I just got back from Cabelas... I spent way more money than I needed...

I bought a Diawa Fuego to go with a new St Croix rod that I got this winter.

I got 3" and 4" white grubs based on the book "Catching Canoe Country Walleyes"

I bought 2 Mepps Musky killers to target big pike.

I bought 2 large F18 Rapalas in gold. Shock says that they are the ticket for early season trolling.

I bought a gold HuskyJerk just to complement the gold floaters.

I bought a bunch of ball bearing swivels to go with the Musky Killers.

I probably wont catch any more fish than usual but I'm REALLY excited about going in next week and I needed to do something...

Oh. I bought a drift net too. I don't know how much it will help with this trip but it sure would have helped with some of my summer trips in the past...

Kudos! Sounds like you did just fine. I am a fan of the Musky killer spinners. They will also take some nice walleye especially in current areas.

I would touch up the hooks. Ideally you need a pair of vice grips and a file. As you look directly at the points you want to create 4 cutting surfaces, a diamond pattern if you will. I file away from the lure, not towards it. Be careful not to get the point to fine or it will break. The point is not really the emphasis but rather creating the cutting surfaces.

Add a few of these in case you want a little different presentation with your jigs / curly tails. Slayer

Good luck, we expect a full report, for better or worse ;-)

Nice haul, but I don’t see any new top water lures for Smallmouth Bass. I think you need to go back and buy more.

Savage Voyageur: "Nice haul, but I don’t see any new top water lures for Smallmouth Bass. I think you need to go back and buy more. "

I think he’s waiting to buy them from TGO...

Suprised you didn’t buy a steelhead rod while you were at it. That was my BWCA.com induced purchase this winter. Haha

That explains the smell of plastic burning... :)

Frankie_Paull: "Suprised you didn’t buy a steelhead rod while you were at it. That was my BWCA.com induced purchase this winter. Haha"

I already have beautiful St. Croix steelhead rod. I bought it in Rhode Island and used it for stripers. Now, I take it to the BW to use for pike

Savage Voyageur: "Nice haul, but I don’t see any new top water lures for Smallmouth Bass. I think you need to go back and buy more. "

I already had alot of those.

I did get some new lucky 13s in bullfrog color for Christmas.

That’s funny. I’m sure I have literally all the fishing stuff I need for, if not the duration, then I’ll figure it out when I run out. I can think of a couple Rapalas I might add, but just a couple. I don’t really need them anyway, more of a tradition maybe. Have fun with your new snatch. Go get em man.

Mad_Angler: "

Savage Voyageur: "Nice haul, but I don’t see any new top water lures for Smallmouth Bass. I think you need to go back and buy more. "

I already had alot of those.


I did get some new lucky 13s in bullfrog color for Christmas. "

I hear you, Thanks to Quetico Mike I have both sizes of the Lucky 13 in bullfrog color. The addiction never ends. I was in Scheels today for monofilament and I felt I needed more spoons for an upcoming trip. 4 spoons and a few Rapala’s later I made it out the door.

Last January I gathered up all of my tackle boxes, large and small, loose lures that were laying around and my tub of "extras" and went to cabin for a long weekend of ice fishing. once at the cabin I gathered up all I could find and added to the pile from home. The next day was spent organizing my vast treasure and looking out the window to check my tip-ups.

My conclusion: I have more tackle than I will EVER be able to LOOSE. Much of my tackle is 30-40 years old. That being said, I stopped at Scheels today and bought ANOTHER lighted bobber, three bags of soft plastics and, yes, a size 18 gold floating Rapala.

I just recently discovered this forum and I am Sooooo happy to discover that I still need a few things.

Great forum guys,

Jeff

P.S. Who knew that cleaning fish could end up causing such a ruckus.

We have taught you well :) LOL

I've both been reading past and posting new threads in order to up my skill set, and as a result I count 11 new Rapalas, 5 new Mepps, and 4 new Little Cleos. Also some #6 hooks, small split shots, and gulp leeches, plus a new Nalgene with two lids - one with small holes - all to support TGO styles fishing. On top of all that, I headed the advice to fish where there are fish and got a new Garmin Striker 4 which I just rewired to run on 8 lithium batteries. Heading to Ely tomorrow.

Mad_Angler: "I just got back from Cabelas... I spent way more money than I needed...

I bought a Diawa Fuego to go with a new St Croix rod that I got this winter.

I got 3" and 4" white grubs based on the book "Catching Canoe Country Walleyes"

I bought 2 Mepps Musky killers to target big pike.

I bought 2 large F18 Rapalas in gold. Shock says that they are the ticket for early season trolling.

I bought a gold HuskyJerk just to complement the gold floaters.

I bought a bunch of ball bearing swivels to go with the Musky Killers.


