Many of you BWCA fishing forum gurus have undoubtedly achieved high levels of success fishing the BWCA and/or Quetico.

My question to all you fishing lovers is this: how does the BWCA/Quetico rank in terms of fishing compared to other lakes, streams, rivers, etc. that you've fished throughout your life? Not looking for secret spots. For me, I've got a few other "go-to" spots that definitely top the BWCA/Quetico in terms of action. However, I've caught the biggest northern, walleye, and lake trout of my life all in the BWCA/Quetico.

I just view it as different. Hard to compare fishing out of my Lund with all it's bells and whistles to fishing solo out of a canoe. I find myself trolling a lot more out of a canoe.

It's all together different for me. While I do enjoy catching quality fish and numbers, I enjoy where I am just as much or maybe more. Fishing my local streams is nice and we do get into the fish but the "where" I am is all the difference. A poor day of fishing in BW is better than a good day in my local streams. Just my opinion

We do much better on walleye in the Mississippi River all year long. We fish in the Bwca primarily for lake trout since we have no other opportunities for that species near our home.

I love fishing anywhere I can but there is just something to wilderness sports fishing that few places can offer other than the BWCA/ Quetico. Actually, I have not made it to the Quetico yet so can not speak to there but I want to go when we are able to in the future.

I like many others feel ambiance, scenery, seclusion, and how much you work for the fish to be such a reward and the fish in turn that much more rewarding to catch. I feel this is the allure for mountain fly fishing (I have not done this but seeing picture of the scenery feel comfortable making the comparison). I can catch a 30" walleye out of the Fox River or bay of Green Bay in the Spring playing bumper boats or shoulder to shoulder fishing from shore easily enough. However, I would chose a 30" BWCA walleye 100x over.

I do not own a fishing boat yet so am relegated to fishing out of my kayak which allows me to reach some remote locations and get away from people which I enjoy. Once I own a boat and can get out on the great lakes to chase trophy Smallmouth and Walleye I may feel differently about my #1 location to fish but as of now it would have to be the BWCA taking the cake as my # 1 fishing destination. It will always hold a special place in my life for fishing and tripping.

The closest thing I can get to the BWCA as far as the wilderness and in touch with the wild/ nature is a Northern Wisconsin river I fish for Smallmouth. I do a section that contains some awesome whitewater kayaking with great Smallmouth fishing to boot. Adrenaline pumping rapids and heart pounding topwater Smallmouth action gets close the the BWCA standard. There is also a river I fished in my childhood that brings out strong nostalgia and memories that would be at the top of my list as well.

thegildedgopher: "We do much better on walleye in the Mississippi River all year long. We fish in the Bwca primarily for lake trout since we have no other opportunities for that species near our home."

One and only Laker I've ever caught was on my sole trip to the Quetico. Biggest walleye I've ever seen in person (and by a loooong shot) was caught outta the Mississippi.

Ten years ago my brother in law and I had a conversation: our kids were growing up fast and we wanted to do something special we could always share together. So in 2012 we started taking an annual trip to the BWCA (and we have branched out to the Q). Our kids were younger and the first trip was hard but we kept at it, wanting to learn, grow relationships and FISH.

I love the wilderness experience, solitude and effort that goes into a trip.

Last month I was fishing with my godson and we were laughing about all the fun we've had out on the BWCA when he turned to me in the boat and said "Jeff that's your legacy."

That just about sums up why fishing up there has meant so much to us.



Here's my son, now 24 and a nurse, on Crooked Lake last June.

I do not count myself a particularly skilled walleye fisher, and I have to work to get them in the BWCA. This September in Wabakimi PP I came across multiple spots where I was hooking a walleye or sometimes a northern pike pretty much every other cast. These were more eaters than trophies, but I’ve never seen it like this in the BWCA. And that was with no live bait and no fish finder. I’ve seen videos and heard reports of Woodland Caribou PP also producing like this.

