I have a trip scheduled for the second week in August, and am taking a newbie with me.
He is full of excitement and has talked incessantly about the fishing.

I am a fairly decent angler, and my trip this last May was my best Walleye trip to date.

I am realistically going to set him up with a slip bobber rig, as it's less likely to get snagged, and is effective at keeping the bait in the strike zone.

I'm a live bait kinda guy, and I typically only bring leeches as they are much better at surviving than crawlers.

Am I stupid for not bringing crawlers?

I feel like they are going to melt before I get to my first campsite.

I’ve heard that trappers stop trapping Leeches about this time. It could be kind of hard to find them. I would also bring crawlers this time of year. You might want to contact a couple of bait shops and ask about availability this time of year.

As for crawlers, bring a lunchbox sized collapsible cooler to store them at camp and a smaller container when in the canoe fishing. Wrap a wet towel around the lunchbox to act as an Evaporator cooler.

Even in August it can be cool at night, keep the crawlers in the shade or use a wet towel like SV suggested, they should be fine. If you get a string of 100 degree days all bets are off, but that isn’t likely.

This is the time of year I usually go, I’d add crank baits like minnow raps, tail dancers work really well for walleyes. You get a reaction bite, and the fish are chasing bigger high profile baits this time of year as their metabolism is higher.

T

No, you're not stupid for not bringing crawlers. A lot of hassle (too much for me) without enough payback.

If you can't get them on leeches, then they're not worth getting! :)

Slip bobbering with a leech sounds like a good go-to, but also cast hard baits like Timatkn mentioned. My favorites for late summer heat are deep down husky jerks, shad rap SR-9s, and hot-n-tots.

Don't rule out trolling either. I've had fun with some new fishermen trolling around mid lake structure with a diving lure in late summer. You can find a lot of walleye and pike action that way, and it's fun watching the poles double back when you get a fish on. If you keep getting hooked up in an area, time to take out the slip bobbers or jigs and light em' up!

I took 100 crawlers in my Hunters Island loop in a rather smallish hard styrofoam container. I really liked having them and tossed them out on the bottom while setting up camp. Sometimes I couldn't get set up.

On Kawanipi every rock point had walleye and a crawler kept me busy.

A small canvas bag, dunked in the water, containing the hard styrofoam container, will keep them plenty cool in all but the most extreme conditions. The evaporative effects cool fish filets and night crawlers quite well.

I would love to bring crawlers into the Quetico but alas.......

I never go without crawlers. Mine are taken in a 'bait canteen' or 'majic bait carrier'. I can't stand a limp crawler. Load the box the night before leaving with cold water. KEEP it wet/very damp and in the SHADE as much as possible. Evaporative cooling keeps them squirming for a week with a little timely effort.

Sweet berry are you taking in a depth finder? Mid August walleye is a bit different critter than a spring walleye if truth be told.

mastertangler: "I took 100 crawlers in my Hunters Island loop in a rather smallish hard styrofoam container. I really liked having them and tossed them out on the bottom while setting up camp. Sometimes I couldn't get set up.


On Kawanipi every rock point had walleye and a crawler kept me busy.


A small canvas bag, dunked in the water, containing the hard styrofoam container, will keep them plenty cool in all but the most extreme conditions. The evaporative effects cool fish filets and night crawlers quite well.


I would love to bring crawlers into the Quetico but alas......."

Hypothetically speaking of course would I be the first to openly admit to bringing them along. ? If you were to actually weigh the odds of getting caught and cost of fine against the potential outcome of using them hmmm.

Yo Frankie, I took my crawlers in when live bait was legal in the Quetico. I would not advocate for purposely bringing in live bait into the Q now. While the odds may seem remote the potential entanglements of knowingly breaking the law of another country is not worth it.

Mastertangler,

I have a portable fish finder (Humminbird 200dx) but we will not be bringing it this trip. We are single portaging, and gear will be lean. Ill be sure to focus on deeper structure, but will start shallow and work my way to deeper water.

We are base camping, which gives us plenty of time to explore. I'll end up bringing whatever Buck's has in Grand Marais. They are my go-to bait stop before entering.

Would a general rule of thumb be 20' - 30' of water for walleye?
I understand there are many other factors, and could potentially find walleye in shallower water depending on clarity and temperature.

I'd be looking in 15' and deeper for the walleye, they may move a bit shallower in the evenings but I wouldn't expect to find many shallower than maybe 10-12' even in the evening hours. Of course it does depend on the lake you're on since depth becomes relative if on a shallower lake. I recently spent a week fishing a lake that didn't get much deeper than 14'. In that case fish were hanging mostly in the 8-10" range on the edge of drop offs.

In August I've had the best luck using a slip bobber and leech followed by trolling hard baits. Both are easy to do for a novice. I actually think trolling a crankbait is easier. Just cast it out and slowly paddle the structure that you've identified. If you are the stern paddler you can let the novice sit in the bow and focus on fishing while you do the slow paddling. I do this alot with rookies. I can handle the paddling and steering from the stern while they focus on the fishing. I can also make sure their lure is being put in the right spot.

nofish,

Thanks for the info. I will have four rigs with us. Two set up with slip-bobbers, and the other two will be set up with deeper crank baits.

SweetBerryWine: "nofish,


Thanks for the info. I will have four rigs with us. Two set up with slip-bobbers, and the other two will be set up with deeper crank baits. "

Sounds like a good plan. I you spend enough time with those 2 options you'll catch some fish.

