Anybody want to give any tips, tricks or suggestions for a first timer on these lakes? Will be moving through from EP 16 this coming Tuesday for a first time BW six day solo. I have a lifetime of southern fishing experience, but this will be my first foray into cold water species (besides smallies). Been doing tons of research and reading, on techniques, lures etc., but welcome to any suggestions. Also, would you folks recommend waiting to purchase most of my lures till I got to Ely? I was thinking it might be smart to ask what the shop owners suggest, but figured I would be paying a little more for the gear there than maybe buying it here. Thanks!

Leeches under a slip bobber is highly effective for Walleye and Smallies. There is great fishing on the LLC around rock structures in shallow water. Our best was Boulder Bay. Find some rock points, choke points between structure and moving water. Beautiful area, you'll have a blast!

TIP: Get an early start, Agnes can get very windy and difficult to traverse!

If they're still available, I've always done exceptionally well in Agnes, the Boulder River and LLC with rainbow chubs and a jighead. I know a lot of people don't want the hassle of live bait, but I've caught northern, walleye, smallies and crappies on that minnow and won't go in without it the spring.

Ditto on Agnes and the wind.

Send me an email if you want, we did a trip to Agnes, LLC, and beyond 3 years ago this time of the year. If you're not sure what you're doing, fish with leeches and fish slowly. Under a bobber or vertical jigging.

Don't wait to buy your lures in Ely. A few never hurt... but the drive from Cloquet to Ely adds $3 to every lure.

I've had good smallmouth bass fishing on Oyster. The Oyster river can be canoed early in the spring if you are prepared to pull over beaver dams.

I like to move around a bit when I fish and cover some water. Once I find a walleye or 2 I'll hang out in that area. However, here a few confidence lures that I use up there for Smallmouth, Pike and Walleyes, in case you don't want to deal with live bait (which I use to great results):

1. 1/8 - 3/16 oz round jig with a 3" white PowerGrub on it. It will literally catch everything (big and small) and is cheap enough that if you lose a few to some snags or pike you won't cry. Can be vertical jigged for walleyes or thrown at the shore and retreived for smallmouth and pike. I usually buy the Cabelas 25 pack of unpainted barbed collar jig heads. I'm considering switching to the VMC ones due to the nicer hooks, but will wait until I run out of the current inventory.

Jig Heads
3" White Power Bait Power Grub

2. Mepps Dressed Agila - I've done really well with these in early June for both Smallmouth and Pike in shallower bays. Size 5 which I believe is around 1/2 oz. I usually throw them with a 12" 30lb titanum leader.

Mepps Agila

12" Titanium Leader

3. A Black and Gold Rapala Husky Jerk or jointed minnow is always a great option for trolling rock piles and ledges.

4. I like topwater spooks and ploppers in the morning and evening for smallmouth.

5. Red eye spoons are also great for covering water.

Good luck!

We fished that area for years, gave up on it because it just got to busy. But if I were to go and bring live bait, leeches. Easy to keep alive and the fish eat them. Have used Berkley Gulp too. Use hand tied Little Joe style spinners with and 1/8 oz. bullet weight in front, troll the shallows near rocky shores. Small boulders and rock shores seem to be the best. Fishing was was good on the east south east side of Agnes.

The Boulder River leading into Boulder Bay/LLC is always good in the spring, walleye, smallies, and some nice crappie if you can find them. The mouth area is productive, as is the shore coming out of the river into Boulder Bay on the East side. Goes from sand to pebble to rock. Always a nice northern or two in there too.

Good Luck

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I am looking forward to it!

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I am looking forward to it!

LLC is a big cold lake. Takes a bit longer for the fish to turn on than smaller lakes. With the late ice out I would imagine fishing on LLC might be a bit slow during your time frame. I've done that EP at least 15 times over the years and we always do much better on LLC 2 weeks into June. I'd still fish the Boulder River and Agnes is usually good in late May. From Agnes you can go over to Oyster for lake trout action. Nice area.

PikeEatPike: "We fished that area for years, gave up on it because it just got to busy. But if I were to go and bring live bait, leeches. Easy to keep alive and the fish eat them. Have used Berkley Gulp too. Use hand tied Little Joe style spinners with and 1/8 oz. bullet weight in front, troll the shallows near rocky shores. Small boulders and rock shores seem to be the best. Fishing was was good on the east south east side of Agnes.


The Boulder River leading into Boulder Bay/LLC is always good in the spring, walleye, smallies, and some nice crappie if you can find them. The mouth area is productive, as is the shore coming out of the river into Boulder Bay on the East side. Goes from sand to pebble to rock. Always a nice northern or two in there too.


Good Luck "

I know where you are!

mr.barley: "

PikeEatPike: "We fished that area for years, gave up on it because it just got to busy. But if I were to go and bring live bait, leeches. Easy to keep alive and the fish eat them. Have used Berkley Gulp too. Use hand tied Little Joe style spinners with and 1/8 oz. bullet weight in front, troll the shallows near rocky shores. Small boulders and rock shores seem to be the best. Fishing was was good on the east south east side of Agnes.



The Boulder River leading into Boulder Bay/LLC is always good in the spring, walleye, smallies, and some nice crappie if you can find them. The mouth area is productive, as is the shore coming out of the river into Boulder Bay on the East side. Goes from sand to pebble to rock. Always a nice northern or two in there too.



Good Luck "

I know where you are!
"

Been there done that, right? How have you been? Been a while. Going in Friday to Gabbro.

mr.barley: "

PikeEatPike: "We fished that area for years, gave up on it because it just got to busy. But if I were to go and bring live bait, leeches. Easy to keep alive and the fish eat them. Have used Berkley Gulp too. Use hand tied Little Joe style spinners with and 1/8 oz. bullet weight in front, troll the shallows near rocky shores. Small boulders and rock shores seem to be the best. Fishing was was good on the east south east side of Agnes.



The Boulder River leading into Boulder Bay/LLC is always good in the spring, walleye, smallies, and some nice crappie if you can find them. The mouth area is productive, as is the shore coming out of the river into Boulder Bay on the East side. Goes from sand to pebble to rock. Always a nice northern or two in there too.



Good Luck "

I know where you are!
"

Me too! Thanks Mr B. :)

PikeEatPike: "

mr.barley: "

PikeEatPike: "We fished that area for years, gave up on it because it just got to busy. But if I were to go and bring live bait, leeches. Easy to keep alive and the fish eat them. Have used Berkley Gulp too. Use hand tied Little Joe style spinners with and 1/8 oz. bullet weight in front, troll the shallows near rocky shores. Small boulders and rock shores seem to be the best. Fishing was was good on the east south east side of Agnes.



The Boulder River leading into Boulder Bay/LLC is always good in the spring, walleye, smallies, and some nice crappie if you can find them. The mouth area is productive, as is the shore coming out of the river into Boulder Bay on the East side. Goes from sand to pebble to rock. Always a nice northern or two in there too.



Good Luck "

I know where you are!
"

Been there done that, right? How have you been? Been a while. Going in Friday to Gabbro."

Hey Matt! We're heading up on Monday. Have fun on Gabbro. It's a great fishing lake!