Top o' the Decade from a Newbie Member and first time poster!

Need some advice/tips for an early/mid-June 2020 fishing/canoeing/camping trip to Quetico.

Here's the deal, and I apologize in advance for my long-windedness.

I've been to the Boundary Waters/Quetico area once before in my early 20's on an 8 day late July - early August fishing trip with my father and several others, including the former University of Louisville basketball coach, Denny Crum. This was about 25 years ago. It was a great trip with all that the northern wilds have to offer (wolves howling, moose sightings, grouse drumming, Northern Lights, etc.), but we struggled a bit to catch the smallmouth bass we were targeting. We primarily used live bait (leeches) and jigs, and sure, we caught some fish (maybe 5-10 fish per day with fish up to 6 lbs), but we weren't catching the numbers I expected. In hindsight and with the benefit of a little more knowledge and wisdom (funny how that age things works, right?) and the wonders of the internet, I now realize that we fished way too shallow (shallow in the mornings and evenings and 10-15 feet or so at other times), and we didn't spend nearly enough time fishing where the fish actually were (at least 15-25 feet deep). C'est La Vie.

Fast forward to the present. I've since gotten married and now have a family of my own. As my Father and Mother aged and grew more frail (both passed away in the last year), I realized my great outdoor adventures with Dad (and sometimes Mom) were ending, as all things do. Some words I once heard on the radio echoed in my head,"Kids spell love, T-I-M-E", and I decided that I needed to heed that sage advice and provide my kids with some memories of their own outdoor adventures. As often happens, my wife's penchant for "civilized" living took root in my daughter and she's not going to be a diehard sportswoman (although she's shot a deer and a squirrel and caught plenty of bass/panfish). My son though has the fever. Last summer, I planned a flyfishing trip out west. We fished the Wind River in Wyoming and stayed on Henry's Lake in Idaho where we fished the Madison and the Henry's Fork. Our 4 day FYI backcountry camping excursion on Slough Creek in Yellowstone Park though turned out to be the trip of a lifetime for both my son and me. My heart nearly burst with pride when I heard my son holler "FISH ON!" as he hooked into and later landed a beautiful 22" wild Yellowstone Cutthroat on a dry fly (Dave's Hopper FWIW).

This summer I've planned a trip to Quetico with 2 other father/son tandems. The boys will all be 13. The primary pursuit is fishing for (in order) smallmouth, walleye, pike and maybe a few lakers (trolling with deep running - 20-30 feet - crankbaits and spoons). I picked early/mid June to take advantage of the tail end of the walleye spawn and the beginning/middle of the smallmouth spawn. I figured the pike would be catchable regardless. After speaking with some guides in Atikokan, I was informed that we could conservatively expect to catch 30 fish a day and on good days maybe 70 or more fish per day in mid-June.

During my internet scouting, I stumbled upon this great site, and another that helps canoeist plan their routes. After much consternating, I came up with 2 possible trips. One factor was limiting the number of portages, which I though might be difficult for 13 years old boys. The first possible trip would start at the access point on Lake Batchewaung (accessed through Nym Lake) and with a camping destination on Marie Lake (or possibly Jesse). From there, we could branch off as needed.

The second trip would start at the Nym River access and take us south across Pickeral Lake and landing on Buckingham Lake (fishing Rawn Lake as well). I was told that the bass fishing on Buckingham is fabulous.

Any insights, inputs or tips about either of these routes (or any suggested routes) would be greatly appreciated. The boys are all deadset on going to Canada, so we are determined to start/end the trip in Quetico.

Any recommended fishing lures or tactics would also be infinitely helpful. I've done a lot of smallmouth and pike fishing, but I don't know a lot about walleyes or lake trout. My thinking is that we could focus on either top-water (Zara Spooks, Jitterbugs, Hula Poppers, etc.) or shallow water baits (Rapala Shad Rap #5's) to catch both walleyes and bronzebacks at that time of year. I also plan on bringing a 9 wt fly rod, so any fly suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Any need for drift socks or stuff like that?

