Going up to the boundary Waters shortly after opener for the first time.
Not planning on bringing any live bait. Have plenty of fishing experience between us but just curious what kind of tackle you guys would use without live bait in spring?

Why no live bait

Being our first trip we’re trying to cut out as much as possible in size and weight.
Curious though what techniques you use with live bait?
I would assume drifting or bobber?

What species are you targeting?

AmarilloJim: "What species are you targeting?"

You beat me to it, same question I have.......

If you want to read my article on Grand Slam Lures ( for the BW and Quetico ) send me an email - queticomike@yahoo.com - and request the Grand Slam

Walleye. No problem for pike and smallmouth.

Tlaker: "Walleye. No problem for pike and smallmouth. "

I'd troll a #10 DD husky jerk or a # 12 or 14 regular husky jerk(without the front hook). The fish will generally be shallow(5-10fow) but you may find some a little deeper(10-25fow) at times.

AmarilloJim: "

Tlaker: "Walleye. No problem for pike and smallmouth. "

I'd troll a #10 DD husky jerk or a # 12 or 14 regular husky jerk(without the front hook). The fish will generally be shallow(5-10fow) but you may find some a little deeper(10-25fow) at times."

I like Jims advice. I like my offerings a bit on the smaller side in spring. A j-11 original rapala (the smallest 3 treble offering) in perch can be deadly under the right circumstances. I like balsa early in the year over plastic body baits......they land quieter and have a better cool water wobble than plastic. For balsa to really shine I like light lb test. 6lb is tough to beat when on shallow walleye.......it casts further, is less visible and lures perform MUCH better. I like a fas snap clip in the medium size to attach my Rapala (original or shad rap). That will insure 100% knot strength on the light line.

Silence is golden on shallow early year fish. I like a yoga mat at my feet to deaden any noises. Paddles are set upon foam pipe insulation which are cut into 12" long pieces and placed on top of the gunnels. My pliers rest in a holder which is attached to the side of my boat. I believe that fish may react negatively to unfamiliar noises. Fish a busy lake and the fish are used to a bunch of racket.........deep in the woods better to be stealthy IMO.

Take 1 pound of Leeches, you’ll be glad you did. They take up no room at all.

walllee: "Take 1 pound of Leeches, you’ll be glad you did. They take up no room at all."

Exactly! Or maybe 2 pounds. Easy to run out after the smallies come in.

I understand your thinking about not wanting any extra stuff. But, if you bring a small container or about a pound of Leeches you will catch Walleyes. Put them in an old Nalgeen bottle.

Find moving water and toss a white twister tail. I also love big jerk baits in the spring and gold is also my go to. The key to fishing in the spring is water temp. The temp can very greatly from lake to lake. Send me a message fpaull84@gmail.com and let me know what area you are heading to.

I think Frankie beat me to it, but if at all possible, find moving water. They'll be there.

This first lure I like to call the “producer” because it typically produces walleye when I need a shore lunch. The J9, 3-1/2”, gold, jointed (broken back) Rapala is my preeminent lure for walleye. This lure can be used with success during all open water seasons (spring, summer and fall). It works best when trolled around points and any extending flats adjacent to the area. If the points are not productive, move out into the lake and fish reefs by maneuvering the canoe back and forth over the structure. Casting this lure over young weed beds and any areas that have current are also good locations to hunt walleye in the spring. Wind blowing between islands in the “saddle” can be a highly effective spot during the spring time as well. Typically if you find one walleye there is a good chance another will be nearby. Once a fruitful area is determined, set an anchor if possible and cast over the structure.

This next lure, the 4-3/4”, gold colored, Rapala Husky Jerk is fished in a similar manner as the J9. Use it during all the open water fishing seasons by trolling and casting this lure over the same areas as mentioned previously. When the structure holding walleye is deeper switch from the J9 to the Husky Jerk. The Husky Jerk can be trolled a touch slower due to its neutral buoyancy which allows the lure to suspend when paused and precipitates deadly strikes by walleyes. When casting this lure always incorporate a pause into the retrieve after a couple of jerks.

While trolling a rubble shore line just past a point in 2003, I caught a walleye on Basswood Lake that measured 32 inches long using the gold colored Husky Jerk. This fish won the annual catch and release contest held by the Ely Echo newspaper.

I am inclined to catch and release the majority of the walleye caught in Quetico. I only keep a few each trip for a couple of shore lunches. The lunkers are always returned to breed or to allow the opportunity for someone else the catch of a lifetime. If we all use these guidelines the quality of Quetico walleye fishing will remain for generations to come.

The closest I’ve been to fishing live bait in Quetico is using either Berkley PowerBait or Gulp! leeches. Once a good walleye location is determined, return to the area with a PowerBait leech and jig over the structure and surrounding area. Using non-lead 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. black colored jigheads seem to work best.

If you do not prefer jigging, another effective method is to Texas rig the leech on a red 1/0 worm hook so it is weed-less. Then about 18 inches up the line use a small weight to maintain the lure depths down in the strike zone. This method is best used while drifting over a walleye structure or reeled just enough to make sure it remains off the bottom while casting from a stationary position.

When there is a good chop on the water rig up the leech on a jighead under a slip float. The movement of the float in the waves causes erratic movements of the leech below the surface enticing finicky walleyes. This procedure alleviates snags by allowing the lure to hover over the bottom. Again, this lure can be used during all open water fishing seasons, but is used primarily during the summer when walleye move out into the lake and set up over the reefs and shoals.

Opener is just a man made date (ice out). i highly doubt if you will find leech's on opener or the week after. if your jigging 2" twister tails on a 1/8 jig can be the ticket early. moving water is always a good option , BUT if your targeting walleyes at this time , they (the females) may have already been in and out,, look for reef's, saddle , edges ,smaller back bays, (the have some depth), close to the moving water.
dont need live bait but some frozen suckers on a slip sinker bottom rig will produce a variety of fish from shore ,, especially for lakers .

walllee: "Take 1 pound of Leeches, you’ll be glad you did. They take up no room at all."

YEP, what he said

SUPER SIMPLE RECIPE:
*Salt 3 - 4 scoops of fatheads and put in Ziploc bag.
*Bring 1/8 - 3/8 oz. jig size variety (Chartreuse & Orange).
*Bring 2" - 3" twister tails or Gulp (White, Chartreuse & Orange)

You need to eliminate water, but if you can't find and catch walleye with those combinations at that time of the year, it's gonna be a tough fishing trip.