As summer moves toward fall, the BWCAW's walleyes put on the feedbag. Photo by Tim Lesmeister.

The temperature in the Twin Cities was pushing very close to the triple-digit range. The fishing on most of the lakes in Minnesota was miserable on two counts. The heat was unbearable, even with a frequent dip in the lake to cool off, and the fish weren't biting either.

I almost started believing there could be something to that global warming thing, and then it hit me that it is much cooler in the north, and the fish are always biting up there. So, what was I doing on this west-metro lake in a Speedo with three coats of sunscreen all over my body?

I thought about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness where the cool evening breeze requires a long-sleeved flannel shirt, where the window of opportunity for shorts and a T-shirt is only a few hours in the middle of the day, and where a frying pan full of walleyes works much better on a stove at a campsite than the stove in a house.

My next scheduled Boundary Waters trip was for October, but I had to hit the road now. This would be my last call for some summer action for BWCAW walleyes, pike and bass. So, I cleared five days on my calendar, packed the canoe, boat and some gear, and called my No. 1 guide in Ely, Bill Slaughter -- and I was off to northern Minnesota.

Fortunately, Slaughter had a couple of days open on his schedule during the week so he and I could explore some small lakes in the canoe. The other couple of days I would base out of the Fall Lake campground where I could use my 12-foot boat with the six-horsepower motor. The weather forecast looked favorable, the last-minute details were coming together, and the reports from some of my other connections in that area were that the fishing had been good. The plan was coming together nicely.

August is a great month to be taking advantage of the great fishing and camping in the Boundary Waters. While downstate anglers are trudging through five to six weeks of "dog days" trying to coax a bite from a fish that seems content to just lie on the bottom, BWCAW anglers are chasing walleyes, pike, bass and panfish that are willing biters.

I break the BWCAW up into three sections. I call the first section "Gunflint," which consists of lakes off the Gunflint Trail heading north out of Grand Marais. I call the second one "Sawbill," and this area includes the lakes north of the Sawbill Trail out of Tofte. The third is called "Ely," which consists of all the lakes you can reach from the entry points around the town of Ely. When I first started to explore the Boundary Waters about 25 years ago, I started in the Gunflint zone and worked my way west. Today, I find myself utilizing the lakes in the Ely range more. Each area has its advantages.

As I drove north to dodge the heat wave engulfing the lower portion of the state, I began planning my strategy for the week. I would set up a base camp on Fall Lake at the U.S. Forest Service Campground and fish there in my boat the first few days if I could get a permit. When Slaughter became available, we would take canoes and explore some of the other BWCAW lakes on day trips.

This is what I call a "low-impact trip" because the portages are lightweight ordeals where you are not taking all the gear you need to camp remotely -- just some rods and tackle, snacks and bait. You can hike into great fishing locations this way.

I still make trips into the BWCAW where we haul all the gear and food, and set up camp well into the boundaries of this popular wilderness area. Those trips are fun as well, but they take more planning and time than I had when I decided to break loose on the spur of the moment.

Walleye anglers will discover that the lakes in the Gunflint range provide some breathtaking scenery, quality fishing for big pike, lake trout and nice walleyes, and there are some quality outfitters in that area.

You will appreciate what you get with an outfitter. They provide the watercraft that best suits the water you are traversing. The outfitters set you up with a nice array of meals in packs that work well for the hiking and portaging you do. Maps, directions and even pre- and post-trip accommodations can be booked through an outfitter. If you are worried about getting lost or fear the uncertainties of a maiden voyage into the BWCAW, an outfitter can also fix you up with a guide to quell those concerns. Check out the trips offered by Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters. They have a trip into Seagull Lake that pops out at Lake Saganaga. It's a light to moderate trip in terms of difficulty, and the fishing will be outstanding.