Jaywalker: "I do not count myself a particularly skilled walleye fisher, and I have to work to get them in the BWCA. This September in Wabakimi PP I came across multiple spots where I was hooking a walleye or sometimes a northern pike pretty much every other cast. These were more eaters than trophies, but I’ve never seen it like this in the BWCA. And that was with no live bait and no fish finder. I’ve seen videos and heard reports of Woodland Caribou PP also producing like this. "

I've had this happen in certain spots (including the BWCA) a handful of times. Only once, ever, with walleye. It happened in the BWCA and it was an hour before sunset. I was out trolling solo in the canoe. I was fishing a shallow-diving purple Rapala. They loved it and I successfully landed about 10-12 eater-sized walleye in a matter of an hour or so. What a blast that evening was. Honestly, that probably matches the number of walleye I've caught on all my other BWCA/Q trips combined.

Fishing in central Ontario is my milepost. It doesn’t get much better than there. Second place for me would be the BWCA. We fish lakes that you can get a hundred fish days. It’s taken me many years to dial in my skills and lakes. Some lakes up there in the BWCA you can catch and release walleye all day long, then after supper just sit by the shoreline and limit out on walleye again. The BWCA doesn’t have the quality size as Ontario but it sure holds numbers for eater size walleye. My personal best Largemouth Bass was caught last year right in front of my house, 21 1/2” 6 pound Largemouth! I’ve also had fast action with smallmouth bass on the upper Mississippi by my house in my fishing kayak. Lesson is you don’t need to go far away to catch quality fish, just learn your area or learn a few BWCA lakes.

I would say the surroundings is what makes the Boundary Waters and the Quetico fishing better than the rest. However I have caught by four more smallmouth bass in the BWCA than anywhere else. I also had one magical evening and are not so hard to get to place for me and my father-in-law or catching eater-size walleye every cast for about an hour. I will never forget that as long as I live.

Where I grew up in Arkansas we used to catch sand bass that way sometimes, believe it or not, 2 at a time they were so hungry.

Then there are other times in the boundary waters and in another places action is not that intense but persistence and determination has helped me and those who fish with me limit out (and some sometime not) and have a wonderful day together with friends and family.

Lastly lakes change and some of my favorite fishing spots don’t do as much now and I have to find new ones. But if I can be completely honest fishing is a secondary objective. Just being in the great outdoors is my favorite thing in this whole wide world. So whatever it takes to get outside I’m all in.

Savage Voyageur: "Fishing in central Ontario is my milepost. It doesn’t get much better than there. Second place for me would be the BWCA. We fish lakes that you can get a hundred fish days. It’s taken me many years to dial in my skills and lakes. Some lakes up there in the BWCA you can catch and release walleye all day long, then after supper just sit by the shoreline and limit out on walleye again. The BWCA doesn’t have the quality size as Ontario but it sure holds numbers for eater size walleye. My personal best Largemouth Bass was caught last year right in front of my house, 21 1/2” 6 pound Largemouth! I’ve also had fast action with smallmouth bass on the upper Mississippi by my house in my fishing kayak. Lesson is you don’t need to go far away to catch quality fish, just learn your area or learn a few BWCA lakes. "

There is a wild creek in Northwest Illinois (I call it Carroll Creek but it's got a longer, tougher-to-pronounce official name) that is maybe 20 minutes away from where I grew up. This creek has unreal smallmouth action (even some big 'uns) and holds some largemouth, bluegill, and perch, too. So that definitely fits the claim that you mentioned of not needing to travel far from home. On top of the excellent fishing that this creek provides, you'll almost never see anyone else throughout the duration of your paddle. The creek is wild enough to deter many fellow kayakers.

This is such an individual thing. I've only been to the BWCA once. It's a lovely place but, in general, too may people-it was mid to late September...we portaged, somewhat successfully, to get away from the traffic. It was kinda fun catching 2-3 pound brook trout hand over fist but there was a lack of challenge to it as well. I prefer stalking truly wild brookies mano o mano on my favorite little stream in the UP.

The Northwest Bay Of Rainy, from my childhood memories, will always hold a very special place in my heart.

