Smallmouths in Beltrami? Any big ones?

[drowningworms]

Hey, was going to fish Beltrami and heard a rumor that there may be Smallies in there? Any truth to that? Was hoping to fish it first week of October to find out, or should I save myself some time and just fish Grace for bucketmouths? Any info appreciated - Scott

[Chris Haley]

Yes, smallies were brought in on the back of eagles I thnk. So now there is a small population of them along with a population of muskie.

[woodman]

Yes there are! Catch them when we go out to the cabin in the summer. Those eagles sure are sneaky!

[genegodawa]

not to mention, the guides and the locals!

[drowningworms]

Thank you! We are hunting both Muskys and Smallies. My parents have a place on Movil. My Dad and I are starting to branch out into the area lakes and I sure appreciate the heads up. I'll report back to this after our trip (Oct. 5-7).

[ducksnbucks]

The population is growing pretty quick as well. Caught some real nice smallies out there this year, many between 16 and 19 inches. Nice largemouths as well.

[cluelessfisherman]

I don't know if I would go and target them as there doesn't seem to be a major fishable population of smallies. We just end up catching one here and one there by accident - especially when we jig or troll along the rock pile and points.

As far as skies - I haven't personally caught one in there, but swear I had one in the river follow that looked an awful lot like a ski - and that was before anyone talked about seeing them in the lake, so I thought I was on crazy pills!

[Jeremiah Johnson]

we also have caught them on accident and going for them. biggest one being 14" fished hard one evening for them, but they were all smaller ones. anyone know what other lakes around bemidji hold smallies?

[drowningworms]

Thanks everyone! We had a good time on Beltrami with 22 fish between Largemouths and Pike with a couple of the bass taping out at 17 inches. No smallies, but it was still a blast in the 3 hours or so we got to fish. No skies either