The wife and I will be taking our first trip to the Boundary Waters and leaving out of Snowbank the latter part of May. We are pretty avid paddlers and its a trip we have really been looking forward to going on. Her for the scenery and paddling a new area and me for the same and plenty of fishing. We will be heading out of Snowbank about a week past the opener. I've walleye and smallmouth fished my whole life but know that once I get up there the fishing will probably be much different than the rivers and lakes I'm used to fishing around the house. I know that during that time of the year from what I'm reading on here I should concentrate on the creek and river mouths or the warmer sections of the lakes. I plan on taking a couple small Plano boxes with my spinners, spoons and Rapalas. I will also (as long as I can find some) be taking leeches.
What kind of fishing should I expect once I get past Snowbank? Is the fishing what I have it made out to be in my head or should I be more realistic in the fact it may not be as action packed as what I think? Im probably only going to bring one rod a medium light two piece 6.6 ugly stick with 6lb test and maybe a extra spool with some 8lb test and depending on what the pack weight ends up being or if she decides she wants to fish I might bring my 2 piece Fenwick.
Has anybody fished this section much and would the fishing get better the further back we get? or are there several areas we might portage to that can also be accessed by a road? Im probably (hopefully depending on what I learn from you guys) just going to paddle through Snowbank and try to put some miles and a couple portages behind us the first day and get camp set up somewhere with plenty of time to go back out for some evening fishing.
I keep seeing stuff about small spinners used below a slip float in conjunction with a leech? is this more of a hard water thing or is this something done when slip bobber fishing in open water as an attractant? what is the basic setup? is it called a lindy rig?
I apologize for all the questions but I just tried my google fu to answer this last part and came up with nothing.

A slip bobber rig with a split shot and a hook tipped with a leech, or a small jig head in lieu of the split shot and hook, should work well from camp or on calm water. A slow drift with a jig and leech over the side of the canoe, just off the bottom is also one of my favorite ways to fish. Obviously throwing the cranks and spinners can produce fish too, i think live bait will increase your odds.

Lindy Rigs can work well too but with the rocky bottoms of the lakes up there that slip sinker tends to snag a lot...too much frustration for me. Bring a few topwater lures if you are on a smallie lake(most of them are), that can be a lot of fun.

Well, if it were me, I would make the South arm of Knife my lake of priority. Never been there myself, but it’s on my list. Has a reputation for top notch fishing. Minnows would be top choice that time of year. But are a bit of a hassle to deal with. You are right in looking to fish inlet current spots , and near by shallow mud bottom bays. Depending on the spring we have, and of course water temps this would be the first spots I would check. Warmer water should put you on the fish. Some will say it’s to early for leeches. But I have had enough success with them this time with of year on a jig, and under a slip bobber. I always take leeches over minnows for the ease.I also recommend black and gold Husky Jerks. It’s the one lure on my May trip last year I caught most of my walleye on. And had wished I brought more, cause I flung it into a tree.

How many days and how far are you willing to go?

If your trip is 1-3 days I would suggest going up through Snowbank to Boot Lake and then into Ensign Lake. Ensign is great for walleye with decent small mouth and Pike fishing. Fish in 5-10ft of water in the evening with bobber/jig tipped w/ a leech. You will catch all the walleye you need. If you base camp at Ensign and want a fun day trip with great scenery head to Cattyman Falls. To get there you will pass through Ashigan Lake which has good small mouth fishing.

If your trip is longer, 4+ days, I would head through Snowbank and into Disappointment lake... then up and over to Jordan Lake (beautiful lake with great views through the narrows) and finally into Ima Lake. Ima has decent lake trout fishing. To catch them Use silver castmaster spoons (or something similar) from shore. You can also troll some rapalas around. Right next-door to Ima Lake is Hatchet Lake. Hatchet is filled with smaller walleye (bobber/leech in 5-10ft of water).

lindylair: "A slip bobber rig with a split shot and a hook tipped with a leech, or a small jig head in lieu of the split shot and hook, should work well from camp or on calm water. A slow drift with a jig and leech over the side of the canoe, just off the bottom is also one of my favorite ways to fish. Obviously throwing the cranks and spinners can produce fish too, i think live bait will increase your odds.


