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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Grand Slam Lakes in Q and BWCA
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| Author | Message Text | ||
| PineKnot |
MarshallPrime: "I didn't get the grand slam my 1st 8 or so trips because I had no idea how to catch lakers and didn't want to spend the time trolling around when I could catch many bass during that time "wasting" it looking for lakers but then eventually I started a little here and there and that experience has helped." +1 Kinda mirrors my evolution too....although I learned laker fishing earlier than walleye fishing....trying to catch trophy smallies is still where I spend the majority of my fishing time.... |
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| Stumpy |
About 35 years ago I took two buddies on a trip (3 in one canoe), they got many casts in, to my few, as I was in the stern, and trying to get them fish. On the trip I caught 6 fish, all nice sized. 1 Pike (12 pounds) 1 walleye 1 Lake Trout 1 Small mouth 1 Largemouth 1 Rock Bass crazy |
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| WIMike |
passthepitonspete: "Hahaha! It only counts if one person catches all four species in a single lake on a SINGLE day! " Traditionally, a saltwater grand slam is 3 different species in a 24 hour period. There are inshore, nearshore, offshore and probably several other "slams". And the species can vary depending on locale. I don't think I've ever seen a description of a freshwater slam. Seems that a slam can be whatever a person wants it to be but, for me, I agree the slam should be completed in a single day (meaning a calendar day). Makes it more challenging. |
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| PineKnot |
The last few years, my goal has changed to be able to get the Grand Slam on a single lake during the trip. I was surprised that I was able to do this, sometimes because I knew the lake, sometimes by complete luck. The first time I hit the grand slam on a single lake was Kahshahpiwi. I was heading south along the western shoreline trolling a glass perch deep husky jerk within 90 minutes landed all four species. I was planning to exit Kahs to get to North Bay. This was a calm crazy way to exit the lake and almost caused me to reverse direction and stay on Kahs another night or two... Normally, my 2-week trips include targeting a couple lakes for 1-3 nights each to fish. I'll post the list of my Grand Slam lakes a bit later, but wanted to see what others have experienced....most of the lakes on my list are in the Quetico, with a couple in the BWCA....most are larger lakes, but not all of them..... So, what are your Grand Slam lakes? |
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| pastorjsackett |
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| PineKnot |
I don't consider myself to be a great fisherman....I've learned things through trial and error as a kid through adulthood. The best thing I purchased that helped my pursuit of the slam was getting a depth finder about 10 years ago. I find smallies and pike easy to find and catch, whereas walleye and lake trout are much harder. I used to joking tell friends that I target the other species and catch walleye by accident, but I’m getting better at actually learning how to catch walleye. Most lakes where I’ve caught three species, I‘m missing either a walleye or a laker. I hope you don’t yell at me for divulging these lakes....I’m pretty sure fish species for a given lake can be found on the MnDNR and Ontario Fish On-Line sites. Here’s the lakes I’ve actually caught the grand slam on during a trip...most are in a single day, some over 2 days…. Kahshahpiwi Pickerel Quetico Basswood (Quetico) Jean Antoine Walter Yum Yum Poohbah Lac La Croix (BWCA) Seagull Quetico lakes I’ve come close (missing either a walleye or laker) and hope to visit again…. Beaverhouse Cirrus Draper Elk Burt Robinson Delahey Brent |
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| shock |
seagull another good fishery for a grand slam. |
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| Frankie_Paull |
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| papalambeau |
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| WhiteWolf |
If you could only use one lure to try for the Grand Slam, what would it be?? Myself - 1/4 or 3/8oz jig with 3 or 4"" twister tail. chartreuse or white. obviously this would be in the Spring with the lakers shallow. |
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| TomT |
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| tarnkt |
I haven’t targeted Lakers in several years. The work hasn’t been worth the reward for me. That probably means I’m not doing it right. |
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| Basspro69 |
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| PineKnot |
WhiteWolf: "....If you could only use one lure to try for the Grand Slam, what would it be??..." For me it's a Flicker Minnow, Blue Alewife, either a TD-9 or TD-11. These run 18-23 ft, but can run down around 10 feet by trolling with less line out and/or a bit slower.... |
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| Canoe Dude |
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| walllee |
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| MarshallPrime |
1 out of the 4 was the same day split between 2 lakes. The other 3 were over the 5or6 night trip. I have gotten the Grand Slam plus on most of these trips with the largemouth. Last year I got the GS+++ with perch and bluegill. I've never got a white fish or crappie up there. Last year also caught a large snapping turtle (with net then held by the tail for some fun pictures) that wouldn't leave our pike dinner alone. Good times. Cant wait for June 2nd. |
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| timatkn |
passthepitonspete: " Fun lakes to go through. Didn’t fish them hard, but Worth fishing though. Camped on Trant and Woodside. Didn’t even fish Trant. T |
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| Frankie_Paull |
Stumpy: "Burt Lake in Quetico, is good. Got the Grand Slam there in about 2 hours. |
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| timatkn |
Thomas, Fraser, Ima in the BWCAW Q: McIntrye, Darky, Ted, Sarah, Agnes, Burke, Sunday T |
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| PineKnot |
If I can't catch smallies in either lake, I'll be really surprised....that or it's time to find a different hobby.... |
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| passthepitonspete |
Debbie and I tried for the Grand Slam this past summer, but never quite succeeded. We will definitely be trying again this year, and I'll bet we get a few. From the north: Pickerel - an outstanding lake with all four species. Incredibly easy to reach, and never really busy because it is so big. You could happily spend an entire week fishing on Pickerel Lake and never be bored. Antoine - great lake Ram - a great little lake McDougall - are there walleyes there? I'm going to find out. We will be returning from Kawnipi and Agnes through Kahshapiwi. I am particularly interested in passing through the super remote lakes Reid, Woodside, Hurlburt and Trant. Who ever goes there? |
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| timatkn |
Canoe Dude: "I Don't think SMB or LMB have made their way into Thomas, Fraser and Ima yet. Thomas has a survey from 2012, the other two are older. I haven't caught any bass there or seen anyone catch any. There are Rock Bass in there though if you count that." Ahhh I wish that was true...not a fan of smallies invading those lakes. Bass most of the time don’t show up on fish surveys. Look at Insula...people have been catching bass there since at least the 70’s and have never showed on a survey. They aren’t in big numbers on those lakes yet... the narrows into Ima/Thomas, outlet to Hatchet are spots to try. T |
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| walleyejunky |
Shocked to see that no one has mentioned Snowbank Lake. I guess to many are busy paddling to make lakes further inside the BWCA. |
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| MarshallPrime |
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| mike2019 |
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| JD |
But have I actually hit a grand slam? Yes, on the same trip, with SMB/walleye/pike on LLC and a laker on Oyster. But not all on a single lake yet. I'll be quite stoked when that day comes! |
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| Stumpy |
passthepitonspete: " I am particularly interested in passing through the super remote lakes Reid, Woodside, Hurlburt and Trant. Who ever goes there? " Been to all... Lips are sealed |
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| missmolly |
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| elpirkl |
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