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illini79ps
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Our group of now retired canoeists goes in via PP and LaTourells boats every Fathers Day weekend for a 7 day stretch (this will be my 11th after 3 camping excursions prior). The SM and LM are on the beds from late May to Early July, its well documented by the Infisherman types that spawn is widely spread out. I always catch a few big females pre spawn and post spawn in the same places on the same day. If you are canoeing, go north of Washington Island to the canoe only areas and throw senko wacky rigs to any and all likely feeding areas. You will be exhausted...
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ArkansasMike
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I have done same boat trip out of Latourelles and had fairly good luck. Have mostly been doing canoe trip from Washington Island over the past 10 to 15 years. Have gone in late May and during first 3 weeks of June. Fishing always good but one year was exceptional when we caught the fish prespawn. Fished Rainey Lake over Memorial Day Weekend and caught some really nice SM but just not great numbers. Hopping to improve on that with my up coming trip to Basswood. From the reports on other lakes I think there may still be some late spawning SM but should be mostly over by the 15th.
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illini79ps
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ArkansasMike: "I have done same boat trip out of Latourelles and had fairly good luck. Have mostly been doing canoe trip from Washington Island over the past 10 to 15 years. Have gone in late May and during first 3 weeks of June. Fishing always good but one year was exceptional when we caught the fish prespawn. Fished Rainey Lake over Memorial Day Weekend and caught some really nice SM but just not great numbers. Hopping to improve on that with my up coming trip to Basswood. From the reports on other lakes I think there may still be some late spawning SM but should be mostly over by the 15th. "
Glad to hear you are still canoeing. I tell myself I would do it again if a group was ready, but those nice beds and a cabin with granite countertops is hard to give up... I would agree the spawn is usually more than half done by 6/15. The LM accountfor most of the late spawn numbers, and Basswood is loaded with them.
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ArkansasMike
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I have been taking my kids since they were 10 years old or younger. Now they are in there 20's and do all the heavy lifting! We also still take my dad who is 79!! Only base camp now and do boat tow to Washington Island. I still have plans of doing a solo trip before too long and traveling again. Will see how I hold up over the next few years.
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QueticoMike
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Are you fishing on the American side? The northern part of Basswood in Quetico still has cold water and not many have spawned. Saw a few beds, but no fish. Saw a couple of SMB protecting an area that wasn't a bed so maybe they were protecting some fry?Didn't catch any smallmouth that were ever close to spawning yet. The southern part of of Basswood in Quetico was warm and they were done spawning. They could be found along the shorelines and points.
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ArkansasMike
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That sounds encouraging. Headed to north Basswood this Sunday.
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YumDinger
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We came out of Pipestone on Tuesday and the Bass fishing was good but the spawn seemed mostly over. The best time fishing for us was early morning.
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ArkansasMike
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Headed into Basswood to fish for smallies 6/17 through 6/22. I would assume the spawn would be over by then and should catch some smaller but hunger ones at that time. Anyone with current fishing reports from that area?
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bfurlow
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I have found that you can catch nice smallmouth nearly year round on Basswood. Heck, you could probably fish below prairie portage falls and catch a mixed bag most of the time.
There is a lot of structure on Basswood and it's not always apparent. Get a good set of maps and if you can, use a fish/depth finder. I have found smallies year round as shallow as a couple of feet, and down to nearly 20 in really hot seasons. It is a really nice lake and I wish you luck! Spinner rigs with leeches work great for almost everything. Husky jerks worked over weed flats especially where there is wood have been great over the years. Jointed rapalas and mepps #4 spinner are good baits too if you can keep the northerns off of them.
Basswood has had some of the best top water fishing at dusk that i have had. By the time you get there they will probably be off the beds or close to it, so look for transition areas. Humps near deeper water, any kind of structure near flowing water or between islands and shore are a good start.
Good luck!!
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ArkansasMike
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Sound like we may catch it right after all. Not sure how many Father's Day s I have been in the BWCA but there have been quite a few. My youngest son will turn 17 during our trip and my oldest will celebrate his first wedding anniversary during trip. Not sure that is too smart. Good luck to all and and will touch base with y'all when we return.
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blutofish1
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Don't overlook Frog Bay and Half Dog Island. Frog has all kinds of structure, weeds, reefs, big boulders.
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K52
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Just was on Basswood this past Tuesday and Thursday and the SM bas fishing was excellent. Some were spawning and actually saw it going on and others were caught wherever there was chunk rock. #11 floating Rapala caught a lot of fish as did a copper/brown color of tube jig with a 1/8 oz. jighead. Start out fishing right after the portage in and follow the bank and fish around the first island you come to, it has a large gravel bed on the side toward the open water and the bass were ricked up on it. We never made it as far as Rice Bay and caught smallies in crazy numbers the largest around 4 1/2 pounds. Just about every fish was throwing up crayfish all over and minnows too. Also caught some big walleye in deeper water off a windy point on minnows.
There were a lot of fish caught at the falls at the portage but there were always boats anchored there. I chose to move on and fish without close neighbors and I'm sure we caught more fish because of that. I think you'll find them in the chunk rock for sure when you're there. Hope you have a nice trip.
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bfurlow
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blutofish1: " Don't overlook Frog Bay and Half Dog Island. Frog has all kinds of structure, weeds, reefs, big boulders. "
+1 - have had excellent luck in those areas, frog bay in particular. Multi specie opportunity there. I have caught bi smallmouth, northern and walleye within a few minutes of each other there.g
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yogi59weedr
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Eleven years in a row for a 7-day stretch... on Fathers Day. How does that work? I am so glad the lottery is done....
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illini79ps
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yogi59weedr: "Eleven years in a row for a 7-day stretch... on Fathers Day. How does that work? I am so glad the lottery is done..."
Yogi, call any of the outfitters who have cabins. Awesome experience if you select a good one and are willing to pay for it. Motor permits on an individual basis have been an issue ever since the BWCA was formed according to the old timers. But I still miss the camping trips...
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illini79ps
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ArkansasMike: "I have been taking my kids since they were 10 years old or younger. Now they are in there 20's and do all the heavy lifting! We also still take my dad who is 79!! Only base camp now and do boat tow to Washington Island. I still have plans of doing a solo trip before too long and traveling again. Will see how I hold up over the next few years."
Mike, best wishes for a great 2018 trip and if I hear an Arkansas guy talking at the EP
25 launch site, I have a cold beverage for anyone who needs one. Tight lines.
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yogi59weedr
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Arkansas mike,
I've got a day use motor for 1 day starting on Sat 23rd. I'll probably start at prairie and move to Rice and Wind bays ,maybe get back into Hoist but probably no farther.
I plan on covering a lot of water. Probably start searching with swim baits.
I also have planner boards and gonna troll some cranks and concentrate on water 30 ft or less. Lots of big open water to do this.
I'll be in a 16 ft black Lund with a 25 merc.
I've got a map that a guide marked go me about 10 years ago. If I could figure out how to email on this site your welcome to a copy
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BearRaid
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Just got back from a week long trip to Vermillion and the female bass just got on the beds Thursday. The water temp dropped to 58 following a cold front last weekend. Thursday and Friday were warm sunny days and the water temp neared 66 degrees. We slayed them(all nice females up to 19 inches and released) so the next two weeks should be awesome.
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yogi59weedr
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HOT DAMN.
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