I'm compiling a list of lures for my fist trip in early July. Right now I have:
1. Dardevle Spoons
2. Bomber Model A
3. Storm Thunderstick
4. Rattletraps
5. War Eagle Nighttime Spinnerbait
6. Zara Spook

What else do you think I will need? What are some of your favorites?

My favorites
Zaraspook
Rapala tail dancer
1oz. Red eye

~JOE~

Those are awesome. For trolling, I'd add
Rapala original floating
Shad Rap
Shallow shad rap
If you are thinking of Pike
Mepps #4 and 5
Preparing for the trip is so fun! Enjoy

Over the years I've simplified the tackle I bring with me to spoons and jigs. I don't use a net and lip the bass or gill the bigger pike and lakers and don't want to hook myself trying to land a fish. I know the Rapalas are great fish catchers but I leave them all home - there are just too damn many hooks and don't want to get my fingers close to them.

That said, I like Daredevils and Silver Minnows tipped with a tail or cut bait in the shallows, and Little Cleos or jigs with twister tails when fishing deeper.

Small and simple tackle box and ALWAYS catch plenty of fish.

Zaraspook, spinnerbait, Johnson Silver Minnow(still and always a great choice!!)

Black Tiny Torpedo
Black Jiterbug
Perch or natural #11 rapala (original)
Black bucktail jig (usually tipped with piece of worm)
Perch Shad rap

Moonman.

these 3 have served me well. the blk/gold rap has caught so many i have no idea of the # /also a rattl'n rap is a shore favorite

When I wasn't home, Arlo evidently snuck in and took pictures of my favorite crankbaits, which is kind of weird.

Arlo, are both of the purple and white colored ones Deep Tail Dancers?

quote Arlo Pankook: " "

Why stop with only three treble hooks - go all in with flatfish with spreader bar. Keep the safety glasses handy.
more hooks than you can count on both hands

quote flyrodman: "Arlo, are both of the purple and white colored ones Deep Tail Dancers? "

The purple one on the left is a minnow rap.

Jitterbug
Tail Dancer
Little Cleo
Mann's baby one crank bait

I've only been to the BWCA the last three years and these are the only hard baits I have caught fish on so far.

Rapala Deep Tail Dancer Clown Flash size 7
Rapala Minnow Rap Deep Runner Silver size 9

I'm considering eliminating every other bait on a future trip and cutting my tackle box weight by 90%...

I am down on treble hooks. Seems like a lot of damage done to the fish. Given the conservation aspect of fishing in BWCA and Quetico I would not use them. Also, a fair number of fish caught on treble hooks aren't even hooked in the lip - more like flossing than fishing.

Seems like a pain to replace the hooks though. I would just not take any. Nothing like a treble hook to get buried in the skin and maybe ruin a trip too.

Definatly, take some Storm HOT-N-TOT's. I take several of these. I catch lakers and big pike on these in the summer time trolling in deep water. This lure just works and works well in Quetico. For novice fisherman you can not beat a few Rat-L-Traps. Throw them and wind them back in. You will catch everything on them and you can chunk them a mile in the wind and cover some water.

Most important HAVE FUN! That is what it is all about. On any cast you can catch the fish of a lifetime up there, that thought almost makes me shake each time I go there. Good times!

plus for all this and a few little cleos. Also find a store that sells steelhead stuff. Big heavy inline spinner types, they won't cost you an arm and a leg like Mepps.

Here is some of my kit, including hardbaits. I'm a Rapala guy mostly...

Tail Dancer
Origional Rapala
Jitterbugs, ChugBugs
Mepps
Deep Rebel Craw

I do not canoe in Quetico without the following:

Deep Husky Jerks, 19' depth, glass perch and blue/silver
1/4 and 3/8 oz chartruese spinnerbaits
Any Rapala type lure that swims 4-8 feet, bass and glass perch pattern

quote jeroldharter: "I am down on treble hooks. Seems like a lot of damage done to the fish. Given the conservation aspect of fishing in BWCA and Quetico I would not use them. Also, a fair number of fish caught on treble hooks aren't even hooked in the lip - more like flossing than fishing.


Seems like a pain to replace the hooks though. I would just not take any. Nothing like a treble hook to get buried in the skin and maybe ruin a trip too."

