Hi all! Hope you all got your permits!

My son and I are going in June 10th via Fall lake, and up to Basswood - Back Bay, Pipestone, Jackfish.

My son is DYING to catch a big pike, and a good amount of walleye. While I'm a decent fisherman locally, I have always had an issue locating those two things in the bwca.

Any advice about general areas we can go to get him what he's looking for? If you'd like to suggest spots that would be great, but I totally understand keeping it close to the chest.

Thanks in advance

I’m going in solo the same day.

The big pike will probably happen for him. Just “beat the banks” like you’re spring bass fishing…weeds/wood and rock. I suggest large “bass” lures on a baitcasting set up if that’s his target. Big hardbaits. Blades. Swimbaits. You don’t need a broomstick but a nice MH rod with appropriate line allows you enjoy the fish but have enough power to land him in a reasonable amount of time.

Someone may chime in and say you don’t need anything special for pike and they wouldn’t be wrong. I’m just thinking about the balance of not killing the fish with a 10 minute fight or swallowing a small lure and angler enjoyment.

As far as the walleye, that second week in June has been tricky for me. Sometimes they disappear for a few days heading out to secondary points and humps. Sometimes I catch them side by side with the bass. Hopefully a better walleye fisherman than me will have basswood specific tips. Current is king.

Thanks, appreciate the information. Maybe we'll run into you.

I'll give you my 2 cents given I made basically this exact trip except in the first week of September. Unfortunately, I didn't fish walleye for one second during the trip and focused all of my attention on big pike. Leaving June 10th should give you roughly the same weather I had maybe a little cooler. I found during my time that small to medium pike were cruising and hunting more actively and could be found on weed edges fairly easily. My larger pike all came from Back Bay. If I were you and wanted to get a large pike out of the way right away, I would go straight there. I have attached a map with my "milk run" I hit almost every day in Back Bay before exploring elsewhere. This area was mostly shallow and weedy with lots of open pockets to cast into. With this being said you should still plan on bringing lures to fish down to 15 feet or so since there are some deeper areas. Here are my top three lures I would bring if I was heading there again:

1. Toad Thumper Swamper Walkin' Frog in Black: Best lily pad frog and heavy cover frog I have used to date. Love the action it gets when twitching it and very easy to cast. Buy two of these and boil them for a couple minutes to soften them and also make sure to "tip out" the hooks with a plier for better hookup ratios.

2. Lee Lure 68 Mini Boilermaker in Milky Way color: Yes, I know it is a $60 bait but I promise you if you treat it well and check knots consistently it will treat you well. Probably my favorite lure ever made. If you aren't comfortable spending that much then any double bladed bucktail with silver blades and a black skirt will do. I prefer the boilermaker because it allows me to reel in slower while still staying near the surface and not sinking especially in areas where fish are feeding up.

3. Vibrax Blue Fox Size 6 in any color with lots of color contrast: If you don't bring either of the previous lures at least bring this one. This lure is absolutely unstoppable for pike of all sizes as well as largemouth bass and can be thrown on everything from a light spinning rod to heavy frogging baitcaster.

If you have any other questions or would like a few more "spots" to hit I can mark up another map just let me know!

Brandon.
I got some info for ya. More time to get it to ya also

yogi59weedr: "Brandon.
I got some info for ya. More time to get it to ya also"

Sounds good, I appreciate it. Not sure if I still have your number or let me know if you need mine.

Thanks!

10-4 got so.e good maps and time to find them

Brandon, I found a couple maps I will send you. I have two Brandons in my phone. Are your last four numbers 6058 or 1741?

yogi59weedr: "Brandon, I found a couple maps I will send you. I have two Brandons in my phone. Are your last four numbers 6058 or 1741?"

Last 4 numbers are 6678. I can email you my info.

Appreciate it Cliff

Ok good with the email

yogi59weedr: "Ok good with the email"

You're the man!

Brandon....
Im just gonna mail ya the maps. Nothing better than a map in the hand. Im not sure I'll ever get back in there. Use them and just send them back to me. 10-4

yogi59weedr: "Brandon....
Im just gonna mail ya the maps. Nothing better than a map in the hand. Im not sure I'll ever get back in there. Use them and just send them back to me. 10-4"

Thanks man. I really appreciate it. I will send them back as soon as we return. You're a good dude. My son and I are very thankful

I'll get them in the mail on Monday.
Last year on Basswood i caught a 28 inch Northern. As i slid it off the side of the boatit kind of hung there couple ft deep.
All of a sudden from under the boat a monster Northern came up from under the boat and T boned the 28 incher... This Northern had to be40+

Awesome sight

yogi59weedr: "I'll get them in the mail on Monday.
Last year on Basswood i caught a 28 inch Northern. As i slid it off the side of the boatit kind of hung there couple ft deep.
All of a sudden from under the boat a monster Northern came up from under the boat and T boned the 28 incher... This Northern had to be40+


Awesome sight"

This made the news several years ago:

Big Bass Big Bait

If I remember correctly, the smaller one was about 3lbs.

I bet those big northerns take in some big meals from time to time.

Brandon..
Mailed the maps today.
Ya. Ur gonna like these.
These maps gotta be..... well when my buddy WIZ was alive so. Damn long time ago....... let me know when ur 10-4

I'd suggest getting a few very large chubs for the start of ur trip.
I'm talking 10 11 inchers drift the current below Newton and Pipestone fallsjust enough weight to keep off the bottom always big fish hanging around.

Those maps should be there today or tomorrow

yogi59weedr: "Those maps should be there today or tomorrow"

Still not here as of Saturday. Hoping for today.

Thanks again, really appreciate it

Damn its not that far from Naperville to quad cities

Still no maps today!

I checked with post office yday and the roll of maps was in indenap0lis.
So its still on the way. Why it went from 2 and half hrs west of ya to 5 hours south of ya. I quess thats the Federal government for ya.. stay tuned.
Still in transit

yogi59weedr: "I checked with post office yday and the roll of maps was in indenap0lis.
So its still on the way. Why it went from 2 and half hrs west of ya to 5 hours south of ya. I quess thats the Federal government for ya.. stay tuned.
Still in transit"

Thanks Clif,

I could've been there and back about 50 times by now! I'll keep an eye out and let you know

10-4
Im sure they'll get there.

yogi59weedr: "10-4
Im sure they'll get there."

They got here today. We will start looking at them tomorrow.

Thanks again

Awesome maps.... I'll explain some of the markings in a phone call. Enjoy.

yogi59weedr: "Awesome maps.... I'll explain some of the markings in a phone call. Enjoy."

I'll try and give you a call this weekend.

10-4

10-4