I am negotiating on the home front to spring myself for a short Quetico solo trip. Due to other commitments, the trip would probably have to be mid-August. Because it'd be a short trip, and I am itching like crazy to fish, I'm thinking base camp on one of the bigger lakes: Beaverhouse, Cirrus, Pickerel, et al.

I haven't been to the Q in mid-summer in a long, long time. I got into the routine of May or Sept. trips, generally Sept. Anything I should consider in planning a mid-August fishing trip? I assume that the fish will be in deeper water, possibly holding to deeper drop offs, but I am curious to hear what you all think.

Ranger

solotripper wrote on Jul 11^th, 2018 at 10:59am:


I know you're just joking but I hate seeing stuff like that.  And I did it as a kid too.  Young and dumb.

I actually like fishing for trout in dog days.  I figure the trout are more concentrated because any water less than 20 feet deep probably doesn't hold trout.  Having said that last July I caught a 31 inch trout in 10 to 15 feet of water.  Sometimes fish don't read the right articles on fishing.

I have been re-reading the BWJ summer issue. Our own Kingfisher is in there detailing his approach to fishing the finicky walleye out of weed patches during the middle of summer. It was a good read and even better excuse to hoof it down to the local Fleet farm for cheap jigs, plastics, and a few more lures that I don't need....give it a read if you get the chance...might be useful. Hint: think banana jigs 

Yes, it was. I'm no expert, but FWIW, KF recommended rippin' raps, shad raps of a certain size, flicker shads and something I didn't recognize, Perch, chartreuse and firetiger were the colors of choice I recall correctly (could be wrong on those). He also cited weed weasels (Northland) and Johson silver spoons (chrome and gold I think) and jerk minnows in chartr. and white/pearl. I bought 4-5" which are probably too big but I've got smaller Gulp's and Northland Impulses in shiner and sunrise grubs. As I posted above, it's more than I'll ever need....or be able to fish with....but it didn't stop me from purchasing them.

Dog day trout.

Last night of the trip...Aug. 9th...camped on the double point site, north side of Burke Lake with Outlander.  Fish was on the dinner menu, so about 2:30 PM, hopped into the canoe solo, paddling east into the back bay, slow trolling a jig on the shore side and a Husky Jerk-7 perch pattern on the lake side.  I just figured anything for the pan, most likely a pike.  In less than 10 minutes and 300 yards from camp, it hit heavy.  I got it close enough to see the white belly and figured, yup, pike, but then saw the white on the leading edge of the fins - laker!  It then went on a tear, singing the drag for a good 6 seconds - a strong fish.  I wasn't trolling deep - maybe 12 feet, but was on what seemed like the edge of a hole.  At 26.5" and about 7 pounds, I had dinner AND breakfast!  Sometimes it's all about the right place, the right time.

BTW - 12 Step Program....12 lures = 12 steps by my count.

pd