Smallmouth are doing good on Rainy Lake; trip report June 2nd thru 11

[fisher972002]

What a week of fishing.  We target smallmouth specifically.  We stayed at Sha Sha Resort the week of June 2nd they June 11rh, great stay as always.  My only problem was that my 2 deep cell TROLLING motor batteries were shot.  We replaced the batteries and no more problems.  We had 3 boats in our party, probably the best smallmouth fishing I can remember.  If was like it was the late 80's and early 90's when you caught smallies all week long. We had many 60-70 fish days with4 fisherman in my boat, and 1 day over 125 fish, 80 of them bronzeback beauties.  We found them mostly in the backs of the bays, but we're everywhere.  Rainy is. Wing managed correctly because we caught all kinds of sizes and year classes.  

I fileted out a 27" pike, and found about an 11 inch smallmouth in his stomach, so I didn't feel bad.  I'm like  CaptnJonWisc in that we catch and release smallies and prefer them to bottom feeders.

 We saw more wildlife than normal.  Saw a moose, which was a first for me, heard a wolf howling, saw a beaver out of the water...  and caught a rock bass, which I've never ever caught at Rainy in 30 years!

 

i had 2 20 inch beauties, for the  largest smallies of the week in our party, then on Rhursday of our trip my father-in-law catches this 20.4 inch pig spawned out still weighing 4.90 lbs.

We drove back to Iowa with an extreme case of bass thumb and smiles on our faces, thanks again to my Dad who has fished Dainy since 1972 and taught me most everything I know about Rainy.  Remember guys, there are several reefs not on the paper map or GPS's.. be careful out there and explore new areas with the sun out so it lights up the reefs.

Edited June 16, 2017 by fisher972002
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[bfisherman11]

You all did great. I'm headed up on Saturday with my dad and nephew.  We fish for all species but like walleye best.

 

I have a special reef out by shorties I like. My dad used to take us up to Labelles back in the 70s and when it was my turn to take dad fishing we rediscovered Rainy. We fish the US side and really love it.

 

Thanks For the pix, 

Bill