What method do use use the most while fishing Quetico or Boundary Waters?

1) Cast
2) Troll
3) Jig
4) Slip bobber live or dead bait ( or a soft plastic )
5) Split shot, hook, live or dead bait ( TGO method )
6) other?

#4 Hook, Leech, split shot, slip bobber
#2 with Rapala's
#1 with top water lures

Use the most
1) trolling cranks, simply because I do that while traveling
2)vertical jig or drift blade baits
3)pitching jigs in current

Prefer
1)pitching jigs in current
2)vertical jig or drift blade baits
3)trolling cranks

1, 3 & 2 in that order

AdamXChicago: "1, 3 & 2 in that order"

That would be me too.....

6) dead sucker on a bottom slip sinker set up.
1)
2)

BWCA- jig or plain hook, split shot, leech.. either slow troll or drift fishing if the wind is right. Slip bobber rig tipped with leech, minnow , or crawler is my other go to method. The above is my Walleye tactics. When fishing for Lakers SLOW trolling or drifting with a 1/2 to 1 oz. jig and a 3 or 4 inch double twister tail, or a 3 to 4 inch tube jig fished the same way. Quetico- when targeting Walleyes my favorite method is again slow trolling or drifting a 1/4 to 1/2 oz. jig, and a 3 inch single or double twister tail. Color depends on lake conditions . With Lakers in Quetico my favorite is the same as I use in the BWCA.

Trolling for walleyes with crank baits. When we find them, sitting on them using cranks or swim baits. Lake Trout, trolling or jigging its all fun.

Three
Two
Four
But mainly jigging either vertical or if sandy bottom cast out and snap jig

A good mixture of 1,2 and 3 so far as being the most used method for fishing. Still too small of a sample to make any clear results on how people up there fish the most. I know TGO would be a 5 :) Hopefully more people will humor me and reply with their most used method of fishing. I just figured most people just cast up there, but I am starting to think there might be more trollers and jiggers than I assumed.

Its all about time of year..........if fish are shallow then I like casting.

If fish are deep, august is typically when I go, then its a trolling game. There can be no more effective way to keep a lure in the strike zone in deeper water than precision trolling. If done with a depth finder and quiet paddle power there could be nothing which is more efficient.

Having said that I am looking for a bit of a change...........I intend to do a bit more casting and jigging this summer. Probably break it up into 1/3 trolling, 1/3 casting, 1/3 jigging. Sounds good to me.

TGO is where I will spend most of my time, with some slip bobbering mixed in....targeting walleye in early June / shallower waters.....all smallmouth always welcomed too. If I had to move to deeper water to find them, I'd be jigging, either anchored or drifting.

When not doing that, I'm casting topwaters, soft plastics, rapalas, spinner baits in search of some smallies....pike are acceptable also.

Occasional trolling when travelling, which for me has only produced pike up to this point.

The title asked my preferred method. For that question, the answer is obvious: whatever catches fish. I usually do all techniques until I find one that is working.

The body asked for the one I use most... I have to think a bit about that. I guess I spend the most time trolling. I am intrigued by lake trout and spend quite a bit of time trying to catch them trolling. I guess I spend the second most time casting. I cast poppers, zulus, wacky worms, or lindy rigs.

Looking back... I have probably caught the most fish on leeches under slip bobbers.

1) Cast - Zulus, Topwaters, Spoons and Spinners
3) Jig - Most preferred.
5) TGO - Although we've used bottom bouncers. This year we'll try the TGO method more to avoid hangups.

For trolling I'm fine with holding the rod between my legs and it doesn't bother me much while paddling. My wife hates it. This year I'm considering getting her a rod holder after reading that thread yesterday. That might make trolling around exploring the lake more enjoyable for her.

Cast 95+% of the time. Troll a tiny bit.

Mad_Angler: "The title asked my preferred method. For that question, the answer is obvious: whatever catches fish. I usually do all techniques until I find one that is working.


The body asked for the one I use most... I have to think a bit about that. I guess I spend the most time trolling. I am intrigued by lake trout and spend quite a bit of time trying to catch them trolling. I guess I spend the second most time casting. I cast poppers, zulus, wacky worms, or lindy rigs.


Looking back... I have probably caught the most fish on leeches under slip bobbers."

I wish I could change the title. Is that possible? Is that something you have to ask a moderator to do? I really am asking for " What is your most used method ? ".

My preferred and most used are the same - casting.

2-crank baits
1-inline spinners
3-assortment of plastics
in that order
I am really stuck on trolling and have been successful at it, but Im going to work the TGO method this year so this could change.
Ive realized sometimes changing methods of the way i fish and learning new techniques can pay off if your patient.

Jig and a leech
casting
trolling

cast plastics
jig live bait
jig/cast other stuff/
drift/
troll

Put us down as a #3 jigging. The others are just a method to get to #3 for us although a good #2 in the AM B4 we leave camp is a good idea.

QueticoMike: "

Mad_Angler: "The title asked my preferred method. For that question, the answer is obvious: whatever catches fish. I usually do all techniques until I find one that is working.



The body asked for the one I use most... I have to think a bit about that. I guess I spend the most time trolling. I am intrigued by lake trout and spend quite a bit of time trying to catch them trolling. I guess I spend the second most time casting. I cast poppers, zulus, wacky worms, or lindy rigs.



Looking back... I have probably caught the most fish on leeches under slip bobbers."

I wish I could change the title. Is that possible? Is that something you have to ask a moderator to do? I really am asking for " What is your most used


My preferred and most used are the same - casting."

My new revised answer
#1 jigging preffered and most used

TGO first and surface lures second. Surface lures catch the most fish early and late and TGO in-between and after cold fronts.

BnD: "Put us down as a #3 jigging. The others are just a method to get to #3 for us although a good #2 in the AM B4 we leave camp is a good idea."

