Boundary Waters Trout Fishing Opener 2021: Sight Fishing Brook Trout

[@LibbyBella]

I really enjoyed this video. I liked seeing the fish attack your bait.

[@therealfarwater]

It is so cool to see them interact with the bait in the water!

[@GaryCox-r1i]

I've done 30 winters camping and ice fishing for lake trout and pike--but never sight-fished for brookies. That looks so cool. Though, with a hole that big, I know I would have fallen in.

[@therealfarwater]

There’s nothing like it-so exciting. It is sketchy sitting next to a giant hole, so it’s important to pack snow and ice around the hole that won’t slip and provide you traction. In my other sight fishing video, I am standing in water and almost fell in twice.

[@tomzukouski6041]

Very cool,never seen this sight fishing for trout !..

[@therealfarwater]

It is so much fun! We can’t use live bait or multiple lines for stream trout here in MN, so I feel sight fishing is the most effective (and enjoyable) way to target them through the ice!

[@tristainclark6293]

Really enjoyed the video and the authenticity that is rare in YT nowadays! Congrats on your PB!

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you! I appreciate the kind words!

[@newenglandoutdoorlore]

Cool video! Exciting to see them chase your lure and hit it.

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you! Sight fishing is definitely my favorite way to fish in the winter.

[@jipah5053]

honestly one of the best sight fishing videos Ive watched ever. great job mt friend

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you for watching and thanks for the kind words! It is certainly hard, without an underwater camera, to capture all that action successfully. I recently invested in an ice house with black fabric, which helps black out as much light as possible, which is key.

[@justindrouin]

Underrated KZbinr

[@therealfarwater]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@mikeswan1970]

Great trip! Thanks for bringing us along!

[@therealfarwater]

Happy to do so! Glad you are enjoying the content

[@lukecullett9044]

Nice brookie! Caught my first this winter up on the gunflint side. Beautiful fish they are.

[@therealfarwater]

And so fun to catch!

[@matthewmonroe7616]

You’re the reason I own an ice saw, and i do enjoy the tips you give, though I believe through watching your opening video that I have discerned your lake videoed. A service road doesn’t get plowed well, but 1.38 mile hike in as opposed to 5.38 from the nearest entry point must be sweet.

[@therealfarwater]

That’s great! Have you done some sight fishing yourself? I’m thinking about getting into pike spearing, too

[@differentfins]

Cool, never realised there was brook trout in the boundary waters... I live in Atikokan on the north side of Quetico. We are privileged for sure, I did some great sight fishing for brookies this past weekend.

[@therealfarwater]

Yea, unfortunately none native that I know of-all stocked by the MN DNR-but they sure are a lot of fun.

[@justinhirdler2211]

That's a good idea not telling people they can figured it out on there own I had to.

[@chuckreetz2953]

Good times for sure! Thanks for sharing! Heading up to Ely this Thursday for a week, (from Wisconsin)do some solo hot tenting and exploring. Most likely towards Pipestone Bay and Basswood. Thanks again! Subbed for sure

[@therealfarwater]

Thanks! That sounds like fun. You going to do any fishing?

[@jimgotta9122]

you did a great job on video and explaining! Thank you. Beautiful fish too!! Very professional presentation for us all.

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@donalddakota8069]

Hey that was very cool! Kinda gave up ice fishing, was to much like fishing in a bucket. Never thought of setting up the way you have, a lot like a spearing set up for pike. Looks very fun just watching the fish. One tip I learned the hard way, bring extra blades for the auger, I nailed the top of a rock once on the first hole, had to pack up and leave and it was a long way in and back out. Thanks for sharing this video, nice job!

[@therealfarwater]

Thanks! I actually did that the first time I used this auger. I bring a sharpening file with me now in case the blades need a tune up while I’m out there

[@mikeswan1970]

Surprised that you weren't first! Cool video, thanks for sharing! Lets go!

[@kilbOutdoors]

love the sight fishing vids. epic

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you!!

[@evanparkhurst1016]

Absolutely awesome video!! Keep it up!

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you!

