Bait on a BWCA trip

[Tom7227]

Heading up next month and I was wondering if anyone has ideas for what to use for bait. A friend used to salt minnows and claimed good success. I think all he did was put them in a plastic bag and dump in a lot of table salt. I don't know if that is correct and how long they last, need to be refridgerated, whatever. What have you done?

Live minnows are out of the question. Leeches won't be available by then. Worms might be OK but maybe more trouble than they're worth. Maybe artificials are all that that's needed.

Thanks for your time.

Tom

[leechlake]

the gulp or other brand crawlers work great on a spinner rig and they last ten times longer than a real one.

[Scott M]

Go to an aquarium shop and buy a couple of those aeration tablets. They are good for a couple hours - they break down and produce bubbles. Take along a container and a small seine, then go out and collect your own minnows. Even if they die they are still usually good bait. Good luck.

[SAX]

Buy leeches before they run out. They will last along time if you take care of them. Leeches are durable as can be. I will never bring minnows in again also. I would say gulp or live leeches.

[Gordie]

don't forget your rapalas we had a blast with floating raps twitching them for smallies and used twisters for eyes. I wish they would of had gulp when I was up there.

I also know that you can buy freeze dried and cured shad at mills FF.

[nofishfisherman]

I usually just stick to artificials, plastics, gulp, type stuff. Seems to work just fine. I have brought leeches before in a small leech locker and that also works well. You'll just need to plan ahead and buy them before they are no longer available.

I wouldn't bother bringing a seine. Its just one more thing you have to pack and portage. Plus you'll need a container to keep the minnows in. Just too much extra stuff to carry when space and weight are a factor.

[BoxMN]

3" gulp minnows. Emerald shiners or smelt colors, the smallies love them, and walleyes too. And they are easy to care for - stuff the bags in your pocket Have fun trip!

[Comit 2]

If you see small frogs lined up along the shore line, use frogs. They are up shallow for a reason. A small hook, a split shot and reel in just fast enough to keep the line tight.

Match the hatch and only take what you can eat.

[Stick in Mud]

If you're dead set on live bait, I'd buy leeches now and take care of them. They'll still be alive come the date on your permit.

[Vlasin]

I've been to the BWCA 20+ times - Never leave home without the #5 shad raps (few #7s as well). Orange/Gold, seem to be my 'go to' but have a few different colors. Probably a good idea for a steal leader or 2 incase you find some good pike.

Power baits seem to do OK as well...have brough live bait a few times and really have not seen a huge increase in numbers of fish compared with shads.

Good luck!

[Living_The_Dream]

I agree bring the power baits. I have had great success using them.

[herefish101]

Rattle n raps, deep divers, and swim baits will pack well and catch every fish up there. Jigs and minnows/leaches work best for walleyes but live bait can be a pain. A leach locker works great and it's small and light weight.

[Lusid]

Fake bait, rapalas (and related), and leeches.

Last trip i went up to the BWCA we did a pound of leeches, they are hardy little buggers so they don't die when the "conditions" are not right. I went thru Ely and ported out of Falls Lake (all from memory).

I think we ended up catching around 30 walleyes that weekend, but kept 8 for a fish fry. Good memories!

That's right folks! I bought my ice fishing pole haha.

EDIT: Everything was caught mostly on the live leeches

[Comit 2]

If you just want fish to eat and panfish is OK take a jar of powerbait Crappie nibbles and a few ice flies. I always have the yellow ones on hand when I'm out on the water.

[minnowdragger]

I go to BWCAW a couple times a year. We usually just troll with floating raps with a small split shot about 2 feet above the swivel to keep it down. Never had any trouble catching walleye, northern and smallies. Use a steel leader tho. If you like to play around like I do a fun activity is creek netting. I wade in a creek with a small mesh net and catch my own minnows. Put them in a bucket and they keep fine as long as you change the water often. Tipped on a jig below a slip bobber can be very exciting. Good luck!