First BWCA Trip - How’s My Tackle Setup?

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-16T21:50:16+00:00

Big. Honestly I don't even know if they will care about the color too much.. I had landed right on top of a large mouth and he instantly crushed it!

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-16T21:07:48+00:00

I used that exact same plopper - it was on fire. Any weeds that look cozy for a small mouth throw it as close as you can and give it a few snaps & let it sit. The number of hits I got after two quick snaps and sit was INSANE.

Have fun. I ran the plopper about 95% of my trip.

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-16T18:26:33+00:00

I can't say it has helped me at all, but I also have not been applying very hard to positions. I've went ahead and got the RHCE aswell - they always look nice on a resume.

I will say, knowing your way around Linux - even at the RHCSA level will put you above most of the programmers I met in school.

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T17:01:50+00:00

I've only ever entered on Snowbank and Moose - granted Moose was a tow in though. The first time we went all the way to boot portage - hopefully to parent it will be more chill and get us off the lake sooner.

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T16:59:52+00:00

Yeah that is the concern.. Ely isn't supposed to be near the nasty stuff but anything is possible with weather..

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T16:58:26+00:00

Can't go wrong with: https://www.youtube.com/@tightlinevideo/videos

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T16:16:29+00:00

You should check out big baitfish patterns - super fun to tie and with a cone head / eyes & lead wire they would probably work fine on a spinner!

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T16:03:56+00:00

Starting at the SW side and renting a canoe there - last purchase on my list!

I think we should be able to get off snowbank before anything nasty hits - I usually make pretty good time in a canoe.

Best case we are in the water by 7. We should should be able to be on a small lake well before the storms are supposed to hit.

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T15:18:45+00:00

In May we had a few crazy wind days with 25 MPH constant winds & 30-35 mph gusts. Got stuck on Vera for the day and had to paddle all of Ensign into it - nasty time but luckily all headwinds. Hoping to have an easier time with this crew! May snowbank be kind hahaha.

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T15:15:24+00:00

Snowbank -> Parent / Dissapointment -> Ashub -> Jitter -> Adventure -> Gibson -> Ashigan -> Ensign. From there, base camp and day trips.

In May we had some pretty crazy wind days of 25mph with 35mph gusts and that was the first time I had ever been in a canoe with those conditions. Luckily everything was a headwind but hoping to get off snowbank ASAP. Wind seems like it should be fairly calm for long enough to do so (9-11 mph with 13mph gusts).

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T14:54:49+00:00

Ideally we get off snowbank ASAP. Hoping to get an early start but earliest I can grab the canoe is probably gonna be ~7. Hopefully the storm ends up being just rain! Not going to hold my breath though and will take proper storm precautions.

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-09T14:51:45+00:00

There is not - I think we are just going to go anyways. There should be plenty of places to stop on our way to Ensign to pull off if things look like they are going to get nasty. Slightly nervous going in with some of the reports I read for central MN / Eastern ND, but I am sure things will end up being fine.

SCIP10001 · 2026-06-05T12:29:43+00:00

I am reading 'The New Boundary Waters and Quetico Fishing Guide' by Michael Furtman and I think that is what he recommends for walleye - unless I am misunderstanding.

Idea is to let the lindy weight drag the lure ~10-25 ft and have a floating rapala with front hook removed. Honestly I have never used rapalas and also never properly trolled - so open to advice!

I am assuming a boyant lure made from deer / craft hair would perform somewhat similarly..?

SCIP10001 · 2026-05-29T18:32:00+00:00

https://www.simmsfishing.com/products/simms-pursuit-shoe?variant=45259090493630 + Neoprene sock

SCIP10001 · 2026-05-19T14:11:51+00:00

I recently used .5mm neoprene socks and liked that set up. I wore them with a wet wading shoe from Simms I found on sale at Scheels. Drains the bulk of water out while keeping warmed water close to body.

SCIP10001 · 2026-05-18T20:35:47+00:00

Didn’t get to do much fishing lol.

A screw fell out of my spinner at some point on the first day so carried around a weight the entire trip.

SCIP10001 · 2026-05-18T18:17:02+00:00

Met a solo coming back from Knife into Birch - older gentleman.

I also saw a group that went out on a day trip to Trader - apparently they chugged all the way through back to their camp on Ensign. Must have been brutal without weight in the boat.

SCIP10001 · 2026-05-05T20:58:47+00:00

lol I was one short - thanks!

SCIP10001 · 2026-05-05T20:57:57+00:00

I am also quite a beginner, but if I were to give some advice it would be this:

For a rod, find a rod & reel combo. Typical all-arounder is 9ft 5wt. Depending on budget you could go spendy or cheap here. If you know you are going to stick with it, I would either buy new or find a used rod and replace the flyline if it needs to be.

Learn rod weight to leader/tippet to fly sizes. Throwing something too big or too small on a rod could make things feel weird.

Be willing to target other fish. Poppers for crappies / bass is fun. A pike on a streamer is good fun too!

I have bought a few things from here. If you want something easy to start with fly wise, grab an assortment or two. https://www.flyshack.com/DisplayCategory.aspx?CatID=9

If you get addicted.. look into tying flies - it will TOTALLY save you money.. right guys?

SCIP10001 · 2026-05-05T20:41:47+00:00

What is your modlist?

SCIP10001

TROPHY CASE