Any idea on if there is a good amount of 30 inch walleye in the bwca?

I tried counting them once but kept screwing up as I had to come up for air. ;)

Lol. Was just curious if there are a lot caught in there each year?

No, absolutely not! They top out about 24" and Quetico is worse!

Well the above comment is deff not true. You have to know to go and have put the time in. I have a few above 30 as does my dad. My brother has a 32.5 replica mount. I'd say put time in on the water!

Do you ever look at the angler at all or check out the catch release section?

Funny, mgraber and Brexit, aka "NO on European Union NO," or nooneuno for short.

Over 100 trips up north over the last 50 years, fishing 12 hours a day, I have only caught three over 30 inches.One of those was caught fishing for crappies. That is roughly 6000 hours of fishing time.

I have only caught one over 30 inches in Quetico. It was 32 inches in 2003. If you want to find big walleye, fish big water.

October would be your best chance at one.

missmolly: "Funny, mgraber and Brexit, aka "NO on European Union NO," or nooneuno for short. "

It's the name that keeps on giving. I've read it at least two different ways ("no one you know" and "No. 1 Uno." But yours is best!

QueticoMike: "I have only caught one over 30 inches in Quetico. It was 32 inches in 2003. If you want to find big walleye, fish big water."

What Mike said, with the caveat that I'd add the Mississippi River into that mix even though it's not "big water" in the same sense that Mille Lacs, Red Lake, etc, are.

I hate to share my honey hole, but I've caught my biggest fish, walleyes included, in Cabela's aquariums. It's strictly night fishing and it helps to be a fast runner.

Some for sure, but they are certainly not common. Except for, you know, here and there.

I heard only the 30+ inch walleyes hang out in the cold waters in the Q. That would be my first choice if I were looking for a big walleye...head to the Q

Lake Erie is your best bet for over 30".

I'm going to agree with Johndku…. fishing Lake Erie is probably one if the best options available to catch a 30" walleye. Right now the walleye are running in the Sandusky and Maumee Rivers and you can tie into a 30" walleye with just a pair of waders and a dozen jigs with twister tails. That being said, it's pretty much "battle fishing" with anglers lined up and down the river in all of the good holes.

I'll take the BWCA any day of the week over Lake Erie and be plenty happy catching smaller walleye! While I've never hit 30" from the BWCA, I did pull a 29" while trolling a 6" jointed musky bait on Basswood in Jackfish Bay.

Dave

johndku: "Lake Erie is your best bet for over 30"."

I agree!!

Rainy River just before the ice goes out or just after in boat-- Big Females are chasing emerald shiners- best chance in MN for 30"+ fish. 31" Indus Rapids FEB of 1996--- many other fish this size released...

missmolly: "I hate to share my honey hole, but I've caught my biggest fish, walleyes included, in Cabela's aquariums. It's strictly night fishing and it helps to be a fast runner. "

LOL!! The truth finally comes out....wait a second...Please tell me that isn't where QueticoMike is pulling those monster smallies from!! Thank you for the smile!

Jamie B.: "Any idea on if there is a good amount of 30 inch walleye in the bwca?"

IMHO, it's very hard to have a realistic idea of this for these reasons:

1) Compared to a boat, a canoes in the BWCA is quite limited as a fishing tool. Can't fish effectively in strong chop/wind, can't load up with a lot of sophisticated electronics, quite limited in speed control (especially trolling faster)....stuff we all know. As example, I would venture to say that a really big lake like Lac La Croix has very large areas that are NEVER fished. So it is almost impossible based on a few reports to know what the real population of 30" plus walleye is in that body of water.

2) Despite occasional impressions to contrary, the amount of pressure in the BWCA is comparatively quite light. No tournaments, hardly any 'weekenders', etc. Thus, very small sample size. Too small to draw conclusions?

3) As a corollary to the above, the number of those who actually post here is a very small sample. And out of courtesy, we avoid each other while on the lake.

I agree with QueticoMIke that large waters offer the best chance at a 30"plus...but that isn't for the faint of heart!

lundojam: "Some for sure, but they are certainly not common. Except for, you know, here and there."

so far the 30+ are always there and not here. find out where i am and your odds will increase.

The mythical 30 inch walleye. That seems to be the magic number doesn't it. A 30 inch fish this far north is no spring chicken, and that's your first strike against finding one. Its an old fish. Shorter growing season stacks the cards against you.

Probably the most important factor in producing true trophy fish (other than fishing pressure) is food supply. The more forage the more they can eat. Also oily baitfish like cisco or whitefish are fatty and tend to put the weight on these big walleye. A small lake with other species can often have lots of fish fighting over the same food supply thereby stunting or hindering true massive growth.

Large,deep bodies of water can have many more bait fish and thereby tip the scales in your favor. Its really just a numbers game. You really can't compare Lake Erie to a lake in the BWCA. Apples and oranges. It's ginormous.

