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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: 2018 Lures and Presentations
 
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zski
01/19/2018 05:32PM
 
For me just reducing the number of trebles on crankbaits with 3 trebles
that's it.
 
missmolly
01/20/2018 06:33AM
 
Cheap Whopper Ploppers here, but google "aliexpress reviews" and you'll see many people hate the website. Others find it slow, but satisfactory.


It looks like this price is only good today, Saturday.
 
QueticoMike
01/18/2018 07:46AM
 
I do this every year, I ask if there are any new lures or presentations you plan to use in the Quetico or BW this year. So what new lures ( to you ) or presentations are you thinking about trying this year in the northwoods?

My niece bought me some "Munky Butt" colored Whopper Ploppers in size 90 and 110 that I plan to give a go this year up in Quetico. Wondering if I shouldn't grab some bigger lures like the 130s? I'm sure the pike will love this lure. Hoping the smallmouth will too. I will work them a couple of different ways. Pop it a couple of times and then pause it or just work it with a continuous retrieve like a buzz bait. I'm sure after a pike gets one of my lures I will add a titanium leader, these things aren't cheap.

So what's new for you in 2018?
 
Savage Voyageur
01/18/2018 08:38AM
 
Last year I went on a fishing trip in central Ontario. The owner of the lodge said to buy his spinners that he made because the fish like them. I only bought a couple of them and pike took care of them on the first day. I will be buying more for my upcoming trip this year. What is different from most store spinners rigs is the hook. Most have tiny hooks for minnows, Leeches. The hook is an o’Shaughnessy hook, not sure the size but they are about 2” long. The way you put on a minnow is totally different also. I would normally hook the minnow through the lips with the tiny hook on store bought rigs, so it would stay alive longer and swim correctly. With the O’Shaughnessy hook you feed the hook in the mouth of the minnow and out the gill plate. Then you bend the minnow about at a 90 deg angle and stab the hook through the center of the minnow at the lateral line. You continue out the other side of the minnow so the hook barely sticks though. This way the minnow stays straight when trolling and the minnow stayed alive for quite a while. You also can catch multiple fish on the same minnow because it’s held on the hook though it’s mouth/gills and also through the body.

Im also going to troll with an assortment of Doctor Spoons for big Pike. This lure is very good with the slower speeds of a small motor or a canoe. As a typical spoon moves in the water, this one moves the same only at slower speeds.

For the way I fish I wanted a portable depth finder. Last fall I bought a Lowrance Hook 4 fish finder. I mounted the whole setup in a plastic box. Inside the box is 2-12 volt batteries and I ran the cords out a hole in the side of the box. Then I mounted the head unit on the top of the box. I then bought the Navionics chip that has most every lake in the USA and Canada. It has sonar, down scan imaging, and chart features. Should be just the ticket.


 
PikeChase
01/19/2018 08:30AM
 
I'll be working tubes more this year. The first year I used them my wife was getting on me for spending too much on fishing gear so I opted out of getting the tube jigs and instead used a standard jig. I feel my bigger mistake was using a 3/8 jig which was too heavy, as I didn't get the spiral drop that I've since been told is the ticket to fishing tubes.


We'll also be trying more trolling with Rapalas to find the fish. I buy 4-5 new lures every year I go up but never try anything other than the Husky Jerk.
 
Wally13
01/19/2018 07:42AM
 

I will be trying a couple of new ways to catch smallmouth in 2018.

Both methods have been discussed in this forum: for sub surface - “Ned Rigging with mushroom jigs and Finesse plastics” and for top water- “ Whopper Plopper”.


I am also going to fancast and vertically jig more Shiver Minnow jigs for walleye. I gave “Shivering” a shot last summer in Quetico and had some success.
 
QueticoMike
01/19/2018 11:25AM
 
PikeChase: "I'll be working tubes more this year. The first year I used them my wife was getting on me for spending too much on fishing gear so I opted out of getting the tube jigs and instead used a standard jig. I feel my bigger mistake was using a 3/8 jig which was too heavy, as I didn't get the spiral drop that I've since been told is the ticket to fishing tubes.



We'll also be trying more trolling with Rapalas to find the fish. I buy 4-5 new lures every year I go up but never try anything other than the Husky Jerk. "



I've never used anything heavier than a 1/4 oz jig up there, 3/8 oz does sound a little heavy. If you haven't bought your new lures or if you don't already have one, give a gold J9 jointed Rapala a shot for trolling.
 
PikeChase
01/19/2018 12:06PM
 
QueticoMike: "PikeChase: "I'll be working tubes more this year. The first year I used them my wife was getting on me for spending too much on fishing gear so I opted out of getting the tube jigs and instead used a standard jig. I feel my bigger mistake was using a 3/8 jig which was too heavy, as I didn't get the spiral drop that I've since been told is the ticket to fishing tubes.




We'll also be trying more trolling with Rapalas to find the fish. I buy 4-5 new lures every year I go up but never try anything other than the Husky Jerk. "




I've never used anything heavier than a 1/4 oz jig up there, 3/8 oz does sound a little heavy. If you haven't bought your new lures or if you don't already have one, give a gold J9 jointed Rapala a shot for trolling."




Thanks for the advice on the Rapala. I'll pick that up and give it a shot for sure. I didn't trust that the hook on my smaller jigs were big enough so I grabbed the heavy guy (lesson learned). I've already grabbed 1/8 tube jigs for this years trip.
 
