Did I make a mistake getting my Basswood permit for the opener? Only 2 years in the last 50 have still had ice by then. Am I gonna freeze my nads off or what? Just trying to figure out why no one wants to go. I figured it would be ideal for big spawn/ post-spawn Pike in shallow bays. Am I missing something?

Spring comes late up there. I've never had much luck fishing on opener, but I'm a pretty poor fisherman. Plan for lows in the 20's, but you just might catch 70's instead. It's not unusual to switch between one day of winter weather and the next day is summer weather.

Just keep this in mind when planning. Nobody has ever left the BWCA in May because they packed too many warm clothes.

Opener is always a risk. I fished many openers with snow falling and the wind howling. Just be sure to dress accordingly.

I suppose that's why I can't get anyone to go. The record overnight low for those days is 30 and the record high is 82. Average high is 58. Average precipitation is 0. Doesn't seem too bad. I've always read that the first lure in front of a Big Pike after ice out is the best chance of the year to catch her. Is that bogus?

Yes, but don't give up on it. Much will depend on weather leading up to the date and the conditions on a given lake. If there's warmer water or just good flow into/out of a lake, those could be productive spots. If the walleye come out of their funk, they may start feeding down deep or gradually start making their way up those underwater rock-strewn slopes to feed. A couple warm sunny days could change the outlook for your trip.

Having said that, I've hit ice on Knife lake at the opener and then I didn't go anywhere for two days while it rained, sleeted and snowed. The wind finally blew the ice out and I could escape my campsite!

I think it is the ideal time for trophy pike, but is a bit risky weather wise. If I were free that time of the month, I would join you. It is definitely boom or bust, but you should give it a go. Really big pike are harder to find after June 1. If you are prepared for possible wet and cold, I think you will be fine.

I thing I don't like about opener is there is a lot of people coming and going. From Moose lake and up.

Thanks for the advice. I'm glad to hear someone say it could be ideal for big Pike and the weather issue is no surprise. We're coming from Fall lake and I probably won't go past Hoist so the traffic up by Moose shouldn't be a problem for us. That is unless someone says there's a reason to head up to the main lake? Anyone? We'll pick the least windy day to go over to Jackfish but I don't know anything about the main lake.

Lake Trout near shore maybe? I hear there's some Lakers up there. Any spots within reach from Hoist?

Having said that, I've hit ice on Knife lake at the opener and then I didn't go anywhere for two days while it rained, sleeted and snowed. The wind finally blew the ice out and I could escape my campsite!"

The thing is, even this type of trip can be fun if you're prepared for it. Sometimes it's not fun until a few weeks after you get home, but if nothing else it makes for a good story.

manmountain8: "Lake Trout near shore maybe? I hear there's some Lakers up there. Any spots within reach from Hoist?
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Although basswood gets deep in some areas the lakers are absent or extremely rare on basswood, especially in the south end of basswood. Snowbank and further east there are some options.

Thanks, I won't waste anytime looking for Lakers then. We're going for Big Pike.

The best laker spots are on the Canuck side. Lakers are not hard to find or catch. I always find them on Basswood.

North Bay north and east of White Island is one of several good laker spots in Quetico. You could get a daypass from a ranger station but you would have to get yourself over to Prairie Portage to pick it up. You could get a day fishing license as well. Buying it online might also be an option --- I just haven't checked into this option because I always get an annual outdoors card and fishing license for Ontario.

well I stand a bit corrected :)

Well, our outfitter just put my mind at ease. They said the opener is actually one of the most popular weekends of the year, so I'm not the only one dumb enough to brave the cold.

I like fishing the opener and am going again this year but I like to stick to streams and smaller lakes. I am going solo also and think big lakes and big canoes go better together. I always seem to have the best fishing where there is moving water coming into a lake a pool beneath a rapids or falls. No skimping on warm clothes.
Jon