Hey all, first time posting on here but I've been reading this stuff for years. Group of friends and I go up every summer (mostly from Indiana). This year we will enter Mudro Lake and spend most of our time on Basswood. We have been to Basswood once before. We basically fish with leeches and a jig head and go back and forth with bobber or no bobber. We catch bass after bass fishing structure. While we don't mind catching bass and even eating them I always have a goal to catch more walleye and even pike. But can never seem to find them because we go mid-late July. Looking for tips, lures, techniques, times of day, or specific spots on basswood to hit , anything would be appreciated. A couple of us have tried trolling in the canoes but never really had success mostly because I feel like we don't know what we are doing and not having a depth finder doesn't make it easier.

You might be fishing to shallow for decent walleye and pike success at that time of year. I have fished Basswood several times in early and mid july on the Quetico side and find walleye typically in 20 ft of water, even at dark........(maybe they come shallower later in the night).

Why no depth finder? If fishing is high on your pursuits a depth finder would be a MUST starting July onward. They are not expensive and for about $100 you could be in business. Lots of threads about powering them via 8 double A batteries or something similar.

I troll deep diving crank baits at that time of year, typically banana shaped with big lips. These need to stay within 3 ft of the bottom hence the need for a depth finder otherwise your just hoping to get lucky. I get at least one or two 30" to 36" pike (decent fish) per day trolling in 20ft which are usually landed without wire leaders.

If you are on the American side a buoy would serve you well. Troll up a walleye and throw out the buoy. Then drop jigs and leeches on your newly found hot spot. Precision Troll to find them, jigs/bait to catch them.

Thanks! Yeah I've really been rolling around the idea of a depth finder. I just need to figure out a set up that is easy to take on an off since we rent the canoes and will be portaging. Guess I'll have to do some research