I probably wont catch any more fish than usual but I'm REALLY excited about going in next week and I needed to do something..."

use the FORCE 18 TIM , USE THE FORCE !
and yes gotta love the xxxxx/pike killers ;)

Mad_Angler: "

Savage Voyageur: "Nice haul, but I don’t see any new top water lures for Smallmouth Bass. I think you need to go back and buy more. "

I already had a lot of those.


I did get some new lucky 13s in bullfrog color for Christmas. "

Switch out the treble hooks with some quality replacements trebles, you'll be glad you did. The lure is great, but the hooks that come with the lure are below par in my book. Big fish seem to like this lure for some reason. :)

shock: "

Mad_Angler: "I just got back from Cabelas... I spent way more money than I needed...

I bought a Diawa Fuego to go with a new St Croix rod that I got this winter.


I got 3" and 4" white grubs based on the book "Catching Canoe Country Walleyes"


I bought 2 Mepps Musky killers to target big pike.


I bought 2 large F18 Rapalas in gold. Shock says that they are the ticket for early season trolling.


I bought a gold HuskyJerk just to complement the gold floaters.


I bought a bunch of ball bearing swivels to go with the Musky Killers.



I probably wont catch any more fish than usual but I'm REALLY excited about going in next week and I needed to do something..."

use the FORCE 18 TIM , USE THE FORCE !
and yes gotta love the xxxxx/pike killers ;) "

Love those for early season lake trout as well.

This is why the true cost of a 17 inch eater walleye in the BWCA IS $237.43 per ounce.

So true! Not a cheap sport but maybe a little better than golf.

mutz: "This is why the true cost of a 17 inch eater walleye in the BWCA IS $237.43 per ounce."

Ha! Good one ;-)

Nice! make sure you give a nice report after you catch em all.

BearRaid: "So true! Not a cheap sport but maybe a little better than golf."

I heard that all golf is.....is a waste of a good walk :)

QueticoMike: "

BearRaid: "So true! Not a cheap sport but maybe a little better than golf."

I heard that all golf is.....is a waste of a good walk :)"

Not if you take a fishing rod along. Many good memories of catching big fat bass in golf course ponds.

I packed all my stuff last night. I normally bring one tackle box. This year, I'm bringing two. I won't be portaging so I figured why not...

Here are some things I bought:
- Zulu lures, hooks, and ball bearing swivels
- Lots of jigs for use with white twister tails and leeches
- Slip bobbers for jigs/leeches
- Lindy sinkers and floating jigs for leeches
- Assorted tube jigs. 3.5" and 4.5" green pumpkin tubes
- Top water poppers and walk-the-dog lures
- Safety pin spinners with yellow blades like Mike recommended
- Circle hooks and egg sinkers for dead suckers at camp

Lots of Rapalas
- F18 gold floating Rapalas for trolling for lakers/etc
- HJ12 and HJ14 Rapala Husky Jerks in firetiger and other colors
- A few countdown Rapalas
- A few random floating Rapalas
- Some taildancers and deep taildancers
- 2 wiggle warts based on some post on BWCA.com

- 2 Lucky 13's in bullfrog color
- 2 Mepps musky killers
- Several little cleo's and other spoons

I still have a little space. Is there anything else I should add?

QueticoMike: "

BearRaid: "So true! Not a cheap sport but maybe a little better than golf."

I heard that all golf is.....is a waste of a good walk :)"

Ha! Yes I think I should stick to fishing. I am not good at golf and fishing is more relaxing even if you don't catch anything.

Mad_Angler: "I packed all my stuff last night. I normally bring one tackle box. This year, I'm bringing two. I won't be portaging so I figured why not...


Here are some things I bought:
- Zulu lures, hooks, and ball bearing swivels
- Lots of jigs for use with white twister tails and leeches
- Slip bobbers for jigs/leeches
- Lindy sinkers and floating jigs for leeches
- Top water poppers and walk-the-dog lures
- Safety pin spinners with yellow blades like Mike recommended
- Circle hooks and egg sinkers for dead suckers at camp

Lots of Rapalas
- F18 gold floating Rapalas for trolling for lakers/etc
- HJ12 and HJ14 Rapala Husky Jerks in firetiger and other colors
- A few countdown Rapalas
- A few random floating Rapalas
- Some taildancers and deep taildancers
- 2 wiggle warts based on some post on BWCA.com


- 2 Lucky 13's in bullfrog color
- 2 Mepps musky killers
- Several little cleo's and other spoons


I still have a little space. Is there anything else I should add?"

Looks to me like you have it covered. That is about the same as what I take but I usually end up fishing a jig and leech or a slip bobber and leech 90% of the time. Have a great trip!

My tackle box weighs more than my day pack.....and my day pack has all my emergency in case I get stranded equipment. I know I am heavy but I don't mind carrying it. I am very much a "would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it" kinda guy. I know I could fish with less but if I don't mind carrying it why not?? At least I justify it in my mind this way....lol