In the second week of June, my son and I are going to Quetico for our first ever canoe country trip. I've used soft plastic crayfish imitations with good success for smallmouth in my local Ozark rivers/creeks. I don't see many (any?) discussions re using crayfish soft plastics for Quetico/BWCA smallmouth. It would seem to me there would be crayfish in the rocky waters of Quetico and, if so, that smallmouth would relish them. Anyone fish soft plastic crays in Quetico/BWCA with success?

Tanvat,
I have fished crayfish plastics in the past with good success. I have always used the natural colors rigged on a 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz jighead. Good luck.

I concur with gqualls. You will get plenty of SMB and walleye with soft plastic crayfish. I also fish 2 to 3" tube jigs in the same places and get bit in much the same way. Long casts are needed in the clear water to prevent spooking fish, and braided line helps with a solid hookset after a long cast.

White tube jigs are well known to be productive in canoe country.

Thanks all. Have an assortment of ShadRaps, topwaters, Mepps #5, 1/16 to 3/8 oz. jig heads with twister tails, paddle tails, grubs, etc - figured I could throw a few craws in the mix for grins, and you all confirmed that. Leaving in 3 weeks - can't wait!

Skip the plastics, top water is the funnest way to catch smallies in the BWCA. Just cast at any structure. Best top water lures are the Heddon torpedo, Zara spook, and some times you can get the monsters on whopper ploppers.