Need Voyageurs Park advice

[thalter]

I am a new member so I hope I am doing this correctly.

I am arranging a summer (July) fishing trip for a group of guys and we want to go to Voyageurs National Park. We are mostly targeting smallmouth. We are interested in renting a houseboat. Our priorities are good fishing first and remoteness second. My question is: where should we go? From what I have been able to learn it looks like we need to decide between Rainy Lake at the North of the park or the Southern lakes. I would welcome any advice on this.

By the way, I am open to other ideas beyond Voyageurs Park. I don't know if there are any better choices with houseboat rental that would be more remote (less people) and better smallie fishing.

thanks.

tim

[philbert]

We had good success w/Rainy Lake HB's. The smallie fishing is outstanding on Rainy. We went in July of this year, and we caught fish everywhere we stopped on the lake. Biggest was 4lbs (not big for that lake), but we caught a lot of 2 lbers. Walleye should be on the reefs at that time as well. We caught walleye up to 26" (again, not that big for this lake) I've been there once, and I wouldn't go anywhere else for smallies. I'm trying to figure out how to go back.

[fishmeister_86]

HI THALTER,

WELCOME TO FISHING MN., AND TO RAINY, ONE OF THE TOP WALLEYE/SMALLIE/CRAPPIE/NORTHERN LAKES IN THE WORLD. WE LOVE OUR LAKE & TAKE PRIDE IN OUR RAINY.

FIRST OFF, IF YOUR BOOKING A HOUSEBOAT IN JULY, I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST YOU DO IT SOON, IF YOUR NOT ALLREADY TO LATE. JULY IS OUR BEST FISHING & MOST STABLE WEATHER MONTH.

IF I WERE GOING ON A HOUSEBOAT IN JULY. I WOULD GO EAST OF THE BRULE, THIS IS WHERE THE MOST PARK HOUSEBOAT SITES ARE. I WOULD ALSO CHOOSE EARLY IN JULY (1ST WEEK) IF I WERE ONLY FISHING SMALLIES.

HOPE THIS HELPS..........................SINCERELY,

FISHMEISTER

[7thson]

I too , are new to post on this forum, but not new to rainy lake. I've been fishing Rainy almost exclusively since 1992. My family and I have rented houseboats from R.L. house boats , and have been very pleased with this service. We also do a lot of camping at the designated sites in the park. we love the seclusion. as other have stated, go east of the brule narrows. you won't have to worry about seclusion. plenty of fish and fun to be had. if you get the lisences and remote border crossing permits, the canadian side can be a blast for catch and release bass fishing. good luck!