Cory Christianson
I know you may think canoeing on windy days is insane— especially hearing this from the guy who told you about sinking his boat last week. However, I would rather canoe on one of the many smaller BWCA lakes for a day than fish out of a nice comfortable boat on a windy day.
Thekey is to pick out a small lake that is more protected from the wind. If you are willing to canoe, there are many great opportunities in the Boundary Waters. You can use a “self issuing day permit” which are available at most entry points. As long as you are not spending the night, you cannot be denied access to any of the beautiful lakes within the BWCA. Simply fill out the permit, drop the carbon copy in the box located next to the permits and you are set. You must still obey all of the BWCA rules, but the permits are free and very easy to fill out.
I paddled into Larch Creek last weekend with some customers, and did very well. We caught a couple of dozen walleyes in just a few hours, ranging from 14 – 20 inches. There were five beaver dams to cross, but they were not that difficult.
Poplar Lake has a lot of great entry points such as Lizz, Skipper, Meads, and Prune Lake that are very easy to find and fish.
Fishing from a canoe is obviously more difficult than fishing from a boat with cushy seats, but it is well worth the effort. I used to frown when my customers asked to go paddling. Not because I did not enjoy it, but because after you take a client into a small lake and he or she catches a lot of fish they no longer need me the next time they decide to go. I have learned over the years that it does not really matter. When you show someone a good time, you will see their business again. There is nothing wrong with teaching someone about a lake that they can easily recreate on their own.
Some of my customers are cabin owners who tell me they felt silly not knowing how good the fishing is in their own backyards. So now they can take friends and family into these lakes and show them a good time as well. Thatis what a guide does whether he likes it or not.
I also share a tip about canoe seats. Canoe seats with back rests can really save your day. Also helpful is a couple of canoe anchor bags. These are little mesh bags that you can fill with rocks so you do not have to portage any heavy anchors.
If you are fishing with three in a canoe, I like to use a middle seat that keeps the center of gravity low. That guy in the middle who wants to sit on a cooler up high will end up sinking your boat.
I also like to use shorter rods, in the six foot range, making it much easier to land fish.
I hope you decide to take advantage of some of the beautiful and productive waters that lie within that invisible boundary where motors are not allowed. The”paddle only” zone has actually created some very good lakes due mostly to the lack of fishing pressure.
Cory Christianson, a 2000 graduate of the University of Iowa, has worked as a fishing guide at Seagull Creek Fishing Camp for eight years and worked for Almost There Charters in Key West for nine years. If you have any fishing reports or stories to share, send an e-mail to christiansoncory@ hotmail.com or call 218 388-0315.
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