A friend and I are planning our first trip to the BWCA, heading up to the South Arm Knife area the first week of June (our plans are in the Trip Planning forum too). He's relatively new to fishing and I wanted to put together a little essentials tackle box for him.

I searched out some of the other "what's in your tackle box" threads on here and Reddit but didn't see anything quite like what I'm doing, and since it's the middle of winter I thought I'd throw it out for discussion. I'm not big on crankbaits or live bait, mostly a soft plastics fisherman.

The box I'm starting with is a 3500 size waterproof Plano. It has up to 18 compartments, but all adjustable to suit needs. The first set of tackle is:

2/0 EWG Hooks
Swivels
Beads
2 sizes of bullet weights.

This set of tackle is basically Carolina rig gear for setting up the Zulu rigs I've seen on here. When I bass fish in southern Wisconsin my go-to setups are weightless texas rigged Roboworms or shorter finesse worms on EWG jigheads. Problem with Roboworms is that they last 1-3 fish only, so a BWCA trip would mean bringing out a lot of soft plastics. I like the Zulu rig style of using the Elaztech baits and having the swivel to get that little bit of sinking action. Adding in the bullet weights and beads to go full Carolina just allows for efficient fishing of different areas of the water column.

Second tackle set:
1.5oz keel weights
3/8oz spoons

Can't really go wrong with some of the versatile spoon. We'll probably set out some rods for trolling, and after spending way too much time trying to figure out trolling for lakers this is the setup I think I'm going to pack.

The last set:

3/8oz Jigheads
1/8oz Underspin Jigs
1/4oz Underspin Jigs
1/16oz Jigheads

Jigs are classic, and underspins have probably caught me more fish and more types of fish than anything else in my tacklebox. I don't hear a lot about people running underspins in the BWCA, which is either really good or really bad for me.

The plastics I'll hook him up with are some 5" shad style Elaztech, some 6+" Elaztech worms, Zoom Mini Fluke, and some Mule 1.1" minnows.

Hopefully, this one little tacklebox will be good enough to catch some bass at the least, and a slight shot at the Grand Slam at best!

I have been accused of bring way too many lures to the BWCA before so be that as it may. I bring dozens of lures that never get used. But you asked for minimalist tackle box. You can fit everything into your top shirt pocket besides your bait if you really want to. All you really need to catch walleye, bass, and pike is a few slip bobbers, weights and hooks. This can all fit into a sandwich ziplock bag and in your pocket. This setup has never failed me in 30 years of fishing up there. If you want some fun take a Whopper Plopper for top water bass action. Thats it nothing more. Leeches or crawlers work really good on a slip bobbers rig and are easy to keep alive.

If I were going minimalist it would be jig heads and your favorite soft plastic. Tube, worm, grub, Ned, craw, paddletail etc….but that’s because I like fishing on the go. Bobber rigs would certainly do the trick.

Now I will always have these when I go:

1. Favorite soft plastic
2. Favorite Crankbait
3. Favorite blade bait
4. Favorite topwater

You are covering the entire water column and all species with this approach.

My first trip to the BW a few+ decades ago my dad advised me on tackle: a Band-Aid box (metal back then) full of daredevils and leaders. I guess we were minimalists and didn't know it! We didn't go hungry.

Here’s what the younger, more inexperienced me thought would get fish vs the older and wiser me… I went from twenty-one Plano 3700 boxes down to one small Plano 3600.

The best advice I ever give is “the best do the most with the least for the longest.”

Who knew less gear would get more fish?!

I've done 15 trips up in the BWCA and Quetico. I started off pretty simple with mostly using the TGO method (hook, bb split shot, leech), some shad raps, and some original floating Rapalas. Over the years, I added more, and more, and more Rapalas of varying body styles, depths and colors, as well as soft plastics (worms, grubs, leeches, paddletails, etc), topwaters, etc. Recently, I've begun culling the lures that never see the water. I probably have an 1/8oz jighead and a 3.5" paddletail or similar tied onto one of my two rods for 90% of my trip these days, and usually a Shad Rap or Taildancer on the other for trolling.

