Best Rods for Fishing the Boundary Waters
If you consider the type of trip you’ll be taking into the Boundary Waters, these seasoned BWCA anglers can help you narrow down the best rod strategy for fishing. Much of selecting a rod is based on personal preference. All three of our experts selected a variation of a common, high value St. Croix rod for fishing the BWCA. This video focuses on selecting the right rod in a 1-piece, 2-piece, or 4-piece variation. Very little attention is spent on brand or price. All 3 experts also selected a spinning rod which does have its limitations in topwater bass scenarios, but the video assumes that the spinning set-up provides the most versatility when you’re only taking 1 rod. Consider the type of trip you’ll be taking and align with one of the options from the anglers in the video.
Matt Johnson: 4-Piece Rod
Matt likes to keep all his gear packed until he lands at his final destination. He’s normally steering and aims to fit all his belongings in a single portage pack. Here’s the benefits of why he brings a 4-piece rod into the BWCA:
Benefits of a 4-Piece Fishing Rod in the Boundary Waters
· Packs easily in a portage pack
· No risk of catching a tree on a portage and breaking a tip
· No loose gear in the boat while covering a lot of water and portages
· 6’6” medium (acts more like a medium heavy) St Croix Triumph 4-piece Travel Rod
· Reel: Diawa Legalis LT 2500
St. Croix Triumph 4-Piece Spinning Travel Rod
6'6" / Medium / Fast
Tim Mitchell: 1-Piece Rod
Biologist Tim Mitchell likes to fish while he’s covering ground so he’s basically trolling anytime he’s portaging. He reports that some of his best fishing happened after accidentally catching a fish on a troll. He thinks a 1-piece is the best option for the following reasons:
Benefits of a 1-Piece Fishing Rod in the Boundary Waters
· He and his canoe mate can take turns carrying the boat or the rods and paddles on a portage
· They’re cheaper than 4-piece rods
· Has more consistent action of the power rating because there aren’t any joints
· He can set his reel up at the launch and leave it that way for the entire trip. Tim wants to fish the entire time in the boundary waters while coving water, so he’d prefer not to take his reel and pack it, even on a portage.
· Designs his trips for a 1-piece instead of selecting a rod based on the trip type
· He uses the same rod when he’s not in the BWCA so he needs less gear (this is a con in our opinion)
· 6’6” medium spinning St Croix Premier 1-piece
· Reel: Shimano Sedona
St. Croix Premier Spinning Rods
6'0" / Light / Fast
Lukas Leaf: 2-Piece Rod
Leaf brings what he calls a “best of both worlds” set up. Lukas prefers a 2-piece rod because he feels like they’re easy to protect in a hard case tube on a portage, he can bring 3 rods easily, and it’s still easy to access for trolling between portages. Leaf has spent more time in the BWCA than the others and was even a guide so maybe he’s on to something. Here’s his list of top reasons to bring a 2-piece rod:
Benefits of a 2-Piece Fishing Rod in the Boundary Waters
· A hard case tube can be carried like a 1-piece, but it’s protected on the portage
· Lukas can fit up to 3 rods in the tube so if someone breaks a rod there’s a backup
· Rods can be kept assembled or broken down at camp
· Easy to set up with a single joint so it can be trolled during paddling to find fish
· 2-pieces are usually cheaper
· 6’6” medium light St Croix Triumph 2-piece
· Reel: Pflueger President 2500
St. Croix Triumph 2-Piece Spinning Rods
6'6" / Medium-Light / Fast
To read more details about Matt Johnson, Lukas Leaf, and Tim Michell’s preferences, check out this Article on the Sportsmen for the Boundary Water’s website, a partner of Omnia Fishing.
