The Boundary Waters and Quetico Park are home to four major species of fish; northern pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, and lake trout. The best overall month for catching all four species of fish is June. Here's some tips on catching each species:
Northern Pike
These ferocious fish hit on almost anything, anywhere. Northern spawn right before the ice goes out in late April or early May. Northern will stay in the creek & stream areas for about a month after the spawn. As weed beds begin to form in May and early June, the northern gravitate to these areas. Large northern head for deeper water as the water temperatures begin to rise in July. In mid August, the weed beds begin to die off. Continue to fish the green weed beds and also rocky shorelines. Use flashy spoons, crank baits, musky buck tails, Suicks, large rapalas and anything else that is huge. Be sure to use a leader, as the northern's sharp teeth and gill plates cut fishing line with ease.
Smallmouth bass
Smallmouth spawn around the last week of May or the first week of June. Bass typically need about one to two weeks to come back from the spawn. Pre-spawn bass can be found suspended in 15 to 20 feet of water. As the bass move closer to spawning time, focus on shorelines in 4 to 8 feet of water. Post spawn bass will be active in surface to six feet of water, along shorelines and rocky points. In mid to late August, the bass begin to transition into deeper water. Fish the same type of structure, but in deeper water (about 8 to 15 feet). Jig fisherman will want to use 1/8 to 1/4 ounce lead head jigs. Yellow, chartreuse, black and white twister tail grubs in 3 & 4 inch lengths produce well. Tip the jig with a live leech and increase productivity during slow fishing periods. Popular artificial lures include; Mepp's spinners, Zara Spooks, rapalas, spinner baits, and buzz baits. Crayfish are the primary food of bass. Consider lures that are silver/black, gold/black, crayfish, bull frog and chartreuse in color.
Walleye
Ice out marks the start of the walleye spawning. Like northern, walleye spawn in moving water around creeks and streams. Walleyes are relatively easy to catch in shallow water until early to mid June. During this time, focus on moving water above and below rapids, plus evening fishing along shorelines. As the water warms, walleye will move deeper and orient themselves near reef structures and around islands with sharp drop-offs (depths of about 15 to 25 feet). The cooling water temperatures in September bring the walleyes back up into shallower water. Consider fall night fishing in shallow water where the water flow is constricted (lake narrows or above and below rapids). Deep diving rapalas, walley divers and lead head jigs work well during the deep water fishing period. Adjust to shallow running rapalas and lures for spring and fall fishing. Use the same lead head jig set-up as with smallmouth. Leeches can be added to jigs too.
Lake Trout
The cold water loving lake trout spawns in late September and early October. Spring and fall will find the lake trout suspended near drop-offs and around islands in 10 to 35 feet of water. May to mid June and September are some of the best times to catch trout. Deep diving rapalas, Little Cleos, lead head jigs, and walley divers produce well during this time. As the temperatures warm, lake trout will move to depths of 65 feet or more. Try Hopkins jigging spoons and spoon plugs to catch deep trout during the mid summer months. Lake trout seem to be attracted to chartreuse, silver, and medium blue colors.
Tips
Being familiar with the way a lure works is the key to being successful. Frequently, lures that are used in other areas of the country can be as productive (if not more so) as the favorite local stand-bys. This is not unusual since the user knows how to cast, as well as the correct speed to retrieve, and work the lure. Check out the old tackle box before coming up. Don't bring a huge tackle box, instead bring a smaller easy to pack and portage box with some select favorites.
If fishing is the main objective, bring along two fishing poles. One pole should be an ultra-light set-up with 6 to 8 pound test line for walleye and smallmouth bass. The second pole should be a medium action with 10 to 12 pound test line for northern and lake trout. Fly fishing is occasionally done by the experts. Bait casting poles are also used, but a wilderness canoe trip is not the time to learn how to use them. The frequent back lashes will bring out the raging animal in the most calm fishermen.
The Boundary Waters and Quetico Park offer a wide variety of lake sizes and depths. This is great situation for fisherman. When the smallmouth are spawning in the shallow lakes, they will still be in the prespawn position in the deeper lakes. Likewise, when they are spawning in the deeper lakes, the smallmouth will be through the spawn in the shallow lakes and hitting on shallow and surface lures. Lake trout also spawn first in the shallow lakes in the fall (since they cool off quicker). The larger, deeper lakes spawn one to two weeks later giving the fisherman plenty of fishing options.
It's almost impossible to travel across a canoe country lake without pulling out the fishing pole to try one's luck. Whether big or small, there is nothing like the feel of a smallmouth bass on the end of the line, or the taste of golden crisp fried walleye fillet. Good fishing!