If I had to set up a minimalist tackle box, I think it would be this:

3 1/8 oz jig heads per day I plan to fish. I like the style with the springs that you twist soft plastics
5 packages of soft plastics. I've grown really fond of the 3.5" Swimming Shad by Hogie Lures (staples of the Texas coast despite being a pretty small business) 3.5" Hogie Swimming Shad
I like the Cuervo Gold/Chart Tail best. Caught me lots of nice walleye, smallies, and pike last year. I'd also throw in a pearl pack or two in the mix. These typically last 10 fish or more per soft plastic, are easy to get onto a jig head with good presentation, and stay in place well. Perfection.
3 spoons for trolling and some swivels. My personal choice would be 3/4 oz blue/chrome Little Cleos. A 20' taildancer would probably be another good choice for lakers, but it's less versatile than a spoon and pricier.
3-4 topwaters. I like poppers personally. I'm not sure colors matter much, but I usually go for a light color like white or chrome.

That's enough to catch plenty of fish in the beginning of June, and is probably well under $75 total.

I've always been minimalist. The tackle box I carry with me whether I'm wading a shallow creek, on a lake in a canoe, or in a kayak in the gulf is a little 6-1/2" wide 6 compartment Plano box.

- Two or three topwaters like a floating Rapala and a Whopper Plopper
- About 1/2 dozen soft baits. Paddle tailed swimbaits, crayfish, hellgramites.
- A few 1/0 or 2/0 offset hooks for Texas rigs
- A few small jig heads and small soft baits for panfish. The jig heads can also be used with minnow/leaches/worms.
- A handful of splitshot in various weights and a few sinkers for dropshot rigs.
- One slip bobber, although it doesn't fit in my tackle box.

I agree with Punkinhead...
I dont however, go minimalist. I am there to fish and fish hard.
If I had to reduce to a small tacklebox, I would...
Take a couple bags of worms, flukes or paddle tails.
Take a couple crankbaits
Take a couple spoons
Take a couple surface baits.
Take a coulple mepps spinners.

Jigs and live leaches if I am targeting walleye.

that would do it.

Maybe we'll reconsider the live bait because it truly is the minimalist in terms of gear, but it does come with associated tasks.

scottiebaldwin: "Here’s what the younger, more inexperienced me thought would get fish vs the older and wiser me… I went from twenty-one Plano 3700 boxes down to one small Plano 3600. "

When I got back into fishing a couple years ago I definitely purchased a bunch of tackle that I didn't need. I still own a fair amount, but it's all separated into boxes specific to fishing style. I've got my "essentials" box, my bottom rig box, panfish box, etc. I went from taking 4 3600 trays in a tackle bag every fishing trip down to 1-3 3600 or 3500 trays per trip, depending on what I was going to be fishing for. This trip is a little different, because I at least want to take a shot at the Grand Slam even though I doubt I'll get it. I'll personally be bringing a few more options, in fact the blade baits are really interesting adds and I'm sure a few cranks will end up making the trip too.

punkinhead: "I've always been minimalist. The tackle box I carry with me whether I'm wading a shallow creek, on a lake in a canoe, or in a kayak in the gulf is a little 6-1/2" wide 6 compartment Plano box. "

The kayak was definitely the catalyst for cutting down on fishing tackle for me - there's a compartment that perfectly holds 2 3500 sized trays and a few bags of soft plastics.

I have a Cabela’s (pre-merger) version of this tackle binder and find I can fit a lot of stuff in it. It’s also easy to fit into a pack, as opposed to a hard sided box.


Tackle Binder

airmorse: " "

That looks perfect to me...

I think if your partner is a newbie to fishing I would keep it simple for them. Cover all depths with surface, deep and shallow crankbaits, inline spinners and safety pin one hook spinners. Then 3 or 4 jigs with a couple different skirts. Oh, and a few spoons too. Spoons can really teach a person how to cast.

Fishing soft plastics is a lot of finesse and feel. Let them have a go at it but just casting and reeling might be more fun for them. Pinpoint casting takes reps and it’s a good way for them to get familiar.