I didn't get the #2 the first time I read your response. I was trying to figure out how you were trolling from camp. Then I figured out you were trolling this thread....haha

Most used = 1
Preferred = 3

Sorry Mike. The numbering system just kinda brought out the kid in me. Weird sense of humor I guess. No more wise cracks. All camp jokes aside we're still a #3.

BnD: "Sorry Mike. The numbering system just kinda brought out the kid in me. Weird sense of humor I guess. No more wise cracks. All camp jokes aside we're still a #3."

Ha! Good one!

1•2•3

ONLY Quetico.... Never been to the BWCA

Cast
Jig
Troll

cast

My first trip I assumed I would be casting, but going solo, and having wind made fishing tough. The next year I went with my brothers and son, and we did well casting, although we may have caught just as many trolling.
Last year was solo again, and almost exclusively trolling. It is just frustrating to try to hold on a spot casting solo, and too time consuming for me to rig up an anchor to "check out" a spot. (and trolling worked really well!)

1
3
5
2

gymcoachdon: "My first trip I assumed I would be casting, but going solo, and having wind made fishing tough. The next year I went with my brothers and son, and we did well casting, although we may have caught just as many trolling.
Last year was solo again, and almost exclusively trolling. It is just frustrating to try to hold on a spot casting solo, and too time consuming for me to rig up an anchor to "check out" a spot. (and trolling worked really well!)"

I'm with you Don.........but what I do try and pay attention to is conditions. If I notice a favorable drift where I can drift and cast in safety and efficiency I will often stop trolling and start casting. But it has to be perfect..........to light a drift and you just sit there and don't cover any ground........to fast a drift and its either a bit uncomfortable or you blow by so quickly you cant really fish correctly.

One good thing about casting is you can cover a variety of water depths all on one retrieve. Trolling your basically focusing on one depth (generally speaking) especially if you precision troll with a depth finder like I tend to do.

In order of how often I use them.

1. Trolling - either crankbait of some sort of a livebait spinner rig
2. Slip bobber - plain hook and leech
3. Jigs - usually pitching jigs with leech, twister tail, or some sort of plastic swim bait.

In order of preference

1. Jig
2. Slip bobber
3. Trolling

I use other methods as well but these are the top 3.

2,1,4

i'm the only one with a 6) suckers !!!!!!
i meant suckers is what i use LOL ;)

shock: "i'm the only one with a 6) suckers !!!!!!
i meant suckers is what i use LOL ;)"

Well HALIBUT that comment. Just PERCH yourself right up there. At least you're not being a BASS about it. With comments like those they might get you into a some kind of PICKEREL :)

Depends on the season, I suppose.

If it's primo smallie time in June, I'll probably be casting (topwaters) pretty much all day. Same time of year, I'll be casting big lures for gators.

Any other time, it's trolling for trout. When/If I find them, I'll jig 'em.

QueticoMike: "

shock: "i'm the only one with a 6) suckers !!!!!!
i meant suckers is what i use LOL ;)"

Well HALIBUT that comment. Just PERCH yourself right up there. At least you're not being a BASS about it. With comments like those they might get you into a some kind of PICKEREL :)"

well played Mikey ,, well played ;) how long you been hanging onto that ? ;)

In order. I like more active fishing.
1a Cast - topwater, when appropriate
1b Cast
6 fly fishing - if I have a decent bank to stand on near current or wind is still enough for my mediocre casting skills from the canoe
2 Troll - lakers or while traveling/ exploring
3 Jig
5 TGO - should do this more, but I’m not patient enough
6 drop shot

shock: "

QueticoMike: "

shock: "i'm the only one with a 6) suckers !!!!!!
i meant suckers is what i use LOL ;)"

Well HALIBUT that comment. Just PERCH yourself right up there. At least you're not being a BASS about it. With comments like those they might get you into a some kind of PICKEREL :)"

well played Mikey ,, well played ;) how long you been hanging onto that ? ;)"

It took less than a minute to come up with that......I can write poetry pretty quick too :)

Abbey: "In order. I like more active fishing.
1a Cast - topwater, when appropriate
1b Cast
6 fly fishing - if I have a decent bank to stand on near current or wind is still enough for my mediocre casting skills from the canoe
2 Troll - lakers or while traveling/ exploring
3 Jig
5 TGO - should do this more, but I’m not patient enough
6 drop shot"

Haven't heard anyone mention fly fishing, a little surprising.

1
3
4

shock: "6) dead sucker on a bottom slip sinker set up."

Dead bait is easily the thing we do the most because it is so easy. I also love doing it because it produces so many large fish. When the clicker starts.... you never know what it will be.

Cast and troll are probably tied for the amount of time.

Our casting time is usually focused on smallies so it results in more fish per hour.

1. love shore fishing off those points R/W Spoon, mepps spinners and stick baits. or cruising the shore line in the canoe.

#4 in the weeds edge for Pan fish, Bass

#2 lindy or bottom bouncer for those days when you want to eat fish.

I will admit to being a little slow, but what does TGO mean?

simple hook and sinker rig fished with are without a slip bobber search the forum for TGO. You will find many stories

Thanks Bronco, will do.

Troll
Cast
I want to jig more this year.

As much as I love pitching jigs, when it comes to the BWCA NOTHING gets my blood pumping like watching a lighted slip-bobber slowly sink into the dark abyss!!

dhesse: "I will admit to being a little slow, but what does TGO mean?"

TGO stands for The Great Outdoors.....it is a bait shop in Ely and is also the BWCA.com screen name for Jim who owns the bait shop. His preferred method is a plain hook, a leEch and a split shot 30 inches up the line.

1. cast
2. troll
4. jig
hopefully 4 will become 3 (should jig more)