EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST
BWCAW Fishing
A sturdy rod in good shape* Equipment should be easily packed and fairly light weight. REMEMBER WE ARE PORTAGING ALL THIS. If your tackle box has handles - it's too big! In addition to the following, I take as group leader, a rod tip repair kit with extra line guides and an extra (small) spool of line. Twice I've had a group member have all their line stripped off during a portage -- a lose lure catching on a shrub. I don't keep my pole strung during portages for that reason. This list may not be comprehensive, but I believe it will serve you well until you are able to fine tune your kit to meet your style.
Here is a suggested list to get you started:
Reel matched to rod with new 6 or 8 lb line**
Small Tackle Box (a flat one about the size of a cigar box) with:
20 Hooks, in sizes 6 & 4
Sinkers - split shot, slip shot, bead sinkers (?).
Swivels - snap type, two and three-way
Floating jig heads in orange, chartreuse & red
Jigs, hair and feather types (walleye) ¼ oz white (and a few in yellow, orange, chartreuse, & red)
Rubber body jigs in chartreuse, brown, black, & purple
Plugs - surface and diving types. Trolling plugs 2" - 5", 1½"-2" for smallmouth in silver, gold, orange, & perch
Spinners (like Mepps) in sizes 1 & 2 with either silver or gold blades, with or without squirrel tails
Spoons: heavy for casting and jigging; light for trolling. silver, gold, orange, red, red/white, or any combination of these
A couple of slip bobbers
A couple of plastic worms (Power Bait leeches, etc.)
Any of your favorites not listed (remember its all got to fit in the small tacklebox!)
A small spool of 4# line for leaders (optional)
Filet Knife
Needle Nose Pliers
Cord-Type Stringer (or 2) 6' long or longer
Line Clippers (fingernail type)
Any other equipment you really need (remember we are portaging all this!)
Live bait is a pain in the BWCAW! Preserved minnows (freeze-dried or salted) are OK to tip a lure or jig. Worms may be the easiest to transport and use but you have to keep them cool and in a sturdy container. Leeches transport well in an old wide mouth water bottle -- change water often (heavy). Live bait or Not? It's up to you. It'll help your success - but it's a pain!
* A Medium action fiberglass rod, 5 1/2' - 7' long, one or two piece or telescoping, spinning or casting is a good choice - but use whatever you have or prefer.
** The reel should be functional and should be matched to the rod - a spinning reel on a spinning rod, a medium duty reel on a medium duty rod, etc. Be sure to check the reel over before the trip, tightening all screws, oiling, etc.
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BWCAW Fishing
The 4 most abundant species found in the Boundary Waters are Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Lake Trout, and Walleye. There are a few lakes where stream trout, or panfish and a couple of other species are found but they are rare.
Smallmouth Bass - prefer small lures/bait, 1½" - 2" long. They can be found in rubble - look for rocks the size of your head. Start fishing in 5' - 15' deep. In the spring they may be shallower, in summer they may be deeper.
Walleye - sensitive to light. Dawn & dusk are good times or on overcast days when there is a chop to the water. They like warm water but may go deep where it is dark - generally 5' - 15' is the shallowest they'll be. Cool water makes them sluggish. Walleyes like hard bottoms (rock, sand, etc.) and structure (points, reefs, ridges, submerged islands, etc.). They school, so if you find one there are probably more in the same spot.
Lake Trout - In the summer they will be deep, as much as 50 ft. or more. They need cool temperatures and good oxygen so deep holes with springs are a good bet. Very early or late season they may be closer to the surface. They, too, like rubble.
Northern Pike - the best place to look is in the shallows around structure (weeds, partially submerged logs, etc.). They are not too difficult to get to bite and are pretty plentiful.
Certainly keep enough fish for supper, but remember there is no refrigeration. Practice "catch and release" or "catch, photo, and release".
The best way to clean your catch is filleting. Fish chunks or steaks are also options (usually done with Lake trout).