I'm a first-timer looking for some info on what panfish are found in the area and what bait or lures are commonly used for them. Just trying to keep my kids (8 & 10)interested if we strike out on walleyes or smallmouth. Are small northern pike fairly reliable in a lot of the lakes? We are looking at the Sawbill, Alton lake area for ease of access, fewer portages, maybe just an overnighter or two or three night trip in August. Any other areas that might fit these criteria? Thanks for the help!

We've done quite well on crappies on LLC over the years. Were talkin' big 12-15 inch fish. We catch them fishing with spinners with a leech just like when we fish walleyes. I've tried switching to beetlespins and flu-flus, but we only catch them on the spinner/leech combo for some reason. We've also caught a few on Agnes to. I suppose if you had crappie minnows you'd do alright. Never caught a bluegill in all my trips. Caught rock bass, but who cares. I saw tiny sunfish on Jean Creek (river?) between Budside and Sturgeon in Quetico. I imagine there are probably some sizable panfish in the BWCA since they aren't many who fish for them.

I have never been to that area. However, as for panfish, I have caught some impressive stringers of huge bluegills, using worms and a bobber near drop offs and cabbage weeds. I'll also catch some big smallies along with them. Pike are not only reliable, they can also become a nuisance on some lakes.

I have never caught bluegills or sunnies on any of the trips I've been on, of course I have never fished for them there. The crappies we have caught in the BW are by no means fast and furious action. They are an incidental species caught while fishing walleyes. I suppose if we tried for them we would probably catch them at that rate, now that we know where they are. I am also unfamiliar with those particular lakes, but I have heard of nice bluegills in the BW.

For the Sawbill/Alton area,head to Kelso lake,it is a small shallow lake that is full of small 2-3 lb.northerns.When the fishing slowed on Alton the northerns were always willing to bite on Kelso,any time of the day.

I caught these fish on Wood lake. I also did well on Hudson lake.

canoeman,

Nice stringer! What month did you catch them?

RE: Northerns. I'm guessing that I might need some steel leaders. What do you use, and where might I be able to find some? Thanks!

snakecharmer

I caught them in the middle of Aug.

DUDE! what the heck is that FIRST pic of? its not a sunfish that I recognize. It looks like a mutant hybrid perch/rockbass or something.

Amok

Thats a Perch I caught it on a Rapala.

Wes, you can pick up steel leaders at Gander Mt. on your way there or any outfitter that sells tackle(which most do) will carry them.Don't buy the cheapest ones,Berkley makes a decent one with a ballbearing swivel and a crosslock snap.If I'm fishing just for northerns with lures I'll use a leader but if there is a chance of catching some eyes I'll skip the leader.No leader will better your odds on eyes but you might get bite off once in awhile.