For several years now, I've gone barbless. Works just as well, it's simple to remove trebles from fish, and I don't worry about snagging the net or burying the trebles in myself or paddling partners...

smallest wally diver yellow works down to 10'. bigger ones for deeper. Also gold floating rapala. Been filling my stringers for years with these three.

Thanks for the suggestions, Now I have another question. I am not a big Rapala guy, mainly because of price. Although I think I may spend some more money for a once in a lifetime trip. For deep diving husky jerks/crankbaits in general, How do you retrieve them if they get hung up? I would hate to lose the ONE fish catching lure of the trip to a stump. Also, are there any cheaper alternatives to some of the Rapala lures?

quote flyrodman: "Thanks for the suggestions, Now I have another question. I am not a big Rapala guy, mainly because of price. Although I think I may spend some more money for a once in a lifetime trip. For deep diving crankbaits/crankbaits in general, How do you retrieve them if they get hung up? I would hate to lose the ONE fish catching lure of the trip to a stump."

First, stand up in your canoe and waive your rod back and forth like an orchestra conductor. Then bend the rod like in a "C" shape and strum the line like a harp.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

In all seriousness, try to pull from different angles and bring backup lures. Some people swear by those lure retrievers but I have never tried one.

I have caught some fish on Lindy River Rockers. Also, Smithwick Rattlin Rougues are on sale on Basspro.com. Under $5.00!

Husky jerks
Shad raps
Thunder sticks

Those are all the originals but one of my new favorites are the scum frogs. Love seeing bass nail them on top of lilly pads. Makes me really hate ice!

Rich11, LOVE scum frogs for fishing vegetation here in Missouri. They are pretty cheap too. I would imagine a pike would rip it up though.

Rapala original minnow #9 or 11 in silver, gold, perch
Rapala shad rap #5 in goldfish
While not technically a hard bait - 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig with white 2" or 3" twister tail.

Those will do the trick. If all else fails try an all orange plain #4 Mepps. That will get you a northern (and even a walleye once).

quote flyrodman: "Thanks for the suggestions, Now I have another question. I am not a big Rapala guy, mainly because of price. Although I think I may spend some more money for a once in a lifetime trip. For deep diving husky jerks/crankbaits in general, How do you retrieve them if they get hung up? I would hate to lose the ONE fish catching lure of the trip to a stump. Also, are there any cheaper alternatives to some of the Rapala lures?"

Deep diving lures generally don't get hung up all that bad. If they do it is usually a rock. just back up, maybe circle a bit and it will usually come off. Not that many logs deep for it to get hung up on.

A couple of other tricks that sometimes work is to get right over the lure and stick the rod straight down towards the lure and move the rod in a circle with tight line. Sometimes also you can have a tight line, rod about 45 deg angle, and while the line is tight, grab the line with one finger half way between the rod and first rod eye, let go and keep the line tight.

I use Rapalas and diving wally divers 2-3 days every week all summer and lose maybe one lure a year, that often to a pike since I don't use leaders.

quote flyrodman: "Thanks for the suggestions, Now I have another question. I am not a big Rapala guy, mainly because of price. Although I think I may spend some more money for a once in a lifetime trip. For deep diving husky jerks/crankbaits in general, How do you retrieve them if they get hung up? I would hate to lose the ONE fish catching lure of the trip to a stump. Also, are there any cheaper alternatives to some of the Rapala lures?"

Another trick I use on snags, besides paddling around and trying to pull from the opposite direction, is to pull tight to create a bend in the rod (gauged according to line strength of course), and then release the pressure suddenly. I use this tactic as a last resort but sometimes this acts like a spring and the lure may come loose at least enough to then paddle around and try pulling from opposite direction again.

Unfortunately, over many years of trying many different lures, I have found that not many minnow bait type lures are superior to Rapalas. Saying that however does not mean you can't catch fish with other lures though. Pick up one or two raps and maybe some cheaper lures as well. Sometimes (a lot of times) presentation is more important than exact lure - although we like to think the best presentation, combined with the best lure will work better :)

I'm sure you'll catch fish and have a good time no matter what.