[@mr.kimmel3030]

Absolutely amazing!! Great video!! Definitely want to do this one day!! I live in SE MN!!

[@therealfarwater]

It’s definitely worth the effort/work. I have been hooked since the first time I tried it three years ago. Such an exciting way to fish!

[@aaronalto3034]

You can turn your saw cuts and just do one augered hole. Just put twisting motion on your saw as you're sawing heading whichever way you want to go. Fun stuff.

[@therealfarwater]

I’m headed out tomorrow looking for rainbows. I will give that a try

[@tomcoulis4611]

nice video keep em coming

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you! Fishing has been tough so I haven’t posted as much as I’ve wanted the last month. The good news is I will be launching two new videos in the next week or so! Stay tuned!

[@imaflyfisherman]

Fantastic video

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you for watching!!

[@WyomingOutofDoors]

Good video friend , was just checking out your channel and i joined up

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you!! I really appreciate the follow

[@glynnnelson2588]

Very nice video! What boots do you typically use when Ice Fishing ?

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you!! Lacrosse alpha burly pros. The lakes up here are slush-covered most of the season, so insulated rubber boots are key for keeping your feet dry and warm

[@differentfins]

Man I love sight fishing so much! I caught my PB brook trout 4 mins into my day this Saturday. New to the channel, Cant wait to see more of your videos. Cheers from up north!

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you! I agree that it is a blast! I spent a lot more time this year sight fishing stream trout and I just couldn’t figure out how to get the big ones to bite. I probably saw 6 fish over 18” this year...hopefully they will still be there next year

[@differentfins]

@@therealfarwater the big one I caught last week was 18". Pretty much all I use for brook trout is a 1/16th ounce Northland Whistler jig and 1" Berkley Gulp minnows. They seem to love it.

[@danreid6712]

Thriller !

[@therealfarwater]

Nothing better than sight fishin!!

[@donnyzarra]

Very cool. I went fishing when I was a kid back in the 80’s. It wasn’t very memorable. Maybe I will try it again now that I see how to do it right. I really like how you had everything set up. Can you share a link for the drill and saw please? Great video. Thanks for taking time to share it.

[@therealfarwater]

www.amazon.com/Folding-Auger-Converts-Cordless-Drill/dp/B077DXV142

[@therealfarwater]

www.landmsupply.com/fish-s-sporting-goods-ice-saw-is-1

[@therealfarwater]

You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@alexmurray5098]

hey can anyone tell me what bait he’s using, great vid

[@therealfarwater]

Thanks! I talk about it about 2/3 of the way through the video. UV Pink Tiger VMC tumbler spoon tipped with a minnow head.

[@robgrubb420]

described as a nascar track seems fairly accurate.

[@therealfarwater]

You know what I’m talking about!!

[@zwiggles6908]

It almost looks like you set up over a redd, and those two big ones were a spawning pair? Pretty lucky to hike all the way in, and set up in that if it was!

[@therealfarwater]

They were caught at different times of the day so I don’t think they were a pair but it is a small lake so it’s possible.

[@ryans2392]

Great video! Not sure how to PM you but would love some more info on the lake. I live in the area and would love to get my kids on some Brookies like that!

[@therealfarwater]

You need to have your Google account connected to KZbin to send private messages. Go to my “about” page and send message. Otherwise, I’m on Instagram as eric_in_ely

[@tedduepner8733]

Great video, funny with the dog visit too. Was wondering if birds of prey would snatch your fish. I also don't think I've ever seen that auger before but sure made quick work.

[@therealfarwater]

Nils, they make the best hand augers. Just released that 6” folding version (with drill bit attachment) this year. I absolutely love it.

[@tedduepner3021]

@@therealfarwater yeah, that folding thing seemed really amazing! I often ride my bike to my ice fishing spots so reducing weight it key balanced against my chronic shoulder pain so I got a 6" kdrill last year but I bet my shoulder could put up with a few holes with that Nils too.

