Boundary Waters Packing List for Fishing & Camping Trips

The product recommendations on our site are independently chosen by our editors. When you click through our links, we may earn a commission. Thanks for helping us do what we love. Learn More

Every year I take a pilgrimage into the Boundary Waters to experience the northern wilderness and catch my fill of Walleye, Smallmouth, Panfish, and Pike. There is nothing like being in solitude on a BWCA lake and hearing distant loons echoing across the rocky islands. But this can all sour if you forget a key piece of gear, don’t pack enough food, or if you forget your water filter and decide to drink the ‘clean’ water, only to hug a latrine for your entire stay. What to bring into the Boundary Waters is a question every fisherman and camper asks themselves before their trip. Here is my guide of what to bring when camping in the BWCA.

As I am preparing for my next fishing trip into Basswood Lake, I wanted to share my essential packing list with you so you don’t forget anything essential (and neither do I).

Boundary Waters Packing List

1. BWCA Maps and Plan

• Physical maps – I purchase these from any of the outfitters in town. They have the campsites, portages, and landmarks. Bringing a compass is optional, but I have never used one. There are plenty of islands and typographical marks on the map that help me navigate through the wilderness.
• Boundary Waters permit (print a backup copy) – Even if you are canoeing in for the day, you need to fill out a day permit at the BWCAW entry points. But if you are reading this, most likely you are camping so you need a physical copy of your permit. The DNR does stop and check these from time to time, so be prepared.
• Route plan left with a trusted person – Accidents do happen out in the wilderness. Letting someone know where you are going is a good risk mitigation in case you need to be evacuated from the canoe wilderness area.

2. Camping Gear Essentials

• Lightweight tent with rainfly – This is pretty self-explanatory. If you are doing a lot of portaging, having a compact light tent is essential.
• Ground tarp – It’s best to place your tent on a ground tarp in case of rain, the bottom of your tent will stay dry (and so will you).
• Sleeping bag (rated to at least 30°F) – Even in the summer, it can get cold at night in the BWCA. I remember one 4^th of July it snow flurried in Ely before the parade. When I am out on the trail, I want to be able to warm up from the cold. Make sure your sleeping bag is rated appropriately for the overnight lows.
• Sleeping pad or inflatable mat – I’m getting old. I used to be able to just sleep on any old mat but not anymore. This is where I think its reasonable to sacrifice a little weight to be more comfortable. I just bought a new sleeping mat and I’m pretty excited to use it. Another option some guys have done is to rent a camping cot from the local outfitters. I heard that this is well worth the money.
• Compact camp pillow – OK, so I can’t tell you how many times I have forgotten to bring a camping pillow. This is the worst: getting all cozy only to realize you’re going to have a terrible night’s sleep because you forgot to bring a simple pillow.

3. Cooking and Food Camping List

• Backpacking stove + fuel – The key here is to bring enough fuel. On my last trip, I ran out of fuel and it caused me to not be able to make coffee the last day, resulting in a terrible head ache. Don’t forget to bring enough fuel.
• Lightweight cook set – A pot to boil water and a pan to fry fish is essential on a camping fishing trip. Cooking utensils like a spatula, knife, wooden spoon, or a ladle are necessary depending on your meal plans.
• Biodegradable soap + sponge + cleaning container – Often overlooked, you are going to need to clean your dishes. I use a collapsible water basin, camping soap, and a sponge. The collapsible water basin is one of my favorite finds.
• Bear-resistant food container (required) – In the Boundary Waters, it is required to either hang your food pack in a tree or to have a Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee certified container. On my last trip, I brought a cooler that was IGBC certified and had a food pack we hung in the tree. You will need rope and a pulley system to hang the pack at least 12 feet in the air and at least 6 feet away from the tree. I only brought a cooler because I had a motor permit. This enabled me to pack a bunch of fish out!
• Lighter, waterproof matches, and a Firestarter – I think this is pretty obvious. Check for any fire bans in the area where you are camping. But being able to start a fire and having a backup plan is essential.
• Dehydrated meals, trail mix, jerky, and oatmeal – Meal planning is critical for a successful camping trip. I heard of a group of 4 guys that went camping that only packed meals for 3 instead of the 4. They ran out of food and were famished the last day. Don’t be like this group. Plan out each meal, bring snacks, and have plenty of sustenance.

IGBC Approved Cooler to Pack Out Fish

4. Water and Filtration

• Water bottles and hydration bladder – So you need at least three water containers: 1) water bladders to gather unpurified water 2) Water bladder for purified water 3) Water bottles to take the purified water with you on day hikes, fishing excursions, and such.
• Gravity or pump water filter – This is a must. Make sure you clean out the filter before your trip. The filters need to be sanitized and so follow the instructions for your water filtration system.
• Iodine tablets or backup purification method – You need a backup plan for water filtration. This is critical. Water is life, and you don’t want to run out or have an issue with your main source of water with no backup plan.

5. Fishing Gear List

• Fishing rods – Since I was camping in a motorized fishing boat, I brought 3 poles: Medium Heavy (pike), Medium (bass / walleye), and Panfish (Light). I thought this was the perfect setup for my needs. Make sure the line has been recently replaced or bring a spool of new line.
• Tackle – Making sure you have the right tackle is essential. On my last trip, I learned 2 lessons. The first is to bring diverse lures. My son had a crank bait that went 10-15 ft and was natural colored. Most of my lures were for shallow applications. He caught all the fish and I mean ALL of the fish. In hindsight, I should have brought more lures for diverse situations. The second lesson is to be intentional about preserving live bait. This is obvious, but on my last day of fishing 2 of the 3 packs of worms were left in the sun. I was not paying attention to taking care of them until the walleye started hammering the worms on the last day. Unfortunately, only one pack of worms were alive. Once we got to the dead decayed worms, the walleye stopped biting.
• Stringer, pliers, and multitool – Having 2 sets of pliers is probably wise. If you are planning on harvesting some of your fish, a stringer is necessary. Having a multitool is critical to changing lures and fixing tangles. Another tool I found to be super helpful is a fish gripper for small pike. Small pike can be super annoying and sometimes cut my fingers. Using a fish gripper made it easier and safer to handle these fish.
• Fishing license (print or save offline) – Check the fishing regulations and make sure you have a hard copy with you at all times.
• Compact fillet knife – If you plan on harvesting some of your fish, make sure you bring a knife to do so. Having a cutting board or canoe paddle to clean the fish on is also very helpful.