Moonman

taildancers

Awesome thread. The best part is thinking about the ones that are not mentioned here because they are too good. Beyond that, Perch is a good pattern A LOT of the time.

Like many others, Tail dancers work awesome! Also reef runners! In stained water, orange and gold is a staple, but also ... purple glitter. I do not know why it works, but man it works!

Bob.

Add a couple of different sizes of topwaters, including poppers. Nice when they'll take a large one, but sometimes only the tiniest will do it. Chug Bug, PopRs etc. Swim a jig n grub for most everything. Keep in mind the pike will chew up the best of the lures.

1. Daredevils/five of diamonds
2. Mepps #2,#3,and #4.
3. Rattle trap silver/blue
4. rooster tails black/purple and chartruese
5. Chatterbaits 1/2 and 3/4 oz white and chartruese
6. worms-n-harness purple-brown
7. purple taildancer
8. assorted jigs 1/4 oz
9. rapala crank baits.

Daredevils for Pike,
Mepps for Pike,largemouth, and smallmouth
Rattletraps for largemouth and smallies
rooster tail for largemouth, smallies, and perch
Chatterbaits for all of the above and Lakers (They work great).
Worms for bass and Walleyes.
Purple taildancer for Pike, bass, and walleyes.
Jigs for walleyes, perch and whitefish
Crankbaits for Bass

I bought most of the stuff for my trip today during the sales going on at bass pro. This is what I have ended up with so far:

Rapala Shad Rap x2
Rapala DT 16
Rapala DT 14
Rapala Husky Jerk x2
Smithwick Suspending Super Rogue
Reef Runner
Bomber Long A
Mag Wart
Wiggle Wart x2
Mepps Aglia #5
BPS Tourney Series Micro Spin x2
Bomber Slab Spoon x2
Dardevle Spoon Blue/Chrome
Blue Fox Strobe Spoon

The Rapala DT's and Shad Raps were on sale for $5 bucks, who could refuse that offer? Still havent gotten everything I want though. I am going to go back to get Super Spots, Zara Spooks, Poppers, and Spinnerbaits.

That looks like a great start. Don't forget a couple original floating raps, size 9 or 11, in perch and natural. Also some jigs - can be bucktails (my fav) or plastics.

Moonman

quote Moonman: "That looks like a great start. Don't forget a couple original floating raps, size 9 or 11, in perch and natural. Also some jigs - can be bucktails (my fav) or plastics.

Moonman."

Thanks for reminding me. How does one fish jigs? Do you just cast and retrieve?

quote flyrodman: "

quote Moonman: "That looks like a great start. Don't forget a couple original floating raps, size 9 or 11, in perch and natural. Also some jigs - can be bucktails (my fav) or plastics.

Moonman."

Thanks for reminding me. How does one fish jigs? Do you just cast and retrieve?"

That is the question for the ages. A good jig fisherman could outfish an average fisherman 10-1. Seriously.

Basically, first step is to adapt your jigging presentation to the fish mood - you can start with aggressive hops along bottom. They will hit it as the jig is falling after the hop and you will feel the fish the next time you hop or jig the lure.

Most times they are not super aggressive and this is where experience comes in. I like gentle hops most of the time, with definite pauses between jigging motions 3-5 slow seconds. Maintain a tight line always. If you have a good, fast action, sensitive jigging rod, especially with a small diameter braid (say PowerPro 8 or 10lb with a 3 foot flourocarbon leader), you will easily feel the lite tap tap of a hit.

I usually set the hook right away. Sometimes they are biting very lightly and it pays to let them chew on it for a second or so before setting the hook. Some guys keep the bail open, just holding the line with a finger and will give a bit of line before setting the hook (I seldom do this though). A stinger hook can help in this situation as well.

If you are tipping your jig with half a worm or leech, you will really up your catch rate if the fish are not overly aggressive. Concentrate on the pause. They will follow the jig and tip down and inhale your bait/jig when it is sitting still on the bottom. Keep a tight line and be ready for that tap tap.

Sometimes a real deadly technique is to slowly drag your jig on bottom with no hops at all. Also a lot of times (when the fish are fairly aggressive), a fish will hit your jig as it is falling to the bottom on the initial cast. Be ready for that. A lot of guys miss those hits because they are thinking about their retrieve, or looking at their finder etc etc.

