Boundary/Boundry Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Fishing Tips by BWCAW Canoe Trip Outfitter Sue Prom

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The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness lakes are teeming with fish. There are a variety of different species of fish in the BWCA but most sought after are Walleye, Northern Pike, Lake Trout and Smallmouth Bass. While some people come to the canoe country just to paddle and camp in the wilderness others come for the sole purpose of fishing in the Boundary Waters. There are as many ways to catch fish in the BWCA as there are Boundary Waters lakes but here are four tips to help you catch fish on your next Boundary Waters canoe camping trip.

There are thousands of lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and most contain a population of fish. There are a few lakes in the BWCA that do not support any fish. The first step in a successful Boundary Waters fishing trip is to paddle, camp and fish in lakes that contain the species of fish you are interested in fishing for. It can be disappointing to fish all day for Lake Trout only to find out later the lake only contains Northern Pike. Find out what type of fish are in each of the lakes you will travel by asking an outfitter or looking at online resources. This research and knowledge can make a big difference in the success of your BWCAW fishing trip.

Plan to spend a large percentage of your time fishing if you want to catch fish during your Boundary Waters canoe trip. Paddling, portaging, setting up and taking down camp all take a considerable amount of time. If catching fish is the main goal of your BWCA canoe camping trip then plan your trip accordingly. Set up a base camp in a central location with many smaller lakes nearby to fish in. This will allow you to spend time on the water fishing instead of paddling all day long. Try fishing the nearby lakes in different weather conditions. Catching fish can be difficult if your time with your line in the water is too limited.

According to Mike Prom, the owner of the BWCA canoe trip outfitting business Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, "Folks spend tons of money on rods, reels and tackle for their BWCA fishing trip only to have their line break every time a fish bites." He recommends replacing old line with brand new 8 pound test line for your Boundary Waters canoe trip. This will be sufficient for catching Northern Pike and will allow you to catch Walleye and Smallmouth Bass as well. Wetting the line before you tie your knots will also prevent the line from breaking when you get a fish on. Don´t make catching fish in the Boundary Waters more challenging by using old line on your reel.

For best results when fishing in the BWCA try trolling. Trolling will allow you to fish for a number of different species and cover large amounts of area. Place a spoon, artificial lure or spinner on your line and start paddling. Be sure to let out enough line and then be prepared to catch a fish. All species will strike on these types of lures depending upon what time of year it is and what depth you are fishing at. There isn´t an easier way to fish from a canoe and three or even four people can fish out of one canoe.

Catching fish in the Boundary Waters can be an easy or an impossible feat. If you travel from sun up to sundown and break camp each day then don´t expect to have the time or energy to fish. If fish don´t exist in the lake you are camped on then you can try a variety of presentations, lures and depths and never catch a fish. Find out what type of fish are in each of the lakes, put new line on your reel, troll around a wilderness lake and you are almost guaranteed to catch a fish. A successful BWCA fishing trip is as easy following these four Boundary Waters fishing tips.

Find more useful information about BWCA canoe trips on my website

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218-388-2224 or 1-888-CANOEIT

sue@canoeit.com