I am a true walleye trophy hunter. Was hooked as soon as I bought my lodge and saw what I had. What makes my lake so unique is a combination of what I said above. Its not a huge lake by any means. But it is remote with little to no fishing pressure. Strike in my favor right there. It is also incredibly deep (400 feet), strike 2. And it has a huge baitfish population that can go deep and escape some of the other predators that wont follow them (like bass) below the thermocline. Strike 3. Its the trifecta.

So to really have a chance at a 30 you either need to go to some large bodies of water where the number of fish outweigh the number of fishermen that could ever catch them, or go to a lake where it is the opposite (fewer fishermen). Then if you are really lucky find a lake that is deep and has a solid bait-fish population. Really deep. And not for nothing but the icing on the cake where I am is that we are 100% catch and release. In the 10 years I have managed our lake our trophy population has exploded. Last year we had like 300 fish over 28 inches, with maybe 80 over 30" and the largest at 34". We have also caught a 37" and seen even larger.

So, do your homework. But know this. There is a reason 30 inch walleye are so special and rare. They don't grow on trees. When you do catch one enjoy every minute of it. Oh, please release them too so someone else can have the same experience of a lifetime,

-FT

FishermanTed: "The mythical 30 inch walleye. That seems to be the magic number doesn't it. A 30 inch fish this far north is no spring chicken, and that's your first strike against finding one. Its an old fish. Shorter growing season stacks the cards against you.


Probably the most important factor in producing true trophy fish (other than fishing pressure) is food supply. The more forage the more they can eat. Also oily baitfish like cisco or whitefish are fatty and tend to put the weight on these big walleye. A small lake with other species can often have lots of fish fighting over the same food supply thereby stunting or hindering true massive growth.


Large,deep bodies of water can have many more bait fish and thereby tip the scales in your favor. Its really just a numbers game. You really can't compare Lake Erie to a lake in the BWCA. Apples and oranges. It's ginormous.


I am a true walleye trophy hunter. Was hooked as soon as I bought my lodge and saw what I had. What makes my lake so unique is a combination of what I said above. Its not a huge lake by any means. But it is remote with little to no fishing pressure. Strike in my favor right there. It is also incredibly deep (400 feet), strike 2. And it has a huge baitfish population that can go deep and escape some of the other predators that wont follow them (like bass) below the thermocline. Strike 3. Its the trifecta.


So to really have a chance at a 30 you either need to go to some large bodies of water where the number of fish outweigh the number of fishermen that could ever catch them, or go to a lake where it is the opposite (fewer fishermen). Then if you are really lucky find a lake that is deep and has a solid bait-fish population. Really deep. And not for nothing but the icing on the cake where I am is that we are 100% catch and release. In the 10 years I have managed our lake our trophy population has exploded. Last year we had like 300 fish over 28 inches, with maybe 80 over 30" and the largest at 34". We have also caught a 37" and seen even larger.


So, do your homework. But know this. There is a reason 30 inch walleye are so special and rare. They don't grow on trees. When you do catch one enjoy every minute of it. Oh, please release them too so someone else can have the same experience of a lifetime,


-FT


"

Can I come play?

That is a great plug for your resort Ted:)
I have caught a 30 inch walleye at my cabin in the Detroit lakes area in Mn. Max depth is 38 feet, and not a big lake. And it was off my dock. Many big walleyes are in lakes that dont need to be deep.

I caught 3 over 30 one day...in Lake Michigan through the ice. My biggest in canoe country was 28 1/4” on the Quetico side of one of the big border lakes. FWIW I see a lot of new posters with unrealistic expectations. Big fish, short trips in July with 5 star campsites and excellent fishing with no crowds, etc. Dreaming of once in a lifetime fish is great for getting you motivated in the off season, but don’t let the lack of a big fish ruin your trip. It’s about more than the fishing. Go prepared for big fish, but enjoy your time there. And be prepared to be missing the normal fishing tools like easy boat control, good maps and gps chips, ability to fish in big wind, etc.

Yes I think there are a decent amount of 30 inch walleyes in the BWCAW. I don’t th8nk many people fish for them, there is the lucky one people happen into occasionally. My neighbor fishes the BWCAW or the periphery 1-2x/year and if he doesn’t get a couple of walleyes over 30 it is a bad year for him.

T

My biggest walleye, 32 1/2", came from a lake that was less than 100 acres in size. It is a dead end lake that gets very little pressure. I tried to get back there last summer, but countless trees were down where the portage used to be. I would bet that no one has gotten back there with a canoe in the last few years. I did release her.

^^^^^^^^^ I’m sorry which lake did say that was?^^^^^^^^^^

When fishing lakes in the BWCA, at any time you can catch a 30 inch
Walleye. Right lure,right time,right location. First time fishing,2nd day.
31.5 inch,13.2 lb fatty. Hooked me on the BWCA for 30 yr's. They are out there.

Jamie B.: "Any idea on if there is a good amount of 30 inch walleye in the bwca?"

They are pretty rare but if you’re looking to target a 30 incher big water like Saganaga , Saganagons , Lake of the Woods and others are your best bet .

AmarilloJim: "October would be your best chance at one."

Agree 100 percent.

Basspro69: "

Jamie B.: "Any idea on if there is a good amount of 30 inch walleye in the bwca?"

