Trip: May 24th - 29th 2018, Entry Point #48

Launching out of Poplar Lake, and will hit Winchill, Meeds, Gaskin, Horseshoe, Vista, and Caribou.
I am aware of the sensitivity when asking for fishing tips on an open forum such as this, but want to pick the brains of the "marble-eye" gurus.
Preferred method of fishing is jigging, and will have a variety of colors. Jigs will be tipped with matching twister tail plastic grubs tipped with leeches.

I'm not apposed to rigging up other fishing tactics, but keeping things simple works best for me. This will mark my 12th trip up to the BWCA, and am drooling for ice-out.

I am aware of the coveted "hot-spot" knowledge, but any REAL 'eyes advice would be great.

Taking the lady up for her first experience and don't want to disappoint!

Winchell is a tough lake to fish and not known as a fishing mecca by any means. Probably worth skipping if you're only interested in catching walleye as all the other lakes on your list will probably be better. Winchell is however a very scenic lake with the south shore cliffs so still worth visiting. If you are to fish it I would probably focus on trout.

I've never tipped a jig with a leach and a twister tail. Does that catch more fish than a leach only? My advice is to pack multiple weights short shank glow white jigs and a depth finder.

Lighter jigs catch more fish because the fall more slowly. But, they are hard to fish in deep water or from a fast drifting canoe. I usually start with 1/4 oz and go up if I can't keep good contact with the bottom.

Tyler W,

In clearer lakes, I have had better luck disguising the tip of the hook with leeches.
I will without a doubt bring my portable hummingbird DX200.
Thanks for the info!

Nofish,

I have been to Winchill twice now, and love the cliffs.
I have had great luck fishing for Lakers on the west end of the lake.
Plenty of mammoth Northerns near the shoreline in early spring.
We will likely pass through Winchill, but will stop to enjoy the cliffs!

Thanks for the info :)

SweetBerryWine: "Nofish,


I have been to Winchill twice now, and love the cliffs.
I have had great luck fishing for Lakers on the west end of the lake.
Plenty of mammoth Northerns near the shoreline in early spring.
We will likely pass through Winchill, but will stop to enjoy the cliffs!


Thanks for the info :) "

That matches my intel as well. Can be good for lakers and big pike assuming you're not facing a stiff west or east wind. They don't call it "Wind-Hell" for nothing.