Tight Lines to all and thanks for the help in advance.

Best,

BreauxDaddy

Yep... that was pretty long-winded. I would not worry about 13 year old boys on Quetico portages. They will have plenty of energy and endurance. The Dads may be more concerning. Just be careful on the rocks. Also, on a memorable trip like this, the count of fish will not determine good day/bad day. There is so much more to do, see, experience and enjoy. Meals over campfires, tenting in the rain, hordes of mosquitos, eating beef jerky for breakfast... these things and more will make wonderful memories.

For bass. If you're not catching one frequently, change location, depth or lake. Spinning rods are most productive. Some guys have to have a fly rod but I don't understand why. Especially out of a canoe.

Welcome to the board!

the daily double

I would pick mid June over early June for SMB. The walleyes will be finished spawning by June. LT will be somewhat shallow as well that time of year. I usually just troll a DDHJ10 100' back which gets me 10' down that time of year for LT. Have you considered Jean?

Ha! I got a chuckle out of Bobber commenting on your long-winded post (which it was... LOL) and then getting the dreaded double-post himself. Karma...

BD, our group has been going to Quetico nearly every year for 35 years. The vast number of those years, we entered through a northern entry point, primarily Beaverhouse Lake. We drive up the day before and get our permit at the Atikokan ranger station, grab some dinner and stay overnight in town. We leave early the next morning to make the drive in to our entry point.


My two buddies and I were blessed with sons in 1990 - a total of six weeks apart - and they were also thirteen years old when we took them to Q the first time. They'll be thirty years old this spring, and while they all haven't made the trip every year, they love going to this day. I know I certainly don't have to twist my son's arm when it comes to discussing a trip to Quetico. (We're the two on the right.)

Some people will post the opposite opinion, but I'd leave the fly rods and drift socks at home.

To hold your spot while fishing, bring two nylon basketball nets per canoe and tie the bottom shut. When you get to your destination lake, find a good rock (or a couple smaller rocks) and place them inside the basketball net. Take your anchor rope and thread it through the top loops and tie it off securely. You could also use a carabiner, but I just thread the rope through. Just like that, the perfect two anchor system for your canoe.

Good luck with your planning. Keep firing away on the questions. There are lots of Quetico paddlers and anglers on this board.

AmarilloJim: "I would pick mid June over early June for SMB. The walleyes will be finished spawning by June. LT will be somewhat shallow as well that time of year. I usually just troll a DDHJ10 100' back which gets me 10' down that time of year for LT. Have you considered Jean?"

I figured the walleye spawn would be done or nearly done, but the walleyes would still be holding in relatively shallow water, right??? (or would they already be deep again???)

Have not considered Jean, but all thoughts/recommendations are greatly appreciated. Please tell me more. :)

Jackfish: "Ha! I got a chuckle out of Bobber commenting on your long-winded post (which it was, btw LOL) and then getting the dreaded double-post himself. Karma...


Some people will post the opposite opinion, but I'd leave the fly rods and drift socks at home..."

How'd that happen?? Do I win something??
Great Picture!
Agree.

BreauxDaddy: "

AmarilloJim: "I would pick mid June over early June for SMB. The walleyes will be finished spawning by June. LT will be somewhat shallow as well that time of year. I usually just troll a DDHJ10 100' back which gets me 10' down that time of year for LT. Have you considered Jean?"

I figured the walleye spawn would be done or nearly done, but the walleyes would still be holding in relatively shallow water, right??? (or would they already be deep again???)

Have not considered Jean, but all thoughts/recommendations are greatly appreciated. Please tell me more. :) "

I would think 10' or less unless it's a late spawn, cold weather and you catch post-spawn just right. Then I would expand my search to 30'. Dawn and dusk are prime time.

Cirrus, Quetico and Jean are all good slam lakes and don't require much portaging.