Lindy Rigs can work well too but with the rocky bottoms of the lakes up there that slip sinker tends to snag a lot...too much frustration for me. Bring a few topwater lures if you are on a smallie lake(most of them are), that can be a lot of fun. "

I really appreciate the information and I will toss a couple of topwaters in the box! thank you.

trailcheif: "Well, if it were me, I would make the South arm of Knife my lake of priority. Never been there myself, but it’s on my list. Has a reputation for top notch fishing. Minnows would be top choice that time of year. But are a bit of a hassle to deal with. You are right in looking to fish inlet current spots , and near by shallow mud bottom bays. Depending on the spring we have, and of course water temps this would be the first spots I would check. Warmer water should put you on the fish. Some will say it’s to early for leeches. But I have had enough success with them this time with of year on a jig, and under a slip bobber. I always take leeches over minnows for the ease.I also recommend black and gold Husky Jerks. It’s the one lure on my May trip last year I caught most of my walleye on. And had wished I brought more, cause I flung it into a tree."

I will have to see if I have a couple of husky jerks in that color. I know I have several in original. What size husky jerk would probably be best? a 5 inch? or the larger 3 treble one?
I didn't know that about the minnows being better in the spring. I was under the impression that the leech was king (down my way its hard to ever beat minnows for walleye and smallmouth but we don't have leeches) Thank you so much for the information and the tips. I really appreciate it.

dpreiner21: "How many days and how far are you willing to go?


If your trip is 1-3 days I would suggest going up through Snowbank to Boot Lake and then into Ensign Lake. Ensign is great for walleye with decent small mouth and Pike fishing. Fish in 5-10ft of water in the evening with bobber/jig tipped w/ a leech. You will catch all the walleye you need. If you base camp at Ensign and want a fun day trip with great scenery head to Cattyman Falls. To get there you will pass through Ashigan Lake which has good small mouth fishing.


If your trip is longer, 4+ days, I would head through Snowbank and into Disappointment lake... then up and over to Jordan Lake (beautiful lake with great views through the narrows) and finally into Ima Lake. Ima has decent lake trout fishing. To catch them Use silver castmaster spoons (or something similar) from shore. You can also troll some rapalas around. Right next-door to Ima Lake is Hatchet Lake. Hatchet is filled with smaller walleye (bobber/leech in 5-10ft of water).


"

Its looking like its going to be a 4 to 5 day trip. Im going to try to simply go with how my wife seems to be taking it. She has an adventurous spirit with a lab managers leg muscles. I was really hoping to get into a few lake trout but don't think im going to try spending much time on Snowbank with the size and its reputation for wind and waves. So looks like I will probably take your advice and head up through Boot and Ensign and see what she is up to after that. I really appreciate the info on the lakes. I have been studying up on them and what route we might take but you cant beat first hand knowledge.

What happens if the ONE rod your taking gets broke? Too much time and money invested to rely on just one rod, but that's me. I'd fasten an extra rod and reel to the thwarts. Out of the way and no weight.

Bring an extra rod and reel - you will end up not using 90% of your tackle box, but still bring what you want. Usually a leech under a slip bobber is what I use 90% of the time... it's easy and relaxing

That is what im going to do. If I end up bringing just one rod Murphy's law will inevitably take over once I am too far in to do anything about it. I would feel better having two anyway. I enjoy watching a bobber go down almost if not more than using topwater on the rivers around home so I think most of my fishing will end up being live bait. I bought a couple of lighted floats the other day that were appropriate size. I have some that I use for catfish and Stripes but those are about the size of a Cuban cigar and are wayyyy too big.

Nothing beats watching that red bobber disappear

Like many have said before be wary of the winds on Snowbank and pict your portage route accordingly. The portage in the northeast corner of Snowbank paddling there is know for its huge dangerous waves on Snowbank.