Magical Fishing Lure

6. Boundary Waters Gear List

• Moisture-wicking base layers – In the boundary waters, I have three things in mind: staying dry, sun protection, and shielding myself from bugs. Making sure you have a good base that wicks moisture is key. I found some of the long sleeve lite fishing shirts work well for my wilderness camping excursions, even if it’s hot out.
• Rain gear (jacket + pants) – Even if the weatherman predicts no rain, don’t forget rain gear. The weather in the Boundary Waters is unpredictable and I have found that you always need to be prepared for rain.
• 2 pairs of wool socks – Best for keeping ankle biting insects from eating you alive, keeping you warm, or wicking moisture away from your feet when its hot.
• Quick-dry pants/shorts and shirts – As stated prioritize gear to stay dry, protect you from the sun, and protect you from bugs. Prepare for warm and cold conditions.
• Bug Shirt – I bought a bug shirt on my last trip and highly recommend one. These bug shirts are great when you are targeting walleyes who often bite when the mosquitos start biting.
• Fleece or puffy jacket for cool nights – It seems to always get cool at night in the Boundary Waters (even in August). Make sure you have the right gear to stay warm.
• Hat – This is essential for sun protection. Many people bring wide-brimmed hats. I still use a ball cap. At some point I’ll probably crack and get a wide-brimmed hat like the rest of the wilderness men up here.

7. Canoe Camping Gear List

• Canoe, Kayak, or Fishing Boat – In the Boundary Waters canoes are typically the preferred mode of transportation. But in the last 3 years, I have been getting a motor permit which allows you to take a 25 horsepower fishing boat into the BWCA. If you are taking a canoe or kayak, choose a light weight option (typically Kevlar).
• Lightweight paddles – Bring paddles, pretty obvious.
• Portage yoke pads or portage wheels– Make sure you can portage your fishing boat (portage wheels) or canoe / kayak with portage yokes.
• Life Jackets – Last year, there were a few fishermen who accidentally fell over Curtain Falls. They were not wearing their life vests, and unfortunately, 2 drowned. It’s not clear whether a life jacket would have saved them, but bring a life jacket and wear it. You never know when an accident may occur.
• Dry bags or portage packs – You will need to bring a Duluth Pack or Dry Bag to store your clothes, tent, and other gear. A bear certified food container is another good choice. Bring something that you can portage easily and will keep your clothes dry in case your pack gets wet.
• Bungee cords, straps, and rope – You will need to strap your gear and packs to the canoe. Make sure you plan for this and have plenty of rope, straps, and bungee cords to tie down your gear and use at your camp.

8. Safety and First Aid

• First-aid kit – This is an essential. You never know what’s going to happen out in the wilderness. I recommend getting a robust first aid kit. Make sure to include an EpiPen if you have a severe allergic reaction to something. Bring Benadryl in case you react to something that you were not aware of.
• Bug spray (Picaridin or DEET) – The bugs are worse than you can imagine if you have never visited the BWCA. Bring bug spray. Bring a bug shirt and long pants.
• Headlamp, lantern, or flashlight with extra batteries – It’s dark at night. Campsites often have a White Pine for shade, and its roots are everywhere. Without proper lighting, it would be easy to trip and hurt yourself. Bring a headlamp, lantern, or flashlight.
• Sunscreen + lip balm with SPF – On the lake, it is easy to get sunburned. Bring the SPF!

Commonly Forgotten Items (Don’t Miss These!)

• Toilet paper – Leaves are not good substitutes.
• Camp towel – Dries fast and packs small.
• Spare ziplock bags or bags– For trash, food, or fish.
• Small tarp or extra cordage – For rain shelter or gear shade.
• Bag for dirty clothes – It’s no fun to mix stinky clothes with your fresh clean clothes.
• Coffee – I just bought a coffee press for my last trip. GAMECHANGER! I highly recommend it. You can always get the instant coffee stuff. But one of my favorite things was being the campsite barista and fixing coffee for the crew every morning.
• Saw or Hatchet – This is needed to cut firewood to size.
• Hand Sanitizer – There is nothing worse than using the latrine and then realizing that you forgot hand sanitizer!
• Toiletries – Stinky breath and body odor is more prevalent in the wilderness. It’s nice to be able to stay fresh.
• Sunglasses – Sunny days on the lake require good shades!
• Camp Chairs – Camp chairs are now very light and also very practical. I highly recommend packing a pair.

Pro Tip: Pack Like a Minimalist, Think Like a Scout

Overpacking will wear you out. Underpacking will leave you vulnerable. Stick to lightweight gear with multiple uses, and always have backups for fire, water, and navigation. Practice your portages and pack organization before the trip.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re heading out to troll for walleye, cast for smallies, or just disconnect under the stars, preparation is what makes the Boundary Waters unforgettable for the right reasons. Use this list to pack smart—and leave the chaos at home.

If you are interested in more – check out my Basswood Fishing Trip Guide.