BWCA Late September lakers? Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
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thegildedgopher
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07/18/2019 10:55AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Thinking of a 2-day turn and burn trip at the very end of summer lake trout season, sept 29-30. Have never been up this time of year. Does the water start to cool down a bit or will lake trout still be holding pretty deep?
 
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07/18/2019 11:31AM  
Water”usually” is a little cooler, but I have been up there that time of year and it’s still been 70 degree water, other years it’s been mid to low 50’s. That being said , you should be able to find some in the 30 foot range.last week in Quetico the water temp was 72 degrees, and I caught some in 20 feet of water.... you just never know.
 
thegildedgopher
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07/18/2019 12:54PM  
Thanks for the info. I'm still insure. I might skip and wait for an ice fishing trip.
 
07/18/2019 01:15PM  
I go every year the last week of September. LT are consistently in 40-60' either suspended or on the bottom. You will catch some shallower but I think most of these are fish that have just chased your bait.
 
thegildedgopher
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07/18/2019 02:07PM  
Thank you!
 
07/18/2019 02:09PM  
trolling open water with spoons/cleos can be the ticket ,
 
thegildedgopher
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07/18/2019 02:18PM  
shock: "trolling open water with spoons/cleos can be the ticket ,
"


Right up my alley. I'm weighing this -vs- an ice fishing trip. I probably can't swing both so I'm torn.
 
07/19/2019 07:03AM  
GG do your fall trip and join me on beautiful lake Waconia ,this winter, i only ask you keep the spot private ;)
i have done early Sept. trips and caught nice #5 lakers shallow and have done late Sept. and can,t find them.
go figure ;)
where are you thinking , i'm a big fan of seagull
 
thegildedgopher
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07/19/2019 09:36AM  
shock: "GG do your fall trip and join me on beautiful lake Waconia ,this winter, i only ask you keep the spot private ;)
i have done early Sept. trips and caught nice #5 lakers shallow and have done late Sept. and can,t find them.
go figure ;)
where are you thinking , i'm a big fan of seagull"


One way or another I will make it out to Waconia this year. What happens at the shack stays at the shack.

I may be out of luck for the September trip unless I'm misunderstanding how the day motor permits work at the end of the season. It looks like there's pretty much nothing available for that last week in September.
 
QueticoMike
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07/20/2019 12:50PM  
There should be an article in the next BWJ that details how to fish LT in late Sept. So you might want to check that out before you go. ;)
 
Lakerloon
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07/20/2019 02:14PM  
I'm planning a late Sept lake trout trip. I no longer subscribe to the BWJ - is there anywhere where I can buy just this issue? Somewhere in Ely perhaps where I can get a copy? Or do I have to subscribe?
 
RodBender
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07/20/2019 07:44PM  
I've purchased them in Barnes and Noble.
 
ericinely
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07/21/2019 07:15AM  
contact BWJ directly, they have old issues they can sell you or downloadable versions
 
QueticoMike
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07/21/2019 11:46AM  
Lakerloon: "I'm planning a late Sept lake trout trip. I no longer subscribe to the BWJ - is there anywhere where I can buy just this issue? Somewhere in Ely perhaps where I can get a copy? Or do I have to subscribe?"


Piragis sells them in Ely. I think Zups might also sell them. Or you can call and order just one issue and I think you can also just purchase the article only. Not sure how that is handled? Don't know if they send you a paper copy or send you something via the internet. I can contact them and find out.
 
07/21/2019 08:19PM  
thegildedgopher: "Thinking of a 2-day turn and burn trip at the very end of summer lake trout season, sept 29-30. Have never been up this time of year. Does the water start to cool down a bit or will lake trout still be holding pretty deep?"


Seen it snowing and seen it like 90 degrees F. last day of September in the BWCA. Yes water as cold as 54 degrees and as warm as in the low 70's. Who knows?
 
lundojam
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07/22/2019 06:16AM  
Lake Trout Fever!
You got it!
Funk you up!
 
07/22/2019 09:02AM  
lundojam: "Lake Trout Fever!
You got it!
Funk you up! "

That was entertaining.
 
QueticoMike
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07/23/2019 02:58PM  
QueticoMike: "
Lakerloon: "I'm planning a late Sept lake trout trip. I no longer subscribe to the BWJ - is there anywhere where I can buy just this issue? Somewhere in Ely perhaps where I can get a copy? Or do I have to subscribe?"



Piragis sells them in Ely. I think Zups might also sell them. Or you can call and order just one issue and I think you can also just purchase the article only. Not sure how that is handled? Don't know if they send you a paper copy or send you something via the internet. I can contact them and find out."


