I'm taking some new folks up late May and our 1st night will be on Gabimichigami. It'll be my first time on Gabi so the best information I have right now is from Lake Finder. Normally, I like to get new folks on the SMB for all the reasons I don't need to mention to you. That said, Lake Finder doesn't list SMB as a species on Gabi nor does it list Walleye.

Long story made short, our dinner on Gabi is not reliant on us catching fish but I want the new guys boating some BW fish.

The species (listed for Gabi) I have the patience for and know how to target are pike and lakers. The obvious answer is to target pike for all the reasons I don't need to mention to you.

It's going to be a game-time decision on going after lakers and, if anyone has any suggestions on fishing for lakers on Gabi, I'm all ears (public post or side email).

That said, Perch is also listed as a species that lives in Gabi and is the species I've never put any effort into (nor caught in the BW). Anyone target perch or accidentally caught them? Can it be done w/ artificial bait or leeches?

Like, on any level (e.g. bw rookie), does it make sense to target perch?

If circumstances don't cooperate and Gabi becomes an unrealistic 1st night target, Gillis would be the backup plan for the 1st night. Very much open to input on Gillis as well for all of the same goals listed above for Gabi.

Make sure you check the LakeFinder surveys when looking at a lake's fish potential. The last survey on Gabi was in 2015 and it looks like they only caught 5 perch, none bigger than 7 inches. You might have trouble finding them and even if you do, I don't think the size potential is worth the effort. I've only ever ice fished for perch, but they like small worms, small spoons, little lipless cranks... scent is likely the ticket to getting them to bite in really clear water. I'd spend your time hunting lakers and falling back to shallow pike if lakers can't be located. It looks to be the same story with Gillis. Hardly any perch surveyed in 2017 and all of them between 6-7 inches. I'd spend time looking for lakers here as well.

Late May, barring a crazy heat wave, should have them willing to come up quite shallow. You should be able to cast paddletail swimbaits, lipless cranks, and spoons parallel to dropoffs and get a couple bites. I caught a laker from shore on Kekekabic in early June 2018 with a lipless crankbait, just bombing it out and rip jigging it back. Besides casting parallel to dropoffs, you'll want to fish wind-blown points (fish should be on the leeward side waiting for bait to get pushed to them), and vertically jig deep flats right near a dropoff (40-80ft) as well as deep water near cliffs. That's about the extent of my laker location knowledge in the spring. I'm still trying to learn their behavior as well.

Perch are generally not worth targeting in the BWCA. Of course, there are exceptions, and a few lakes have keeper-sized perch. But, just a few. In most lakes they are forage fish and seldom are big enough to interest anglers.
Commit to lake trout and you'll get bit.

jdoutdoors: "Make sure you check the LakeFinder surveys when looking at a lake's fish potential. The last survey on Gabi was in 2015 and it looks like they only caught 5 perch, none bigger than 7 inches. You might have trouble finding them and even if you do, I don't think the size potential is worth the effort. I've only ever ice fished for perch, but they like small worms, small spoons, little lipless cranks... scent is likely the ticket to getting them to bite in really clear water. I'd spend your time hunting lakers and falling back to shallow pike if lakers can't be located. It looks to be the same story with Gillis. Hardly any perch surveyed in 2017 and all of them between 6-7 inches. I'd spend time looking for lakers here as well.

Late May, barring a crazy heat wave, should have them willing to come up quite shallow. You should be able to cast paddletail swimbaits, lipless cranks, and spoons parallel to dropoffs and get a couple bites. I caught a laker from shore on Kekekabic in early June 2018 with a lipless crankbait, just bombing it out and rip jigging it back. Besides casting parallel to dropoffs, you'll want to fish wind-blown points (fish should be on the leeward side waiting for bait to get pushed to them), and vertically jig deep flats right near a dropoff (40-80ft) as well as deep water near cliffs. That's about the extent of my laker location knowledge in the spring. I'm still trying to learn their behavior as well."

Appreciate the input and you're absolutely right...I'm not driving from Illinois to hunt 7" fish.

lundojam: "Perch are generally not worth targeting in the BWCA. Of course, there are exceptions, and a few lakes have keeper-sized perch. But, just a few. In most lakes they are forage fish and seldom are big enough to interest anglers.
Commit to lake trout and you'll get bit."

Well said...the plan if finalized.

doubledown,

I don't have any useful advice, just wanted to say good luck with the perch. Even small perch have always had a special place in my heart (for whatever reason).

I would benefit from a sub-thread on perch cooking methods. I could always YouTube...

I'm not sure the following would apply in deep lakes you fish but here goes:

1. First of all there is NO such thing as targeting a particular panfish species and in fact all species attack small lures - those small in length and diameter. Many types of lures catch not only perch but bass, pickerel, catfish and any other panfish species.

2. Panfish of all kinds go after small soft plastics rigged on light jig heads, 1/24 - 1/16oz.

3. Making long casts to cover more water with slower retrieves has allows me to find fish in various locations, and for that reason I use small diameter braid and light action rods. The combo allows good long-distance strike detection and good hook sets.
4.But my basic set up is a ball head jig with soft plastic lures - again, in MANY shapes, sizes and colors.


other fish taken on the same:

(4lb white sucker above)

When it comes to trout, none of the waters I fish are stocked with them. But if I can catch catfish and pickerel on the above, trout would bite them if any of the above lures got close enough. The main problem using light lures is in water over 30' where strike sensitivity may be reduced. I've caught fish using light soft plastics in water as shallow as 2' and in water over 20', retrieving lure parallel to bottom as different depths but usually mid-depth.

If only targeting larger fish of a species, I would only use larger lures, though at times smaller fish ignore size:

Fishing Lake Gabi, MN - lake-link.com

Gabi and most of the lakes in the immediate surrounding area don't seem to have smallies. Gillis seems to be no different than Gabi regarding species.

The closest major lake one I could find with smallies listed was, Ogishkemuncie.

If your goal is fishing, especially on the first night, and you want Smallies/walleye - Seagull, Alpin and Jesper... if you're willing to re-route your trip planning.

For a fish dinner - I'd be completely content noshing on a laker or a pike.