.For years growing up that is all I fished.

Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, pike, brook trout in that order.

This is sort of a non-answer, but I truly like than all! This past trip was a Laker focus because I hadn't caught one yet. Depends on the conditions and what's biting. I guess once I figure that out (if I do), then I am trying to catch the best example of that species that I can.

I'm with Meat Gun........I like them all. I do tend to do trips with a priority on one or two species however. Changes from year to year.

MeatGun: "This is sort of a non-answer, but I truly like than all! This past trip was a Laker focus because I hadn't caught one yet. Depends on the conditions and what's biting. I guess once I figure that out (if I do), then I am trying to catch the best example of that species that I can. "

Its a good answer,if a person is already on a specific lake and one species is biting real good,most of us would probably switch to that species.
It is a little different maybe when you plan your trip about seeking a certain species and paddle to that type of lake.

Catching is fun.

Still looking to do my first trip to the BWCA (going this year in early or mid June), but when I do go I'm hoping to hook into some decent smallies with my fly rod.

Well since pine tree asked for the #1fish ,I'm going with the wAlleye or smallmouth.??

I know that I'm in the minority group here, but for me it's 100% northern pike. Ohio has plenty of good smallmouth bass and walleye fishing, and the steelhead fishery in all of the Lake Erie tribs is fantastic.

I spend a lot of time chasing northern pike on Ohio rivers, streams, and lakes. Catching a 36" northern in Ohio is a big deal. There are a handful of 40" plus fish caught here, but it's kind of like winning the lottery if you catch one.

The BWCA is loaded with not only numbers of pike, but also has some very nice ones; over the years I've been fortunate to boat several 45" pike and many over 40" from the BWCA and Quetico.

As a long-time subscriber to the Boundary Waters Journal, I have on a couple of occasions been provided marked maps by Stu. He always writes a nice letter with the map, but it's clear he thinks I'm nuts for chasing pike in the presence of such an outstanding SM Bass fishery.

Walleye. 5 trips and nothing. Only got on a school once and he got off.

Depends on time of day. If early morning or late evening walleyes. Rest of day is northern pike. I find northern fishing the most fun- walleyes the most challenging. Nothing like throwing spoons for northerns in a crystal clear back bay !!!

Pike and then Smallmouth for me. If I come across some walleye I won't pass up the opportunity to boat a few but chasing big pike is one of the main reasons I love the BWCA. I don't eat fish so as I was growing up and my dad was chasing walleye I would always throw on a spoon and start casting. I've always loved catching pike. SM are a really fun fish to catch but to me nothing beats seeing the giant head of a pike come to the surface for the first time only to disappear in a flash/splash.

I've yet to go to a lake that had lake trout. I'd love to plan a trip to target those as they've definitely peaked my interest.

SMB, hands down.

1. Rainbow
2. Lakers
3. Splake
4. Brook trout

Brook trout used to be higher, just not the fishing it used to be. Only a couple good lakes left.

bwcaforktail: "1. Rainbow
2. Lakers
3. Splake
4. Brook trout


Brook trout used to be higher, just not the fishing it used to be. Only a couple good lakes left."

I agree.
Statewide the brook trout fishing has been sliding. Due to multiple reason. Many now have other fish,like the BWCA many got smallmouth bass in them or northern pike. Warmer summers have increased temperatures in the lakes and some being marginal. Also a very big happening is when they changed to a brook tout strain called the wild strain which is better for streams, Well it has done poorly in Stream trout lakes statewide with slow growth and poor survival. They are switching to a different strain for
some lake stocking in the future.
Also I hear they may be stocking by Helicopter up the Gunflint for better survival and actually getting them in the lake in a higher percent than plane dropping and easier on the fish dropped and maybe can stock bigger fish. We should be giving approval for this method. Ontario and a few states in the northeast use this method with great success. It does cost a little more.

SaganagaJoe: "Walleye. 5 trips and nothing. Only got on a school once and he got off. "

Geez Joe we have to fix that. What time of year are you going? Quetico or BWCA? Super clear water or dark? Medium sized fish are usually not so hard to come by.

For me its definitely any of the trout species although I enjoy the walleye and pike fishing as well. Will be back up in a month or so for some Lakers through the ice which is my favorite trips to take.

