Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness fishing can be some of the best Minnesota offers. The key is to bring only necessary gear. Time spent toting excess equipment across portages is time better spent fishing. Here are some tips:
Traveling light, fishing smart in the BWCA
Here's the essentials you need to get the bites you want without lugging lots of gear.
June 10, 2015 at 1:35AM
• Use plastic trays for tackle (not tackle "boxes"). The insides can be custom-designed. I carry two, one for jigs and terminal tackle (swivels, sinkers, Lindy-style rigs etc.); the other for crankbaits. These trays are cheap and almost indestructible. Wrap a thick rubber band around each to secure closure.
• Use a cloth or nylon satchel, not overly large, to carry the trays and other fishing gear, including reels and extra line. This is your fishing kit. Stow in a Duluth pack while traveling. Keep it out while fishing.
• Bring jigs mainly in sizes ¼-ounce and ⅜-ounce. Secondarily, add some weighing ⅛-ounce and ½-ounce. Chartreuse is good in tannin-stained BWCA waters; also black, blue and white. Add twister tails and Gulp! Also, bring leeches (live bait isn't allowed in Quetico), changing their water regularly in a leech locker.
• Hard baits should include Shad Raps or similars in Nos. 5 and 7. Also floating baits (gold No. 9 Original Floaters are great for smallies), and walking-style baits such as Heddon Zara Spooks, Super Spook Juniors, Skitter Walks and SubWalks. Add a few poppers and spoon-style baits such as Dardevles or Five of Diamonds.
• Spool your reels with fresh 8-pound-test line and bring extra. Bring leaders for northern pike.
• Freeze-dried minnows can catch lake trout in some waters while you set up camp. Cast a minnow-baited Lindy-style rig off shore, propping the rod and reel safely amid rocks, with the reel bail open. Remain within a legal distance of rig. Wait for a laker to pick up the bait and run with it.
• Protect your rods by removing reels and carrying the rods in cases.
• Northerns are in shallow bays (and elsewhere). Smallies often can be found along rocky shorelines. Paddle around islands and over points for walleyes, trolling Shad Raps and other crankbaits running at various depths. When walleyes are found, pass over the same area again or hover there, switching to jigs and bait. Fish current and immediately downstream of current whenever possible.
Dennis Anderson danderson@startribune.com
None of the boat’s occupants, two adults and two juveniles, were wearing life jackets, officials said.
