Leeches, minnows, or crawlers

[dirtking]

I am paddling into the BWCA for a four-day trip of fishing. If you were going to go through the effort to carry bait in, what would / do you, bring?

In the past I have brought a small amount of minnows and had ok success. I figure if I have to carry a fishing pole across the portage carrying some kind of bait with it is not too hard.

[Surface Tension]

When I go into the BWCA its to fish. If your after eyes bring leeches for sure. Get yourself a leech container with the screw on lid. Keep them cool with fresh water and they'll last.

[beeonkey]

I would do the leach thing. They can't leave a leach alone if it's held in front of their nose.

[dirtking]

ok - good advice. If I get some smaller/medium size leeches I could probably even sucker a bluegill into biting.

[beeonkey]

I have been catching the sunfish just fine with the larges. They aren't very large again this year.

[dirtking]

Well we went with the Leeches - We could not buy a walleye or fish for that matter on jig head, spinner, or even plain hook. They we tied on slip bobbers and BAM fish on. It rained all day 5-24 and the angleworms came out. I picked 40 of them – big guys. We paddled the entire lake looking for the infamous sunnies I had heard about and again got shut out. Tried every bay on the lake. From 2' to 10' deep - No sunnies? Are they shallow – Really deep – or just not hungry - had a good trip though

[DuluthGuy]

this time of year the sunnie and crappies (that far north) should be still in spawning mode. Look for sandy shores. You can spot spawning beds. If you see bass spawning then you may have missed the panfish - you can always try to look for sand in mostly shady areas for later spawners.

B2

[Tom Linderholm]

Whoaa! Who is this guy, I thought maybe they banned your IP or something . How you doing Butch?