[Francis]

Hey guys,
Travel isn't for me. I have only been on a plane once, and, hopefully never again. In general, if it's not caught in Delmarva, I don't know how to catch it.

However, this August I am going to have to travel to Minnesota for a wedding. Seeing as it's a long way away and I have some time off I will likely take a week up there. I can either tow the big boat or take one of the canoes.

I understand the boundary waters offers very good fishing by canoe. Permit only system and camp if you want spend the night. I guess it's about 5 hours away from St Paul where the wedding will be.

What are my other options? If you had to spend three days fishing in Minnesota where would you go?

I really am not to excited about having to travel anywhere, but since there is no stopping it, I might as well make the best of it.

 

[Choptank Rob]

As a kid growing up in Nebraska, we vacationed most summers up in the boundry waters. We always stayed in a cabin/lodge on the gun flint trail. Do a google search and you will find some lodges along there. Each of them on different lakes and needless to say the fishing opportunities are unlimited with the ability to portage from lake to lake. My one suggestion would be to go with a guuide the first day and learn the ropes, then venture out on your own. The main fish is the great tasting Walleye!!! You will LOVE the Beauty of the boundry waters. It was not uncommon to see many moose every day as we fished from lake to lake. ENJOY it and post some pic when you return!!!

 

[golfinjoe24]

Ely, MN. Its right where the boundry waters are and there is a lake called "Lake Vermillion" great place to fish. Its pretty big and has everything from small mouth to PIKE!!! you can rent a canoe near by and even rent a little tracker bass boat if you want. if you dont feel like going that far north look at "Itasca County" lake Winnibigoshish. Great walley fishing. I know of places farther south but not as good fishing.

Joey

 

[JoshKaptur]

A boundary waters trip is a trip I'm dying to make one of these years... of course I just love the solitude of a canoe, loons calling, and drags screaming. I don't think you'll be disappointed, and definitely just take the canoe in my humble opinion. You'll want a partner, because lots of the best action requires a portage. I also can't emphasize enough that you need to request your permits YESTERDAY... you may aleady be too late.

Trophy brownbacks and Pike - oh I can picture it now!

 

[golfinjoe24]

Im dying to get up there next summer with my 10wt fly rod and catch a HUGE pike!!! I cant wait to make a trip up!.

Joey

 

[Fishamajig]

Boundary Waters - sore back, canoe butt, bad food, misquitoes, sleeping on rocks, awesome fishing, memories of a lifetime.

 

[golfinjoe24]

Boundary Waters - sore back, canoe butt, bad food, misquitoes, sleeping on rocks, awesome fishing, memories of a lifetime.

Haha i herd that the misquitoes were the state bird. haha

 

[Salmo trutta]

Think Muskie and lots of them. Big plugs and spinner baits get most of the play off of medium heavy action flipping sticks. You don’t' have to go to the boundary waters. Every lake up there has them; of course some are better than others.

I wouldn't bother with the big boat but maybe the john boat and or canoe. The john could be launched anywhere which is key into getting into tight spots. Same with canoe but it's not easy standing in a canoe and that has its advantages when sight casting or watching for a following 5 foot fish. You need to know when to do that figure eight at the boat or when to change the speed of the retrieve to trigger a strike.

 

[golfinjoe24]

I was reading in one of my fishing mag's about an article of how the Pike and Miskie were eating ducks and other small animals around the beaches. There was even an article of a couple of dogs getting eatin! I will see if I can find the article on the internet but it was really cool.

Joey

 

[kiko13]

Francis- check your PM

 

[golfinjoe24]

I also used this link to look at some places to go around the state. check it out
10 bait shop owners's Favorite Spots in Minnesota to Start a Fish Story

 

[tmacl]

This is on my bucket list. I have fished Algonquin and LaVerendre Parks in Canada. I have a 17' Grumman canoe w/ outriggers that prevent tipping. I think the canoe experience will allow you more solitude and quality experience. Several years ago a friend and I went to twin lakes in Ontario and spotted a disturbance on the water across the lake. As we approached we could see a loon struggling on the surface and then it would go under and re appear and beat it's wings frantically on the water. We got very close and as we peered into the water we could see a large turtle had grabbed one of the loon's legs and was trying to drown it. We used the paddles to open the turtle's mouth and off flew the loon. We caught large mouths to about 5 lbs in that lake. My friend told me they stock many remote lakes by airplane up in Canada. Purple red tail renegade 4" worm rigged weedless w/ no weight. Bring a camera or 2.

 

[Barefoot]

Hey guys,
Travel isn't for me. I have only been on a plane once, and, hopefully never again.

However, this August I am going to have to travel to Minnesota for a wedding.

Why don't you just get married here instead?

 

[JoshKaptur]

This is on my bucket list. I have fished Algonquin and LaVerendre Parks in Canada. I have a 17' Grumman canoe w/ outriggers that prevent tipping. I think the canoe experience will allow you more solitude and quality experience. Several years ago a friend and I went to twin lakes in Ontario and spotted a disturbance on the water across the lake. As we approached we could see a loon struggling on the surface and then it would go under and re appear and beat it's wings frantically on the water. We got very close and as we peered into the water we could see a large turtle had grabbed one of the loon's legs and was trying to drown it. We used the paddles to open the turtle's mouth and off flew the loon. We caught large mouths to about 5 lbs in that lake. My friend told me they stock many remote lakes by airplane up in Canada. Purple red tail renegade 4" worm rigged weedless w/ no weight. Bring a camera or 2.

Poor turtle.

 

[Francis]

Thanks for all the responses.

Not my wedding, Thank God. Mine will be in St. Mary's County, and I am going to have a nacho bar. . .

 

[Megabyte]

I've fished Leech Lake, Detroit Lakes, and Turtle Lake in MN, and so far I have had my best luck at Turtle. Of course, by the third trip I'd finally figured out how to fish these lakes, so that might be why Turtle was the best so far. )

Bucketmouth Bass, Smallies, Rock Bass, Walleye, and Northern Pike were what we caught the most of. My best success was had using hard baits, though I tried everything from Mepps spinners to BA's on small jig heads. Even caught a bunch of Rock Bass on FishBites.

Here are a couple of our fish from our last trip.

Trust me... it's worth the plane ride. ;-)

 

[Maralba]

I fished Little Long Lake, Long Lake and Bass Lake as a kid. Closest town was Ely. A lot has changed since then. It used to be wilderness. Now it looks like a lot has been developed. Regardless, great fishing experience. You should not let it get away. It's on my bucket list to return very soon. Best of luck and let's us know how it went for you.

 

[Fishing-Rod]

Find a lake that has limited acess and you'll catch almost as many Northern Pike as you do stripers. We canoed across one lake (trolling plugs as we went) and then hauled the canoe over a 15' high bank for about 50 yards and then fished another lake that I'm sure has seen very few anglers.:fishing2::fishing2::fishing2:

After 4-days fishing up there my set Mepps in-line spinner with bucktail trailer we're BALD. Smallies, Largemouth, Walleye, Yellow Perch and Mosquitoes the size of a small birds... Great memories!:thumbup:

Thanks, Fishing-Rod

-----

P.S. Choptank Rob, I grew up in Kearney, NE what town are from in Nebraska?

 

[Megabyte]

BTW Francis... The lakes I have fished in MN were quite large and you would be at a big disadvantage in a canoe.
I rented an aluminum fishing boat, but another family member rented a pontoon. Both were great fishing platforms depending on how much company you wanted. ;-)