My 2 cents. And personally, I’d pinch down all their barbs. Last thing you want is a lure stuck in your head. Speaking from experience here. :)

We were just up to the South Arm of Knife last summer. Tom T's list is pretty good. Something for top water, a couple of spoons, a mid-deep diver of some sort and some jigs. We went in mid June and found walleyes in about 20-30 feet of water, some bass in the 1-5 foot range and got a couple of pike in 15-20 feet. I would try to find a lake depth map because it is a pretty deep lake in certain areas.

What you already have is good! I would also recommend adding some 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 oz ball jigheads and bringing some 3 or 4 inch curly tail grubs, too, cause these are great for pretty much everything. I would also add a couple mepps spinners. If you’re looking for topwater action, add a popper or a whopper plopper, both work well for pike and bass. If you would prefer a 3 or 4 inch Swimbait over the curly tail grubs those would work well also, but you might want jigheads with slightly longer hooks for these compared to grubs. Bring some 6-9 inch steel leaders if you’re targeting pike. I’d also toss in some senkos or tubes. These will catch tons of smallies. If you REALLY want to go minimalist, just take the grubs and jigheads, a couple mepps spinners, the leaders, the spoons for lake trout, and some split shot and hooks and slip bobbers and bobber stops to rig live leeches, which are amazing bait in the bwca area. I’m actually planning a first week of June trip with my dad to Knife as well! I’ll be in the north arm, but might portage down to south to do some fishing there as well.

Nice! I will be entering on sag into O-Track the first week of June. Our group will likely take the Topaz/ Cherry loop and go through little knife. The south arm has some great fishing. I had good success out there a couple years back. The smallmouth bite was good on topwater in the bays and anywhere there was a bug hatch. Don’t sleep on the lake trout either. An egg sinker going to s swivel on a spoon or running a deep crank can produce.

I have roughly 15-20 cranks baits, spoons etc and terminal tackle with me when I go. I wrap rubber bands on the hooks to save space and keep them from tangling. I also bring a variety of leader lines. Usually 6lb, 10lb and tapered floro 36-16 lb leaders for trolling Lakers and pike.

For a minimalist. I would bring:

Jerkbait x2
Shad rap x2
Taildancer x2 (lakers)
Doctor spoon x2
Chug bug x2 (smallmouth candy)
1/8-3/8 jigs
Curly tail grubs
Split shots
Lighted Bobbers x2
Swivels
#6-#4 octopus hooks
Egg sinkers 1-2 oz

That is the absolute bare minimum I would bring on a trip.

If you only take a few lures, I would suggest using a titanium leader. You might not want to lose any lures to the pike. They cost more than steel leaders, but they are thinner, stronger and don’t kink. I usually take a couple with me. A don’t use them often, but on the other hand I take a lot of tackle :)

HowardSprague: "
I have a Cabela’s (pre-merger) version of this tackle binder and find I can fit a lot of stuff in it. It’s also easy to fit into a pack, as opposed to a hard sided box.



Tackle Binder "

Wouldn't hooks and cranks with treble hooks pierce through the binder bags? I'm really interested in something like this, though, because hard boxes are awkward to open in a canoe plus the noise they make when opening and closing.

I agree trying to minimize one's tackle box is a good idea. At the same time I find it hard to do. This is my fault and attachement to the theory that more lures will enable me to find the exact one needed for the day. This rarely happens, and when it does, it turns out to be one of my go go to lures I would have brought anyway. So, I would bring zoom lizards in size 5, mr. twister keeper hooks that weigh enough to get deep, Some Ned rigs. Note all these use only one hook no trebles. I would bring 3 size 4 mepps for northern and or SM. A few heavier tube jigs for walleyes and lakers, 2-3 3 inch floating rapalas. And a pack 3 inch curly white tails, with a pack of quarter oz jigs for deeper jigging. That would be enough for me. I would also bring some extra 8 lb mono, and at least 2 6" spinning rods and reels. I rarely use a net so ditto on that. No fish finder.

This is our set up. These are 3700 tackle boxes. One for each canoe. The other one has basically the same set up, just slight color variations. My wife wanted to bring more pink and purple (her fav colors) for the one for her canoe will have that one.

Love to see all the tackle setups!

I'm not planning on bringing a dedicated tackle bag, I bought a Granite Gear Scurry pack and the front pocket on that should hold what I'm planning on bringing for hard tackle, plus a couple bags of plastics. I'll put the rest of the plastics in the main compartment.