I guess that would depend on the time of the year of the trip! March by dogsled for Lakers; june with the flyrod for smallies; july with spinning for walleyes and September for big northerns....

"Anything but the invasive SMB", he said as he stirred the pot.

I love fishing for and catching anything that swims, but nothing makes me as happy as a walleye. 2nd is big gills.

lundojam: "I love fishing for and catching anything that swims, but nothing makes me as happy as a walleye. 2nd is big gills."

Always had this discussion,pound for pound what is the best fighter. Maybe bluegills?

Definitely lake trout.

Living in central MN, I have at my fingertips more bass, walleye, and pike than I know what to do with. Trout are special. At least to me. :)

walleye for me, not many around where i live in SE Nebraska.

I try to plan loops with alternating days of fishing for LT and walleye.

For me ...... SMALLIES!! I love the way they fight, most of the time they are not too difficult to catch, and catching them either on a fly-rod or top-water bait kind of makes my day. I will fish for Pike and Walleye but 90% of the time I'm chasing the Bronzeback. I live in NC, and there's a river three miles from my house that has a good smallmouth population but the truth is there is no comparison to the Minnesota smallmouth. That's why I drive 1407 miles one way.

Smallies all day long. They fight like hell and they don’t taste bad either.

carmike: "Definitely lake trout.


Living in central MN, I have at my fingertips more bass, walleye, and pike than I know what to do with. Trout are special. At least to me. :)


"

Same goes for me. Something about the lakers that just seems to get me everytime.

we like walleye. then panfish and smallies
we will get more into lakers and brookies in due time

I have the trout bug for sure!! Any trout. Big. Small. In between. I think they are pretty for starters lol and brook trout are my favorite! Other than that walleye are always fun and more predictable. Still searching for that 10lber!!

GirlOnARock: "I have the trout bug for sure!! Any trout. Big. Small. In between. I think they are pretty for starters lol and brook trout are my favorite! Other than that walleye are always fun and more predictable. Still searching for that 10lber!!"

Nice to have another woman posting in the Fishing Forum.

Sincerely,

GirlNotOnARock

missmolly: "

GirlOnARock: "I have the trout bug for sure!! Any trout. Big. Small. In between. I think they are pretty for starters lol and brook trout are my favorite! Other than that walleye are always fun and more predictable. Still searching for that 10lber!!"

Nice to have another woman posting in the Fishing Forum.


Sincerely,


GirlNotOnARock"

Haha!! Love this!! Used to post a lot more but I went troll for a bit lol

Brook Trout !!!

Basspro69: "Brook Trout !!! "

For decades when Walleye opener was I would go fish Brook Trout in area streams. Brook trout are so well just neat.

I think I was there last weekend? They might be stocking lake trout soon in that area, if the area I am looking at is like just northeast of Brainerd?

QueticoMike: "I can't decide between sturgeon, red horse suckers, or white fish, so I'll go with smallmouth bass :)"

You left out Rock Bass, smart aleck! :)
My answer is BIG small mouth and Lake Trout. I get my fill of Walleyes(only good for one thing,YUM!) at home, Pike are a PITA and I've caught thousands, northern largemouths are babies, and unlike Mike, I don't drive that far for "rough fish" or pan fish. Now the sturgeons are interesting. Do you use Zulus, and Zman's for them, Mike?lol ! Seriously, It would be interesting to try for Lake sturgeon in Quetico.

I have never caught a sturgeon before, but I wouldn't be surprised to catch one on a Zulu :)
I could just see hooking into a monster in a canoe and it treats your canoe like a big bobber.....haha. I've seen pictures of smaller ones being caught in Quetico.

Yeah, a hundred pounder would take awhile on lite line and spinning gear!

mgraber: "Yeah, a hundred pounder would take awhile on lite line and spinning gear!"

There has been people from this board have caught them in Sturgeon lake.

I caught a 50" on four pound test once while fishing for crappie. It was in the tailwaters of a dam, so it had current on its side. It took me 1.5 hours to land it.

I target SMB but welcome anything that bites my lure.

I love monster brookies! They are so difficult to figure out sometimes,but when they are ready,watch out! Marc

walleye...

