BWCA Lake species in MN DNR? Boundary Waters Fishing Forum
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01/01/2022 09:26AM  
I think we have narrowed our trip for late June to the following route/lakes: Saganaga, Swamp, Ottertrack, Gijikiki, Rivalry, Lake of the Clouds, Lunar, Cherry, Topaz, Amoeber, Knife, SAK, Eddy, Jenny, Ogish, Kingfisher, Jasper, Alpine, and Sea Gull. How accurate is the species information on the Minnesota DNR? (We don't want to be fishing for species that are not in the lake.) Any other lake or specific recommendations are greatly welcomed :). Thanks, God's blessings, and Happy New Year!!
 
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GunflintTrailAngler
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01/01/2022 11:10AM  
If the data is fairly recent, it’s spot on accurate. However, a lot of BWCA lake surveys are from the 70’s and 80’s. In which case, who knows what’s in the lake now. Use shad raps and #4 mepps, they’ll catch everything!
 
Basspro69
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01/01/2022 04:37PM  
FindHim: "I think we have narrowed our trip for late June to the following route/lakes: Saganaga, Swamp, Ottertrack, Gijikiki, Rivalry, Lake of the Clouds, Lunar, Cherry, Topaz, Amoeber, Knife, SAK, Eddy, Jenny, Ogish, Kingfisher, Jasper, Alpine, and Sea Gull. How accurate is the species information on the Minnesota DNR? (We don't want to be fishing for species that are not in the lake.) Any other lake or specific recommendations are greatly welcomed :). Thanks, God's blessings, and Happy New Year!!"
Glad you narrowed it down to a quarter of the Bwca . Like G T A said if the report is fairly recent it should be accurate. Some lakes have had Smallmouth become the dominant species over the years however.
 
thegildedgopher
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01/01/2022 07:42PM  
I'll just say -- don't just look at the "Fish Species" on the main page for a lake. Take Hungry Jack Lake for example. On the main DNR page under fish species they list: black crappie, bluegill, coho salmon, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, lake trout, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, splake, walleye, yellow perch, white sucker, central mudminnow, golden shiner, Johnny darter, rainbow smelt, sculpin.

But if you click on the "Fisheries Lake Survey" link you'll get a report basically every 4 years dating back a while, and you'll get a much more accurate summary of what's in the lake right now. Hint: probably not trout but LOTS of smallmouth bass.
 
01/10/2022 07:46PM  
GunflintTrailAngler: "If the data is fairly recent, it’s spot on accurate. However, a lot of BWCA lake surveys are from the 70’s and 80’s. In which case, who knows what’s in the lake now. Use shad raps and #4 mepps, they’ll catch everything!"


Agreed. Shad raps do great in the BWCA.
 
01/10/2022 09:23PM  
I am no authority on this topic, but will mention that I caught a decent northern pike on Kekekabic about 10 years back just off the island campsite, and the past three surveys (once since I caught it) did not show any northern pike in there.
 
01/10/2022 09:53PM  
Jaywalker: "I am no authority on this topic, but will mention that I caught a decent northern pike on Kekekabic about 10 years back just off the island campsite, and the past three surveys (once since I caught it) did not show any northern pike in there.
"


Reports like this get my hopes up in some cases. I can't find any reports of whether Little Saganaga has bass, but it's in an area with bass... just not sure how they would have gotten there. I'd love to hear someone say they've personally caught bass there! The shoreline structure looks heavenly for such a rock-loving fish.
 
01/12/2022 07:24PM  
I hopesmallmouth bass have not spread into the Little sag or gabi area. Quality lake trout area-lets hope smallmouth don't mess it up.
The BWCA got smallmouth about everywhere. Little Sag would not be aplace I would go for smallmouth.

Also most lakes have a few northern pike even if lake surveys don't show it. High northern pike population also would mean less lake trout.
 
01/12/2022 07:56PM  
Pinetree: "I hopesmallmouth bass have not spread into the Little sag or gabi area. Quality lake trout area-lets hope smallmouth don't mess it up.
The BWCA got smallmouth about everywhere. Little Sag would not be aplace I would go for smallmouth.


Also most lakes have a few northern pike even if lake surveys don't show it. High northern pike population also would mean less lake trout."


I hear you - better that lakers have less competition there. From my reading it seems it's mostly numbers instead of size there. I really want to do a trip through Adams but have laker opportunities (likely via Lil Sag or Thomas), and know that if the lakers aren't cooperating, I have other species to target (besides pike). I love me some topwater bass fishing, but ideally we would have smashed them on Adams and be more willing to put in the time to target lakers even if they are being difficult. Still, I like options.
 
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