I think I will add a few titanium leaders to my kit too - sounds like a pretty darn good idea.

I take way more than I need. As a group of 4 usually, we bring rapalas, whopper poppers, jigs and a lot of swim baits. What I fish with 95% of the time is the old beetle spins/ Mr Twister and just switch out colors until I find what they are hitting on. We also bring everything for slip bobbers and leeches as well. My wife will watch her own bobber for hours.

Early June , i would bring some dead/frozen suckers , for fishing from camp on a slip sinker set up , early june should still produce from camp , And your always fishing just hanging out at camp. bobbers can be a pain with wind and having to recast often. been awhile since i've been in the SAK but i always pack frozen suckers minnows layered in a 6pack type cooler , fits under a canoe seat and really doesnt take up any more. you can out produce people in a canoe.
theres a lot of down wood in the SAK especially in the bays around Toe lake. cast/work these areas from a distance with stealth and confidence i guarantee you many 4lb smallies (a pic of my go to for working the wood) and be patient let that ring from the lure hitting the water to disappear before retrieving.
if your gonna do any trolling , suspending crankbaits can producer and add some S trolling in the mix to get that suspender to stop and go OR just open your bail let out 5' of line, reclose bail can trigger a lot of fish to strike !
as you stated Spoons-jigs with that underspin/overspin/anyspin , and a couple years ago i switched from the twister tail type of plastics/trailer to paddletails, and will probably never use twisertails again , Gonna be a Fantastic trip. whats your entry point ? you have 3 options.
2nd pic if i would only bring in 3 crankbaits it would be these.

What do you fish for from camp with that setup? I have a lot of gear for slip sinker fishing and putting out a line from camp definitely is on the list.

I realized the other night that I have no "fast" options in my current plan, everything is all finesse fishing. I like the beetle spin idea, was also thinking about buzzbaits and rooster tails but the beetle spin might be the ticket.

We're headed out of Moose with a tow. First day will be all travel no fishing until we're at camp and set up on SAK.

AmarilloJim: " "

What do you fish for with the blade baits? I've been bringing some along as a backup lure for my Klos lures that I bought off Stu from the BWJ for lake trout. The blade baits haven't seen the water yet since I haven't yet had the displeasure of losing a Klos.

Micanthropyre: "What do you fish for from camp with that setup? I have a lot of gear for slip sinker fishing and putting out a line from camp definitely is on the list.


I realized the other night that I have no "fast" options in my current plan, everything is all finesse fishing. I like the beetle spin idea, was also thinking about buzzbaits and rooster tails but the beetle spin might be the ticket.


We're headed out of Moose with a tow. First day will be all travel no fishing until we're at camp and set up on SAK.


"

One of the great things about a dead bait set up from camp , is like your trip for example , the 1st thing you do once you get to your camp is set up one of your fishing rods and cast out a dead sucker , now your fishing while you set up camp , you come back to camp after from trolling around , put out a dead bait now your fishing again while your relaxing at camp , my motto on this site is "keep your line wet and good things will happen"
i layer in ziplock then freeze , then layer more and repeat
the key part of this set up IS : the right amount weight for your slip sinker , it's the wind that will blow your line in towards shore and it's your sinker that gets hung up in the rocks not you hook.
once you cast out either open your bail and put a small rock on your fishing line OR if you have a nice smooth reel , keep your bail closed and turn your drag all the way down this way you can hear when you get a bite BUT when a fish does strike you will need to open your bail and tighten your drag , then reclose (FISH ON) you might have to re adjust your drag as you fight the fish. Also retie often as your line will take a beating going through all the rock up there and that goes for wheather your fishing from camp or a canoe.
what will you catch, i'm usually fishing the opener , it's a deadly simple set up for lake trout , Northern pike and different years we even catch walleyes on this set up, as the season progress's (water temps above 55*) lakers will more than likely stage deeper but with your trip in early june , depends when ice does go out , closer to actual ice out better fishing for lakers, and it's nice to be at a camp site that drops off a little bit but not completely into the abyss. the 2 sites east of eddy falls and great for fishing , bottle neck bays are magnets in the spring BUT as the water warms up these bays will be void of fish with the exception of smallies. i use suckers in the 4"-6" range , ciscoes are hard or near impossible to get and the sucker minnows skull keeps on a single hook for many recast. (pics included) so on a clam day a 1/2oz sinker gets the job done when it gets windy beef up to 2oz if needed. i've never tryed this but heard of adding a packing peanut inside the minnows stomach to get it to float a little off the bottom. AND actually dyeing minnows different colors.
Jig spinners , Most underrated and versatile lures ever made & one of my favorite go to casting set ups. (on local milfoil lakes remove spinner as that stuff grows through the season) early spring 2"-3" plastics and the season moves on beef up to 4"+ paddle tails. if it's windy , have some 3/4oz jig heads which will cut through the wind like a knife through butter , longer cast.

