Let's talk fishing on Knife Lake. What tips have ya got? Fishing locations? Favorite lures? We're definitely aiming for a grand slam, are there more Lakers on the north arm than south arm? We'll be up there the 1st of June, what do you think the water temp will be like? Where will the lakers be? Any recommendations for some big pike areas? Any info you feel like sharing would be helpful!

Thanks everyone.

gear guy , you're not getting much love on your post. For lakers, troll the gut as Knife Lake isn't very wide at any given point. Knife Lake has huge schools of ciscos and they follow them so don't be afraid to troll open water.

Get your lure down somewhat for walleyes. Rock piles - reefs - edges of islands. Smallies will probably be in those areas, too. For pike, try shallow first. You may get some trolling for lakers. Done many openers in the SAK. Email me for more info if you want.

Good luck on knife. I've fished Knife a few times. I didn't catch a lot of fish but the ones caught were worth talking about!

I don't count myself as qualified to help with a grand slam, but I've had fairly good success on Knife with lakers. My two faves are blue/silver Tail Dancer or blue/silver Little Cleo. These have worked best for me. Gold Husky Jerk and purple Deep Tail Dancer next. Two years ago I was up 10 days after ice out and was surprised they were not much in the shallows, but mostly in 30-50 for usually about 20-30 feet down. Most my fish came from deeper water upwind from shallow water and islands. Cant imagine you would find some trolling around, but you may have to get the lures deeper.

here you go, this an early june map I've made through the years I've been there many times.

mcsweem: "here you go, this an early june map I've made through the years I've been there many times. "

Wow incredible map!

adam: "

mcsweem: "here you go, this an early june map I've made through the years I've been there many times. "

Wow incredible map!"

I hope to some day make a contribution to this website as popular as Mcsweem’s world famous fishing map or Fishgut’s famous bear-chewed blue barrel. Speaking of bears, Gear Guy, Knife seems famous for them in some campsites. I have not personally had an issue, but have heard many stories so be very good about food storage.

I’ve never had a camp bear issue, but I’ve seen more bears in the Knife area than anywhere else. I worry about them enough that the food barrel comes with us on day trips.

Wables: "I’ve never had a camp bear issue, but I’ve seen more bears in the Knife area than anywhere else. I worry about them enough that the food barrel comes with us on day trips. "

I've only had 1 bear issue but it came on Knife, he had just gotten into a pack we had stored under a tarp when we got back to camp so the damage was minimal. The site was the one just across the channel to the north from the island with 3 sites. I also saw a bear while I was sitting in a bare spot created by a fire at the site to the north of this one.

It takes a day with no or little wind but we've had good luck catching lake trout trolling the large basin to the east of the big island. There will be schools of bait fish suspended out there and the trout will usually be just below them.

Just got back from Knife yesterday. I had never been before, also never fished Lakers but I consider myself a pretty good walleye fisherman. Of course, I ended up doing well on lakers and very poor with 'eyes. Keep in mind its a very deep, very clear lake with rock literally everywhere. I fished humps in some of the bays, off islands, points, and some breaks with hardly any luck in my 2.5 days. Spent two evenings where the south arm first opens up with a little luck and one night in the Robbins Island area w/o even a bite. I wish I planned a few more days to get deeper, way back towards the Eddy/Hanson lake area. Wish I could be more help! Good luck.

tbro16: "Just got back from Knife yesterday. I had never been before, also never fished Lakers but I consider myself a pretty good walleye fisherman. Of course, I ended up doing well on lakers and very poor with 'eyes. Keep in mind its a very deep, very clear lake with rock literally everywhere. I fished humps in some of the bays, off islands, points, and some breaks with hardly any luck in my 2.5 days. Spent two evenings where the south arm first opens up with a little luck and one night in the Robbins Island area w/o even a bite. I wish I planned a few more days to get deeper, way back towards the Eddy/Hanson lake area. Wish I could be more help! Good luck."

What were you throwing at em? Leeches?

I figured I add to this post as my family & I are planning a base camping trip to SAKL in the last week of June (we are open to other options though). The focus of the trip will be fishing for us: going after Walleye, SMB, & Pike in that order (not planning to target LT given the time of year). Most in our group will spend as much time as possible fishing: trolling, casting & jigging. It sounds as though the lake is very clear, which will certainly make targeting walleye a challenge (hence being open to other options). This area is a big question mark for us, as nobody in our group has fished this part of the BWCA. Current plan is to get a tow to American Point on Saganaga & work our way to SAKL. Any thoughts on the overall quality of SAKL as a fishery would be appreciated. Thanks!