Hey All,

Even though I'm still two months out, I'm starting to get my tackle together for my first ever BW trip the first week in August. I've done most of my fishing in the Northeast, and mostly in upstate NY where I live. I know what works here, but I know some of it won't translate to the Boundary Waters.

I've done a bit of research, but thought I'd put my list out there and hopefully get some advice from some experienced BW fisherman. I'll be fishing primarily for walleyes and smallmouth bass and wouldn't mind maybe once hooking into one of those legendary BW 40" pike.

Here's what I have so far:

-20 Jigheads and 3 and 4" soft plastic grubs. From what I've read, white and pink are the best colors, so that's mostly what I got, although I'll mix in a few Green Pumpkin and black ones, which work well for smallmouth here in NY.

-8 Zoom Green Pumpkin drop worms. They were the only thing I could find that looked alot like leeches, which is what everyone says to fish with in BW. I won't be carrying live bait, so if anyone knows of a good artificial leech lure, I'd love to hear about it.

-4 Spinners, Rooster Tails and Mepps. White and white/green white/yellow combos.

-3 double jointed Rapala minnows, size j-7 and j-9. Silver and black is deadly here, but I've also got firetiger and perch, if anyone thinks those colors will work better.

-2 Rapala Countdown minnows. I've had success on Oneida Lake in NY with these for walleye, again in silver and black.

-1 Husky Jerk Rapala, 5", blue and silver, for trolling.

-4 Topwater baits- Hula Popper, Jitterbug, Rattlin' Chug Bug, and Rapala minnow popper.

-3 spoons- a 3/4 ounce Daredevil, and 2 3/8 ounce Krocodiles, one gold and one silver.

-4 Bucktail jigs. I never see them mentioned much as a BW bait, but here in the NE they work great for walleye and smallies. Purple/black is best, but I've also got white, white/pink, chartruese, brown/orange and straight black.

That's it. I'll add and subtract as I get more information. Thanks to all who offer advice.

Riggin leech

Liquid leech

Here are a couple good leech imitation plastics.

Those all seem fine.

Since you're going out late summer, there will be weeds in the shallows if the bottom allows for it. In your topwater section I'd add a buzzbait or two. Good topwater lure for mornings and evenings especially or when it's semi calm up shallow and can get over weeds too. Also a spinnerbait or two for those same areas but when it's choppy or you want the lure in or near the weeds but not hanging up all the time. (or wood) It doesn't look like your current list will deal with weeds well, so having something that will is always nice when you find yourself and the fish in those spots.

I'd add some deeper diving crankbaits for trolling. I like Rapala Tail Dancers, etc.

I like the blue/orange husky jerk, that's a good one. But you gotta take at least one fire tiger husky jerk as well.

Wables: "I'd add some deeper diving crankbaits for trolling. I like Rapala Tail Dancers, etc."

+1 on the deeper diving crankbaits , and i've never used the snap weights but many talk about them for running rapalas-spoons deeper.

Definitely add a few junk spinners to throw. I nailed a huge large mouth on a 1/4oz panther martin, of all things. I'm your neighbor in the south, down in PA. I will definitely say that the things I expected to work for walleye did not translate well out there. I had best luck with green/white/ yellow. Alot of people say purple, but I never got a bite on a single purple lure I threw out there. I had a ton of luck on a #7 jointed rapala, gold and black. I'm taking a J11 this year because although I nailed the bass on the #7, I feel like maybe bigger lure=bigger bass. Good luck!

This might get more life in the fishing forum.

Looks good and I will suggest you add a few things. Heddon super spook, whopper Plopper, heddon lucky 13, rebel PopR. And the most important one to bring a leech, hook, split shot, bobber stop and a slip bobber. You can limit out in walleye with slip bobber rig.