We've caught more fish, and larger fish from Shell Lake to Hayward. We've caught some nice fish in SE Wisconsin - and just starting to get into the harbor fishing for big brownies and steelhead (lots to learn here) in SE Wisconsin.

We're just getting started with our journeys to BWCA and Gunflint Trail - so lots to learn here, too. The fishing quality wasn't great on our first trip last summer, as the water was really warm by the second week of June. Hoping for something a bit better for the kiddos this June.

I will say: Just being out on the water — where the lakes aren't being churned up by tons of fishing boats, jet skis, nor surrounded by lake houses and docks, or dealing with the urban sprawl (in SE Wisconsin) — is so peaceful, quiet and refreshing. It's a whole different world up there....I could drift across these quiet lakes all day in BWCA. If I didn't catch a fish, it would be a great a day. :)

You can almost certainly find larger fish in more fertile or warmer waters outside the BW (especially with a boat full of electronics), at least I always have. That being said, because of the surroundings, the endless places to explore, the large number of extremely naive fish, and most importantly being forced to fish the old fashion/simple way, it is my favorite place to fish.

mgraber: "You can almost certainly find larger fish in more fertile or warmer waters outside the BW (especially with a boat full of electronics), at least I always have. That being said, because of the surroundings, the endless places to explore, the large number of extremely naive fish, and most importantly being forced to fish the old fashion/simple way, it is my favorite place to fish."

+1 on the electronics and precisely why I have opted to not purchase any for my June trip. I have never used them on my BW trips in the past so why start now. It would take away from my personal experience being fully immersed in the BW.

PeaceFrog: "

mgraber: "You can almost certainly find larger fish in more fertile or warmer waters outside the BW (especially with a boat full of electronics), at least I always have. That being said, because of the surroundings, the endless places to explore, the large number of extremely naive fish, and most importantly being forced to fish the old fashion/simple way, it is my favorite place to fish."

+1 on the electronics and precisely why I have opted to not purchase any for my June trip. I have never used them on my BW trips in the past so why start now. It would take away from my personal experience being fully immersed in the BW. "

+1

BW is definitely at the top of the fishing list for my crew. After 30 years of tripping it is tough to fish anywhere else. Don't get me wrong, we love to fish, hunt and camp but after fishing the BW other places pale in comparison.

We've caught our biggest fish, by species, all in the BW:
- Walleye - 32" in Cherry
- Smallmouth - 22" in Loon
- Northern - 40" in Hustler
- Lake Trout - nothing huge but quantity in Makwa
- Splake - Ogish

We have some great fishing spots in Wisconsin but nothing that compares to the wilderness setting in the BW. The other point that stands out is that we love fishing from canoes and it's tough to fish from a boat now. My back and hips need a stretch after about 3 hours of fishing but that's a small price to pay for the silence and serenity of fishing from a canoe.

papalambeau: " BW is definitely at the top of the fishing list for my crew. After 30 years of tripping it is tough to fish anywhere else. Don't get me wrong, we love to fish, hunt and camp but after fishing the BW other places pale in comparison.


We've caught our biggest fish, by species, all in the BW:
- Walleye - 32" in Cherry
- Smallmouth - 22" in Loon
- Northern - 40" in Hustler
- Lake Trout - nothing huge but quantity in Makwa
- Splake - Ogish


We have some great fishing spots in Wisconsin but nothing that compares to the wilderness setting in the BW. The other point that stands out is that we love fishing from canoes and it's tough to fish from a boat now. My back and hips need a stretch after about 3 hours of fishing but that's a small price to pay for the silence and serenity of fishing from a canoe."

Sight fishing from a canoe or kayak is unbeatable. Sneaking up on a big pike or smallmouth on a windless day, with some good polarized sunglasses and a fat, juicy nightcrawler... It's almost cheating, but working hard to put yourself in the position to do that negates that tiny bit of guilt.

100% Agree with DRob and papalambeau. I’m 100% canoe guy when fishing from a watercraft. Nothing beats it in my opinion. Well worth the need to stretch after a few hours.

