For many years now, I have spent a lot of time on night fishing trips in the Boundary Waters. This, in part, has been a good way for me to spend more time fishing, particularly when the “busy” of the canoe season would seriously tap into available “daylight” fishing time.

The Siren Call of Walleye Night Fishing

The sacrifice of valuable sleep time has been worth the experience as well as the successes. That’s not to say there haven’t been plenty of nights I probably should’ve just gone to bed. But the siren call of BWCA walleye fishing is hard to resist.

Over the time of night fishing, we’ve (me and those willing to deprive themselves of a little shut eye) learned that the time period from just after dark through moon rise is an important time to have a lure in the water…hence the self-imposed, often rhetorical question: “Where do you want to be when the moon rises?”

Where in the Boundary Waters Do I Want to Be When...

You can ask “Where do you want to be when…” about most anything in Canoe Country. Where do you want to be when the ice goes out? Where do you want to be when the BWCA fishing season opens?

Where do you want to be when the smallmouth bass are spawning? Where do you want to be when the stars or the northern lights are dazzling? Where do you want to be on that crisp, cool evening, warmed by the campfire, taking in the brilliance of the autumn colors?

Veterans of the Boundary Waters and first timers have our own “Where do you want to be when…” in our minds. The long-time tripper might have much more experience to fine tune their inquiry, while the novice might have a simpler thought to ponder, like “Where do I want to be when I get to share uninterrupted time with my son or daughter around our first wilderness campfire?”

Planning a BWCA Fishing Trip

Planning any vacation starts with available time, of course. As you contemplate your first Boundary Waters trip or your fifteenth, think about what you and your group would like to get out of or accomplish on your adventure. Williams and Hall Outfitters, in Ely, MN can help you plan the trip you want.

How much time do you have for the trip? What are you and your crew capable of? These are some basic starting points that help us to offer our knowledge to you. For instance, what Boundary Waters fishing gear is best and what type of outfitting package is best for your group?

Boundary Waters Experience

Experience, whether on a wilderness canoeing adventure or in our daily routines, is made up of moments in time. Many have asked, over the years, “When is the best time to come to the Boundary Waters?” Maybe the better question would be “Where do you want to be when the moon rises?”