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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Last week Quetico Smallies
 
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missmolly
06/21/2013 09:45AM
 
I bumped this to take another look at Mike's huge fish.
 
GeoFisher
06/21/2013 12:11PM
 
quote missmolly: "I bumped this to take another look at Mike's huge fish. "


He stuck some SOLID fish that is for sure.


We generally stick solids too, but this year we only managed 2 over 4, and lots, and lots of 3.5's.


Later,


Geo
 
Miami1
06/05/2013 08:05AM
 
Nice fish! Thanks for turning me on to the zulu. Anthony
 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 07:54AM
 
Here are some of the smallies I caught last week. My thumbs are still sore from lipping all of the bass we caught. I think all of these were caught on the Zulu.


 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 08:27AM
 
quote Quetico Tom: "What was the water temp?"


Did not take any readings, but that water was cold. Saw a glacier on Agnes lake. Some creeks flow over the cliffs during high water and there was still a patch of ice and snow at least 50 feet wide and it dropped a 130 feet from the top to the bottom. But that was on May 25th, it might be gone by now. The big lakes still were cold, the small shallower lakes you could tell were much warmer. Smallies are starting to move in closer to shore, maybe 10 to 15 feet out in 6 to 10 FOW.
 
PINETREE
06/05/2013 09:08AM
 
Look like nice fat smallies. A little beef on them.
 
kyleyewongster
06/05/2013 09:11AM
 
Nice work Mike!
 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 10:01AM
 
quote CrookedPaddler1: "What depth where you cathcihg them at? "


6 to 10 FOW
 
chipaddler
06/05/2013 10:12AM
 
Wow! Those are some hogs. I'll be happy getting just 1 that size next week.
 
TeamTuna06
06/05/2013 10:29AM
 
Are you fishing the Zulus weightless or adding split shot to the line, etc?
 
missmolly
06/05/2013 10:58AM
 
quote QueticoMike: "quote missmolly: "Mike, I keep returning to this thread to look at your fish. They are so deep and long. Did you measure any of them? Your new moniker should be bassmasterMike."



They were all 20 inches or a little better......"




They sure look it, but it's their depth that really impresses. Those are heavy fish. I don't know that I've ever seen as impressive a grouping from a single trip on this site.
 
zeke1000
06/05/2013 11:04AM
 
Wow those are really impressive fish. Based on your postings I have used zulus in June in year's past with great results in BWCA and in Canada north of Quetico.


This year my trip is in the last week of July/first week of August.


Do you have any observations about the effectiveness of the zulu in that mid summer period? Would you still fish it in 6 to 10 FOW?


Zeke
 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 11:16AM
 
quote TeamTuna06: "Are you fishing the Zulus weightless or adding split shot to the line, etc?"


I use a heavier swivel for the weight.
 
Quetico Tom
06/05/2013 08:06AM
 
What was the water temp?
 
CrookedPaddler1
06/05/2013 09:10AM
 
What depth where you cathcihg them at?
 
missmolly
06/05/2013 08:52AM
 
HUGE fish, Mike! I'm so impressed.
 
LJAY
06/05/2013 01:59PM
 
very impressive fish indeed, way to go !
Thanks for sharing
What lakes were you on ?
 
missmolly
06/05/2013 09:40AM
 
Mike, I keep returning to this thread to look at your fish. They are so deep and long. Did you measure any of them? Your new moniker should be bassmasterMike.
 
AndySG
06/05/2013 02:34PM
 
All I can say is........WOW Mike! For many anglers, that is a catch of a lifetime. Way to go dude!
 
Mickeal
06/05/2013 04:24PM
 
Nice!!
 
analyzer
06/07/2013 11:45PM
 
quote Basspro69: "Fishnut your statement is very true, you can catch some very nice fish all over the country, and if it was just about the fish I dont think Mike would go up North. He clearly can catch fish in a bathtub, but its the striking beauty and wildness of the area that draws us to the BWCA and Quetico in addition to the great fishing ."


+1


I can go to Upper Red, and catch dozens and dozens of walleyes in one day. I'm frequently bored with it, by the middle of the 2nd day. I NEVER feel that way in the boundary waters. It is SO much more beautiful. The fishing is just frosting.