They photo copy the article and mail it to you and it costs 5 bucks or you can buy the issue for $6.95. Best bet would probably be just grabbing a copy at Piragis when you get to town.
 
Lakerloon
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07/28/2019 08:57AM  
Thanks Mike, I've been talking to Lynne at VNO and she has a copy she can send me. I am a bit confused though: You had said the article would be in the "next issue", but Lynne said the latest summer issue has an article titled "Deep Down Lake Trout" by Nolan Smith. Is this the article you're talking about or are you talking about an article that will be in the coming fall issue? Thanks for your help.
 
QueticoMike
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07/29/2019 07:35AM  
Lakerloon: "Thanks Mike, I've been talking to Lynne at VNO and she has a copy she can send me. I am a bit confused though: You had said the article would be in the "next issue", but Lynne said the latest summer issue has an article titled "Deep Down Lake Trout" by Nolan Smith. Is this the article you're talking about or are you talking about an article that will be in the coming fall issue? Thanks for your help."


It should be in the Fall issue. I wrote it last year, but Stu didn't have room in the Fall issue last year and said he would use it in 2019. So unless something else comes up this year it should be in that issue. Not sure on the title of the article because Stu likes to change my titles to something more of his liking. I have only read the first part of the latest issue and I see that article is on page 91. Probably be a good idea to read that article and any others on lake trout you can find.
 
Lakerloon
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07/29/2019 07:45AM  
Thanks again, MIke! I generally take my trips in May and Sept. I've never had a problem finding the lakers in the spring, but I've had week long fall trips where I only had one or two fish dinners because I struggled to find them. I'm going to Oyster in late Sept and I'd like to do better than that this time!
 
07/29/2019 09:41AM  
Lakerloon: "Thanks again, MIke! I generally take my trips in May and Sept. I've never had a problem finding the lakers in the spring, but I've had week long fall trips where I only had one or two fish dinners because I struggled to find them. I'm going to Oyster in late Sept and I'd like to do better than that this time!"


Its all going to depend on water temps.
 
Lakerloon
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07/31/2019 06:09PM  
Pinetree: "Its all going to depend on water temps."


Agreed. I've just always felt I was clueless with regards to what lures are best to use in the fall. I've always just used spade lures and jigged in and around deep spots, looking for shelves around the holes where they might come up to feed based on the topography of the lake bottom. I'm looking forward to additional guidance.
 
07/31/2019 07:00PM  
Lakerloon: "
Pinetree: "Its all going to depend on water temps."



Agreed. I've just always felt I was clueless with regards to what lures are best to use in the fall. I've always just used spade lures and jigged in and around deep spots, looking for shelves around the holes where they might come up to feed based on the topography of the lake bottom. I'm looking forward to additional guidance."


We have had late September where we caught lake trout on the surface because water was cool-cold. One year the last weekend it was snowing and freezing at night. Yes others it was over 80 degrees and fishing was tough. Still a pretty time to go a quite.
 
07/31/2019 07:39PM  
Do you have a fish finder? Without one you’re going blind. But you still can have success without one. With cool nights ahead it’s possible the lake temps will allow trout to move to shallower depths. But things could change. I think the key is to try different depths using a variety of lures. Try tail dancers at 10, 20, and 30 ft. over a variety of depths. Maybe 40-100ft. Also, I’ve used little cleos. Try 1oz weight and add more if necessary. The key, I believe, is to keep changing techniques until you find the right combination.
 
07/31/2019 08:25PM  
Surface water in Ely is 75 degrees F.. You hope for a minimum drop to 60 degrees F.
 
08/01/2019 03:23AM  
Pinetree: "Surface water in Ely is 75 degrees F.. You hope for a minimum drop to 60 degrees F."
Agreed , the closer you can get to that 52* you might be able to eliminate a lot of water .
 
QueticoMike
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09/28/2019 07:56AM  
QueticoMike: "
Lakerloon: "Thanks Mike, I've been talking to Lynne at VNO and she has a copy she can send me. I am a bit confused though: You had said the article would be in the "next issue", but Lynne said the latest summer issue has an article titled "Deep Down Lake Trout" by Nolan Smith. Is this the article you're talking about or are you talking about an article that will be in the coming fall issue? Thanks for your help."



It should be in the Fall issue. I wrote it last year, but Stu didn't have room in the Fall issue last year and said he would use it in 2019. So unless something else comes up this year it should be in that issue. Not sure on the title of the article because Stu likes to change my titles to something more of his liking. I have only read the first part of the latest issue and I see that article is on page 91. Probably be a good idea to read that article and any others on lake trout you can find."


The article "Don't Put Those Rods Away Yet" was published in the latest Boundary Waters Journal. Page 94. Let me know if you have any questions after reading it.

 
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