Thanks Thanks:  0
HaHa HaHa:  0
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: BWCA

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    301
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default BWCA


    I am going to BWCA at the end of the month and will be fishing Basswood lake out of a canoe. I have done this several times and have never caught any crappie. I would like to see if I can catch a few to eat but need to know where to fish for them in that type of lake and its been several years since my last trip. I will be setting up camp on the north side of US point. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks!
    Likes Hanr3 LIKED above post

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Draffenville / Buckhorn Bay, Kentucky
    Posts
    1,811
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    You will be in some of the best smallmouth water in the world. And while some will castigate me for saying so, they are great eating, when they come out of cold water.
    Clint
    Far West Kentucky
    http://www.crappie.com/crappie/signaturepics/sigpic31827_3.gif
    Old enough to know better and way too old to care!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    28
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Are you using a guide?It is the best place I have ever been.Take spinner baits chart blades I caught back to back 6 lbs on this.Fishing is great fish grubs,4 inch worms and Ned rig you will stay busy.Take a topwater for night fishing,Nothing beats catching smallmouth under Northern Lights.You can catch some crappie around rice beds but no one really fish for them.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    East Peoria IL.
    Posts
    4,898
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    I'll be just West and North of you at the end of the month. Launching from Crane Lake and heading about 12 miles into Canada via boat.

    I go to fish for Walleye, Smallmouth and Northern Pike. This year I might try Crappie too. I did some scouting last year, however there are several differences between the shield lakes and Midwest Reserve lakes. The biggest difference is submerged trees, The shield lakes have very little, if any, trees submerged and even less man-made fish cribs. The other major difference is water clarity. On some of those shield lakes you can see 40'-50' to the bottom, around here your lucky to see 5'-6'. Crappie are still Crappie. They are a predator, that also is a food source for bigger fish, like Northern's, Musky, and Walleye. They will still relate to cover, in the shield lakes the cover will more than likely be weed beds and submerged rocks (boulders). Very few trees, laydowns. When I Crappie fish in Northern Wisconsin we target weed beds, especially if they are near drops offs to deeper water. Sonar and a good lake map will be vital to targeting locations. Once you find Crappie, put together a pattern. Are they deep, holding near some type of cover or structure. IF so, note it and look for similar spots on your maps.
    Sounds like you make this trip annually? If so, create a few fish cribs while your there this year and mark them on your map. Fish them next year.

    Good luck, let us know how you did.
    HOI Crappie Club
    Where family and friends come to compete for a little more than bragging rights.

    Quick, someone teach me how to fish so I can win this tournament!!!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    301
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Thanks for all the info. I used to go every year and mainly target smallmouth bass then walleye as second and northern and lake trout to switch up some. The lakes are clear and devoid of wood cover. Weed beds usually produce lots of hammer handles in my experience but I'll try them for crappie this time.
    I thought motor boats were limited to the southern side of basswood lake?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    301
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Clint View Post
    You will be in some of the best smallmouth water in the world. And while some will castigate me for saying so, they are great eating, when they come out of cold water.
    This is what we eat a lot of times. The 1 pounders have good filets and taste great but we keep walleye if we catch a few eater sized ones.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    301
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dewey View Post
    Are you using a guide?It is the best place I have ever been.Take spinner baits chart blades I caught back to back 6 lbs on this.Fishing is great fish grubs,4 inch worms and Ned rig you will stay busy.Take a topwater for night fishing,Nothing beats catching smallmouth under Northern Lights.You can catch some crappie around rice beds but no one really fish for them.
    I'm taking a large tackle bag with all kids of lures. I'll bring two spinning outfits and one bait caster and will be targeting smallmouth bass mostly but want to other fish also. I hope we get to see the northern lights.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    301
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hanr3 View Post
    I'll be just West and North of you at the end of the month. Launching from Crane Lake and heading about 12 miles into Canada via boat.

    I go to fish for Walleye, Smallmouth and Northern Pike. This year I might try Crappie too. I did some scouting last year, however there are several differences between the shield lakes and Midwest Reserve lakes. The biggest difference is submerged trees, The shield lakes have very little, if any, trees submerged and even less man-made fish cribs. The other major difference is water clarity. On some of those shield lakes you can see 40'-50' to the bottom, around here your lucky to see 5'-6'. Crappie are still Crappie. They are a predator, that also is a food source for bigger fish, like Northern's, Musky, and Walleye. They will still relate to cover, in the shield lakes the cover will more than likely be weed beds and submerged rocks (boulders). Very few trees, laydowns. When I Crappie fish in Northern Wisconsin we target weed beds, especially if they are near drops offs to deeper water. Sonar and a good lake map will be vital to targeting locations. Once you find Crappie, put together a pattern. Are they deep, holding near some type of cover or structure. IF so, note it and look for similar spots on your maps.
    Sounds like you make this trip annually? If so, create a few fish cribs while your there this year and mark them on your map. Fish them next year.

    Good luck, let us know how you did.
    Thanks. I like the fish crib idea and these lakes are very clear and devoid of cover other than rocks. I'll try the weedbeds with crappie baits. I am excited about going. Two more weeks.
    Likes Hanr3 LIKED above post

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    IL
    Posts
    1,353
    Post Thanks / Like

    Default

    A trip to the BWCA is on my bucket list ...... hope to get it done one of these years.
    _______________________________________
    Looking for the one that makes it all worthwhile.
    Likes Hanr3 LIKED above post

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

BACK TO TOP