[@therealfarwater]

@@tedduepner3021 it’s even smaller than it looks. It could probably fit in a large backpack

[@stevekindt1213]

Looks like a great day and that first big male was a bruiser. I’m sure you did this but a PSA in the video on clearly marking your sight fishing hole would have been good when you left

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you for the reminder! I did mark the hole with a ton of upright sticks before I left but I didn’t include that in the video. I will be sure to next time

[@adventurousgamer8249]

Hey me and my gf would love to try and catch some trout. Was wondering if we could talk mabye where on the lake you were at so we could get some luck?

[@therealfarwater]

I do talk about where I set up in the beginning of the video. It was close to shore in about 5’ of water next to some shoreline brush. Shallow and mud/gravel bottom

[@nicksimons4942]

Great video man..... how's Tofte these days?

[@therealfarwater]

Thank you! I’ve never fished Tofte in the winter. It gets hit really hard since it’s easy to access. I usually try to get off the beaten path to the less pressured lakes

[@nicksimons4942]

@@therealfarwater I've only fished it open water as well..... I lived in Ely for a couple years in the early 2000s. Aurora now

[@therealfarwater]

@@nicksimons4942 I don’t target stream trout as much in open water, but I’ll have to get out more this summer and try. Early season can be a blast while they are up shallow and super aggressive. I’ve had success here in town on Miners with crankbaits and small spoons

[@nicksimons4942]

@@therealfarwater same here man..... been crushing Coho on the big lake. Keep up the good work man

[@therealfarwater]

@@nicksimons4942 thank you! I think I’ve got two more lake trout trips before I close the book on the season. Can’t wait to get back out there in this warm weather!

[@scottmugford1123]

That’s nice Brooke trout bet he’ll be nice done in the pan over the fire

[@therealfarwater]

No better way to cook a fresh brookie!!

[@travismcgraw478]

Looks like a blast. Just got into ice fishing for rainbows in a couple lakes down here in southern mn last winter. Brookies are something I cant wait to sight fish for. Are electric augers allowed on those Bwca lakes?

[@therealfarwater]

It is really fun! Unfortunately no electric augers in the BWCA, against the forest service regulations

[@travismcgraw478]

@@therealfarwater that's what I figured. I've never enjoyed the hand augers.

[@therealfarwater]

@@travismcgraw478 they are a necessary evil up here. I invested in that really nice Nils and I absolutely love it. After using it for two months straight I think I’d give any powered auger a run for its money in a head to head! Also, I can take the handle off and use it with a cordless drill when I’m outside the BWCA.

[@travismcgraw478]

@@therealfarwater looks like it drills faster and easier than my lazer

[@therealfarwater]

@@travismcgraw478 it’s all in the blades, I own a mora 6” and strikemaster laser 8” and they will not make it out with me this winter. the nils augers have a 1-piece machined head that allows them to use angled blades, rather than flat. It cuts more per every rotation than the Mora or strikemaster blades, even a powered version. Also, this is a 6” which makes it much easier, when you go up to the 8” it is twice as much volume so literally twice as difficult to drill

[@javaunashfeld8216]

What is a good way to find lakes or areas to fish online in the bwca

[@therealfarwater]

The Minnesota DNR has a list of the designated trout lakes. Once you have that lost you can use the MN Dnr Lakefinder site to get specific stocking and survey results. www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html

[@mikehofer432]

Is this location where you are fishing IN the BWCAW?

[@therealfarwater]

Yup

[@dylanpeter8620]

What hooks u recommend for brook trout?

[@therealfarwater]

We’re not allowed live bait in MN on stocked trout ponds so I rarely use bare hooks. I always go small though. 1/16-1/64 oz jigs and 1/8-1/16 oz spoons. As long as they’re sharp they’ll work just fine

[@jacobvealetzek5973]

How can a person send a private message about the fishing up there? Been wanting to get on some nice brook trout for years

[@therealfarwater]

Eric_in_Ely on Instagram or [e-mail]

[@critterjon4061]

What is the name of this lake? I’m going to school in Ely and have yet to had the chance to catch a brook trout

[@therealfarwater]

Sorry, as I said in the video I really don’t want to announce the lake name and create undue pressure on such a small lake. I will say that the MN DNR website has a full list of stocked trout lakes and if you do your research you’ll find there are only a handful in the Ely area. Or you can send me a message on Instagram at eric_in_ely and I’d be happy to tell you-I just don’t want to announce it on YT

[@critterjon4061]

@@therealfarwater dam

[@ethangknuti]

Found?

