The Ultimate Fishing Guide To The BWCA (species-by-species breakdown!)

Lake trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike and, of course, walleyes. These are the the “Big Four” that most anglers are interested in when it comes to a fishing trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. In this video I will show you the most straightforward, effective ways to catch each species in both deep and shallow water without the need for tons of gear/tackle. I’ll also throw in a bonus trout how-to for those of you who want to try some of the excellent smaller lakes sprinkled throughout the BWCAW that are stocked with brook and rainbow trout! Learn what gear to bring, what gear NOT to bring and also pick up some tips and tricks on fishing out of a canoe for all of these tasty, hard fighting sport fish!
Gear links:
Accesories:
Sonar mount kit: amzn.to/3uf5mwc
Piscifun Tackle Backpack. amzn.to/3R2Unjt
Leech Locker amzn.to/3a1tsUx
Clam Fortis landing net amzn.to/3ODxnWw
Basketball net amzn.to/3QZCIca
Anchor rope w/clip. amzn.to/3y9BId5
Rods and Reels:
St. Croix Triumph spinning rod. amzn.to/3nqNpHo
Diawa Regal spinning reel. amzn.to/3y7KkAP
Diawa Revros spinning reel. amzn.to/3OBPwUB
Lures & Tackle
Snap weight kit. amzn.to/3yv9gDU
ACME Little Cleo spoon. amzn.to/3OSAJ7J
ACME Kastmaster spoon. amzn.to/3a7yOO0
Eppinger Daredevle spoon amzn.to/3a1ixKA
Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk. amzn.to/3I2p8AZ
Rapala Taildancer trolling minnow. amzn.to/3Ah8XO8
The above may contain Amazon associate links which pay hookedupwi a small commission if you purchase through these links. Thanks for your support!

[@hughjasssssssss]

I use my garmin striker 4 ice fishing bundle on a canoe and have never had issues. Place the transducer below your seat and splash some water it and you’re fine, dont let it dangle off the side. Sonar will go right through the canoe. With a lightweight lithium battery it’s probably the best thing to use in the bwca. Super easy to carry around and set up

[@calebwistad]

I’ve heard good things about the Striker. If I was going to do some more serious trips where mobility was key, I would probably go that route. Maybe I’ll get one yet. We shall see! Thanks for the info.

[@walker500]

Excellent video. I really appreciate the specific lure recommendations…so helpful! New subscriber b/c you deserve it after making a video like this. The look on your son’s face when the walleye flipped back into the water was priceless. 🤣

[@calebwistad]

Awesome, thank you!

[@davidspencer2663]

I really enjoyed seeing you guys have a good time in the BWCA. Thanks for the information and breaking things down for a novice like me. Your son is lucky to have a Dad like you to teach him things. I was similarly blessed as well.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! We had a great trip. Hoping to do a repeat next year!

[@wistad]

Great footage! I especially loved the look on The Kid’s face when you lost his walleye. 🤦🏻‍♀️😜😂

[@calebwistad]

That was so perfect. 😂

[@Mrfrerob]

Great video, love the multi-species action!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks man!!

[@puffypika]

Lots of great info, thanks for all of it.

[@calebwistad]

You bet! Glad I could help.

[@joefrancis759]

your boy's reaction as the fish flops off the side....that made the video - thanks for the rundown!

[@calebwistad]

Lol. That was classic. Dad fail. 😆

[@DSToNe19and83]

Just came across the channel, awesome job fellas! I’ll definitely be following 🍻

[@calebwistad]

Thanks very much! 🙏

[@raymawst5370]

Thanks for all the info!

[@calebwistad]

You bet! Glad you found it helpful!

[@danielduren5853]

very informative, thank you!

[@calebwistad]

I’m glad you found it helpful!

[@mitchward111]

Well done!

[@calebwistad]

Thank you!

[@SkylinersYeti]

Great video. Heading that way in mid October from Oregon. That will be my first trip to BWCA.

[@calebwistad]

That’s a great time to be there!

[@jamesvosburgh1144]

Agreed! Fall fishing AND grouse hunting!

[@tylerrappe8938]

Heading up there next week. Haven't been in 10 years. I mainly LMB fish, I've got a plano 3600 box for walleye rigs and some in-line spinners I made. Hoping to get on some pike and walleye. Great video

[@calebwistad]

Awesome! Good luck up there man. I've had pretty good success on paddletail swimbaits for walleyes and pike too so bring some of those from your bass arsenal!

[@PinchTheBarb]

Hey man, I just wanted to say that your videos are top notch. They have been super helpful when fishing the Brule, which I did for the first time this past week! We didn’t get any steelhead salmon or lake run browns and that seemed to be the consensus with everyone I talked to. Can’t wait to get out there again this week! Have a good one and tight lines!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks man! The fish are in there. It’s always a tough fishery though. I’m going to be up there for the first time this week and hopefully I’ll have some good reports!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks man! The fish are in there. It’s always a tough fishery though. I’m going to be up there for the first time this week and hopefully I’ll have some good reports!