Usually just fish suspended LT with them when it is calm. Sometimes I'll work deeper rock piles for eyes also.

Every year I look at my tackle I used last year and remove the stuff I did not use or was not successful. This year I thought I had it down to one Plano 3700 box. Then I remembered I didn’t have any rubber swim baits, spoons or bucktails. Good grief there is no hope for me.

You mentioned Elaztech in this minimalist tackle box

Keep the Elaztech in the bag it came in. If you put it in a Plano box (or any plastic box), or any bag/box with other soft plastics, the Elaztech will have a chemical reaction and turn into a goopy mess

In June, give me a few white tube jigs and I’ll catch any fish in the BWCA.

Here's mine, though I am going to pull out a few cranks to free one of these containers up, then put my softbaits in there (they currently live in my PFD). There are jigheads and sinkers in those tiny ziplocks, pictured...
I'm still carrying more than I should.

sns: "Here's mine, though I am going to pull out a few cranks to free one of these containers up, then put my softbaits in there (they currently live in my PFD). There are jigheads and sinkers in those tiny ziplocks, pictured...
I'm still carrying more than I should.






"

Whoa whoa whoa! Wait a minute you genius. Did you make those foam holders to keep the single tackle kits?! I need brands and model numbers pronto! That’s a great idea! Mount them into the canoe! Details please!

scottiebaldwin: "Did you make those foam holders to keep the single tackle kits?! I need brands and model numbers pronto! That’s a great idea! Mount them into the canoe! Details please!"

I hate to disappoint, but this was a DIY project.

The little plastic containers came with a bulk order of cheap reading glasses.

The foam holders are made of Minicell, as is my seat you see pictured.

I took way too much time making them - sawing, shaping, drilling - and then attached to the canoe semi-permanently with rubber cement.

Used them on multiple trips last year and the functionality was excellent - all my tackle right at hand; visible & organized.

And they are just tight enough that the containers come out easy when I need access, but do not move at all on a portage.

The one negative is I have a crank with a rattle - and hear that rattle close to my ear with every portage step. Small price to pay.

Let me know if you want more info.

Appreciate the positive response, regardless - thanks!

I bring a few black and silver #11 original Rapalas. Minimal, indeed.

sns: "

scottiebaldwin: "Did you make those foam holders to keep the single tackle kits?! I need brands and model numbers pronto! That’s a great idea! Mount them into the canoe! Details please!"

I hate to disappoint, but this was a DIY project.


The little plastic containers came with a bulk order of cheap reading glasses.


The foam holders are made of Minicell, as is my seat you see pictured.


I took way too much time making them - sawing, shaping, drilling - and then attached to the canoe semi-permanently with rubber cement.


Used them on multiple trips last year and the functionality was excellent - all my tackle right at hand; visible & organized.


And they are just tight enough that the containers come out easy when I need access, but do not move at all on a portage.


The one negative is I have a crank with a rattle - and hear that rattle close to my ear with every portage step. Small price to pay.


Let me know if you want more info.


Appreciate the positive response, regardless - thanks!
"

I’m on Amazon right now searching up cheap eyeglass containers and Minicell thanks to you! ??

Best minicell source I have found is redfishkayak.com

If you look at some of the minicell DIY threads in the DIY subforum, there's some good info on working with minicell:

Minicell canoe seat

Minicell yoke

Minicell Rod Holster