I tried asking this question in the Listen Point forum, but I guess no one has been to the Boundary Waters in the past week. So I will try in this forum, has anyone been to the BW lately and can tell me what the current water levels are like? I have heard some mixed reports, but mostly I am hearing the levels are low. Does anyone have any current information?
Thanks!

I was in and around Sea Gull 10 days ago and the water levels were at normal levels in my opinion.

OK, thanks.....anybody just come out of the woods in the past few days?

I just checked - waterdata.usgs.gov - for the Basswood river near Winton for the past month and the graph shows the water level has dropped from 5 feet to 3.5 feet in the past month. Not sure how this equates to lake levels in the Boundary Waters but at least I know the rivers are dropping up there.

Low in the Sag area. Smallies deep.

Thanks, I am going to assume water levels are down and prepare for those situations.

Mike: what kinds of things do you do differently for low water level fishing? Just targeting different areas of lakes you are familiar with?

I'm heading into the Hanson area from Sag next week. Assuming I'll have to go deep. We did South Arm Knife three years ago in August, caught most of our fish trolling cranks.

Kalvan: "Mike: what kinds of things do you do differently for low water level fishing? Just targeting different areas of lakes you are familiar with?


I'm heading into the Hanson area from Sag next week. Assuming I'll have to go deep. We did South Arm Knife three years ago in August, caught most of our fish trolling cranks."

I'm a River Rat, have been all my life. Which basically means I grew up on a river and the majority of the fishing I have done through my life has been river fishing. I live on a river right now. My backyard has a levy bank protecting my house. So with all of that said I enjoy fishing moving water, I know how to fish moving water, and I find big smallmouth in moving water. I will be targeting moving water in the Boundary Waters and if water levels are too high I can't fish the moving water. I can't get to the pockets that hold fish in the moving water. Also if the current is moving too fast it makes fishing in certain areas dangerous and difficult to fish. If the water levels are low I have a better chance of working over the moving water areas. I have an article about tube fishing for smallmouth in current areas in the Boundary Waters if you are interested in reading it. Just send me an email - queticomike@yahoo.com - request the tube article.

Awesome, I'll do that, thanks!

Water levels are normal to a hair higher for this time of year in the western portion. Low to normal in the east. My observations. Hope this helps.

MackinawTrout: "Water levels are normal to a hair higher for this time of year in the western portion. Low to normal in the east. My observations. Hope this helps. "

Thanks! Appreciate the input.

Just got out of Quetico, water levels low and dropping fast in the Lac La Croix area.

walllee: "Just got out of Quetico, water levels low and dropping fast in the Lac La Croix area."

Good to know, like what I've been hearing. Thanks! How was the fishing?

Hey Mike - I was in Basswood, near Ranger Bay last week and water was slightly high to normal. They had alot of late June/July rain according to local guide but it's been dry for last 10 days so its dropping. We found small to mid size SM Bass in 15-20 feet (weedbeds mostly) but only a few big ones. Senkos and other plastics worked best. It has been in the 80's for about 10 days (minimal wind) so water quite warm. Good luck

KmanCO: "Hey Mike - I was in Basswood, near Ranger Bay last week and water was slightly high to normal. They had alot of late June/July rain according to local guide but it's been dry for last 10 days so its dropping. We found small to mid size SM Bass in 15-20 feet (weedbeds mostly) but only a few big ones. Senkos and other plastics worked best. It has been in the 80's for about 10 days (minimal wind) so water quite warm. Good luck
"

Thanks. Welcome to the BWCA.com message board!

QueticoMike: "

walllee: "Just got out of Quetico, water levels low and dropping fast in the Lac La Croix area."

Good to know, like what I've been hearing. Thanks! How was the fishing?"

Fishing was unbelievable. Walleyes were caught in 20 to 55 feet depending on time of day and water chop. Lakers were hitting Northland buckshot jig fast trolled over 70 to 100 feet. I would imagine the lure depth was 40 feet when they hit. 1/2 ounce white jig tipped with a 4” double split tail white twister was the Walleye lure of choice. Drifting or slow troll .

Just came out of Ep 47 today. Water was quite low in every lake we were on (Poplar, Lizz, Caribou, Horseshoe, Vista, and Misquah).