I think fishing in the BW is just a part of the complete experience of being there, for me anyways.
And there is always the potential for both trophies and numbers of fish.
But my personal best for 4 species of fish all came from within the city limits of Minneapolis.
47" Muskie
38" Tiger Muskie
14.66 lb Northern
7.24 lb Largemouth.

Big ones can lurk just about anywhere.

Duff: "I think fishing in the BW is just a part of the complete experience of being there, for me anyways.
And there is always the potential for both trophies and numbers of fish.
But my personal best for 4 species of fish all came from within the city limits of Minneapolis.
47" Muskie
38" Tiger Muskie
14.66 lb Northern
7.24 lb Largemouth.


Big ones can lurk just about anywhere."

Nice Muskie x2 Duff. I've yet to land a Muskie. Hooked into a handful (I believe all of the Muskie I've hooked into have been on the Wisconsin River).

DRob1992: "Nice Muskie x2 Duff. "

Thanks DRob, I think I actually caught the same Muskie two years earlier from a canoe..............with the same color rubber worm.

Duff: "I think fishing in the BW is just a part of the complete experience of being there, for me anyways.
And there is always the potential for both trophies and numbers of fish.
But my personal best for 4 species of fish all came from within the city limits of Minneapolis.
47" Muskie
38" Tiger Muskie
14.66 lb Northern
7.24 lb Largemouth.


Big ones can lurk just about anywhere."

You are correct

If the question is; Is the fishing better in the BW/Q than elsewhere i've fished. I think the answer is it depends on the fish.

Walleye - no difference for me, I can catch them in the BW and out of just abut the same.
Bass - Same as walleye. This goes for size and quantity.
Northern - Same...although I think i catch bigger northern in the BW.
Brook Trout - Same
Lake trout - I've only fished a couple of lake trout lakes outside of the BW and have not had near the success as inside the BW, size or quantity.

I grew up in the cities fishing Minnetonka for largemouth and Waconia for walleye. Moved north and used to own a 18 foot crestliner, we fished Island, Vermillion and a number of other known good lakes. I sold it. I now almost entirely fish out of a canoe. I enjoy getting away from the crowds, if I see another car in the parking lot, i'll continue on to another lake. I enjoy the peace, the solitude, and closeness to the experiance that fishing from a canoe brings me. With that in mind, my outside of the BW fishing these days isn't much different than my BW fishing...only difference at the end of the day, I can head back to the cabin and have a beer or two.

As far as PB fish;
Walleye - Outside of the BW
Smallmouth - Outside
Largemouth - Outside
Northern - BW
Brook Trout - BW
Lake trout - BW

For me Quetico fishing is as good as it gets. Bwca: I've had better fishing at other places. But as far as smallmouth fishing, it's as good as it gets. I think it takes a better fisherman to fish out of a canoe, because you can't just run all over in a canoe and try different spots. You have to pick a couple areas you think the fish are because you can only travel about 3 or 4 mph.
Plus your canoe doesn't hold a ton of gear. It makes me feel superior to motor boat fisherman.
Best freshwater fish
Walleye - Lake Winnipeg
Northern - Basswood
Smallmouth - A lot of different lakes BWCAW
Perch - Waubay in S. Dakota
Crappie - Saugema in Iowa
Laketrout - Lake Michigan

Captn Tony: "For me Quetico fishing is as good as it gets. Bwca I've had better fishing at other places. As far as smallmouth fishing, it's as good as it gets. But i think it takes a better fisherman to fish out of a canoe, because you can't just run all over in a canoe and try different spots. You have to pick a couple areas you think the fish are because you can only move about 3 or 4 mph.
Plus your canoe doesn't hold a ton of gear. It makes me feel superior to motor boat fisherman.
Best freshwater fish
Walleye - Lake Winnipeg
Northern - Basswood
Smallmouth - A lot of different lakes BWCAW
Perch - Waubay in S. Dakota
Crappie - Saugema in Iowa
Laketrout - Lake Michigan
"

There is definitely a far different approach and energy involved in canoe/kayak fishing. It is far more challenging; making the reward all the sweeter when it comes.