QueticoMike
01/23/2018 10:10AM
 
missmolly: " Cheap Whopper Ploppers here, but google "aliexpress reviews" and you'll see many people hate the website. Others find it slow, but satisfactory.



It looks like this price is only good today, Saturday. "



I thought about trying this out, but it looked kind of "iffy" so I passed.......I think most of these lures are nothing more than a better designed torpedo. With a torpedo the frog's back end is a flashy propeller, doesn't look real natural. The ploppers look more realistic and sound slightly different. I will put the Munky Butt to test in Quetico this spring and see if it works better than the magnum torpedo.
 
FOG51
01/19/2018 01:00AM
 
Like you Mike I fell into the Whopper Plopper trap [always wondered if the members who suggest these expensive lures get a kick back from the company, just kidding of course] unlike you I had to buy my own. I got a Monkey Butt, a Know It All and a ??Baby Bass, I WILL start out with a Ti leader. When I was up in Ontario last fall I found a about 1 1/2 inch Daredevil in some rocks, the hooks were pretty rough shape and there was just a tiny spot of green on it other wise all silver. I hooked it on and caught 9 fish , combination of walleye and mid sized northerns, till all the hooks broke off, borrowed some hooks off a Rapala and it turned out to be one of the best lures for the trip. I have bought a couple of small Daredevils for this year. I have been tying bucktails for my jigs, smally topwater lures, and some for my big Daredevils, Dr Spoons. So much for the downsizing of my tackle box. Just want to thank you guys for letting us members know about new lures out there. FRED
 
QueticoMike
01/19/2018 06:53AM
 
Thanks for your input. There must not be anybody out there trying new stuff this year. Or maybe they are keeping it a secret :)
 
DeanL
01/19/2018 07:16AM
 
Just like 2017 I’ll try jigging some more. It is one presentation that I’ve never tried a whole lot despite the cult following it has with walleye fisherman.


I did also get a whopper plopped for Christmas, I’ll post (or not) how it goes.
 
QueticoMike
01/19/2018 07:31AM
 
DeanL: "Just like 2017 I’ll try jigging some more. It is one presentation that I’ve never tried a whole lot despite the cult following it has with walleye fisherman.



I did also get a whopper plopped for Christmas, I’ll post (or not) how it goes."



Not big on jigging myself. I hate getting snagged, losing lures and having to tie back on again. But sometimes it the best way to catch fish at certain times in certain areas. I am getting a little better at working tubes for smallmouth, but I seem to slow swim it more than jig it. Good luck this year!
 
dbpmw3
01/19/2018 01:24PM
 
Going to try and throw 1/16 oz marabou hair jigs for smallies. Hope I can find a rod that will cast them far enough.
Also going to bring some zman trd tubes. Killed the crappies on them this fall in Illinois.
 
A1t2o
01/19/2018 03:12PM
 
For me it isn't going to be about trying something new, I'm just going to adjust my approach and plan better. I'm going to try to reduce my tackle box this year. I always try to grab more and better lures, but I think that a back to basics might be needed. Getting down to one container would be ideal, maybe 2 if I keep one for the small things like hooks, jigs and weights so they don't get mixed into everything.


The other thing I want to do is plan ahead and utilize what I have better. That means getting the right lures or bait on for the right lakes and depths. This way I can avoid constantly switching lures, maximize my chances of catching a fish sooner, and reduce my overall tackle box size.
 
QueticoMike
01/19/2018 05:45PM
 
A1t2o: "For me it isn't going to be about trying something new, I'm just going to adjust my approach and plan better. I'm going to try to reduce my tackle box this year. I always try to grab more and better lures, but I think that a back to basics might be needed. Getting down to one container would be ideal, maybe 2 if I keep one for the small things like hooks, jigs and weights so they don't get mixed into everything.



The other thing I want to do is plan ahead and utilize what I have better. That means getting the right lures or bait on for the right lakes and depths. This way I can avoid constantly switching lures, maximize my chances of catching a fish sooner, and reduce my overall tackle box size."



On my first trip to Quetico I had 9 lures and some steel leaders. I think I came back with 7 and caught my biggest pike, walleye and smallmouth of my life at the time.
 
carmike
01/19/2018 09:31PM
 
I am planning to try an umbrella-style rig for lake trout. They make some with multiple blades but only one hook (which is the only way these things are legal in this part of the world)...I am hoping they're deadly on them.


I'm thinking they will be, as one of the most underutilized baits out there for trout is a (white) spinnerbait, and the A-rig should be even better. :)
 
MrBadExample
01/23/2018 07:57PM
 
Anyone mess around with drop chains for walleye?


How about slip spoons? Like a slip bobber but with a spoon.


Interested in trying some new jigging methods out.



 
bfurlow
01/24/2018 04:17PM
 
QueticoMike: "DeanL: "Just like 2017 I’ll try jigging some more. It is one presentation that I’ve never tried a whole lot despite the cult following it has with walleye fisherman.


I did also get a whopper plopped for Christmas, I’ll post (or not) how it goes."



Not big on jigging myself. I hate getting snagged, losing lures and having to tie back on again. But sometimes it the best way to catch fish at certain times in certain areas. I am getting a little better at working tubes for smallmouth, but I seem to slow swim it more than jig it. Good luck this year!"



I am with Mike - I hate having to tie on so much with the number of snags. Learning how to better swim the lure has helped with that a lot.


Not sure of new techniques - I still have enough trouble with the ones I am used to! :)