Minnesota smallmouth fishing--the details

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

come to the u p of Michigan ,fly into Marquette ,drive to little bay de-noc Escanaba -Gladstone area great fish not many people ,

When I used to live in UP I remember some incredible smallies Ogontz Bay, Big Bay

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Nice Fish Mn Man!!!

Man one heck of a fight in those big bronze backs. Looks like fun!!

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.

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.

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

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

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

We catch them over 5 pounds on the Penobscot river around here.

they are great eating

These came out of the Mississippi River, within the city limits of St. Cloud, MN. You can't beat the smallies off with a stick in October.

Those were last winters walleye regs. Here is the current reg.

Walleye: Beginning May 9, 2020 through June 30, 2020, all walleye must be immediately released. Beginning July 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020, walleye may not be targeted. Beginning August 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020, all walleye must be immediately released.

I don't have the 2020 regulations in front of me but I believe smallmouth are catch and release only in Minnesota after the first week or so in September except for the northeast zone.

Tightlines Flyfishing out of DePere WI does guided flyfishing on the Menomonee river that boarders WI and MI.
Oct is past prime time tho.
They are flyfishing Primarily but will let customer do what ever they want. Its a float trip in Drift boats.
Catch and release like most Flyfishing guides.
Upper part of river is very wild, on a day float you might pass 1/2 dozen to dozen cabins only.
Lower part of river is more developed, slower but has more larger fish.
Lots of fish in the 15-18" range and occasional 20" ones.
Largest Fish I have heard they have caught is 23".

They are usually booked a year or so in advance but seeing as how your looking at past prime time you might get an opening.

How close are you to Freeport? How will the fishing be in early July?

I hope to be in Freeport around then, virus allowing.

Jim

About 3 hrs north of Freeport.Fishing is good for small mouth bass all summer.