BWCA Grand Slam Lakes in Q and BWCA Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
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PineKnot
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04/08/2021 01:14PM  
Ok. This topic is for you serious canoe country anglers. My initial goal many years ago was to achieve the Grand Slam on a given trip by landing at least one each of walleye, pike, smallmouth, and lake trout. I could count it as a Grand Slam + if I also landed a largemouth.

The last few years, my goal has changed to be able to get the Grand Slam on a single lake during the trip. I was surprised that I was able to do this, sometimes because I knew the lake, sometimes by complete luck.

The first time I hit the grand slam on a single lake was Kahshahpiwi. I was heading south along the western shoreline trolling a glass perch deep husky jerk within 90 minutes landed all four species. I was planning to exit Kahs to get to North Bay. This was a calm crazy way to exit the lake and almost caused me to reverse direction and stay on Kahs another night or two...

Normally, my 2-week trips include targeting a couple lakes for 1-3 nights each to fish. I'll post the list of my Grand Slam lakes a bit later, but wanted to see what others have experienced....most of the lakes on my list are in the Quetico, with a couple in the BWCA....most are larger lakes, but not all of them.....

So, what are your Grand Slam lakes?

 
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04/08/2021 05:19PM  
Well, the big ones are obvious. Knife, Basswood, Lac La Croix, Saganaga, Seagull.

But have I actually hit a grand slam? Yes, on the same trip, with SMB/walleye/pike on LLC and a laker on Oyster. But not all on a single lake yet. I'll be quite stoked when that day comes!
 
pastorjsackett
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04/09/2021 05:41AM  
My son took all four species on Knife a few years ago. All great sized specimens too. It was fun to watch.
 
papalambeau
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04/09/2021 01:36PM  
Grand slam on Ogish about 15 years ago. Haven't found it on just one lake since but have caught the slam on multiple lakes almost every year.
 
04/09/2021 02:14PM  
SAK , a grand slam on a given day very doable.
seagull another good fishery for a grand slam.
 
04/09/2021 06:59PM  
I think I’ve only done it on the same lake once. That was North Bay and it happened in one day and it included a largemouth. I’ve caught the slam on Sunday Lake but it was over two different trips. That probably doesn’t count but the species are all in there.
 
tarnkt
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04/09/2021 10:42PM  
My only career slam came on the south arm of knife lake.

I haven’t targeted Lakers in several years. The work hasn’t been worth the reward for me. That probably means I’m not doing it right.
 
Basspro69
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04/10/2021 11:13AM  
Sak , Jean
 
04/11/2021 01:43PM  
Poohbah .. quetico
 
mike2019
member (42)member
  
04/12/2021 07:31AM  
Last year the first 4 fish I caught on Ogish was "the grand slam". I thought that was pretty memorable, all were of eatable size...and I did. Found out Pike was my favorite.
 
elpirkl
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04/12/2021 12:43PM  
Poohbah. Grand Slam same lake, same day. It was going great until I got a treble stuck deep into my thumb.
 
PineKnot
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04/14/2021 09:24AM  
I really hope the border opens soon so you can use my experience on these Grand Slam Lakes and might consider paddling into them for a night or three.

I don't consider myself to be a great fisherman....I've learned things through trial and error as a kid through adulthood. The best thing I purchased that helped my pursuit of the slam was getting a depth finder about 10 years ago. I find smallies and pike easy to find and catch, whereas walleye and lake trout are much harder. I used to joking tell friends that I target the other species and catch walleye by accident, but I’m getting better at actually learning how to catch walleye. Most lakes where I’ve caught three species, I‘m missing either a walleye or a laker. I hope you don’t yell at me for divulging these lakes....I’m pretty sure fish species for a given lake can be found on the MnDNR and Ontario Fish On-Line sites.

Here’s the lakes I’ve actually caught the grand slam on during a trip...most are in a single day, some over 2 days….

Kahshahpiwi
Pickerel
Quetico
Basswood (Quetico)
Jean
Antoine
Walter
Yum Yum
Poohbah
Lac La Croix (BWCA)
Seagull

Quetico lakes I’ve come close (missing either a walleye or laker) and hope to visit again….

Beaverhouse
Cirrus
Draper
Elk
Burt
Robinson
Delahey
Brent
 
MarshallPrime
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04/15/2021 12:51PM  
I have completed it 4 times. Twice in the Falls chain and twice from Sag to Knife and back.
1 out of the 4 was the same day split between 2 lakes. The other 3 were over the 5or6 night trip.

I have gotten the Grand Slam plus on most of these trips with the largemouth. Last year I got the GS+++ with perch and bluegill. I've never got a white fish or crappie up there. Last year also caught a large snapping turtle (with net then held by the tail for some fun pictures) that wouldn't leave our pike dinner alone.

Good times.
Cant wait for June 2nd.
 
04/16/2021 08:34AM  
I haven't completed the "slam" as I would have needed a lake trout on pretty much any trip.

Shocked to see that no one has mentioned Snowbank Lake. I guess to many are busy paddling to make lakes further inside the BWCA.
 
MarshallPrime
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04/16/2021 09:00AM  
I didn't get the grand slam my 1st 8 or so trips because I had no idea how to catch lakers and didn't want to spend the time trolling around when I could catch many bass during that time "wasting" it looking for lakers but then eventually I started a little here and there and that experience has helped.
 
PineKnot
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04/16/2021 11:44AM  
MarshallPrime: "I didn't get the grand slam my 1st 8 or so trips because I had no idea how to catch lakers and didn't want to spend the time trolling around when I could catch many bass during that time "wasting" it looking for lakers but then eventually I started a little here and there and that experience has helped."


