Headed to Ely tomorrow and putting on Moose Tuesday. Been going to BDubs since '83 and I don't remember being this excited/anxious. Only the second time I have been up this early and first was last year when there was record heat. The temps don't look terrible but there is some rain in the forecast so the thought of getting wet is creeping. Anxious for the cold. Anxious for the fishing. Sort of the antithesis of a northwoods getaway.

Are Lake Trout affected by the on/off rain forecasted? My impression is that walleye will not be negatively affected by the weather this week and it may act in our favor. Is it worth bringing in live bait to SAK? If so, leeches or minnow or both?

We have wool base layer. We have a dump bag. We have rain gear. I think I have all the boxes checked but since I have not been through it before and a miscalculation could have dire consequences, I find myself anxious.

Sounds like you're ready! I don't think the weather will change the lakers much. Let us know how you do! We'll be taking our first Moose/Knife trip ever in 3 weeks

not too much use being anxious, as long as you've prepared for the weather and the ice is out. only thing to really fret over is big water (as per usual).
a few years back my buddies and i were breaking through ice. we only made it 4 lakes deep before giving up and cutting our trip almost a week short :,)

this is the best time of the year for the bwca as far as i'm concerned, fewer crowds and fewer bugs, and you just can't beat the beginning of spring.

i'll be right behind you, putting into moose on thursday, looping up through saganaga and back.

waywardsoul: "i'll be right behind you, putting into moose on thursday, looping up through saganaga and back. "

Nice. I do remember the no bugs part last year and was glorious. One thing about Knife is that there plenty of source for firewood so we can have a nice campfire.

If you see a Grumman from Iowa, give us a wave.

D

cyclones30: "Sounds like you're ready! I don't think the weather will change the lakers much. Let us know how you do! We'll be taking our first Moose/Knife trip ever in 3 weeks "

I love Knife. The South Arm starts looking like Gunflint trail lakes with what would be considered mountains here in Iowa. Do yourself a favor and search for a post by schweady with a marked map.

Do you happen to be an ISU fan? Met my wife there and both my boys go there. Go Cyclones!

D

Just returned from the Brule S/N temp area- Things seemed quite messed up fishing wise (catching males in 20 FOW with Females)and the inlets / shallows completely void of life- except Sat night we saw Crayfish for the first time. I really think the heavy snowfall around the 8th and up and down temps has messed with nature- but something just seemed off or slow to start. I would work fishing SLOW-- no rapalas etc--- live bait or GULP- just my .02

cyclones30: "Sounds like you're ready! I don't think the weather will change the lakers much. Let us know how you do! We'll be taking our first Moose/Knife trip ever in 3 weeks "

We camped north east of Thunder Point. Caught a couple lakers trolling the north side of the island our first night. Weather bound most of day two but did go out late afternoon and fished the west side of the island in the wind shadow and caught one. Day three was the best. Trolled the south shore of Knife west of the south arm channel and came back on the north side of Robinson. Caught one there but the other eight were in the bay south of Thunder point south and east of the small island in that bay. Caught nothing on little cleos, doctor spoons were the ticket. Smallest was about 18", largest about 24". Not monsters but they were satisfying to us. My sons first lake trout and a damn site larger than the ones I caught last May on Mountain lake.

Picked up a few 2 - 4# Northerns while trolling with the doctor spoons.

Good luck!