Has anyone ever found or caught panfish (Sunfish) in the BWCA?

Depending on the lake I am in I have found some huge bluegills. Not sure I have run into other kinds of sunfish up there.

I have caught sunfish in several lakes. Basswood, Wood, Insula to name a few.

Bushpilot: "I have caught sunfish in several lakes. Basswood, Wood, Insula to name a few."

Bushpilot-- Looking for your e-mail. I believe you posted it once, can't seem to find it now. Can you post it again?

Last year, my wife and I took an easy base camp trip to Gabbro. Good thing, too, because the wind was nasty for most of the week, first part of June. We didn't catch a lot, but we did find a few really nice gills there. Crappie too.

Sunfish and especially crappies have been increasing in the BWCA this last decade.

Double post

Zwater: "

Trump 2020: "

PikeEatPike: "Last year me and the wife took a easy base camp trip to Gabbro. Good thing too because the wind was nasty for most of the week, first part of June. We didn't catch a lot, but we did find a few really nice gills there. Crappie too. "

You might as well give the gps coordinates with that island in the background "

"

Wallski is back at it again:) These guest comments need to go.

Zwater: "

Zwater: "

Trump 2020: "

PikeEatPike: "Last year me and the wife took a easy base camp trip to Gabbro. Good thing too because the wind was nasty for most of the week, first part of June. We didn't catch a lot, but we did find a few really nice gills there. Crappie too. "

You might as well give the gps coordinates with that island in the background "

"

Wallski is back at it again:) These guest comments need to go."

Agree!
It ought to be required to become a member to post.

East side, not so much. Ely area, more so. I always bring a bit of panfish gear just in case.

Harv: "

Bushpilot: "I have caught sunfish in several lakes. Basswood, Wood, Insula to name a few."

Bushpilot-- Looking for your e-mail. I believe you posted it once, can't seem to find it now. Can you post it again?
"

Got your email. Will send you a email tonight.

We would always go to the Basswood Chain the first week of June. We would fill up fish baskets with 10+" bluegills. Orange Little Nippers with chunks of leaches seemed to work best.

We now go to the Basswood Chain every Memorial Weekend and we find crappie in the shallows. For crappie we've had the best luck with minnows, but have caught them on leaches, crawlers, or plastics.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Pine Lake off of Trout...they're in there!!!

Used to fly fish for big 1 pounder gills on the kawishi river years back. They are in there.

snakecharmer: "Pine Lake off of Trout...they're in there!!!
"

You have my undivided attention :-)

Basspro69: "

snakecharmer: "Pine Lake off of Trout...they're in there!!!
"

You have my undivided attention :-)"

+1

Gull up by Gun through Mudro Entry.....found some nice reeds to fish and started pulling these guys out. A nice surprise.

Last August on Rocky Lake I caught a bunch of sunnies (and tons of smallies) including Redears. Im headed back in July, Ill take pics for proof this time!

I caught the biggest sunfish I have ever seen in the Kawishiwi River, in the section north of Malberg Lake. I was fishing for smallmouth at the base of a rapids with a small black twister tail. The sunfish absolutely nailed it, and fought as hard as a bass. I could scarcely believe it when I pulled it out of the water.

snakecharmer: "Pine Lake off of Trout...they're in there!!!
"

Are you getting other fish out of Pine?? I go it to Trout once in a while but have never gone over to Pine.

Bumstead: "

Gull up by Gun through Mudro Entry.....found some nice reeds to fish and started pulling these guys out. A nice surprise."

Been there.

Bumstead: "


Gull up by Gun through Mudro Entry.....found some nice reeds to fish and started pulling these guys out. A nice surprise."

Awesome !

Mudro entry Fourtown, Boot, Fairy, Gun and small lakes up to Friday bay all have nice to huge Bluegills!

A little growth history. In northern Minnesota a bluegill grows usually very slow. You can figure about 1 inch a year. A fish in the 5 inch bracket is age 5 a 8 inch bracket 8 years old. Yes larger fish probably grow a little faster. Southern Minnesota and fertile water they grow much faster. After age 7 bluegill numbers drop off fairly fast.

+1
You shouldn’t have....lol

We landed a number of huge gills on Fairy Lake between the west campsite and the north portage in late July last year on a short 2-night trip. We couldn't catch anything other than gills and dinky smallies that entire trip.

snakecharmer: "Pine Lake off of Trout...they're in there!!!
"

+1 big sunnies in pine off trout

Thanks for all the great input I appreciate it!!!
I was hoping something closer to Crane Lake and Sand Point and Grassy Bay.

If you know about any sunfish in those areas let me know.

Thanks!~

Found big "bluegills" as we call 'em in Indiana, using 2" Kalin Triple Threat Grubs in Acid Rain (chartreuse/white) color on Basswood. They were stacked up in about 5-7 feet of water on a grassy flat. Not on the beds yet, but close.

Ditto,Basswood has some Biguns.