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Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details #6929059
07/13/20 08:53 PM
07/13/20 08:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
I posted something about this subject a while back, but don't remember getting into details. Our planned Canadian pike trip has cancelled. my brother and I, and possibly our sons, want to go after smallmouth bass, that warm-water trout, in the fabled fisheries of Minnesota.

The Upper Mississippi and Mile Lacs lake were recommended to me. But someone (Steven?) posted in the walleye thread that Mile Lacs is real crowded. We'd be looking to go in September or October, if my brother's schedule, and the virus, allow.

We don't want to be sitting bewildered in a rented boat in the middle of some lake. We've learned it's best to hire a guide when fishing a new area. Someone (me, usually) gets stuck with most of the cooking and dishwashing unless we stay at a place that provides meals.

I've heard the Upper Mississippi gets flooded out if there's much rain. So we need a backup lake. Catching smallmouths in streams is more fun, though, and we'd like to try fly fishing if feasible.

Not interested in catching walleyes, except maybe to eat, to compare to the smallmouths.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929063
07/13/20 08:58 PM
07/13/20 08:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
come to the u p of Michigan ,fly into Marquette ,drive to little bay de-noc Escanaba -Gladstone area great fish not many people ,

Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929081
07/13/20 09:16 PM
07/13/20 09:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,638
Oscoda, Michigan
J
John-Chagnon Offline
trapper
John-Chagnon  Offline
trapper
J

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,638
Oscoda, Michigan
When I used to live in UP I remember some incredible smallies Ogontz Bay, Big Bay

Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929107
07/13/20 09:40 PM
07/13/20 09:40 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
S
Steven 49er Offline
trapper
Steven 49er  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
James, if you are going to fish midweek Mile Lacs will be pretty quiet, also the time frame you are looking at isn't typical summer at the lake season.

If you come that late bring a long sleeve shirt and a hoodie just in case, this isn't Anchorage.


"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929110
07/13/20 09:43 PM
07/13/20 09:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Will the lakes be liquid or solid then?

October is normal freeze-up here, though we didn't get it last two years until November.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929118
07/13/20 09:51 PM
07/13/20 09:51 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 230
Twin Cities, MN
N
Nate L Offline
trapper
Nate L  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 230
Twin Cities, MN

I too would say Mille Lacs is a good choice. The smallmouth spots aren't typically as crowded as the walleye locations. As 49er said mid week is a lot slower, especially after school starts. Other than that most of the Smallie fishing I do is in the BWCA which doesn't sound like the trip you are looking for.

Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929120
07/13/20 09:52 PM
07/13/20 09:52 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
S
Steven 49er Offline
trapper
Steven 49er  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 10,421
mn north of blakely
Liquid, most likely t shirt weather but sometimes it can get a little cool. That Mile Lacs area could just as well be the Bahamas compared to northern MN but it can be a little nipply


"Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon". Milton Friedman.
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: Steven 49er] #6929155
07/13/20 10:34 PM
07/13/20 10:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,296
East-Central Wisconsin
B
bblwi Offline
trapper
bblwi  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,296
East-Central Wisconsin
Google Ashland WI and check for guides or charters that go out in Chequamegon Bay. You may also be able to rent boats and fish there. There are several good smallie lakes in northern WI. Also if you want to canoe or use a small boat there are several rivers that are good smallie waters as well. There are a lot of guides in WI that guide for smallmouth on flat or moving water.
Jim this is a link to some of WI's rivers rated high for "bronzebacks"
https://www.gameandfishmag.com/editorial/fishing_bass-fishing_wi_aa086004a/193726

James here is some info on the bay
https://midwestoutdoors.com/destina...on-bay-dream-come-true-for-bass-anglers/
Bryce

Last edited by bblwi; 07/13/20 11:03 PM.
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929175
07/13/20 11:03 PM
07/13/20 11:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
O
OKforester Offline
trapper
OKforester  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
We used to go to Canada every year smallmouth fishing. We would drive right through Minnesota, never stopping to fish, to get to Canada. Even when we fished Lake of the Woods we would always go in Canada. I always wondered why we didn’t try some Minnesota fishing.

Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929394
07/14/20 09:27 AM
07/14/20 09:27 AM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
trapper
MnMan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
If you were to go to Mille Lacs in October you might need to wear more clothes than my son and I were wearing when we caught these there. I can testify that that lake has some giant smallies and has improved greatly in numbers since these pictures were taken. We caught these incidentally while muskie fishing and never have targeted them there. My nephew guides there at times but I am uncertain how much he guides for smallmouths at that time of year. I can ask him if you like.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Last edited by MnMan; 07/14/20 09:28 AM.

I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929401
07/14/20 09:34 AM
07/14/20 09:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,661
Minnesota
Nice Fish Mn Man!!!


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929407
07/14/20 09:38 AM
07/14/20 09:38 AM
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,165
Eau Claire Wi
Trap Setter Offline
trapper
Trap Setter  Offline
trapper

Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,165
Eau Claire Wi
Man one heck of a fight in those big bronze backs. Looks like fun!!


Life sure is tough when you don't learn from the mistakes of others.
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929419
07/14/20 09:45 AM
07/14/20 09:45 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445
revillo, sd
C
cohunt Offline
trapper
cohunt  Offline
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C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445
revillo, sd
James: Two nearby locations you might consider if your choice MN lakes do not pan out are Roy Lake(Roy Lake Lodge) in N.E. South Dakota(Aberdeen airport) or Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior at Ashland, 60 miles east of Duluth airport.

Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6929586
07/14/20 12:44 PM
07/14/20 12:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
T
Trapper7 Offline
trapper
Trapper7  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 15,594
MN, Land of 10,000 Lakes
James, I have had a place on MilleLacs lake for over 20 years. One of the best fishing spots for smallmouth is along Indian Point with its large boulders. Eddy's resort is owned by the band. It has a decent restaurant, bar, and nice rooms. They also provide free shuttles to the nearby casino if you are interested. Indian Point is about 3 miles out from Eddy's. I look at it from my picture window. It's a little over 2 miles straight out from my house by water.

When it comes to walleyes, unfortunately MilleLacs has a one fish limit per person. The walleye must be between 21-23 inches I believe.

I don't fish bass. I prefer to fish northern pike which we feel are as good to eat as walleye if you know how to take the Y bones out.

There is a bay near the casino that can be accessed from Eddy's that my wife and I like to fish for northern pike. We catch smallmouth and largemouth it seems every time we go in there while fishing northerns. That would be worth checking out.

If you should decide on MilleLacs, let me know. I can show you where I've seen others fish for smallmouth.


I don't care how nice the hand soap smells, you should never walk out of the restroom sniffing your fingers.
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6930265
07/15/20 12:19 AM
07/15/20 12:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Thanks for the advice everyone. Not sure if we'll make it this year, but if not, there's always 2021.

I see those photos and I drool. How good are they on a plate?

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6930297
07/15/20 01:21 AM
07/15/20 01:21 AM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,540
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline
trapper
KeithC  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,540
Champaign County, Ohio.
West Virginia has excellent small mouth fishing and is much less heavily fished and cheaper to stay in than Minnrsota. West Virginia also has much fewer Covid-19 cases than most states.

Keitn

Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6930328
07/15/20 02:44 AM
07/15/20 02:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
J
James Offline OP
"Minka"
James  Offline OP
"Minka"
J

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,379
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
Thanks for the tip, Keith. I've heard about the New River in WV as a fabled smallmouth fishing mecca.

Don't know much about where to go there. Probably wouldn't need a guide there if we had access to good water.

Jim


Forum Infidel since 2001

"And that troll bs is something triggered snowflakes say when they dont like what someone posts." - Boco
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6930342
07/15/20 05:42 AM
07/15/20 05:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
We catch them over 5 pounds on the Penobscot river around here.


Nevada bound
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6930353
07/15/20 06:20 AM
07/15/20 06:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,001
USA MN
Snowpa Offline
trapper
Snowpa  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,001
USA MN
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]


Never Confuse Stupid With Crazy
Re: Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details [Re: James] #6930362
07/15/20 06:36 AM
07/15/20 06:36 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
[Linked Image]
they are great eating

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