I love spending a week fishing walleyes in the BWCA. Sometimes we have to chase them and scramble for a dinner or two. Other times we land right on them and it isn't fishing but more like catching. You take those days when you get them!

Walleyes.

I like smoked Sturgis. Take meat out and roll in paper towels.

Lakers & Brookies , more lakers than specific brook trout trips..
but all species are fun.
i can catch nice pike and walleyes on my local lake but not lake trout. or brookies ;)

It all depends on where I am going or if I plan on eating it. Usually, walleye is the goal but smallies are so much fun. This year we are going to Lake Trout water and I will be hoping to catch my first BWCA Laker. On top of that we are going with great intent to hit the Grand Slam (laker, walleye, smallie and northern). So now I said it out loud I just jinxed us and we will get skunked. Late ice is going to cause most people problems but since we can't go until mid June late ice should help us for lakers....I hope!

Laketrout58: "I love monster brookies! They are so difficult to figure out sometimes,but when they are ready,watch out! Marc"

I want to go to the North Shore of Superior and paddle to where a guy could then bushwhack into some of the interior lakes along that shoreline. Might find a few real gems. I have the maps of Puckasaw Provincial Park and there looks like some real interesting possibilities there.

Favorite is Brookies, but since I only fish in Quetico, that would have to be lakers, or Walleyes, or maybe big smallies, or maybe just talking about it and watching someone else catch a great fish while I paddle them around! Truly, just being there is heaven.

I do a lot of walleye fishing on Lake Erie, but the preferred, most productive method is trolling in a larger power boat with planer boards. You cover a lot of ground, and when you find the right spot and depth the action can be non-stop. Also 7-8 pounders are not infrequent.

However, I prefer catching my walleye in the BWCA. If I'm trolling, it's slowly in a canoe. Casting and jigging are also great. The pace is much better. Heck, our biggest BWCA catch was a 27" walleye casting from shore, middle of the afternoon in July.

Much more fun feeling the fish hit, setting the hook, and playing the fish in on light line while guessing how big it is, rather than just cranking them back to the boat while the boat is still moving.

1. walleye
2. large pike
3. smallmouth
4. lakers
i have the most difficult time with 1 & 2. that could be why they are first

# 1a - would be walleye...at least until I have a couple for dinner then I'm off chasing
#1b - Pike.

I haven't caught a lot of Smallmouth, (a few out of lake St Clair) but am looking forward to tossing some gear at them this August.

The only trout I have ever caught around Michigan were trolling in Lake Michigan, Huron or Ontario and I'm sorry but that is kind of boring fishing for me.

When I lived in California we would catch Brookies up in the mountains up to 3-4 lbs.
Sea Trout in Florida are a blast at night with a live shrimp.

The idea of catching a Lake Trout out of a canoe is intriguing to say the least but it will have to wait until 2019 as the lakes I'm visiting this year do not hold Lakers.

I believe 2020 may find me in Algonquin for a Brook trout adventure!

Walleye, I am an addict, I can not get them off my mind, I love to catch them, eat them, see them, think about them.

Bob

The draw of fishing in the BWCA is the walleye/SMB/pike combo in a wilderness setting. We did a laker trip in 2017, and I enjoyed it, but lakers will only be primary every few years.

My brother (usual tripping partner) likes SMB, which influences the trips too.

Outside of BWCA, I like brookies in streams and watching my young boys catch bluegills.

Tie between jigging for walleyes or throwing topwaters for smallies.

Love fishing for walleye. I hooked two on leeches last trip in 2010. The pics are what ended up eating both of them on the way up to the canoe.

Bigbriwi: "Smallies on top water and walleyes on slip bobbers."

+1....but TGO method for 'eyes along with slip bobbering.

Bigbriwi: "Smallies on top water and walleyes on slip bobbers."

I go to the BW for big fish and lots of fish. I can catch a few small fish at home. But I can usually catch more fish and bigger fish in the BW. I live in Wisconsin. I have hardly fished at home after fishing the BW.

I love the fight of big smallies.

I love the challenge of finding lake trout. It seems like magic to pick up such nice fish in the middle of deep water.

I love the taste of walleyes. I can usually catch a good number. I haven't got any big BW walleye yet.

And I really love big pike. They are like freshwater sharks.