![]() ![]() ![]() One person rows while the other person casts. So, most of your fishing will be from a canoe and yes, it can be a challenge.Ĭasting from a canoe takes some getting used to. There aren’t a lot of places to wade in the BWCA since the trees often encroach upon the shoreline. Don’t get lazy because you don’t feel like hauling your canoe through another portage. In other words, the deeper you explore into the BWCA, the better the fishing. Here’s the rule that I can attest to: the farther out you get, the better the fishing will be. The boundary waters canoe area is full of fish, but some lakes are more productive than others. The boundary waters area is one of the most picturesque places you’ll ever fish. There are brook trout in some areas, which are planted by the Minnesota DNR (Department of Natural Resources). You can find them in Look lake, Lac la croix, Carp lake, Knife lake, Saganaga lake, Maraboeuf lake, and Ottertrack lake.Ī complete list of fish in the BWCA would include species you likely wouldn’t target, such as bullhead (rare), sunfish (pumpkinseed and bluegill), rock bass, burbot, whitefish, sauger, suckers (redhorse, white, longnose), sturgeon, perch, and cisco. Your best bet to catch them on a fly is during the spring when they’re in the shallow water. Lake trout (members of the char family) hold in deep water, usually at depths of 50+ feet. It’s been reported that muskies have been caught in Little Vermillion lake and the Loon river. Musky aka muskellunge ( Esox masquinongy) Your best bet is to fish Crooked lake, Sucker lake, or Birch lake. But, when you find them, they’ll take surface patterns in the evening. Largemouths aren’t super common in the BWCA either. They’ll happily take beadhead fly patterns in black. You can find them in Loon lake, Lac La croix, Iron lake, Crooked lake, and many others. Black crappie ( Pomoxis nigromaculatus)Ĭrappies aren’t common in the BWCA (no panfish are), but you’ll hook into them while fishing for smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass can be found in most BWCA lakes. ![]() The record catch in the BWCA was 8-pounds. You’ll commonly catch 3-pounders, but 5-7 pounds is not uncommon. They’re terrific fighting fish, and they feed aggressively. Smallies are plentiful in the boundary waters. You can find walleye in Loon lake, Lac la croix, Sucker lake, Birch lake, Ottertrack lake, Saganaga lake, and Maraboeuf lake. The record walleye caught in the BWCA was 17 pounds and 8 ounces. Walleye hold in the deeper water and using a weighted beadhead fly is your best strategy. The BWCA record northern pike was 45 pounds and 12 ounces. The average size you’ll catch in the BWCA is around 3-4 pounds, but 5-15 pounders are common. You can catch them in virtually any lake. It’s during this period that they attack surface fly patterns. “Northerns” as we Minnesotans call them are ferocious predators that have earned the nickname “water wolf.” During the springtime they can be found in shallow water as they prepare to spawn. With that said, there are a few gamefish species you’ll be chasing with your fly rod, including: Northern pike ( Esox lucius) There are many species of fish that can be caught in the BWCA because there are so many lakes that comprise the area. In the picture below, I’m fishing for smallies that were swimming upstream from the nearby lake. These streams and creeks act like highways, allowing fish to move from lake to lake. There are innumerable streams and creeks that connect many of the BWCA lakes. There are over 2,000 lakes ranging in size from 10 acres to over 10,000 acres, and there are over 1,200 miles of rivers and streams.Īfter reading this article, you will have learned how to fly fish the BWCA, including what fish species exist, how to catch them, and what flies work best. Having grown up in Minnesota, and having been a boy scout, it was a right of passage. I’ve been to the BWCA, and the Lake of the Woods area, several times. It’s absolutely one of the best places in the world to fly fish for smallmouth bass. If you have the means, I highly recommend it. It’s an area unlike any other, offering world class beauty, solitude, and adventurous fishing. Tips on Fly Fishing the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area)įly fishing the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area) is an opportunity for any fly angler to hook into some giant smallmouth bass and northern pike, along with many other fish species. ![]()
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