BWCA Basswood Weeds Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Fishing Forum
      Basswood Weeds     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

Scweatherford
Guest Paddler
  
06/23/2018 08:42AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I am heading out to Basswood Lake tomorrow. Was curious if the weeds were up in Hoist Bay and Wind Bay. Didn’t know how the late ice out and recent warm weather has impacted the vegetation. Any help would be appreciated.
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next
cjweath
member (35)member
  
06/23/2018 09:24AM  
Interested in this also. It seems like the bigger pike are a lot harder to find until the weeds come out.
 
mastertangler
distinguished member(4432)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
06/24/2018 06:29AM  
Just fish. From what I remember about back bay was an abundance of weed growth. The one bigger pike I did catch came off a rocky point on a popper.

If you worry about having to see weeds before you start fishing at this time of year before the weeds have topped out you might end up fishing to shallow and end up catching smaller pike.

The deeper weeds might not be visible especially if you have a bit of chop on the water. You can search for deeper weeds if you don't have a depth finder by casting a spon and letting it sink to the bottom. The lure will quickly provide clues if there is deep weeds. I like 8 to 10ft this time of year. A Super shad rap is a solid choice. A bait caster with at least 20lb braid (I like 30 > better in the weeds with a big fish and less apt to have "issues" such as backlashes and burying up in the spool). You can fish the big Rap with spinning but it can be laborious.

Don't overlook top water lures for big pike either. Quetico Mike likes the Heddon Lucky 13 in Bullfrog. If I fished may and June in canoe country I would definitely have one or two with me. Sometimes a top water will take big fish when nothing else will. Don't feel like you must cast the top water shallow either. Top waters can pull fish from deep water. Think about it, to a 4' long fish 10ft is only about twice its body length and a single tail kick from top to bottom.
 
      Print Top Bottom Previous Next