Well, I’m getting down to the short strokes now, only 13 days until we’re outta here for 23 days including 17 on the water in Quetico.  I’m hoping to get as much feedback from you all about fishing the Q as you’re willing to give.  This will be my first trip to Quetico and my first extended back country fishing trip.

This is a tandem trip with my wife but she doesn’t fish much so I’ll be taking a two piece Compre M, F and a Saros 2500 reel with 15 lb tracer braid.  We’ll be putting in at Nym heading down through Maria, Jesse, Jean, Sturgeon, Russell, and up through the B chain to Pickerel and out at French.  Based on what I’ve read and some of the feedback I’ve gotten here I’m thinking of Jesse, Jean, Sturgeon, Russell and Beg as destination lakes where we’ll probably hang out for 2 or 3 day layovers.  So those are the lakes I’d like to get feedback on in particular although if you think there is a lake on the way that I should give additional attention to, I’m all ears.  What I’m most interested in are smallies (and large mouth to the extent that they’re out there) although some nice Walleye dinners would be very tasty and appreciated as well.  But I’m not really that interested in jig fishing.  Personally I’d rather cast and catch nothing than sit for hours with a bobber but catch fish.  Just me, you understand.  I expect, where I’m fishing for bass I’ll be hooking Pike as well though I’m really not going after them.

Anyway here’s where I’d like some feedback.  I’ll be fishing with hardbaits and worms (wacky and T-rig) so first, for Senkos I’m thinking 4” or 5” in greens or sand colors (I’m assuming, based on other northern lakes, that those colors will reasonably match the bottom.)  Do those sizes and colors seem like good choices?

For hard baits I’m trying to cull my selection way down so I can get everything into a small plano waist pack holding 2 or 3 small hard cases.  I’m thinking of taking a couple of poppers (Rico Lobina and LC GSplash 65), an LC Sammy 85, a couple of rattlin baits (LC LV 100 and Zenith ZV-70), a couple of LC Pointers – one medium and one deep diver, and a deep diving Z75 crankbait.  Does that sound like a reasonable hardbait arsenal?  I have a ShadRap deep runner SR-8 which might be good for trolling and some Mepps aglias 3’s and 5’s which I could certainly bring along.  The hard baits are all in subdued natural colors – chartreuse shad, baby bass etc.  Do these seem like good choices?  Any other recommendations?

In terms of Walleye, what depth do you think I’ll be finding them between August 17 and September 3?  I don’t have very much experience fishing for Walleye so any tips you can give me would be a real help.  As to the rest, if any of you are so inclined and feeling generous enough to pass on any particularly good fishing holes in or around my targeted lakes, I’d be much appreciative.  What can I expect for smallmouth fishing at that time of year?

Sorry for being so long winded but I’m so excited to be finally, almost, getting ready to leave.

Thanks again,
Kerry

Yep, went throught the beginner's tips with a fine toothed comb plus Furtman's book for good measure.

I'd also agree your tackle selection is a bit light.  I'd bring a few more crankbaits and a few jigs/jig spinners as well.

You'll want larger/deeper crankbaits for trolling as you paddle and that's something I would very much recommend especially on the larger lakes you'll be paddling.  In general, you'll find fish deeper in mid-August so go heavy on deep baits and light on shallow-runners.  Don't leave the surface baits behind though, for evening fishing.

Worming and jigging are pretty much the same style of fishing so I'm not sure what your bias against jigs is all about.  A few 1/4 oz. jigheads with a pack of Gulp minnows with the twister tails and a pack of Chompers Double-Tail jigs would definitely put more fish in the boat.  Bass and walleye are equally likely to take a Gulp minnow and bass are suckers for a double-tail jig which effectively immitates crayfish.

I'm not familiar with tracer braid but I'd shy away from superlines anymore.  I'd recommend you switch to 8# mono given the barbless regs in the Q.  The stretch you get from mono keeps you from losing fish.  I used to fish florocarbons and superlines exclusively up there but I'm back to mono now with much better results on landing hooked fish.

I'd also recommend a depthfinder of some sort, but that's a whole 'nother topic.

i dont leave home without the 20' taildancer (hot flash) (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links), 7-15' (silver/blue) x-rap in the shad body (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links), the heddon baby torpedo (firetiger), 3' tube jigs (red/silver) to imitate crayfish with 3/8 oz jigs, and 4' ringworms (white, silver, chartruese, and purple) with both worm hooks and 1/16 oz jigs. this covers all species and fishing types.

as for how and where to fish that late in the summer look for reefs or shorelines with real steep drop offs. the fish will hang in the deep water during the day, so hit up the shallower reefs during the days book ends. the fish will be more active in the warmer water (except trout) so larger baits fished faster can be effective.

as for jigging styles, i prefer carolina type jigging to texas rigs in the Q because of the abundance of rock structure. t-rigs fish better in timber and weedy areas, but the nose weight can get hung up on rocks quite easily. i use a smaller sinker than the traditional carolina rig as to keep the sinker off the bottom and out of the rocks for less hang ups. with that said however, t-rigs fish better in deeper water (as well as jigs) because of the more direct line/weight/lure contact. so if you plan to fish mid day, go for t-rigs, where if you choose the morning/evening where you can go into more shallow water, switch to c-rigs.

another tip when fishing reefs at this time of the year would be to position yourself in the shallower water and cast into the deeper stuff, or cast along the drop. by doing so, the fish, after feeding, will turn back into the deep water and allow you to hook the corner of the mouth more often and give you a better feel of what you have on. if you fish from the deep stuff casting into the shallows, the fish tend to turn back toward you to get to the deeper water. by doing this, the fish gives you less feel because they are coming toward you and giving you more slack to reel in. you tend to lose fish this way because of the lack of line tension and barbless hook combo.

Kerry
Just had another thought......why the braid? I use braid exclusively for backcountry salt water fishing so I am quite familiar with it. I always use a florocarbon leader as well. Light braid can be fussy to tie FC to and I wouldn't even consider fishing it straight in the Q. Braid can also be subject to the normal spinning reel tangles.......except you don't usually untangle braids birdsnests . Out comes the snips. After a week your spool may be much reduced in diameter. That will effect your casting distance as well as increase your frustration level. Snow Dog is right on with his assertion that some stretch will actually help you put fish in the boat as well.

My last two trips I have become a big fan of GAMMA mono. Give it a try or at the very least bring a backup spool of mono.