Well said, re: the waves on Snowbank. If you do get into that corner, the portages to Boot will land you in potential walleye waters. If you can tackle the next set of portages and the small lakes, Ima, Jordan and Thomas are all great destinations. Lakers and walleyes inhabit those waters, particularly Thomas. Good route all in all. Hope your fishing efforts are rewarded and winds abate for your trip!

Yeah I will have to see if I have a couple of husky jerks in that color. I know I have several in original. What size husky jerk would probably be best? a 5 inch? or the larger 3 treble one?
I didn't know that about the minnows being better in the spring. I was under the impression that the leech was king (down my way its hard to ever beat minnows for walleye and smallmouth but we don't have leeches) Thank you so much for the information and the tips. I really appreciate it. "

No problem for the help. That’s what this site is all about. Plus I’m jut echoing what all the wise BWCA members have shared with me. Just measured my HJ. They are 5” and have 3 trebles. I wouldn’t be afraid to throw a bigger one. If the bite is on you’ll increase your odds for a bigger fish, plus the little ones will go for it too. It might be more trip than your are looking for but just wanted to throw out there , Knife lake also has lake trout. And May is a great time to get them. A great lure for that is a Doctor Spoon. But Little Cleo’s work well too in blue and silver. I know someone else mentioned it. Just wanted to second or third the lighted slip bobber. So great to catch walleye from your campsite while relaxing by the fire. May is a great time for that since they will be shallow.

trailcheif: "

Yeah I will have to see if I have a couple of husky jerks in that color. I know I have several in original. What size husky jerk would probably be best? a 5 inch? or the larger 3 treble one?
I didn't know that about the minnows being better in the spring. I was under the impression that the leech was king (down my way its hard to ever beat minnows for walleye and smallmouth but we don't have leeches) Thank you so much for the information and the tips. I really appreciate it. "

No problem for the help. That’s what this site is all about. Plus I’m jut echoing what all the wise BWCA members have shared with me. Just measured my HJ. They are 5” and have 3 trebles. I wouldn’t be afraid to throw a bigger one. If the bite is on you’ll increase your odds for a bigger fish, plus the little ones will go for it too. It might be more trip than your are looking for but just wanted to throw out there , Knife lake also has lake trout. And May is a great time to get them. A great lure for that is a Doctor Spoon. But Little Cleo’s work well too in blue and silver. I know someone else mentioned it. Just wanted to second or third the lighted slip bobber. So great to catch walleye from your campsite while relaxing by the fire. May is a great time for that since they will be shallow."

Here's my jerkbait box I use for walleye and smallmouth around the rivers here. I was thinking I had one of those Rapalas!

Those are definitely the size I’m using. But those are all original floaters I believe. They work great too. I prefer the HJ’s because they run just a bit deeper. I like my lures ticking of the rocks. They have beads in them so they rattle, and they have a little more reflective color pop to them. I see you have a few X-Raps too. Those are great also, particularly the clown color.

Snowbank is a terrific fishing lake including lake trout. Boot Lake is a terrific fishing lake but very poor campsites. Disappointment Lake is a terrific fishing lake. Good time of the year. Good water.

Slowbank has always been fished out, ensign was actually pretty much netted out in 62-69 the way I heard.

trailcheif: "Well, if it were me, I would make the South arm of Knife my lake of priority. Never been there myself, but it’s on my list. Has a reputation for top notch fishing. Minnows would be top choice that time of year. But are a bit of a hassle to deal with. You are right in looking to fish inlet current spots , and near by shallow mud bottom bays. Depending on the spring we have, and of course water temps this would be the first spots I would check. Warmer water should put you on the fish. Some will say it’s to early for leeches. But I have had enough success with them this time with of year on a jig, and under a slip bobber. I always take leeches over minnows for the ease.I also recommend black and gold Husky Jerks. It’s the one lure on my May trip last year I caught most of my walleye on. And had wished I brought more, cause I flung it into a tree."

I was at SAK last June early. The water is clear so if you want to catch walleyes it's a primetime deal.

Yeah. I heard the netters on Ensign paid the warden off in booze and some kick ass pot. I just heard that. I was not there.