May I be so bold as to suggest you are making a significant mistake in not bringing a depth finder? Particularly if your guest has his heart set on fishing.

A depth finder in August is not an optional piece of fishing equipment IMO and I would be hard pressed to go without one. You can get by without one until about mid July and then a depth finder becomes preeminent and all important.

Double if you must, but if fishing is important you simply cannot be without it.

If you decide to bring it as per my advice, troll banana shaped crank baits on 10 lb clear line rather quickly while trying to keep your baits within 5' of the bottom. Cover lots of ground quickly. Search for offshore sunken islands (reefs). Keep your baits always in the water while fishing regardless of depths. Banana shaped cranks will do fine even at high speeds. Surprises are rather common.

Catch a few fish and now you know where to drop your live bait. Another spool of 6lb will up your odds with the live bait. Make sure your knots are good.

If you still go without a depth finder you can catch eater smallish walleye in weeds and you can fish rocky points. Just drift off keeping your baits near the bottom. The slip bobbers will work with the little weed walleye and slip sinkers will keep you in the game on the ever changing depth of the points.
You can also drift gradually dropping rocky flats with slip sinkers and baits starting in 15 ft. ............just look at the shoreline to get clues. If he shore gradually slopes and is full of a variety of boulders and fist sized rocks you are in good shape. Avoid smooth rock banks and steeply dropping shores.

Good luck.

mastertangler: "May I be so bold as to suggest you are making a significant mistake in not bringing a depth finder? Particularly if your guest has his heart set on fishing.


A depth finder in August is not an optional piece of fishing equipment IMO and I would be hard pressed to go without one. You can get by without one until about mid July and then a depth finder becomes preeminent and all important.


Double if you must, but if fishing is important you simply cannot be without it.


If you decide to bring it as per my advice, troll banana shaped crank baits on 10 lb clear line rather quickly while trying to keep your baits within 5' of the bottom. Cover lots of ground quickly. Search for offshore sunken islands (reefs). Keep your baits always in the water while fishing regardless of depths. Banana shaped cranks will do fine even at high speeds. Surprises are rather common.


Catch a few fish and now you know where to drop your live bait. Another spool of 6lb will up your odds with the live bait. Make sure your knots are good.


If you still go without a depth finder you can catch eater smallish walleye in weeds and you can fish rocky points. Just drift off keeping your baits near the bottom. The slip bobbers will work with the little weed walleye and slip sinkers will keep you in the game on the ever changing depth of the points.
You can also drift gradually dropping rocky flats with slip sinkers and baits starting in 15 ft. ............just look at the shoreline to get clues. If he shore gradually slopes and is full of a variety of boulders and fist sized rocks you are in good shape. Avoid smooth rock banks and steeply dropping shores.


Good luck. "

I respectfully disagree in part, and I do realize we're getting off the topic of the original post here. I take more trips in late July and August than any other time of year and I go with fishing as my trip priority. I primarily troll divers and jig crawlers, gulp or leeches this time of year. I brought a finder a couple times recently, and while it can be convenient, it is far from necessary. I don't bring it every time. Bring a good map. troll along lake structure and stop to jig where you find concentrated fish. Vary your course while trolling to cover different depths along ridges. Troll around drop-off near points. I have caught plenty of beefy fish doing this with no electronics. Yes, they are helpful, but don't be worried that you're wrecking your chances by not bringing one. I'm not even sure I'll take mine this August; sometimes half the enjoyment is trolling by map and shoreline and searching to find the top of the elusive mid-lake hump, not canoeing with eyes glued to a screen. Some may disagree, and you may eventually want to try one out on a future trip, but if you don't have a finder and canoe setup that you're familiar with the hassle may negate the gains. Just some additional food for thought.

The more experienced you are the less likely you will need the depth finder. And if you keep going back to places you know it's an advantage.

Live bait, presented patiently can also be a great equalizer. But go someplace new and it can be very tough to find mid lake reefs without a depth finder. Go to the Quetico where live bait is not allowed and it is all but impossible to precision troll with any effectiveness without one.

I honestly would dislike fishing without a depth finder in August.

I'm headed in august 12th and today I emailed VNO to secure some leeches.
Our trip will be 70% adventure and 30% fishing but I will definitely be bringing live bait. Leeches will be easier to handle vs crawlers.
I am also bringing my Lowrance. I won't have all the time to spend searching for bites.
It's August - I'm looking for structure. Drop a jig or TGO and we should be able to nab dinner. After that it's all about hooking gators!

I will also be trailing a crank-bait and a spoon at every lake I cross!

I agree with a depth finder being fairly important in August if your plan is to troll. Your lures are going to run at a certain depth but they become rather useless if you're trolling in water that is too deep or too shallow. The goal is to put the lure in the strike zone (within a couple feet of the bottom) as much as possible and the depth finder makes targeting the right depth for your given lure much easier.

If you're using live bait on a jig then a depth finder isn't nearly as critical as you know your jig and bait are on the bottom. Slip bobbers also make a depth finder less critical as a little trial and error can get you dialed in to the correct depth pretty quickly.

SV,

I called my trusty bait shop in the GM area, and they said it was a toss up. Just depends on when the first frost hits. I'll use whatever the bait shop has available, but thanks for the heads up.