[@PinchTheBarb]

@@calebwistad Good luck! Do you guide at all?

[@calebwistad]

@@PinchTheBarb no, not at this time!

[@loganoutdoors9730]

I used to work in the BWCAW. Man I loved trolling for Lakers on knife and Kek for dinner at the end of the day

[@calebwistad]

It’s so fun!

[@tech2trad]

Great info! I’ll be headed up in a couple weeks. That cricket had me pausing the video several times, thinking I had one in my house! 😂

[@calebwistad]

Awesome! Good luck up there. Yeah, I could not find that little sucker and no matter how much noise I made he wouldn’t stop chirping so he ended up on the video with me. 😂

[@tech2trad]

Do you think the Lakers will be in more shallow waters next weekend with the cooler weather?

[@mikecountryman2218]

Great video and advice. Went to BWCA a few times and had spotty luck. Sounds like I just had no good strategy!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Hopefully you can gain a few tricks and give them a try this year!

[@kristicarter965]

Thank you so much for the detailed teaching. Super helpful. Our family will be heading up there in September. Will this be a good time for catching small mouth? Also, I’m a new fisherman…..which 2 baits would you recommend for catching small mouth up north? I don’t really have a confident bait. Thank you for your help …

[@calebwistad]

You bet! Glad I could help. Yes September can be good although it can be tricky too because smallmouth could be found almost anywhere. They might be shallow or they might be deep. If you can, live bait is always a good option for just catching fish. A slip bobber and a leech or a jig and leech with both catch walleyes and smallmouth. As far as lures, you should watch this video because these are the 3 top baits I would bring for smallmouth and the video also outlines how to use them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3vJp2d4bsajitU

[@leegohdes6908]

@@calebwistad You should seriously consider Canadian Crawlers as typically in August is the end of the season for leeches and if they are available they most likely will be very small. Walmart sells Canadian Crawlers @ $4.xx for 18. They also sell them in quantities of 250 and 500 (special order). Crawlers are the old school fish locator.

[@mattfairchild8039]

Nice video...have you had issues with the snap weights sliding on braided line?

[@calebwistad]

Nope! 0 issues. As long as you get good clips they should stay put just fine.

[@amirkayeni4654]

Hi, nice video lots of information. Thank You. Where can I find the slip on weight like the one you had on the snap on for laker trolling

[@calebwistad]

I believe the link is in the video description.

[@amirkayeni4654]

There is one for snap on but there isn’t any for slip on weights (the last part).

[@calebwistad]

@@amirkayeni4654 amzn.to/3ADKBNr

[@thedriftlessfisherman8646]

Headed to knife lake in June and gonna take your advice on sonar, will pack in my Hook5 and 10AhLipo. Question though, do you have any solid recommendations or experience with clamp style mounts? We will be renting our canoes so I will not be able to use a track mounted system. Thanks for any advice! Excited to hunt down my first Laker!

[@calebwistad]

The first year I brought a sonar unit up there I used a clamp mount system and it worked fine. Just a hair more setup time. I can’t remember exactly how I rigged it up though.

[@arronjorgenson9898]

Knife lake is an incredible walleye lake as well, only had one hour to fish it last year and caught a 28 incher on a main lake point, if you want lakers that time of year look at google maps and pinpoint some mid lake humps, should be fairly easy to spot with the water clarity, get on those and jog anywhere from 60- top of the hump. Good luck man give ‘em hell

[@TimothyScott84]

Man this looks so much fun. I have no idea what much of the terms you said mean though. I feel like I need to study a fishing dictionary prior to watching. I do appreciate the info though, I'll just have to revisit later when I understand more.

[@calebwistad]

Thanks for checking the video out! I’m working on making some more elementary fishing content so stay tuned!

[@Patricksadie67]

We’re heading up to Ely sometime late summer next year and I’m looking for a good day trip lake in the area. Probably going to rent a cabin. Any recommendations?

[@calebwistad]

Slim lake, Mudro Lake and Lake One are all doable day trip spots. I have a lot more experience on the Gunflint trail side but I know those three lakes are decent.

[@EyeLoveFishing]

Just wondering what do you do with your boat? You just anchor it and then portage canoe to other areas and come back to boat and done?

[@calebwistad]

I tie it up with a chain and padlock to a tree on shore. I also lock up my rod lockers and put my sonar units away so it’s not an “easy target”. I would only recommend this for day trips where you have a landing that protects the boat from the wind.

[@EyeLoveFishing]

@@calebwistad awesome! thats what I assumed you was doing! thats great to have that as option!! great video for lots of information!

[@PrimitiveOverland]

Great video. Where do you park for weeks on end while you are out fishing and camping? I'm wanting to plan a trip where I'll be in the BWCA for almost a month .

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Many of the boundary waters entry points have unlimited length parking. Some may require proof that your permit extends through the length of the parking period.

[@PrimitiveOverland]

@calebwistad thank you very much. Knowledge is power. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but a video about permits, planning, parking, out of state license(is a trout stamp needed) would get a lot of views. Thanks again

[@calebwistad]

@@PrimitiveOverland that’s a great idea!