Honestly a jig is like an information gathering tool. Besides live bait (hook and split shot) a jig probably outfishes all other baits combined. Hope this helps.

Moonman

quote PineKnot: "I do not canoe in Quetico without the following:

Deep Husky Jerks, 19' depth, glass perch and blue/silver
1/4 and 3/8 oz chartruese spinnerbaits
Any Rapala type lure that swims 4-8 feet, bass and glass perch pattern

quote jeroldharter: "I am down on treble hooks. Seems like a lot of damage done to the fish. Given the conservation aspect of fishing in BWCA and Quetico I would not use them. Also, a fair number of fish caught on treble hooks aren't even hooked in the lip - more like flossing than fishing.

Seems like a pain to replace the hooks though. I would just not take any. Nothing like a treble hook to get buried in the skin and maybe ruin a trip too."

For several years now, I've gone barbless. Works just as well, it's simple to remove trebles from fish, and I don't worry about snagging the net or burying the trebles in myself or paddling partners..."

+1 all my plugs have crimped barbs and plugs with 3 hooks end up with 2. Rattle traps only one in back. What I also tried a couple of years ago is going with a wide gap circle hook to replace the trebles. Works great!

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a206/snook_/Fishing%20Pictures/P1010280.jpg

Not familiar with how freshwater fish attack plugs but snook usually go for head first attack, notice circle hook perfect hook set.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a206/snook_/Fishing%20Pictures/Second2.jpg

BTW, thanks for posting pics of your fav lures, I am taking notes :-)

I just picked up a perch design shad rap 5 yesterday. I think it will be one of my favorites this summer along with my perch design little cleo. What little experience I have has taught me that perch design is the ticket for targeting walleye. Some people talk about the benefit of showing fish something they've never seen before but it seems that there is more benefit to showing them something mimicking what they eat everyday, and walleye eat a lot of perch.

Beachcamper, have you lost any fish do to debarbing hooks? I am unsure whether to do it or not.

When I first tried barbless on topwater plugs, I did lose a few fish. After a couple more trips I figured out that any slack in the line and having drag set too tight resulted in lost fish. I also switched from braid to mono on plug rod (for elasticity) just to overcome technical error on my part.

Now, use braid on plug rod and I crimp the barb on all lures including jigs when on wilderness trips. Very few if any fish are lost even when trolling. Easy to remove hook from fish and less damage to them and me. Just practice a bit before your trip.

quote flyrodman: "

quote Moonman: "That looks like a great start. Don't forget a couple original floating raps, size 9 or 11, in perch and natural. Also some jigs - can be bucktails (my fav) or plastics.

Moonman."

Thanks for reminding me. How does one fish jigs? Do you just cast and retrieve?"

try cast and retrieve first. you'll be surprised how many you get, and still keep snags to a minimum.

quote Moonman: "

quote flyrodman: "

quote Moonman: "That looks like a great start. Don't forget a couple original floating raps, size 9 or 11, in perch and natural. Also some jigs - can be bucktails (my fav) or plastics.

Moonman."

Thanks for reminding me. How does one fish jigs? Do you just cast and retrieve?"

ages. A good jig fisherman could outfish an average fisherman 10-1.
Moonman."

+1

If you like top-water fishing, try picking up a skitter pop, or something like that. I was up there in early July last year and it was awesome morning and evening for bass and pike.

Everyone else on here covered anything else I would've suggested. Good time of year to be up there, enjoy the trip!!

quote Basspro69: "

quote Moonman: "

quote flyrodman: "

quote Moonman: "That looks like a great start. Don't forget a couple original floating raps, size 9 or 11, in perch and natural. Also some jigs - can be bucktails (my fav) or plastics.

Moonman."

Thanks for reminding me. How does one fish jigs? Do you just cast and retrieve?"

ages. A good jig fisherman could outfish an average fisherman 10-1.
Moonman."

+1"

+2 Got to remember that simple and less is almost always better for everything in life!