[@jeffgreen2448]

What does “boundary waters” mean? Not looking for location, is this in states , Canada? Thanks Great video

[@therealfarwater]

Literally speaking it refers to the chain of big lakes on the Minnesota-Ontario border that draw the boundary between USA and Canada which also used to be the voyageurs highway/fur trade route to the Great Lakes and eventually Atlantic Ocean. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a 1 million acre protected wilderness area in Northern Minnesota where there motorized restrictions so on most lakes you can only travel by canoe/kayak in the summer and by foot/ski/dogsled in the winter. It is my favorite place in the world :)

[@jeffgreen2448]

@@therealfarwater Thanks very much for the explanation. Much appreciated.

[@seeksolitude9048]

@@therealfarwater I just found your channel yesterday and I have already watched about half of them. I decided that I am going to do a solo Brook Trout trip next winter. I interested in your sonar set-up. Might make for interesting video. I am going to update my old Boundary Waters LC10 and am looking for good options. Thanks, and keep it up.

[@therealfarwater]

@@seeksolitude9048 thank you! I’m glad you enjoy the content, I really enjoy putting it together. Solo Brook trout trip sounds like a lot of fun. I love my helix 5 but it needs to be replaced-getting to be about 5 years old now. I am planning to do a sonar setup video, probably during the off-season.

[@davidstone7404]

What...no polar plunge?

[@therealfarwater]

If only there were saunas on every lake in the BWCA, I totally would

[@erikjohnson6438]

I know that lake ;)

[@therealfarwater]

Shhh, it’s a secret :)

[@mkwy8782]

I can't decide if this is the lake where we caught 25 to 30 15 to 19 inchers in September. The size of the lake is about right...it looks so different in the winter. Edit: "In Which Dwight and Warren Paddle the Boundary Waters and Find Brook Trout" is a youtube clip my brother made. Wish I could figure out how to put up the clip of an 18-19 incher who made my reel sing for 2-3 minutes before we got him in. I am quite sure that this is "our" lake. It was quite the awing, joyful time.

[@jackbrewer5207]

Hey I'd like to fish with ya sometime lmk if you'd be interested

[@johnyoungman2600]

Your welcome for the nice trail..thanks for not fishing on our pack area we made

[@therealfarwater]

You saved me so much time I am quite grateful!! So glad you found my video. Did you end up with any fish?

[@johnyoungman2600]

@@therealfarwater just 2 but fun day

[@therealfarwater]

@@johnyoungman2600 bite really shut off after 11am for me. Wonder how I would have done if I would have been set up and ready to go right before sunup... that was the plan but even with your trail it took me longer than expected

[@properproper3876]

Takes half the video before you start fishing lol

[@therealfarwater]

I know! I was worried I would lose a lot of viewers with the lack of action, but I want my videos to be instructional, not just click bait. I’ve been getting a lot of good feedback on the instructional portion as most people have never sight fished for trout and are interested in learning. Now that’s out of the way I won’t have to explain the process in future videos

[@Refrigeration666]

Your synthetic clothing and abundance of electronics contradict the description for your channel....just saying.

[@therealfarwater]

I hear ya, a bit nit-picky but I appreciate the feedback. I am wearing all wool baselayer and a wool sweater and the synthetics I am wearing and from OR and Patagonia who use recycled polyester in their production. As for the electronics, my KZbin channel wouldn’t be too exiting without cameras so I have to bring those. I guess you got me on the sonar-but that’s a luxury I’m not willing to sacrifice…

[@farkuso]

Seeing you push it with the blade made me cringe

[@therealfarwater]

There was only 8” of ice and I cut the chunk into two pieces so I wasn’t too worried about bending it.

[@renatolaranja3834]

Loved the video I’m in northern MN too. I’m not on insta is there any other way to contact you?

[@therealfarwater]

Shoot me an email, [e-mail]