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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: do you catch Panfish in the BWCA
 
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Cc26
04/22/2018 08:08PM
 
Pine lake out of ep1 has a good population of them
 
lundojam
04/23/2018 05:15PM
 
Malberg is known as a decent bluegill lake. Bring a thing of waxies (or gulp waxies) and a couple small jigs wherever you go, just in case.
 
illini79ps
04/24/2018 10:48AM
 
As others have noted Basswood is loaded with panfish which we run into each June in shallow weedy bays. Look for outer edges of pads and use jigs with small plastic minnows or twisters...no need to waste valuable leeches on them. If you find them, largemouth are close by, usually you need a weed less surface lure tied on to some braid. Great break from walleye/smallie fishing.
 
Pinetree
04/24/2018 09:28AM
 
Basswood has turned into a lake with lot of crappies.
 
Bronco
04/24/2018 10:01AM
 
I've caught nice Bluegills in Fourtown and Boot. Leech and bobber

 
04/24/2018 09:26PM
 
WhiteWolf: "boondock: "I think getting people to give up bluegill spots is tougher than getting walleye spots. I have caught some big bluegill fly fishing with small poppers. But it wasn't my spot and therefore I am precluded from sharing the lake."



+1"



I'll take it a step further and say giving up good panfish lakes should be outlawed. WHO DOES THAT?!?! WHY??????????????????
 
scat
04/25/2018 07:17AM
 
I meant Malberg Lake in my earlier post, not Mudro. I changed it. I catch big gills at home but those were some real pigs.
 
SPOTPRES1
04/25/2018 05:45AM
 
yesssssss SLABS!!!
 
buzz17
04/25/2018 10:46AM
 
Best bluegill spot? Mudro entry, September. Message me if you want the lake.
Best crappie spots Agnes, Lac La Croix, Boulder River, Gabbro.



 
Xand
04/25/2018 11:40AM
 
Got into some very nice perch on Ensign one year, mostly 9-12 inchers if I recall correctly.
 
KarlBAndersen1
04/25/2018 01:08PM
 
We caught a load of 'gills on Boot just west of the portage into Fairy.
Someone else has already marked it on the map.
 
SPOTPRES1
04/22/2018 06:56AM
 
Hello all! Getting ready for our second ever trip this June! I am curious if any of you have targeted panfish before. Last time, we did not even try but this time I would like to. I have heard there are giant bluegills and other panfish in the BW. Is this true? Also curious what bait you are using. Can I take live bait like maggots for bluegill or what is the regs on that? Any info is appreciated!!
 
WilyMinnow
04/22/2018 07:18AM
 
Bald Eagle, Gabbro, as well as parts of the Kawishiwi have good populations of crappies. We used slip bobbers and minnows and did really well. Also got some giant slabs trolling and jigging for walleye.


Other than that I can't really say. I've heard Mudro has a good bluegill population.
 
boondock
04/22/2018 09:50AM
 
I think getting people to give up bluegill spots is tougher than getting walleye spots. I have caught some big bluegill fly fishing with small poppers. But it wasn't my spot and therefore I am precluded from sharing the lake.
 
walllee
04/22/2018 11:11AM
 
Unfortunately yes !!! , not on purpose by any means ....
 
BWfishingfanatic12
04/22/2018 11:51AM
 
There are some very nice bluegills and crappies to be had. I've never specifically targeted them other than a couple times when we were struggling catching Walleye for dinner. Mostly would use slip bobbers tipped with a leech. I would guess a good percentage of the lakes have decent panfish populations. The biggest sunfish i have ever caught in my life I caught last year on accident trolling a floating jig head on a lindy type rig tipped with a leech.
 
scat
04/22/2018 01:02PM
 
Huge bluegills in Malberg Lake. Biggest I have seen. I mean big boys. Nice crappies in Bald Eagle Lake.
 
Atb
04/22/2018 02:23PM
 
I have caught crappie on Lynx. I’d think they would range over to Shell but I cannot confirm. I got them slip bonbering from camp, average size. You’d think if you worked you might find bigger fish.
 
mvillasuso
04/22/2018 02:56PM
 
I have caught huge bluegill and ONLY huge bluegill on Upper Pauness Lake. Pretty little day trip in there.
I was catching them walleye fishing with a nighcrawler on the bottom both from shore and from the canoe. ..I'm talking SLABS. They were really fun to catch.
 
WhiteWolf
04/22/2018 08:05PM
 
boondock: "I think getting people to give up bluegill spots is tougher than getting walleye spots. I have caught some big bluegill fly fishing with small poppers. But it wasn't my spot and therefore I am precluded from sharing the lake."


+1
 
Savage Voyageur
04/22/2018 08:17PM
 
walllee: "Unfortunately yes !!! , not on purpose by any means ...."


My thoughts exactly.
 
SPOTPRES1
04/23/2018 05:48AM
 
WhiteWolf: "boondock: "I think getting people to give up bluegill spots is tougher than getting walleye spots. I have caught some big bluegill fly fishing with small poppers. But it wasn't my spot and therefore I am precluded from sharing the lake."



+1"



fair enough my friend lol. I am just getting a feel for if its worth targeting them
 
Bumstead
04/23/2018 08:55AM
 
Caught some huge gills on Gull by some shallow water reeds, NW of Mudro EP. It was a fun stop for a few minutes. Leeches seemed to take them just fine.


 
murphylakejim
04/23/2018 09:11AM
 




they are in basswood too
 
boondock
04/23/2018 11:49AM
 
SPOTPRES1: "WhiteWolf: "boondock: "I think getting people to give up bluegill spots is tougher than getting walleye spots. I have caught some big bluegill fly fishing with small poppers. But it wasn't my spot and therefore I am precluded from sharing the lake."




+1"




fair enough my friend lol. I am just getting a feel for if its worth targeting them"



Definitely worth targeting.
 
boondock
04/23/2018 01:46PM
 
The constant pop pop pop of surface feeding 'gills is awesome.
 
WalleyeHunter24
04/23/2018 02:29PM
 
Agnes has huge crappies. You can find them early to mid summer in the same areas you usually catch walleye on structure. Might need to go with smaller baits to increase your numbers, but they are there. I've made multiple trips to Agnes, and have caught and seen several in the 14-15" range.


As with everything, use good judgement and practice catch and release on those large ones. Photos will serve justice to disbelievers. :-)
 
TheBrownLeader
04/23/2018 01:04PM
 
Years ago on Ensign I remember finding two big patches of weeds in the east end of the lake, and I killed the panfish with a fly rod and a little popper.
 
mastertangler
04/24/2018 06:23AM
 
One of these years I am going to do a Panfish / Largemouth bass only type of trip. I love catching huge panfish on light tackle, super fun. And tossing spinnerbaits and rubber worms into weedbeds and fallen trees in canoe country would be a hoot. Gotta do it!