[@PrimitiveOverland]

@@calebwistad any pointers for a first timer? Is there an area that would be best for a beginner? There are so many entry points that I don't know what one to use.

[@calebwistad]

@@PrimitiveOverland bwca.com has a ton of great info on that! I’d check that out.

[@watchemt.m.2351]

Sweet, Sonar!!! Are there charging stations for batteries? I was thinking about bringing my Efoil but didn't want to make anyone mad!!! It's just I have used my Efoil in the Maldives to go fishing and it worked great! Also, Dad and I thought about bringing a trolling motor but we don't want to pack it out. Any issue with just burring it before we go? If not, not big deal. We will bring someone with to carry it out. I also heard the MNDnr fly into some of the lakes and we were wondering if we could fly in instead of going through all the portaging? TIA!!!

[@calebwistad]

Maybe next time try to use comparisons that aren’t all totally illegal in the BWCA if you are trying to make the point that you don’t think technology belongs there. Sonar is legal in the BWCA, as well as handheld two way radios, gps units, EPRBs, flashlights, cameras etc. I would guess you probably use most of the things on that list……

[@mrmr5918]

Do you have links for the tech you brought?

[@calebwistad]

It’s an older Lowrance that they don’t even sell anymore. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Garmin Echo though.

[@joenuce4836]

Hey thanks for the video. How old was your son when you took him? I’m planning on taking my son in the future. Looks like he had a great time.

[@calebwistad]

You bet! He was 9 when we went on this trip. He did great and had a blast!

[@jeffd8220]

I took 2 of my boys when they were 9 and 12 on a 7-day canoe trip and they did great. Rented a 21-ft Kevlar canoe from Clearwater Outfitters - light enough for portages with plenty of room

[@brianroberts5639]

If i bring one rod to BWCA, what would i bring? You mentioned 2

[@calebwistad]

If I was going to bring one rod it would probably be a 6’6” to 7’ medium spinning rod spooled with 10 or 15 pound braid (15 if I was planning on a few lake trout or pike, 10 if I was only targeting walleye and bass) You could get by with a medium light but it’s not really going to have enough backbone to chuck spoons, spinners, or heavier jigs properly.

[@brianroberts5639]

Thanks for the quick reply.

[@mkodom88]

How did you attach that lowrance mount to the canoe ?

[@calebwistad]

This bad boy right here: amzn.to/3oD2Lga

[@mkodom88]

@@calebwistad thanks ! I’m renting a canoe from ely so we could probably use some clamps to hold that arm in place since we don’t have the t track

[@calebwistad]

@@mkodom88 that should work!

[@eclizzyfn8635]

do u let the weight drag bottom

[@calebwistad]

I like to fish it so it jus bumps bottom once in a while.

[@jhobbz45]

Maybe I missed it but how are you trolling in a canoe?

[@calebwistad]

Just set the rod either in a rod holder or up against a cross member and paddle away!

[@DodoBird157]

Here’s what I’d bring in terms of rods: Ultralight rod with 4lb mono. Works for perch, panfish, and stream trout Medium rod with 8lb mono. Works for slip bobbers and other live bait rigs. Medium heavy rod with 20-30lb braid attached to a 10lb mono leader. Useful for pike and heavier smallmouth baits Medium light: useful for the reasons you mentioned Trolling Rod: I don’t have one, but it would be ideal to use one for walleye and lake trout trolling. For lures, try these: Smallmouth and Largemouth: Tube Jigs Ned Rigs Senkos Inline Spinners Spinnerbaits Jigs Crankbaits Jerkbaits Swimbaits Grubs Whopper ploppers Walking baits Poppers Buzzbaits Blade baits and lipless baits Chatterbaits Walleye: Jig and grub Jig and paddletail Jig and fluke Jig and plastic worm Crankbaits Jerkbaits Blade baits Pike: Inline spinners Spoons Whopper ploppers Walking baits Poppers Jerkbaits Crankbaits Spinnerbaits Chatterbaits Swimbaits Lake trout: Deep crankbaits Tube jigs Bucktail jigs Spoons Blade baits Stream trout: Inline spinners Spoons Small tube jigs Small crankbaits and jerkbaits Marabou Jigs Panfish: Small jig and grub Small jig and tube Small jig and Swimbait Small spinners Small crankbaits

[@calebwistad]

Nice! Very detailed list.

[@Dan-qp1el]

Any panfish in the BWCA?

[@calebwistad]

There are some pretty dandy perch in quite a few lakes and a couple that hold crappies and bluegills but not much for size on those two species for the most part.

[@javancross6085]

What lakes do you recommend for lake trout/

[@calebwistad]

I try to stay away from giving out Lake names on social media. The Minnesota DNR is a good resource.

[@brentkoons1849]

How’s the fishing today ?

[@calebwistad]

Fished Lake Superior. Went 3 for 7 with 2 nice cohos and a laker.