I'm working on planning my first trip to the Quetico for this spring. I haven't done a Quetico or BWCA trip yet but have canoed and fished some rivers in Wisconsin and have been fishing in Canada for many years. Typically we went to Canada the last week of May and usually the bugs weren't bad and the fishing was pretty good. This year I'm not sure if we'll be able to go end of may and I won't be able to go first week of June so I'm starting to look more into Mid June and maybe late June although mid looks like it might work best.

My questions are how good has the fishing typically been mid June?

How is the human traffic then?

How bad are the bugs?

Also when is the mayfly hatch typically?(I'd really not like to hit that)

Any insite is greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Brandon

Mid June is my favorite time for trips. The Lake Trout usually haven’t gone deep yet, walleye fishing is good, and the smallies are starting to hit topwaters. The bugs are typically tolerable.

I've taken most of my ten trips in mid June. It can be hit or miss. The longer your trip the better chance you won't hit the smallmouth in their post spawn slump - especially true for the larger females. Also, hitting a variety of lakes - small, large, shallow, deep, stained, clear - will help ensure you get on some fish. I've had some trips in mid June where I can only catch 8-15 inch male smallmouth on some lakes only to move to other lakes and catch a lot more 18"+ smallmouth.

I've had a tough time finding walleye in mid June except for in moving water, but I'm a Texan and not a good walleye fisherman yet.

Lake Trout can typically still be caught by trolling lures such as the Deep Taildancer (20-30' versions) over deeper basins.

Impossible to say, frankly, as it'll depend on the weather, how "early" spring is, and the size of the lakes you're on.

Any time in that window will work. Just make sure to have access to big and small lakes....One of them will be going.

If you are not going to be early then a bit later is good insurance but as was stated above...no guarantee. Post spawn slump is the reason and it seems to affect walleye and bass. I like the second to third week of June but anytime before the fourth of July can be good. The 4th is kind of my cut off as the human traffic starts to pick up. The 4th is not a Canadian holiday but it can still increase the traffic on entry lakes and even beyond. The mayfly hatch is unpredictable and has caught me too. There are so many variables that you have to look at it over time. One year can be awesome and the next awful. A longer trip duration of 8-10 days on the water helps with that but schedules don't always permit extended trips. If you go often enough there will be trips you don't want to end and trips that seem endless. Its all good though.

3rd week of June

3rd week of June