As much as I enjoy catching crappies, walleyes and pike on URL, it IS the ugliest lake I fish. I am very blessed to be able to fish the st. croix, and bwca. Just amazing scenery.
 
Moonman
06/07/2013 07:22PM
 
Now that's what I call slayin'!!!


Moonman.
 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 11:18AM
 
quote zeke1000: "Wow those are really impressive fish. Based on your postings I have used zulus in June in year's past with great results in BWCA and in Canada north of Quetico.



This year my trip is in the last week of July/first week of August.



Do you have any observations about the effectiveness of the zulu in that mid summer period? Would you still fish it in 6 to 10 FOW?



Zeke "



More than likely I will fish them the same. I am heading back up in 3 weeks and I don't see fishing much differently. I might fish a little more shallow though. Fish them at all levels and let the fish tell you where they are for the most part.
 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 09:59AM
 
quote missmolly: "Mike, I keep returning to this thread to look at your fish. They are so deep and long. Did you measure any of them? Your new moniker should be bassmasterMike."


They were all 20 inches or a little better......
 
shock
06/05/2013 03:23PM
 
way to go mike ! VN !
 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 05:33PM
 
quote Basspro69: "Beautiful fish Mike, those things look like they bent the rod just right ."


Yep, there was a little rod bending going on all of the time on this trip, I had a great time. Thanks to everyone for the nice comments!
 
timatkn
06/05/2013 08:19PM
 
As always very nice.


T
 
Arlo Pankook
06/05/2013 08:31AM
 
Donkeys!!!


Well done sir!



 
Gunflinter
06/05/2013 05:03PM
 
Wowsers!
 
bfurlow
06/05/2013 03:58PM
 
Very nice fish Mike. Thanks for posting the pics!
 
teejaytee
06/05/2013 12:17PM
 
Just returned from a smallie trip to Basswood Lake via Prairie Portage last week (sat-thurs). Water temps rose from around 50F on saturday to around 56-58F by Thursday after 4 sunny days in a row. Smallies were slamming tubes and anything that looked like shad off wind-blown points and small bays on either side of the points. No wind = slow fishing. Dropping anchor and a good paddling partner was key to staying on the fish. Fish had not moved up to the banks/bays to make beds yet but imagine that is where there will be very soon if not there already. Most fish were caught in 5-15ft of water, usually starting around noon after the water had warmed up a bit. Caught prob ~150 fish in 4 full days ... 6 that were 20"+ with rest in the 15-19" range. good weather, lots of fish, and NO BUGS made this one of the better trips we've had.
 
Quetico Tom
06/05/2013 02:17PM
 
What is your guess for where they will be 06/16 thru 0622. Will the spawn be on or over?
 
missmolly
06/05/2013 07:24PM
 
quote TeamTuna06: "We should change the thread to: 20 Questions with QueticoMike...or A virtual townhall meeting with QueticoMike!



Thanks again for all of the information you share Mike. Beautiful fish.



Pat"



Mike catches the krakens and we listen. We'd be stupid to not listen.
 
TeamTuna06
06/05/2013 06:39PM
 
We should change the thread to: 20 Questions with QueticoMike...or A virtual townhall meeting with QueticoMike!


Thanks again for all of the information you share Mike. Beautiful fish.


Pat
 
JJ47
06/06/2013 09:28AM
 
Very nice fish! It looks like the kind of trip any angler dreams about!
 
missmolly
06/06/2013 10:14AM
 
More pics!
 
Basspro69
06/05/2013 03:41PM
 
Beautiful fish Mike, those things look like they bent the rod just right .
 
QueticoMike
06/05/2013 05:32PM
 
quote Quetico Tom: "What is your guess for where they will be 06/16 thru 0622. Will the spawn be on or over?"


I guess that will all depend on what lake you are on and the water temps. So maybe, maybe not.
 
AlbinVega
06/06/2013 12:56PM
 
Very nice!!
I hope I have something like that to share this summer.
 
Wallidave
06/06/2013 01:25PM
 
Great looking fish Mike...we leave Sunday for Quetico, 12 days on the water.
 
missmolly
06/10/2013 12:31PM
 
quote QueticoMike: "quote Frenchy19: "Novice question time: Are all Zulus the same length? Just did a very quick search and came up with a variety of colors in the 5" range. Heading up to Q in a couple of weeks and would love to have just one similar pic to post! "



Sorry it has taken me so long to reply, I haven't been on this site in a few days. Yes, all Zulus are 5 inches long. They also come with a split tail and those are called Z Too's. Z Too's are 5 inches long as well. I should be getting the rest of my pictures soon and will post a few more. Only 17 more days before I start the drive up north again! :-)"



I look forward to getting more pics and am happy you'll be returning to battle more beasties!
 
