Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: BWCA fish species...
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bear bait |
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Arlo Pankook |
You don't need a tag to c&r. The rules are complicated but if you are fishing border waters you can c&R Lake Sturgeon year round exept from May 7-July 1, the season is closed. |
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inspector13 |
Besides Rock Bass and some kind of sucker, I haven’t caught any of what you ask in the BWCA. You will need a special tag to fish for Sturgeon on the border lakes. The season is closed for them in all other waters in that area of Minnesota. I don’t think you will find Bullheads on any border lakes, and Burbot will only be found in the deepest waters in the summer. |
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schollmeier |
I generally find Burbot at the same depths you'd find Lakers whens fishing lake superior so I'd suspect it would be the same in the BWCA, not sure what lakes might be the best though. I do know there are Bullheads in Little Vermillion on the far west end of the border (ep 12) but I'm sure they are not very common (only a few show up in the fish surveys). BTW - a tag is only required to harvest Sturgeon. Catch and release can be done without a tag on open waters (which includes the border lakes). |
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MeatGun |
You might like to pick up Micheal Furtman's book: The New Boundary Waters and Quetico Fishing Guide There is a nice set of tables as an appendix that lists species that have been caught in each lake, though generally he focuses on the grand slam species. Good luck |
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fitgers1 |
Of your list, I have caught sunfish and rock bass in other bdub lakes though. Your endeavor sounds pretty fun. Good luck! |
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Brown Bear Cub |
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MagicStik |
I don't think you need a sturgeon tag to fish for them...just if you are going to keep one. Black Crappie....I believe Iron has them. Magic |
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aholmgren |
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schollmeier |
A couple surprises in the detailed look: 1. There is a Border Lake that may have a Longear Sunfish (Northern Sunfish) presence. They shouldn't that hard to find (if there are decent numbers), they are really picky about habitat. 2. Green Sunfish are found on a couple Border Lakes too - surprisingly on the east side (Superior Drainage). 3. Angler reports of Muskellunge (not native) in Little Vermilion - not that surprising considering the introduction to Crane Lake, doubtful they are common though. That brings me up to 22 natives and an additional 2 natives that may or may not exist. Plus 2 more potential non-natives on the border. Maybe I'll even attempt a Brook Trout detour and make it 25/27 potential targets. |
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schollmeier |
Border Lake Species Some lakes and species were limited for data. Some species are terrible to survey anywhere but especially without access to modern equipment. Deepwater species - especially Burbot and Longnose Sucker are probably pretty widespread, probably just about any lake with Ciscos/Lake Trout. Maybe not common but probably present. I suspect Crooked and the Basswood River would have Lake Sturgeon too, but that is more of gut feeling than anything. |
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mc2mens |
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Savage Voyageur |
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schollmeier |
I've been wanting to catch each species that is native to the BWCA but I haven't given it a serious effort (yet). The BWCA has 21 native species of fish (not counting minnows and lampreys). Of those 19 are available on the Border Lakes. BWCA Fish Species List Of those species I've caught almost all of them but few of them in the BWCA. I'm going to make an effort to try and catch all 19 natives available along the Border during our single push to paddle the border. I'll probably pick up one or two of the non-natives along the way and if it works out maybe I'd try and pick up the two sunfish species found in the interior lakes. So here is my question to those out there, any of you willing to share lakes where you've caught the following in BWCA? (bonus points for border lakes) -Black Crappie -Bullhead (black, brown) -Sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed) -Rock Bass -Burbot (eelpout) -Sturgeon -Whitefish -Cisco -Sauger -Suckers (longnose, white, shorthead redhorse, silver redhorse) Most of these aren't terribly difficult to catch fish but none seem to really commonly caught in the BWCA - especially in summer. Any recommendations are welcome! Thanks! |
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Newbster |
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schollmeier |
Some time in the near future I'm going to plot out a list lake by lake using the MN DNR survey data and Furtman's book (and any info I find here). The surveys are never very complete, especially with the difficulty of sampling many species via net - actually the DNR has gone to hook-and-line for Sturgeon surveys (in many rivers at least) due to the low success rate of boom shockers and nets on that species. @aholmgren - easiest would be the ones I didn't ask about! Easiest native has to Pike. I don't plan on "targetting" them - even though I like them, catching one incidentally should be fine. Several should be challenging - mostly due to low numbers and/or low distribution. Bullheads should tough. Several like Cisco and Burbot will be tough due to seasonal conditions. If I had to pick, I'd guess Longnose Sucker to be the toughest - I've only caught those on their spawning run out of Lake Superior. @Savage Voyageur - rivers are indeed always multi-species hot spots. I've been on the Basswood River - that always struck me as spot that could hold good numbers of riverine species. @fisherboy - that Northern Cisco (tullibee) is a fatty - must be trying to fit in with the Crappies! |
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schollmeier |
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fisherboy |
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arctic |
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mcsweem |
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