I've posted a similar question in the general fishing forum but thought I would do so in the fly forum. I'm making my first trip into the Quetico in late May and am trying to get my flies together. Any suggestions? I'm planning on taking 4 pc 8 weight with both floating and sink tip line. Are waders worth the extra baggage?
Other than what flies to take I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the fish I want to go after--Lakers (weather permitting), Pike, Smallies, Walleye (I've heard its rare)--Oh man just got excited again.
Thanks fly guys!!

jsloo,

I am not an expert flyfisherman but I think if it was me I would leave the waders at home and fish from the canoe. That time of year I would think streamer flies.

Dick

I've had good luck with flashy wooly buggers in flowing water on walleyes (and bass). Deer hair mice were deadly in late May for large mouth bas--in the evenings when the water was calm--throw them right up on shore (make sure you take your heart medicine first).


Don't take sinking line and haven't been in the right place at the right time to catch lakers on streamers.

Springer2 has given good advice. I take my fly rod(s) for each trip and have caught Pike and Walleye on the fly. Take some Clousers, mouse patterns (as suggested), bunny flies (rabbit strip) they look like leeches and Wooly Buggers (especially in black with a little flash). I only use floating line but will use split shot, long leaders (9 foot - 1X, 2X, 3X). Take a couple of Adams, BH Hare's Ear, Elk Wing Caddis, Dalhberg Diver, Sneaky Pete, popper's. The pike will destroy your fly's. I also take Rio Toothy Critter Leaders for pike. Any fly that is big and flashy will attract pike. I have not used sinking line in the BWCA.
If you tie you own - take a 1/0 hook, put a cone head on it and then tie in four to six inches of flashabou (red over gold, blue over silver, black over silver). Deadly for pike.

quote flytyer: "Springer2 has given good advice. I take my fly rod(s) for each trip and have caught Pike and Walleye on the fly. Take some Clousers, mouse patterns (as suggested), bunny flies (rabbit strip) they look like leeches and Wooly Buggers (especially in black with a little flash). I only use floating line but will use split shot, long leaders (9 foot - 1X, 2X, 3X). Take a couple of Adams, BH Hare's Ear, Elk Wing Caddis, Dalhberg Diver, Sneaky Pete, popper's. The pike will destroy your fly's. I also take Rio Toothy Critter Leaders for pike. Any fly that is big and flashy will attract pike. I have not used sinking line in the BWCA.
If you tie you own - take a 1/0 hook, put a cone head on it and then tie in four to six inches of flashabou (red over gold, blue over silver, black over silver). Deadly for pike."

What would be a good rod/line combo for smallmouth?
I own one 6-1/2 foot rod with WF6 line. Would I do better with a longer and heavier rod?

Dick

Your rod and line will work. It just works better with a longer rod fly fishing from a canoe. I use a 9 foot 6 wgt (with floating line) for pike, walleye and bass. I also take an 8 or 9 wgt as a backup. I personally have never broke a rod in the BWCA.

I hear your solo from last summer was great. (you got my clothespins and 'biner). Looks like I am going back in July.

quote flytyer: "Your rod and line will work. It just works better with a longer rod fly fishing from a canoe. I use a 9 foot 6 wgt (with floating line) for pike, walleye and bass. I also take an 8 or 9 wgt as a backup. I personally have never broke a rod in the BWCA.


I hear your solo from last summer was great. (you got my clothespins and 'biner). Looks like I am going back in July."

Tom,
Thanks for your response. I would also like to go in July as last year and probably to the same area again. I am trying to get my brother interested. I just picked up some head cement today so I think I will get busy and ty some flies.
Dick

I Just checked my rod and it is 8'6" and not 6'6". 6 line wt.

Dick

That's better yet. I have a couple of 8'6" rods (both 5 wgts). Save your money. You may not cast as far but so what. You're going to have fun.

Looks like my date for arrival at VNO would be Wednesday July 20. Probably go in at EP 26 and get a tow.

Send me your address at: flyfisher1942@yahoo.com. Got a package I will UPS to you.

I've got a 9', 7/8 weight St. Croix. Never tried anything else with bass flies and poppers so I'm not an expert. Someone (John Gierach, author of Trout Bum maybe) described how fly fishing was such an intense experience because you are fighting the fish with the line in your hand, more immediate than reeling one in with a spinning rod). I agree, and there's nothing like a big smallmouth or largemouth hooked up. I caught a fat 21" female smallmouth on a popper a few years ago on Gun Lake in the BWCA, in June in a light rain, with my 15 year-old son in the bow--that was memorable! Here's a photo last year--a nice largemouth on a deer-hair mouse at sunset in late May on Kashahpiwi. He was all over the place, jumping, diving for submerged logs, running under the canoe (the 9' rod almost bent double he went so fast).




I can't even imagine catching a Spring lake trout on my flyrod, even the little 12-inchers fight like crazy on a spinning rod. Pike? I'd probably get a heavier rod. I had a BIG one on (it actually grab and swallowed a 10" smallmouth I was playing) and before the hook in the bass's mouth straightened out the pike had scared the crap out of both of us and practically wrapped the above 9' flyrod around the canoe.

quote flytyer: "That's better yet. I have a couple of 8'6" rods (both 5 wgts). Save your money. You may not cast as far but so what. You're going to have fun.


Looks like my date for arrival at VNO would be Wednesday July 20. Probably go in at EP 26 and get a tow.


Send me your address at: flyfisher1942@yahoo.com. Got a package I will UPS to you."

Tom,
I sent my address to your Yahoo email address last night.

Dick

Thanks guys!! I can't wait--

Dick, Got it. Hope to ship on Thursday. I tied some flies for you to use for pike, walleye and bass.

Tom

Have you gone on the trip yet? How did it go? What flies worked and which did not? How was the 8'6" rod?