QueticoMike
06/10/2013 11:57AM
 
quote Frenchy19: "Novice question time: Are all Zulus the same length? Just did a very quick search and came up with a variety of colors in the 5" range. Heading up to Q in a couple of weeks and would love to have just one similar pic to post! "


Sorry it has taken me so long to reply, I haven't been on this site in a few days. Yes, all Zulus are 5 inches long. They also come with a split tail and those are called Z Too's. Z Too's are 5 inches long as well. I should be getting the rest of my pictures soon and will post a few more. Only 17 more days before I start the drive up north again! :-)
 
Mad_Angler
06/06/2013 01:36PM
 
quote QueticoMike: "Here are some of the smallies I caught last week. My thumbs are still sore from lipping all of the bass we caught. I think all of these were caught on the Zulu. ..."



Crap. I was on Seagull Lake over Memorial Day. I thought the water was too cold and I never tied on a Zulu...


My loss.


Nice fish!
 
indyjoe
06/06/2013 02:57PM
 
Very impressive fish. It sure whets my appetite for Quetico smallies. Well done!
 
jb in the wild
06/06/2013 06:48PM
 
You are one hell of a fisherman Mike. All those fish are nice.


JB
 
QueticoMike
06/06/2013 01:37PM
 
quote Wallidave: "Great looking fish Mike...we leave Sunday for Quetico, 12 days on the water. "


Looking forward to hearing about your trip. Good luck Dave!
 
Basspro69
06/06/2013 11:17PM
 
quote QueticoMike: "quote Basspro69: "Beautiful fish Mike, those things look like they bent the rod just right ."



Yep, there was a little rod bending going on all of the time on this trip, I had a great time. Thanks to everyone for the nice comments!"
Thanks for posting the pictures, it never ever gets old. I could look at fish pictures all day.
 
QueticoMike
06/06/2013 08:59AM
 
I will post some more pictures once I receive them. These are the only 5 pictures from the trip I have. My partner sent me an email with these shots, I knew there is probably 20 more pictures of nice bronzebacks. He will be sending them to me (snail mail) this Friday, so sometime next week I will post a few more.
 
indyjoe
06/06/2013 02:57PM
 
Very impressive fish. It sure whets my appetite for Quetico smallies. Well done!
 
AdamXChicago
06/06/2013 11:47PM
 
WOW!!! Beautiful!!! September can't get here fast enough
 
fishnut51
06/07/2013 07:10AM
 
Some great fish, bet they pulled some drag! I was up there fishing area lakes/rivers around Ely and I'm not debating which spots are better but sometimes you can catch great fish close to home without traveling and spending a lot of money.


We caught tons of smallmouth in pre-spawn in very shallow water and in river's from 19-22 inches and most all were stuffed ready to lay eggs. I'll post some pics to show the fatness of these smallies.
 
Basspro69
06/07/2013 02:28PM
 
Fishnut your statement is very true, you can catch some very nice fish all over the country, and if it was just about the fish I dont think Mike would go up North. He clearly can catch fish in a bathtub, but its the striking beauty and wildness of the area that draws us to the BWCA and Quetico in addition to the great fishing .
 
Frenchy19
06/07/2013 03:47PM
 
Novice question time: Are all Zulus the same length? Just did a very quick search and came up with a variety of colors in the 5" range. Heading up to Q in a couple of weeks and would love to have just one similar pic to post!
 
walleye_hunter
06/08/2013 08:12AM
 
I usually don't take a second look at smallmouth pictures but those are some big bass.
 
walleye_hunter
06/08/2013 08:17AM
 
quote Basspro69: "Fishnut your statement is very true, you can catch some very nice fish all over the country, and if it was just about the fish I dont think Mike would go up North. He clearly can catch fish in a bathtub, but its the striking beauty and wildness of the area that draws us to the BWCA and Quetico in addition to the great fishing ."
True story. That's why I do almost all of my fishing up the Gunflint.