A woman wades in the water holding a nice caught fish for dinner.Fishing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (Minnesota) and Quetico Park (Ontario)

Boundary Waters fishing and Quetico fishing are both truly an angler’s paradise. Crystal clear waters hold trout, walleye, bass, and northern pike in abundance. Since there is no motor access to the Boundary Waters and Quetico, the fishing is better than in most lakes because there is less fishing pressure. And because this is a remote area, most anglers practice catch-and-release fishing for much of their catch, helping keep the fishery in prime condition.

A Small Mouth Bass fished in the BWCA.At Seagull Canoe Outfitters, we will help you plan the trip that is right for you. . . no matter what type of fishing you are seeking. For the serious angler, there are out-of-the-way lakes that offer a good chance at trophy fish. Our headstart launch service takes you to points on Seagull or Saganaga lakes, enabling you to quickly get deeper into the canoe country without paddling these two large entry lakes. A portable depth finder can help in locating prime structure, and is especially useful for walleye fishing; see the link below for information.

For the casual angler who is looking for the makings of a delicious shore lunch, or the family that simply wants to enjoy a relaxing afternoon catching fish, there are opportunities galore at the hundreds of lakes that make up the BWCAW and Quetico. Whether you fish from your canoe or shoreline-fish from one of the thousands of islands that dot the area lakes, you’ll certainly bring home wonderful memories.

  A man removes a lure from the jaws of a pike.  boy kisses a small fishyoung boy holds a northern pike

Boundary Waters Fishing Resources

Click on one of the links below for more information on Boundary Waters fishing and Quetico fishing. Also, check out our page Ask About and Take Our Advice, which presents an informative chart showing peak fishing weeks for various species. Hop on over to the Minnesota DNR website to buy a Minnesota fishing license.

 Deb showing us how to fish the BWCA.  A woman fishing in a canoe in the Boundary Waters.  Fresh fish cooking over a fire pit in the BWCA.  Deb catches a beautiful small mouth bass while fishing the Boundary Waters.

Quetico Park Fishing Resources – Zone 5 Information

Fishing Ontario residents and non-residents are required to understand many regulations and bait restrictions when fishing in Canada. Some fishing restrictions include:

  • Live fish may not be used as bait or possessed for use as bait
  • Fish parts may not be used as bait
  • Leaded jig heads are NOT allowed in the Quetico Park
  • Barbless hooks are required when fishing.

Get all of the details at the links below and be sure to read these Quetico Park Rules.

Want help picking a place to fish in Quetico or the best fishing lakes in the BWCA? Give us a call, 218-388-2216.