A buddy and I will be in the BWCA for the first time September 24. Would love to catch some lake trout, walleye, smallies... heck, I'm excited to catch my first northern pike.

Any advice or tips for a central Indiana avid fisherman, but never up north? I have learned that jig heads and leaches are important. Is that true in late September also?

Thanks!

Just got back from those lakes. Smallies were hitting topwater which I don't think will still be the case in September but finding any current was key in mid June and is normally a really easy way to find fish. Fishing where Agnes flowed into Boulder Bay of LLC was good fishing for walleye, Smalliles, and Northern pike. Another location we had great northern pike fishing was where the Bottle River flows into Lac La Croix. Caught many pike in that 20"-30"range using rattle traps/rippin raps. Jigs and leeches will still work for smallies and walleye for sure in September. Find current...find the fish.

Great thank you!

Leaches will probably be hard to find at that time

Fishing with artificials only has always been good up there for me.

Pounded the walleyes on Agnes with paddletails vertical jigged, and Lake Trout on Fat lake were a pleasure as well.

Trolling crankbaits worked well for us.
Boulder Bay up into LLC. Never Fail Bay was particularly rewarding.
FireTiger was the hot color that week.
Fairly fast trolling seemed to work the best. Rip it by them get a reaction bite.

Dad caught a nice Northern in Boulder Bay near the portage back to Agnes. Not sure why it was in 10' of water in August but it was!

johnewelch1: "A buddy and I will be in the BWCA for the first time September 24. Would love to catch some lake trout, walleye, smallies... heck, I'm excited to catch my first northern pike.

Any advice or tips for a central Indiana avid fisherman, but never up north? I have learned that jig heads and leaches are important. Is that true in late September also?

Thanks!
"

As mentioned leeches are pretty scarce the end of September. If you want live bait, crawlers and minnows should be available. I'm also in central Indiana.

Any suggestions? Minnows maybe or straight artificial?

Thanks for the advice!