Stream trout in BWCA lakes - presentations

[Scott M]

I'm heading into the BWCA next week for a couple day trips into some stream trout lakes. Maximum depth is 30-40 feet, I'm not sure where the thermocline will set up exactly. One lake I'll be in a canoe with a portage, another lake in a belly boat after a long hike in. I'm going to throw some jigs with curlytails, and while in the canoe I was thinking of trolling with an ounce trolling weight to get down. On the terminal end I was thinking of a modest sized fly with some beads, maybe a tiny spinner. Any other suggestions? Tough time of year to try but the thrill of hiking and portaging is enough for me to give it a shot.

[goblueM]

Taking a depth finder? That'd be your best bet to figure things out I would think. I'm no expert but small jigging spoons, slip bobbers and crawlers, and small lures like spoons and rapalas trolled deep all seem like good options.

[itchmesir]

Early mornings.. look for shallow bays and throw spinners or streamers if you are using a fly rod.. small chironomid nymphs.. mosquito and midge dries... damsel dries.. if the waters up there are anything like the waters down here.. any significant hatch is done with.. midge will be their key interest in the later evening if they are rising

[reinhard1]

in my opinion of all presentations i have used over the years for stream trout in lakes is the inflated crawler with a slip sinker. spinners, spoons, and fly rod presentations as mentioned certainly are part of catching these trout as well. recently i had a fellow FM'r call me and told me[Finland/Isabella area] that while he caught a couple on artificials, he caught most of the rainbows and splake on inflated crawlers off the bottom. probably go with a 4 foot snell in front of the slip sinker. just inject enough air in the crawler to make the crawler float.

go with the artificials and have some fun with those, but if they dont work, pull up on shore and use the crawler. great thing to do while relaxing on shore if your camping on a trout lake. find some moss to keep the crawlers cool. good luck.

[silver_squid]

Any time is a good time to chase stream trout in lakes! What species are you looking for? That kind of changes what we do to catch them.

Anyways, my brother fishes the BWCA trout lakes a lot and he has been telling me they are all doing well right now. He has been having lots of luck with corn and those different colored marshmallows.

Have fun and good luck!

[rupprider]

Let us know if you had any success! I'm heading in to EP 25 in a few weeks and plan on a couple of similar day trips. Possibly the same ones?

[MuntzAngling]

I like long lining Cicadas or use the 1 oz weight rig and line down to a small shiny Rebel crank. The smaller the trebles, the more likely the hookset. However, You may want to rig up the Cicada with a split ring and treble on the back. Those double hooks often wiggle out! When trolling, backreel while moving until desired depth to keep from tangling. Hope you get 'em.

[mallardnwalleye]

in my opinion of all presentations i have used over the years for stream trout in lakes is the inflated crawler with a slip sinker. spinners, spoons, and fly rod presentations as mentioned certainly are part of catching these trout as well. recently i had a fellow FM'r call me and told me[Finland/Isabella area] that while he caught a couple on artificials, he caught most of the rainbows and splake on inflated crawlers off the bottom. probably go with a 4 foot snell in front of the slip sinker. just inject enough air in the crawler to make the crawler float.

go with the artificials and have some fun with those, but if they dont work, pull up on shore and use the crawler. great thing to do while relaxing on shore if your camping on a trout lake. find some moss to keep the crawlers cool. good luck.

Reinhard-Exactly what I have found through my limited experience of 10 or so trips to trout lakes. I use a split shot that pulls off in a snag or a slip bobber off of the bottom. I will say the excitement of seeing a big Brookie plow into your Panther Martin does get high marks for excitment though.

Surface Tension has discussed in other posts the potent capabilities of a fly rod during the hex hatch which I hope to explore the use of next year.

I have found on the Brookie Lakes that the fish are there or aren't.

I have had some big days and some busts.

Good luck!!

[reinhard1]

never realy got into fly fishing for trout but as you can see by the various trout threads, they are effective if not the most thrilling i would bet. my experience with crawlers goes way back, way back.

to me sitting on shore with a inflated crawler is a thrill as well. the small slip sinker is the key. leave about a 4 foot snell behind that and normaly that is all it takes. i throw it out, wait for the line to get slack, then slowly reel in any slack line, set my rod on a forked stick, open my bail, and put the line nearest the reel on a small rock. this way when a trout takes the crawler the line pops out from the rock and sails away, telling me i got a bite. sometimes i put a piece of toilet paper on the end of my rod if i'm away from the rod. when that's gone, i can tell from a distance i got a bite.

spinners and spoons will do fine also and i use them plenty when they are active. the lake i fish [Grindstone], for trout near Sandstone i use artificials most of the time. however the smaller stream trout lakes up north i probably use crawlers more.

the time of the year plays a role also. May and June are the best for stream trout lakes for me. late fall and hard water would be my other choice. lot's of streams up there as well. for brookies the upper streches of the northshore streams are always a good bet. good luck.