They are pretty rare but if you’re looking to target a 30 incher big water like Saganaga, Saganagons , Basswood, Lake of the Woods and others are your best bet.

walllee: "

Wallski: "

Jamie B.: "Any idea on if there is a good amount of 30 inch walleye in the bwca?"

I’ve caught hundreds of 25-34 inch walleyes in the B-dub. "

Hundreds of 15 to 25 inch I might believe, many people here can claim that, but “ many” in the 30 to 34 inch range.... not buying it... unless you have been guiding on Sag for 30 years.... , or were part of the seagull river massacre back in the day."

I do read plenty of things on this site that I throw the BS flag on, but I believe Wallski. I’m no great angler but on a good day in July and August I’ll release 3 or 4 walleyes over 25”. That can add up to quit a few each year since I live close and do virtually all of my fishing in the BWCA. Fish over 30” are very rare for me, seems like I have to sort through a lot of 28-29” fish for each 30 incher.

One 28" and many 2 footers in bdub. Pure luck for me. Bigguns?...Lake Erie .

Big mistake walleye fisherman make is fishing the current on the opener catching dinks. I’m outta doing something else slaying big females on big salt-water baits.

How big of baits you talking Wallski? I'm into bigger fish!

GBTG: "How big of baits you talking Wallski? I'm into bigger fish!"

Order 8-12 inch salt-water raps outta Bass-pro shops. I only get white and silver. You can also slip-bobber big sucker minnows live or dead in 10fow in the flats on opener. The big females are way outta the current feeding in shallow bays, or shallow flats mid May.

SinglePortage: "My biggest walleye, 32 1/2", came from a lake that was less than 100 acres in size. It is a dead end lake that gets very little pressure. I tried to get back there last summer, but countless trees were down where the portage used to be. I would bet that no one has gotten back there with a canoe in the last few years. I did release her."

Which lake is this exactly :D

Selfsuffi: "

missmolly: "I hate to share my honey hole, but I've caught my biggest fish, walleyes included, in Cabela's aquariums. It's strictly night fishing and it helps to be a fast runner. "

LOL!! The truth finally comes out....wait a second...Please tell me that isn't where QueticoMike is pulling those monster smallies from!! Thank you for the smile!"

You can see my fish pictures by going to my gallery here, googling QueticoMike images or via Instagram @queticomike. All fish have a different pattern, all fish can be seen with northwoods in the background. Some people think I just drag around the same smallmouth for a week and take pictures of it with different backgrounds.....LOL

You can see my fish pictures by going to my gallery here, googling QueticoMike images or via Instagram @queticomike. All fish have a different pattern, all fish can be seen with northwoods in the background. Some people think I just drag around the same smallmouth for a week and take pictures of it with different backgrounds.....LOL"

I just started following @queticomike on Instagram, and JESUS CHRIST! Easily one of my favorite instagram accounts I've looked at. I'm not huge on smallies but wow just wow. That is a whole bunch of giant smallmouth! Not to mention alot are really beautiful fish. How much time do you spend in the wilderness in a year?!

FishermanTed: "The mythical 30 inch walleye. That seems to be the magic number doesn't it. A 30 inch fish this far north is no spring chicken, and that's your first strike against finding one. Its an old fish. Shorter growing season stacks the cards against you.


Probably the most important factor in producing true trophy fish (other than fishing pressure) is food supply. The more forage the more they can eat. Also oily baitfish like cisco or whitefish are fatty and tend to put the weight on these big walleye. A small lake with other species can often have lots of fish fighting over the same food supply thereby stunting or hindering true massive growth.


Large,deep bodies of water can have many more bait fish and thereby tip the scales in your favor. Its really just a numbers game. You really can't compare Lake Erie to a lake in the BWCA. Apples and oranges. It's ginormous.


I am a true walleye trophy hunter. Was hooked as soon as I bought my lodge and saw what I had. What makes my lake so unique is a combination of what I said above. Its not a huge lake by any means. But it is remote with little to no fishing pressure. Strike in my favor right there. It is also incredibly deep (400 feet), strike 2. And it has a huge baitfish population that can go deep and escape some of the other predators that wont follow them (like bass) below the thermocline. Strike 3. Its the trifecta.


So to really have a chance at a 30 you either need to go to some large bodies of water where the number of fish outweigh the number of fishermen that could ever catch them, or go to a lake where it is the opposite (fewer fishermen). Then if you are really lucky find a lake that is deep and has a solid bait-fish population. Really deep. And not for nothing but the icing on the cake where I am is that we are 100% catch and release. In the 10 years I have managed our lake our trophy population has exploded. Last year we had like 300 fish over 28 inches, with maybe 80 over 30" and the largest at 34". We have also caught a 37" and seen even larger.


So, do your homework. But know this. There is a reason 30 inch walleye are so special and rare. They don't grow on trees. When you do catch one enjoy every minute of it. Oh, please release them too so someone else can have the same experience of a lifetime,


-FT


"

I love the fact that it’s catch and release, a photo and a replica is the way to go it keeps those superior genetics in the lake !!!