Walleye
- J9 3 1/2 inch gold jointed Rapala
- 4 3/4 inch gold husky jerk
- Berkley or Gulp leeches ( if in Quetico, if not get real thing )

Pike
- Bullfrog or leopard frog colored Lucky 13
- Pop-R
- Dardevle spoon 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 inch red and white
- Mepps size 5 blade with bucktail

Trout
- 3 1/4 inch hammered silver Dr. Spoon
- 4 1/2 inch nickel plated daredevle spoon
- One ounce white hair or plastic jig

Smallmouth
- Zulu soft plastic jerk bait ( any plain or combo of pearl color )
- Pop-R - shad colored
- Double willow blade chartreuse spinner bait
- Pumpkin green tubes

I forgot to mention I have written an article called Grand Slam Lures ( for fishing Quetico ) if you would like to read a copy send an email to queticomike@yahoo.com and title the email "Grand Slam" and I will send you a copy. Good luck this year!

Can i ask, where do you find the dr spoons in hammered silver?

quote sinking3: "Can i ask, where do you find the dr spoons in hammered silver?"

Here is a link..........

Dr. Spoon

Oops I never thought to go to the dr spoon site.
Thx

Moving down the Water Column:
Heddon Tiny Torpedo (silver or frog)
Hula Popper
Rapala Original Floater (silver or gold)
Bomber Square Bill (small in craw color)
Rapala Husky Jerk
Firetiger Spoon

That sounds nice, I'll have that.

quote flyrodman: "Beachcamper, have you lost any fish do to debarbing hooks? I am unsure whether to do it or not."

Flyrodman,
Debarb some of your hooks. Fish. If you are losing fish this means you are not using line tension and rod flex appropriately. There should only be a negligible difference in hook holding from barbed to barbless if done right. Your rod bend and reading the fish is far more important for retention. Sure helps to have barbless if you ever stick yourself too! Hope this helps.

My preferences, in order:
Topwaters (Spook, chug bug, pop r, torpedo, Sammie (banana shape), buzzbait)
Jigs/twist tails/tubes
Soft stick worms (zero, senkos, dingers), finesse worms, zulu
Jerkbaits (rapala, bomber, pointer)
Spinnerbaits (white, chartreuse, black, pumpkin), chatterbait
Diving crankbaits (Rebel craws and whatever looks good)
Lipless crankbaits (rattle trap, rattlin rap, clackin rap, etc)
Spoons

Bring more or less, as suits you. Popular colors, sizes. Fish a lot. Report on your success. Have fun!

#5 Shad Rap in Bleeding Copper Flash Color for walleye trolling in 8-11' of water. Some days you better have one too or just plan to net my fish all day!

1. daredevil
2. white chatter bait
3. blue and silver rattle trap
4. mepps #3
5. floating raps
6. purple tail dancer
7. standard black and bronze raps

Hands down my go to confidence bait that catches everything that swims is the Husky Jerk. Black/gold for walleyes, bass and northern. Purpledescent for early season lakers or stream trout.

For versitility you can't go wrong. You can twitch and pause it erratically, crank it slow near the surface, or troll it. Plus it suspends which can trigger less aggresive fish when you pause it for several seconds righ in their strike zone.

Hard to beat a husky jerk. Every type of fish seems to love it. I have caught walleyes, pike and smallmouth bass. The bass color, perch, blue top and chrome sides, black top grey sides, and fire tiger all work well. It also seems to run at the perfect depth and you can cast it, jerk it, or just troll it while you are paddling. Great action for trolling slow, medium or fast.

Shad Raps work well.

Daredevils. Seems like the black and white worked the best.

Buzzard which is the noisy top water spinner makes quite a racket and pike attack it.

Large inline spinner baits work well for large pick also.

Large Suick. While this thing takes up a lot of room in your tackle box, I have the large one that is 9 or 10 inches. Cast it, jerk, pause, jerk, pause and the pike destroyed it.

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys! My tackle box has grown considerably. It's one week until my trip to Quetico. Getting Excited!

As you can see, there are not many lures that are NOT listed. Don't worry about draining the bank account. Even if you don't make it as a fisherman you can still make it as a "collector."
;-))

Hahaha! I have another question, can you catch smallmouth when you are using steel leaders?

Smallmouth - Yes, I'm lazy and leave my steel leader on most of the time.