+1 Kinda mirrors my evolution too....although I learned laker fishing earlier than walleye fishing....trying to catch trophy smallies is still where I spend the majority of my fishing time....
 
Frankie_Paull
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04/17/2021 03:31PM  
First one that came to me was Carp.
 
04/17/2021 04:23PM  
I think I was only one who didn't do it a few years ago in my group of 4 on SAK.

If you could only use one lure to try for the Grand Slam, what would it be??

Myself - 1/4 or 3/8oz jig with 3 or 4"" twister tail. chartreuse or white. obviously this would be in the Spring with the lakers shallow.
 
PineKnot
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04/18/2021 10:29AM  
WhiteWolf: "....If you could only use one lure to try for the Grand Slam, what would it be??..."


For me it's a Flicker Minnow, Blue Alewife, either a TD-9 or TD-11. These run 18-23 ft, but can run down around 10 feet by trolling with less line out and/or a bit slower....
 
Stumpy
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04/20/2021 11:31PM  
Burt Lake in Quetico, is good. Got the Grand Slam there in about 2 hours.

About 35 years ago I took two buddies on a trip (3 in one canoe), they got many casts in, to my few, as I was in the stern, and trying to get them fish.
On the trip I caught 6 fish, all nice sized.
1 Pike (12 pounds)
1 walleye
1 Lake Trout
1 Small mouth
1 Largemouth
1 Rock Bass

crazy
 
Frankie_Paull
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04/24/2021 10:51AM  
Great pick.
Stumpy: "Burt Lake in Quetico, is good. Got the Grand Slam there in about 2 hours.

About 35 years ago I took two buddies on a trip (3 in one canoe), they got many casts in, to my few, as I was in the stern, and trying to get them fish.
On the trip I caught 6 fish, all nice sized.
1 Pike (12 pounds)
1 walleye
1 Lake Trout
1 Small mouth
1 Largemouth
1 Rock Bass


crazy
"
 
04/24/2021 02:08PM  
A few lakes I didn’t see mentioned.

Thomas, Fraser, Ima in the BWCAW

Q: McIntrye, Darky, Ted, Sarah, Agnes, Burke, Sunday

T
 
Canoe Dude
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04/27/2021 07:02AM  
I Don't think SMB or LMB have made their way into Thomas, Fraser and Ima yet. Thomas has a survey from 2012, the other two are older. I haven't caught any bass there or seen anyone catch any. There are Rock Bass in there though if you count that.
 
PineKnot
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04/27/2021 09:03PM  
I'll be spending several days in Thomas/Fraser in early June....will report back what I find.

If I can't catch smallies in either lake, I'll be really surprised....that or it's time to find a different hobby....
 
04/28/2021 08:10AM  
Canoe Dude: "I Don't think SMB or LMB have made their way into Thomas, Fraser and Ima yet. Thomas has a survey from 2012, the other two are older. I haven't caught any bass there or seen anyone catch any. There are Rock Bass in there though if you count that."


Ahhh I wish that was true...not a fan of smallies invading those lakes. Bass most of the time don’t show up on fish surveys. Look at Insula...people have been catching bass there since at least the 70’s and have never showed on a survey. They aren’t in big numbers on those lakes yet... the narrows into Ima/Thomas, outlet to Hatchet are spots to try.

T
 
passthepitonspete
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05/02/2021 11:18AM  
Hahaha! It only counts if one person catches all four species in a single lake on a SINGLE day! Fishing in Quetico is too easy not to catch all four species eventually!

Debbie and I tried for the Grand Slam this past summer, but never quite succeeded. We will definitely be trying again this year, and I'll bet we get a few.

From the north:

Pickerel - an outstanding lake with all four species. Incredibly easy to reach, and never really busy because it is so big. You could happily spend an entire week fishing on Pickerel Lake and never be bored.

Antoine - great lake

Ram - a great little lake

McDougall - are there walleyes there? I'm going to find out.

We will be returning from Kawnipi and Agnes through Kahshapiwi. I am particularly interested in passing through the super remote lakes Reid, Woodside, Hurlburt and Trant. Who ever goes there?
 
Stumpy
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05/03/2021 03:13AM  
passthepitonspete: " I am particularly interested in passing through the super remote lakes Reid, Woodside, Hurlburt and Trant. Who ever goes there? "


Been to all... Lips are sealed
 
missmolly
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05/03/2021 03:35AM  
Pete, given that it's close to impossible to not catch a pike everyday, the Grand Slam is really only three fish. If a lake has smallmouth, you'll catch one of those too, so the Grand Slam is really only two fish. If a lake has running water, you'll catch a walleye too, so the Grand Slam is really only one fish.
 
05/07/2021 07:27AM  
passthepitonspete: "


We will be returning from Kawnipi and Agnes through Kahshapiwi. I am particularly interested in passing through the super remote lakes Reid, Woodside, Hurlburt and Trant. Who ever goes there? "


Fun lakes to go through. Didn’t fish them hard, but Worth fishing though. Camped on Trant and Woodside. Didn’t even fish Trant.

T
 
WIMike
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05/07/2021 05:23PM  
passthepitonspete: "Hahaha! It only counts if one person catches all four species in a single lake on a SINGLE day! "


Traditionally, a saltwater grand slam is 3 different species in a 24 hour period. There are inshore, nearshore, offshore and probably several other "slams". And the species can vary depending on locale.

I don't think I've ever seen a description of a freshwater slam. Seems that a slam can be whatever a person wants it to be but, for me, I agree the slam should be completed in a single day (meaning a calendar day). Makes it more challenging.
 
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