We're planning our first trip to the BWCA for late August - would've preferred July, but one in our group will be at training with Army Reserves so we're stuck with August - and we are planning to basecamp on Knife Lake (boat ride through Moose to start) and fishing hard.

We will be aiming for mostly Smallmouth and Pike, but will probably spend some time on Walleye and Lakers too. I plan on fly fishing as much as I can, but will bring conventional tackle and the rest of my group will use conventional tackle too.

What should we plan to look for as a first-timer fishing in late August? Is a portable fish finder worth lugging around? What kind of patterns are smallmouth and pike in at that time of the year?

Pike will be off the first break line cruising. SMB will be a good dawn and dusk topwater bite. LT and eyes will be deeper and a sonar will help for them.

Thanks for the response! I was assuming that smallmouth would still be on the top early and late, so that confirmation is great. What do you mean by the first break?

NickWill: "Thanks for the response! I was assuming that smallmouth would still be on the top early and late, so that confirmation is great. What do you mean by the first break? "

Rocky shelf or weed line

For a first trip, plan to use conventional tackle as much as possible... to the point of bring your fly rod on another trip. There will be enough other time consumers and issues on a maiden voyage. Good Luck!

bobbernumber3: "For a first trip, plan to use conventional tackle as much as possible... to the point of bring your fly rod on another trip. There will be enough other time consumers and issues on a maiden voyage. Good Luck!"

I can understand the reasoning for that tip, and I will bring conventional tackle along with too many lures, but the fly rod will still be my main goal. I only fish conventional tackle a few times a year, so the fly rod is where my skill and preference lie.

AmarilloJim: "Rocky shelf or weed line"

Thanks for the clarification. Are the lakes in that area clear enough to see those breaks? Or would it be wise to plan on investing in some kind of depth finder to track those?

Knife is very clear

NickWill: ".....I only fish conventional tackle a few times a year, so the fly rod is where my skill and preference lie."

Do post a trip report or follow up to this thread after your trip. I would like to hear your review of fly fishing vs. conventional tackle in the BWCA.

Weeds are key in late summer, as they keep the water cool. Troll a big tailancer over deep water for lake trout. Walleyes will be low light only (probably.)
Big leech patterns and poppers for smallmouths on the fly in low light conditions.
I was with a guy who used a sinking line to catch a lake trout on a fly rod in August. Wasn't easy, but he did it.

Find a topo map of knife. Locate all the sunken islands close to where you are camping.this time of year if you want to catch you need to be on these reefs and most importantly be able to hold the canoe on or around them. An anchor bag is a must have item most guys use a basketball net securing the bottom and then connecting that to about 30ft of rope. Also you should seriously consider either bringing or renting a depth finder most of the fish you will be catching will be in 15-30 feet.

Navionics map of Knife Lake

We did SAK early last September. The rapala Moon Eye Jig and Sleek Jig 3/8 oz and 1/2 oz with Fat Albert chartreuse Pearl or white Twisty tail were Pike killers. SMB were very slow and small. If Canada is still closed the portages from Birch to Knife will be a freeway with men running with canoes to claim a campsite while others in their party lag behind portaging the gear. Plan on 5 to 7 hours depending on your final destination and gear load.

I’ve caught many small mouth and pike using a Tail Dancer while trout fishing. Another option if you’re not catching anything using other techniques.